Stompity Stomp Stomp Boots
October 29, 2012 4:25 PM Subscribe
I love my boyfriend's motorcycle boots and I want my own stompy boots. These Dr. Martens were incredibly comfortable, but the multitude of buckles really aren't my style; I prefer much sleeker lines. What I really want are these Jimmy Choo boots--even my boyfriend thinks they're the best fit for my style and needs, except for the price--but they're out of my budget for now. Internet suggestions are great, but I need to be able to try them on in person for free--so it's best if Zappos, Nordstrom, Macy's, etc carry these shoes. (I'm located in Seattle.)
Things that might make it difficult: I'm petite, with average length (US size 7/7.5) but wider feet and "athletic" calves that are about 15-1/4" wide around. Some brands' regular width shoes fit me. For some brands, I need to have the slightly wider size. I want to wear these as walking boots, so they have to be comfortable, warm, and water-resistant (if not water proof). I also don't like laces.
My go-to boots are these Cole Haan boots in Chestnut and really plain black Aldo suede wedge boots (also knee highs) that I bought many, many years ago and are getting repaired for the third time. But as I said, I want something with weight that would go stompity-stomp. I've looked at a couple of the nearby motorcycle stores, but they are all featuring streamlined biker boots that really aren't anything near heavy enough. I can easily walk in shorter blocky heels and wedges, but I don't need another pair with 3.5" heels like the boots I already own.
Things that might make it difficult: I'm petite, with average length (US size 7/7.5) but wider feet and "athletic" calves that are about 15-1/4" wide around. Some brands' regular width shoes fit me. For some brands, I need to have the slightly wider size. I want to wear these as walking boots, so they have to be comfortable, warm, and water-resistant (if not water proof). I also don't like laces.
My go-to boots are these Cole Haan boots in Chestnut and really plain black Aldo suede wedge boots (also knee highs) that I bought many, many years ago and are getting repaired for the third time. But as I said, I want something with weight that would go stompity-stomp. I've looked at a couple of the nearby motorcycle stores, but they are all featuring streamlined biker boots that really aren't anything near heavy enough. I can easily walk in shorter blocky heels and wedges, but I don't need another pair with 3.5" heels like the boots I already own.
Best answer: If you're anywhere near Ballard, check out Market Street Shoes - they have some nice boots in lots of different styles in the $150-$300 price range. They specialize in the more stylish end of European "comfort" shoes so they should fit your requirement for being comfortable.
posted by matildaben at 4:33 PM on October 29, 2012
posted by matildaben at 4:33 PM on October 29, 2012
Have you tried a Harley-Davidson dealership? Harley riders usually wear the stompiest boots, way less streamlined than the motorcycle boots I assume you're talking about. Or go here.
posted by scratch at 4:39 PM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by scratch at 4:39 PM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Have you tried DSW? They have a ton of different styles and price ranges. I just bought these Diba boots last week which were the perfect combo of sleek and stompy for me!
posted by platinum at 4:42 PM on October 29, 2012
posted by platinum at 4:42 PM on October 29, 2012
Best answer: What is your budget?
You might like Durango boots:
* Philly
* Savannah
* RD510 (harness boots are very stompy)
* Charlotte
Or Fryes:
* Veroncia Short
* Veronica Slouch
posted by runningwithscissors at 4:43 PM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
You might like Durango boots:
* Philly
* Savannah
* RD510 (harness boots are very stompy)
* Charlotte
Or Fryes:
* Veroncia Short
* Veronica Slouch
posted by runningwithscissors at 4:43 PM on October 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Red Wing and Carolina both make a very good engineer boot. There are Red Wing stores in Seattle where you can see if what they have is what you are looking for and try some on, not sure about Carolinas.
posted by jessamyn at 4:46 PM on October 29, 2012
posted by jessamyn at 4:46 PM on October 29, 2012
Yeah, I came in to suggest going to a Harley dealer. Find one of the larger ones they have some fantastic biker wear sections.
posted by HuronBob at 5:30 PM on October 29, 2012
posted by HuronBob at 5:30 PM on October 29, 2012
How about these? I adore mine, i put them on and pretend its the 90's again :)
posted by Nickel Pickle at 5:50 PM on October 29, 2012
posted by Nickel Pickle at 5:50 PM on October 29, 2012
I have these, the Women's Martino Leather Boots. I love them. My very athletic calves fit in them - I can even tuck in jeans if I want!
