Australian station boots

[hootman]

Great stuff this internet!

Does anyone have experience with the Australian slip-on
station boot? I understand they are comfortable and very
lightweight. After 20+ years of draging around the heavy
issue boots, my back is shot. Where can I get them?

Thanks and be safe,

[FlyingKiwi]

try http://www.lionapparel.com/psg/Boots.html

Don't know if they are Aussie boots, most of them are full of flies.

But they are damn comfortable boots.

[pumper41]

Being Australian, the answer is yes to experience on this one, but just to make sure that we are talking about the same boots, are you refering to the elastic sided about 6 inch high models, or the zip and lace up 8 inch high combo structural/wildland/station boots?

[FlyingKiwi]

Zip and lace style we here in K1W1 land.

Will get back to you with our manufacturer, I can wear them all day and be happy as Larry

[hootman]

G'Day, downunder brothers,

I work on the west coast and the boots are known as "spider boots"?

Be Safe,

Hootman

[GrovFire25]

http://www.redbackboots.com/products.htm

Here's the link. These are cool but a little pricey it seems.

[pumper41]

GroveFire25, you are not wrong about pricey, in Australia the boots sell for less than half of the quoted prices in US dollar terms. Redback's earlier model structural zip and lace up boot was a prior departmental issue to my career dept and my all time favorite boot, the current Taipan boot comes from a different manufacturer and just is not as good as far a durability and fit goes. As far as straight station boots go, the slip on elastic sided are so comfy, I used to wear them alot when a vollie in another state where I wore rubber fire boots, the slip ons came off really quick and easy when it was time to jump into the fireboots and bunker pants.

[GrovFire25]

Just doing a simple MSN search I came up with this
http://aussaver.tripod.com/boots/id40.html

Less than $70 for the steel toed ones. Now we're gettin' real. Anyone have any experience with this site?

Down under guys, maybe you could make a few bucks exporting them to the US.

[gunnyv]

Those short boots with the elastic on the side are what we in the US Marine ARFF community call LOX boots. We wear them with nomex flightsuits as station uniforms. I thought we paid about $45 a pair for them, I'll check for where we get them.

Imagine that, a Gov't contract coming in at a reasonable price!

[pumper41]

Some further thoughts, Redback probably are slightly higher quality than Blundstone (known as "Blunnies" over here), although both are good boots. For best comfort, if your dept allows, get just hard toed rather than steel toed boots, they are more comfortable. Also remember that Australian sizes run about 1 size less than the US, ie if you are a US 10, you will be a Aussie 9.

[captstanm1]

To my knowledge REDBACK Boots leave a lot to be desired and even for the station footwear, they are very very highly priced ($130+) in some cases from what I have heard.

Take a look at Tradition Footwear. They make an awesome boot for station wear, one for wildland and one for structure (14" pull on and Zipper also). The 14" is very similar to the Haix (spelling?) boot but designed with a stiffer upper to eliminate the cracking of the vapor barrier in the boot due to the constant colding over. Pricing is also competetive with other similar style boots. www.fireboot.com

[GrovFire25]

Capt Stan,
Did you see the link I posted for these boots for $65?
That looks like a pretty good deal.

What's everyone elses preference for station boots? Any other options besides a Magnum or Rocky type boot. I saw a Jake at a Flammable liquids class and he was wearing a clog like shoe that looked real comfortable and easy to don/doff.

[hootman]

Hold on there fellas,

This is my research:

I am told, the AU website has had trouble with returns,
extra charges and quality issues. Are you going to make a long
distance call to yell at some one 8,000 miles away? I think not.

Our department wants to go to a "comfortable steel"
toe ANSI approved boot for the 90% of the time we are on our feet doing inspections, maintenance and medical aids. We can wear
the zip up boots for wild land and of course the turnout
boot for everyting else. I have contacted other departments
that are wearing the "Redbacks" and they can't say enough good
things about them.

The three departments I have contacted have been:

San Francisco-San Diego-Anaheim and their experience has been very positive. I'm going to try a pair and see whatsup.

By the way I want to retire in AU, my defered comp will be worth twice as much!

Be safe,

hootman

[aussiefiregirl]

Hi there,

The boots we wear for not firefighting duties and with our formal uniform in Sydney are made by Baxter an Aussie company. Check out this link. http://www.blueheelerboots.com.au/index.html you can see photos of them there. They are extremely comfortable and lightweight. But they are quite expensive. They are popular boots for horse riding too!! (A little trivia)

Goodluck in your search for comfort.

AFG

[hootman]

Howdy, just an update

I got my steel toe, slip on boots yesterday and what a difference, COMFORTABLE. I spoke with Redback's public safety rep and he gave me a "first in department" discount. Well worth the money.

Be safe,

Hootman