Help me choose durable/repairable boots!

[ConfusedAboutBoots]

How can I tell if a pair of boots will be repairable when the time comes? I don't want to spend upwards of £100 only to be told by a cobbler that there's not much they can do when the sole and heel start to wear.

All I know is that Goodyear welted boots are easier to repair, but there are not many of these made for women in my price range and that I like the look of.

I've tried reading up on the whys and wherefores of boot construction, but it's all gone over my head a bit. I've also tried emailing the retailers to ask about the construction of a given style, but I don't then understand the answer they come back with.

What I'd love is if there was a friendly online cobbler I could send pictures to, and get the thumbs up or thumbs down before I purchase! Is there one on Mumsnet?? Currently sitting here with a pair of boots that I don't know whether to return or not!

By the way I'm just looking for lace up ankle boots for the school run, shopping, going to work. Something versatile like a smart hiking or Derby boot.

Try solovair

I have the Jade boots from Toast, but I really wanted the astronaut boots, which are very similar. I also have the derby boots, monkey boots and dealer boots and a few pairs of shoes but the ones I wear most are the Jades

I buy mine 2nd hand and they usually look almost new, and go down half a size

For hiking boots the Grenson Nanettes are nice

Thanks @KirstenBlest. The Solovairs look really good actually. I'd skimmed the site before and they didn't grab me, but they've grown on me and would definitely fit the bill. Might try the shiny black 11 eye ones!

The Nanette's are lovely - just not sure I can justify the cost. Tempting, though.

@KirstenBlest how do you find the Solovair sizing? I see they recommend measuring your feet and checking against their size guide for each style. I've done that and it's telling me to buy an 8.5 when I'm usually a 7!

IME if you want to or whether a pair of shoes can be reheeled, look closely at the heel. Is the very bottom of it a separate piece attached with glue or tiny tacks? Then it's replaceable. Try and press your thumbnail into the side of the heel. If it goes in at all then the heel is not replaceable.

I'm also after this Holy Grail of footwear, so am going to check out the recommendations!

I didn't measure my feet, but I started out by buying a pair on a well known auction site. My feet slopped about in them so I sold them and got half a size smaller.

After much looking online, I've got a few more pairs and I will need a clearout soon as I have far too many. I'll keep most of the boots.

The sizing IMO is similar to DM and the unisex styles are wider. I think all the boots are unisex

If I had to pick a pair I would choose the burgundy rub off Astronaut, and those are a whole size smaller than my usual size. The women's shoes I'd say go down half a size.

These are the Jade boots.

There are Forest boots on the Toast site but I don't think the soles would be as durable. I don't think my boots will ever need resoling but you can send them to be repaired.

I was a DM fan until I realised that my Emmelines were not likely to last long. The Astronauts are similar, and Solovair do half sizes, which is a plus.

Most of mine were bargains and in practically 'as new' condition, and I think the most I paid was about £75 including p&p and the lowest £35 but I did a lot of looking for them. I don't think they are overpriced on the nps-solovair site though.

[quote ConfusedAboutBoots]@KirstenBlest how do you find the Solovair sizing? I see they recommend measuring your feet and checking against their size guide for each style. I've done that and it's telling me to buy an 8.5 when I'm usually a 7![/quote]
I ordered the brogue boots in a 6 - it says they run large but I thought that would be good as I have a wide foot and would say I am on the large side of 6…but when they arrived they were way too big.

I have exchanged them for a 5 which is arriving tomorrow. It was easy to send them back and it’s free postage and returns - maybe you could order 2 sizes? They also do some insoles if you’re between sizes.

They do a re-soling service for £65.

I would recommend ordering half a size and a whole size smaller than your usual shoe size and send one pair back after walking around the house in them.

I needed half a size smaller in DM Floras and not even insoles and thick socks could make my usual size fit, and the next size down were too small.

Size-wise I'm even more confused about boots now... Though I am notoriously bad at measuring myself! Trust me to size up 1.5 sizes when you're supposed to be sizing down I might drop Solovair an email and see if they can tell me a) if I'm mad (very possible) and b) what size they think I should try! Thanks again @KirstenBlest for all the info and tips.

@Squiz81 that's reassuring to hear about the ease of returns, the insoles and the resoling service.

@dilbertian thanks for the heel tip! That's confirmed my decision to send back the boots I've bought.

Having looked at the shoes linked here, I realise that my criteria are not appropriate for them. I was referring to ordinary shoes at an ordinary shoe shop. Of course shoes like the ones linked specify that they have replaceable soles, even though they 'fail' the finger nail test.

I love those shoes, but they're not suitable for me I spend a lot of time kneeling down and crawling around the floor, and I would ruin the toes within days.