Bison Bushcraft Boot or any other thin-soled walking boots.
- Thread starter Lou
- Start date
I totally agree. A good pair of shoes will last you a lifetime and be like a second skin, but it costs money in the initial outlay. I am researching how to make my own pair of boots - I mean, how hard can it be?
re: Rogue/Bison Boots: does anyone know of an outlet in the UK - somewhere to try them on? or is it a case of getting to a show to try them?
Lots and lots of boots, thousands of hillwalkers are out in all weather and the vast majority don't spend well over £100 on footware. Fell runners run up and down mountains and typically their footware is sub £100 and while they are not carrying heavy loads their feet take a major pounding.
Spend what you like on footware, its up to you, if you want to spend £120 on a pair of leather Safari boots then go for it, if not try something cheaper, the worlds your oyster mate.
Check with Roger and get to one of the shows mate... just be careful, a visit to Roger can be damn expensive 
p.s. the boots are luch I have had mine for over a year and in warm/hot weather, they are brilliant.
p.s. the boots are luch I have had mine for over a year and in warm/hot weather, they are brilliant.
Maybe I'm still going by the mantra my dad said when we couldn't afford decent football boots when I was a kid and all the other kids took the p*ss out of me. "It ain't to do with the boots that makes you a better player, it's the man who's stood in um."
that's true... bison boots won't make you a better player / bushcrafter.
But I don't see being comfortable as a competitive thing. They ARE a lot of money, that is a fact - and not everyone can justify owning a pair but if they are within your budget and on your shortlist, they are worth a closer look.
You could probably get 75% of the comfort for 25% of the cost but I wanted all of the comfort because I like being comfy.
But I don't see being comfortable as a competitive thing. They ARE a lot of money, that is a fact - and not everyone can justify owning a pair but if they are within your budget and on your shortlist, they are worth a closer look.
You could probably get 75% of the comfort for 25% of the cost but I wanted all of the comfort because I like being comfy.
Last edited:
... just be careful, a visit to Roger can be damn expensive
You're not joking!.......Just seen his knife prices...£195 starter price for a basic small blade ..add £45 if you want antler scales, only £40 though for Micarta
The clincher though has to be £17.50 for red / black Fibre Liners!
Sorry..I'll be the first to admit that Roger is a talented maker without a doubt but when I had my knifemaking shop you could have liners for less than £1.50 and I'd still make a profit!
I think it is important to spend as much as you can on shoes if you need the support/cushioning/moulding, but many people of warmer climates get by walking all their life in flip flops - so it just depends on what you view of comfort is. I prefer not to rely on too much support and would go for the flip flop option if weather not so bad.
Saying that, after looking at Bison website, I want to buy almost everything on there. Especially like the tweedy/moleskin jacket and moleskin trousers. I like the fact that it is all sourced and made in Britain - but of course, the price reflects that.
I believe nowadays we have too many shops like Primark which have deflated our idea of quality v price v durability v suitability. UNless you are looking at the flip flop option of course.
Saying that, after looking at Bison website, I want to buy almost everything on there. Especially like the tweedy/moleskin jacket and moleskin trousers. I like the fact that it is all sourced and made in Britain - but of course, the price reflects that.
I believe nowadays we have too many shops like Primark which have deflated our idea of quality v price v durability v suitability. UNless you are looking at the flip flop option of course.
... just be careful, a visit to Roger can be damn expensive
You're not joking!.......Just seen his knife prices...£195 starter price for a basic small blade ..add £45 if you want antler scales, only £40 though for Micarta
The clincher though has to be £17.50 for red / black Fibre Liners!
Sorry..I'll be the first to admit that Roger is a talented maker without a doubt but when I had my knifemaking shop you could have liners for less than £1.50 and I'd still make a profit!
I'd just like to clear up the context in which my comment was made initially - that is as Lune said above, so much of Rogers stuff is damn nice and it's hard to not buy it when you have it in your hand and feel the quality.
