A word to men who wear high boots

[Oldsarge]

Yes.

 

[TPD166]

I was very fond of my high boots, but have not been able to pull it off since I stopped riding motors in 1985.

 

[Trenchfriend]

So, times are changing. Today, mainly the girls are wearing the black "jackboots"...

 

[MisterCairo]

Jackboots is a term you don't hear much these days! I bet most people under 40, maybe 45, have never heard it.

 

[Bamaboots]

I enjoy high boots of this variety.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Jackboots is a term you don't hear much these days! I bet most people under 40, maybe 45, have never heard it.

The term goes back at least as far as the 18th century!

 

[Oldsarge]

Can't wear those any more. The old back can't tolerate that kind of heel these days. Pity.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Mitchum (click for larger)

 

[redlinerobert]

Cowboy boots, riding boots, hunting boots, military, etc are acceptable. I, for one, don't quite get the knee high 'fashion' boots. At least not in the circle of friends I have. To each their own.

 

[MisterCairo]

The term goes back at least as far as the 18th century!

Understood.

And yet, I suspect most young people today have never heard it. Sealing wax and lamp lighters, foot pads and pick locks are also terms of longstanding you don't hear much of these days!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Jackboots is a term you don't hear much these days! I bet most people under 40, maybe 45, have never heard it.

I'm 34 and I've not only heard it but I've used it.

 

[MisterCairo]

I'm 34 and I've not only heard it but I've used it.

What part of the English word "most" is causing some folks confusion?

 

[IXL]

^^^ I believe Bruce Wayne wasn't in the least confused, but was simply adding to this thread that he is one of the age-specified (by you) group, who actually is familiar with the term. Hopefully, none of these English words will cause folks confusion.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Ok if you dress like this and are out for a day of riding and shooting.

Ok if you're working and need them (Nicks Lineman boots).


Otherwise, high boots are not a look that I care for. Too strange for me.

Now tall boots on a woman,......[emoji106]


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[Edward]

Jackboots is a term you don't hear much these days! I bet most people under 40, maybe 45, have never heard it.

I hear it a lot on the context of the Nazis, but given the association with them is so strong, I imagine it's not something anyone who wears or especially sells (outside of reenactor uniform) tall boots probably wants to avoid that association nowadays. Granted, it's not a Nazi thing, but it wouldn't be the only thing that originated much earlier but was tarnished by association with them (see, for instance, the Stahlhelm, and belt buckles with the legend "Gott mit Uns").

Ok if you dress like this and are out for a day of riding and shooting.

I actually don't think any of these men are wearing tall boots. Rather, (as would have been the case at the time for both military and civilians when on foot - tall boots did, of course, exist for equestrian pursuits and cavalry), they are wearing ankle length boots with leather gaiters buckled or laced (I see both types in the photo) over the top of shorter, ankle-length boots. British infantry officers would often private purchase such leather gaiters, right up into WW1 (and some WW2) as an alternative to issued, fabric puttees. They're something I like very much myself - gives you the look of a tall boot, but because the gaiters can be discarded, you can also wear the same boos with trousers more easily when you don't want to go for that vibe. A decent pair can be had for a lot less than a good pair of tall boots.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I hear it a lot on the context of the Nazis, but given the association with them is so strong, I imagine it's not something anyone who wears or especially sells (outside of reenactor uniform) tall boots probably wants to avoid that association nowadays. Granted, it's not a Nazi thing, but it wouldn't be the only thing that originated much earlier but was tarnished by association with them (see, for instance, the Stahlhelm, and belt buckles with the legend "Gott mit Uns").



I actually don't think any of these men are wearing tall boots. Rather, (as would have been the case at the time for both military and civilians when on foot - tall boots did, of course, exist for equestrian pursuits and cavalry), they are wearing ankle length boots with leather gaiters buckled or laced (I see both types in the photo) over the top of shorter, ankle-length boots. British infantry officers would often private purchase such leather gaiters, right up into WW1 (and some WW2) as an alternative to issued, fabric puttees. They're something I like very much myself - gives you the look of a tall boot, but because the gaiters can be discarded, you can also wear the same boos with trousers more easily when you don't want to go for that vibe. A decent pair can be had for a lot less than a good pair of tall boots.

