brogan?

[wwpete52]

I always wore moccasins when I was a mountain man and colonial buckle shoes as a 1760's guy.  Now that I am back to doing the mountain man I'm thinking about loosing the moccasins. My old feet don't like 'em any longer.  What about brogans? I know that they had them back then. Do any of you wear brogans while being the mountain man?

[rollingb]

Actually Pete, I've had the same thoughts run through my mind, several times. I've never pursued it, and I'm still in mocs, but that might change as I get (even) older.

[Loyalist Dave]

Well the Civil War Brogan was really a post fur trade style shoe, similar to the Jefferson, and that was similar to the Hi-low.  In truth, the three are so similar I'd have to have them side by side and labeled to tell which was which, so I don't know who'd give you any hassle for the "wrong" footwear, eh??  I have Fugawee hi-lows, and I had a second sole put on them so I could have them properly hobnailed.  They make a big dif in ankle support as well as when walking on gravel.  The hobnails make a nice crunching noise when several in a group of soldiers march into town (all that's missing is music from The Empire Strikes Back).  

LD

[Mike Ameling]

One gentleman (der Fett Duetsman) found a surprising resemblence between a Confederate "Blucher" shoe offered by the Missouri Boot Company and a 1790's German boot/shoe in contemporary paintings.  Check it out at
http://missouribootandshoe.tripod.com/id10.htm a little over half way down the page.  European paintings and context, but ...

And they also carry variations of that Jefferson Bootee.  Yes, they mostly sell to Civil War people, but so much of the CW stuff was from earlier times.  I've been contemplating a pair for late 1700's upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes fur trade era events.  Just have to scrounge up the funds - while still beating back the wolves scratching at the back door!

Just something to consider.

Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

[Bigsmoke]

Another thing that you might want to consider is a simple pair of half Wellington boots with the round toe.  Leather sole and heels would make it even better.

[BEAVERMAN]

Whites boots sells a semi dress half boot that closely resembles a brogan and I tried a pair on a couple weeks ago when I was in their shop in Spokane dropping off a pair of packers to be rebuilt, needed it after 8 years of use, they are a bit spendy, but you get the legendary whites quality and they are totally rebuildable at half the original price, and... they are built to fit your foot! see their website for how they measure and such, might as well have the best if you can swing it!

[wwpete52]

I looked at the Whites Boots website.  Way out of my price range! They look like super quality though.

[BEAVERMAN]

If a pair of $100.00 work boots last me a year its a miracle, if I can get 6 years of constant wearing out of a pair of $385.00 boots its a win win, especially when there made for my foot and fit like a glove, they are spendy, wait till you look at the prices at fugawee! and their 1/4 the quality of whites!

[wwpete52]

I can appreciate that but sometimes a guy can only part with only so much $ at a time or do without.

[BEAVERMAN]

I can understand that pete! just stating some facts, hope ya find what your looking for, Beav

[Uncle Russ]

Pete mentioned the fact that his feet don't get along all that well with moccasions any longer, and this is something I can appreciate.

Back in my younger days, I loved 'em...I wore mooccasion type "Desert Boots"...with the fancy little concho on the side, and I wore them every where I went, for years....Of course I didn't wear 'em while on duty, but that was definately my off duty shoe.

Now, fast forward 30 years and you will see a fellow getting older, gaining weight, and needing more support in his footware.
My feet are a great deal more tender, they are also swollen a great deal of the time, and my ankles practically scream for some kind of support....

Brogans, or low cut boots, have been a blessing for this old boy for years now. I suspect brogans may be at least somewhat PC, depending on cut or style, but that is no longer important.
What is important is being able to get around safely, and without discomfort.
And, I personally feel absolutely safe in saying this trumps anything PC.

Uncle Russ...

[wwpete52]

Well put Uncle Russ!

[LightSeeker]

Russ,
   I bought a set of brogans back when I was thinking of doing some CW reenacting, but it never came to pass.  I have found them to be a bit slick on grass- Suggestions??

[wwpete52]

I've got it! You could attach football cleats to them!  
Actually, I wonder if hobnails and heel rims would help on grass?  I know that they are dangerous on concrete but they might act like cleats on grass.  Does anyone have any experience using them?
Here's what they look like:
http://missouribootandshoe.tripod.com/id7.html

[Loyalist Dave]

As an expert in hobnails and heel plates....., does falling down alot make you an expert?...., anyway, hobnails are fine on most concrete, asphalt, and grass.  In fact they are better than slick soles in grass.  They will mess up hardwood floors, so most historic homes don't like you to have them on inside.  

Hobnails and heal plates are not so good on cobblestones, slippery rocks in steams, and SUCK ON LINOLEUM.  I mean they are like standing barefoot on a layer of hydrolic fluid on glass when using hobnails on linoleum.    

I also have a pair of colonial shoes with modern no slip soles added, and partial metal heal plates.  You still get the proper crunching noise in a military shoe, but you don't kamikazi so much when going into the supermarket as you do with hobnails.

LD