In terms of custom knife price (and other kit prices), I think Roger is about in the middle, there are plenty of less expensive makers (I'm not using the word "cheaper" because I know many of the less expensive makers are of equal quality and people associate cheap with less quality) for sure but there are also plenty of more expensive ones... and liners are still pretty cheap to buy in their raw form but there is always a premium to pay when something is fitted... like BMW motorcycles charging £1000 for a fitted sat-nav that Garmin charge £550 for retail. I would prefer they didn't but I can elect to buy it or not so can't really criticise.
Hi,
I have had the Bison boots for around 2 years I think. They are my favorite option for sort outings in fair weather when I don't expect long waling. Very light, comfortable and even if they get wet they dry very quick (quicker than synthetic trails). But perfect for the use I intended them for: tracking.
However I would not want to walk 20 miles in rough terrain with those. The leather is really supple and think. I would be concerned to have it cut by sharp rocks. For soft wood or moor terrain, why not.
I have had the Bison boots for around 2 years I think. They are my favorite option for sort outings in fair weather when I don't expect long waling. Very light, comfortable and even if they get wet they dry very quick (quicker than synthetic trails). But perfect for the use I intended them for: tracking.
However I would not want to walk 20 miles in rough terrain with those. The leather is really supple and think. I would be concerned to have it cut by sharp rocks. For soft wood or moor terrain, why not.
Not much. Heavy dew will go through at some point. I treated them with Nikwax but only to help quick drying. I think one should use them more in the strategy of accepting wet feet but have quick drying. For me that means coolmax socks in summer and coolmax liner + wool socks in colder times.
Compare them to lightweight trails rather than boots. Actually they dry faster than my Merrel trails.
EDIT: note water will go through because of the material thinness and natural permeability. It will not go through the seams. The border/sole seams do not bridge in the inside of the shoe. The only other seam is at the back and I did not experience seeping through there.
Compare them to lightweight trails rather than boots. Actually they dry faster than my Merrel trails.
EDIT: note water will go through because of the material thinness and natural permeability. It will not go through the seams. The border/sole seams do not bridge in the inside of the shoe. The only other seam is at the back and I did not experience seeping through there.
If I could just help out here. Our boots are not designed to be waterproof. It is as Pierr says, they get wet but dry quickly.
They are based on the boots worn all over The Southern African continent, but with the addition of a sewn in tongue and renewable sole. They should last a long time rather than just one season as a lot of fashion type sandals and boots do.
I wear mine without socks all summer, I'd say what you have is flexible soled enclosed sandals if that makes any sense.
Roger
They are based on the boots worn all over The Southern African continent, but with the addition of a sewn in tongue and renewable sole. They should last a long time rather than just one season as a lot of fashion type sandals and boots do.
I wear mine without socks all summer, I'd say what you have is flexible soled enclosed sandals if that makes any sense.
Roger
Thanks Roger, I saw a pair last year and given the thickness of the leather I didn't expect waterproof. Just wondered how much they would resist it with nikwax or the like. Do you happen to know how heavy they are?
btw, I really like them, there doesn't seem to be anything out there which offers what they do.
btw, I really like them, there doesn't seem to be anything out there which offers what they do.
and here's a review....
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/gear-news/just-in---inov-8-roclite-400-gtx/7335.html
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/gear-news/just-in---inov-8-roclite-400-gtx/7335.html
the bare-grips look great, I like the fact that they combine barefoot with a grip.....wonder how they are to wear, looks like there is a bit of a raise heel though?! and I guess combined with gaiters they would be somewhat waterproof. I am going to Ellis Brigham soon so will try them, I see they are stocked there.
Merrell have some barefoot trail shoes too, I just saw them in the Cotswold Outdoor Catalog:
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/inde...oducts.detail/code/34110088/group/398/level/3
- not sure if they would stand up in wet weather though, as they seem to be made partly of VFF fabric (esp round the heel) but worth a look I guess, I think I will try them on next time I am at their shop (cotswold outdoors also have VFF sprints for sale in black).
Merrell have some barefoot trail shoes too, I just saw them in the Cotswold Outdoor Catalog:
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/inde...oducts.detail/code/34110088/group/398/level/3
- not sure if they would stand up in wet weather though, as they seem to be made partly of VFF fabric (esp round the heel) but worth a look I guess, I think I will try them on next time I am at their shop (cotswold outdoors also have VFF sprints for sale in black).
Last edited by a moderator:
Similar threads
