I have a couple pairs of old leather work boots that are not suitable for use any longer. The most recent is a beloved pair of Thorogood lace-up boots that have been resoled once. Now the steel toe protector is walking out of its intended position and pushing on my small toes. There is still some life in these boots and the soles, but it hurts to wear them. And it pains me to toss them.
What does everyone else do with an old pair of leather work boots that cannot be worn any longer? Store them in the rafters of your shop for when you need to cut a piece of leather from them? I can only store so many old pairs.
A good cobbler could pull the entire midsole off the upper and put the toe back in its rightful position. I believe Thorogood has a service that would rebuild them as well. I have gone through similar trials with my boots. I have 2 pairs of Thorogood’s so I’m not down a pair while they are at the cobbler. My first set are about 10 years old now and are currently in the shop getting some stiches, and a full rebuild replacing the welt with a leather one and new soles. Its not cheap I’ve defiantly put double the money worth of work into them over the years, but with my job I was buying a new pair every year. Personally I enjoy the fact that they are the same boots, others may argue that its worth it to get new ones. all up to the end user ya know.
I use cobblers corner in Simpsonville South Carolina. I’m lucky to have them 20 mins away from me, but I believe you can mail them in and have them worked on. Trenton & Heath, are also a great choice they are in Tennessee I believe.
I throw them out. Now I wear Nicks boots that are 100 percent rebuildable. They keep the good bits that are broken into your foot and replace the rest.
I have used the rebuild program Thorogood offers on these boots. It works well, it’s half the cost of a new pair, and there is no break-in time when I receive them back from repair.
Good advise on finding a local cobbler to perform such repairs. I know a few shops around that make custom western boots. Maybe they can take a crack at repairing these. It just pains me to throw them away.
Jason, I’ve watched that that video a few times. A Thorogood (USA made) boot is also rebuildable. I would consider Nicks boots, but did not see a 6" boot offered with waterproof construction. 8" tall lace up boot is much to hot down in Texas. Maybe I need to contact them directly.
I have a tin can full of old steel toe pieces that I’ve removed over the last 30 years I’m going to make a wind chime out of them one day.
the old boots themselves have become flower pots that eventually rotted out.
Yesterday I visited a local shoe maker/repair shop. After explaining my issue, they said the inner liner has torn on the boot, allowing the hard toe covering to shift and now make contact with my toes. Her honest assessment was to retire the boots, as she didn’t see them worth the investment to repair anymore. I did ask if there was any further use for old boots besides the trash can, she said unfortunately not.
Now I know. Maybe they will find a home in the rafters of the shop for the wasp and mud dobbers to occupy.