They are comfortable and walkable.
posted by hilaryjade at 6:41 PM on October 29, 2012
They are comfortable and walkable.
posted by hilaryjade at 6:41 PM on October 29, 2012
Born boots are the most comfortable I've ever worn. Here are some styles.
posted by raisingsand at 7:25 PM on October 29, 2012
posted by raisingsand at 7:25 PM on October 29, 2012
Steve Madden Women's Boots has some styles you may like.
posted by xtine at 7:45 PM on October 29, 2012
posted by xtine at 7:45 PM on October 29, 2012
Harley Davidson boots are sold at Zappos. But I suggest fiddling around on Piperlime-- both in the boot and bootie category-- to find some flat, mid-calf black boots. For instance, take a look at Chinese Laundry, Report, Corso Como, Miz Mooz, Naturalizer, Clarks, and my favorite which doesn't really fit your description but I had to sneak in.
posted by acidic at 7:57 PM on October 29, 2012
posted by acidic at 7:57 PM on October 29, 2012
Best answer: The name for that specific style of boot is engineer boots, which will help you greatly on your quest.
If you are specifically looking for something durable, I would steer clear of some of the cheaper brands. Chinese Laundry, Report, Steve Madden, Sketchers, and MIA, off the top of my head, make a wide variety of styles and their quality is inconsistent. Not saying that you can't find anything good by them, but I have found them to be problematic and generally not very durable - they seem to be made to wear out in a season or two, and I am guessing you don't want that. I have also found a lot of their styles to be very stiff, in ways you don't want stompyboots to be stiff.
I personally like Dr. Martens, but their quality has also been up and down lately as well, though as a brand they are still pretty good. They are almost universally generous in width.
Frye is pretty stellar brand quality-wise, but I have found they tend to run narrow and small.
I recently sold a pair of Miz Mooz Miller boots - they have the look you want, but definitely wear more like fashion boots than shhhavingcreamkickers.
oooh those Ariat Lowland boots look sweeeeet. I am not allowed any more boots. I have liked Ariat boots very much in the past.
Engineer boots on Zappos
posted by louche mustachio at 12:41 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you are specifically looking for something durable, I would steer clear of some of the cheaper brands. Chinese Laundry, Report, Steve Madden, Sketchers, and MIA, off the top of my head, make a wide variety of styles and their quality is inconsistent. Not saying that you can't find anything good by them, but I have found them to be problematic and generally not very durable - they seem to be made to wear out in a season or two, and I am guessing you don't want that. I have also found a lot of their styles to be very stiff, in ways you don't want stompyboots to be stiff.
I personally like Dr. Martens, but their quality has also been up and down lately as well, though as a brand they are still pretty good. They are almost universally generous in width.
Frye is pretty stellar brand quality-wise, but I have found they tend to run narrow and small.
I recently sold a pair of Miz Mooz Miller boots - they have the look you want, but definitely wear more like fashion boots than shhhavingcreamkickers.
oooh those Ariat Lowland boots look sweeeeet. I am not allowed any more boots. I have liked Ariat boots very much in the past.
Engineer boots on Zappos
posted by louche mustachio at 12:41 AM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Zappos just delivered several pairs of the Frye Melissa Back Zip in different colors. The shaft was a bit narrow but the leather stretched and OH MY God this is a gorgeous and comfortable pair of boots. How come I have never heard of the oldest shoe company in the US before?
The bottoms are very slippery, so I'll need to do something about that but otherwise these are pretty much perfect. Thanks, everybody!
posted by ethidda at 10:59 PM on October 30, 2012
The bottoms are very slippery, so I'll need to do something about that but otherwise these are pretty much perfect. Thanks, everybody!
posted by ethidda at 10:59 PM on October 30, 2012
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posted by ethidda at 4:26 PM on October 29, 2012