Gaiters are still around. I have a pair in nylon and a vintage pair in leather. They are an extra level of insurance in snake country.

As to the photo, I believe that the boots are shown without gaiters (but I could be wrong). A popular period style had the laces ending low and the shaft of the boot extending high up the leg ending below the knee

In any case, it looks fine with tweeds, breeks, and while carrying a fine English double that costs as much as a house does today. As a casual around town or club look: not so much. My opinions only.


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[Bamaboots]

I prefer these.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I prefer these.
View attachment 89185

I can appreciate cowboy boots, but I've never felt comfortable in them. The boots themselves don't cause discomfort, I just can't be comfortable in them. Sort of like wearing a top hat; a great classic look but I'm just not comfortable wearing that style. I've done a bit of riding in years past and went with the packer style lace up boots. I know, not as safe in the saddle.

What I can do is appreciate are gentleman who are comfortable in cowboy boots and wear them with class. To my eye they look great polished or scuffed. Those you shared are superb.

 

[Bamaboots]

I can appreciate cowboy boots, but I've never felt comfortable in them. The boots themselves don't cause discomfort, I just can't be comfortable in them. Sort of like wearing a top hat; a great classic look but I'm just not comfortable wearing that style. I've done a bit of riding in years past and went with the packer style lace up boots. I know, not as safe in the saddle.

What I can do is appreciate are gentleman who are comfortable in cowboy boots and wear them with class. To my eye they look great polished or scuffed. Those you shared are superb.

Thank you, sir. I've been wearing them most of my life. We don't have to be a fan to appreciate fine things. I really enjoyed the boots you posted here. Careful with that word "gentleman".

 

[Edward]

Gaiters are still around. I have a pair in nylon and a vintage pair in leather. They are an extra level of insurance in snake country.

As to the photo, I believe that the boots are shown without gaiters (but I could be wrong). A popular period style had the laces ending low and the shaft of the boot extending high up the leg ending below the knee

In any case, it looks fine with tweeds, breeks, and while carrying a fine English double that costs as much as a house does today. As a casual around town or club look: not so much. My opinions only.


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I've got some photos somewhere of me wearing a pair of vintage leather gaiters, lovely things. I've also got some of the WW2 style US paratrooper ones (repop this time) - nice, practical.... though in all honesty they lack the glamour of the leather.

Looking at it again, it's possible the pair on the right are like that, though I'm certain I can see the bottom of the gaiter on Hugh whatsit's boots, and the guy on the left. Of course, there were boots like these too, andc the overall look is pretty much the same. The brown ones you post above are extremely similar to US Cavalry M1940 boots, the last mounted cavalry boots issued by the US military. Very similar to civilian riding boots that were available in the same period. Interestingly, during WW1, US cavalry were issues with shorter boots and the M1911 leather gaiters (replaced in 1917 with leather-lined canvas gaiters). The M1940 boots, and civilian equivalents, very much have the look of a pair of shorter, lace-up boots with leather gaiters worn over the top: I have long suspected that the design idea was simply to combine the two. (In between gaiters and the M1940, the US Cavalry had the M1931, which was simply a knee-high boot that laced from the arch of the foot to the top, like a longer jump boot. I'm guessing the idea with the M1940 was to make it much quicker and easier to get on and off!). I love both of these looks - and the style of the black boot you posted as well. They make me think less of horseriding, more adventuring in jungles (like in King Kong - in the Peter Jackson Version, Jack Black wears boots very much like M1931s), and especially the early days of motorcycling, between the wars, before the engineer boot evolves into the American motorcycle boot of choice, and the Uk went for the slimmer, zip-up Lewis-style, which was less something 'new' in that sense, more an evolution of the riding boot as the 'horse' went from organic to mechanical.... Black boots like the one in the picture are, of course, still worn by some motorcycle police.