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Friday Favorite: Das Boots

January 11th, 2013

I’ve been needing a pair of winter boots for a long time. My favorite Keen rubber boots just don’t cut it when there’s snow on the ground or the a chill in the air. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve almost broken my neck when wearing them up the chicken coop or I come back in with frosty toes (even with thick wool socks on). After much research, I decided I to buy a pair of L.L.Bean shearling lined boots.
das boots 1
For one, they’ll last forever; for two, they’re lined with all natural shearling; for three, they’re leather. No thinsulate, nylon, or other stuff that’s going to wear out in a year or two. The shearling lining and the leather exterior on these beauties will last for a LONG time and it’s super warm.
Das Boots
The zip-up style was also a must, taking time to lace up boots several times a day was not something I wanted to do. These aren’t as convenient as my slip-on rubber boots, but they only take a few seconds to get on. The knee high version was also a must, the snow I have to wade to on the way to the compost pile is at times almost over the top of these.
das boots 2
They’re pretty pricey though, so I waited patiently for a sale. With the sale and some saved coupons I ended up getting them for almost 50% off. Low-and-behold, it happened back in mid-December. Somehow, they were accidentally shipped to Ohio; thank goodness for great neighbors who will package them up and forward them to you along with some wonderful homemade soap.
das boots 3
I couldn’t be happier with this purchase, they have been wonderful for all my outdoor chores (as you can see they’ve already lost their shine). The addition of ice stabilizers and I’m able to head outside without fear of falling on my face and dropping the eggs.

Have you found any new favorite garden tools recently?

10 Comments to “Friday Favorite: Das Boots”
  1. kristin @ going country on January 11, 2013 at 7:21 am

    The MiL has those exact boots. We’re big on L.L. Bean at Blackrock. I got my winter boots from them this year, a new style of snow boot that has a waterproof rubber bottom and leather on top, with a lining and zip-up closure. They’re not as cute as yours, but they are easy to get on and pretty burly. Waterproof is a must around here in the winter, where it’s just as likely to be muddy as frozen.

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  2. Joan on January 11, 2013 at 7:50 am

    I have to have a pair of those boots! I love my Bean Boots but seldom wear them because it’s such a pain to lace them. I’m going to check these out!

    Favorite gardening tool? My toolbox that my grandfather made me years ago – it brings back so many nice memories. For commercially made tools, my broadfork, or perhaps my stirrup hoe. Also, closed toe Crocs that I can easily slip on and off for a quick run out to the garden, and no holes to let the dirt in through to make my feet dirty. I also love my little bench that my mother gave to my son when he was young. It’s really too small for me, but I love to sit and relax and look at what a seed combined with a little soil and water can do. I can never choose just one favorite!

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  3. Kate on January 11, 2013 at 8:16 am

    I have the lace-up version of those boots and I love them. They are super warm, and I’ve been wearing them for several years and they are still as good as new. I’m sure you’ll be very happy with them!

    Reply to Kate's comment

  4. anno on January 11, 2013 at 9:06 am

    Looks like the lace-up version is still on sale …. might have to head over there to snag a pair for myself. Thanks for the review — I’ve been wondering whether they were worth the price.

    Reply to anno's comment

  5. Andrea on January 11, 2013 at 9:28 am

    I bought a pair of chore boots from The Original Muck Boot Co., but havent really wore them yet. They have good customer reviews, so we will see.

    Reply to Andrea's comment

  6. Jennifer Fisk on January 11, 2013 at 9:41 am

    Nice boots and with Stabilicers installed. You have to love ME winters with the ice. Last year, I had a pair of shoes that wore Stabilicers for about 6 weeks.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

  7. KimH on January 11, 2013 at 11:51 am

    No, no new favorite gardening tools for me, though I am thinking about getting one of these Hook ‘n crooke hoes…
    I have my stirrup hoe which is my all time favorite hoe but I need something better to get in between plants without doing damage. I’ve seen this one in action and it looks like it might serve the purpose.

    http://holdredgeenterprises.com/

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  8. Deb Berning on January 11, 2013 at 7:23 pm

    Do you get leakage along the zipper area? Usually that’s a problem with zip up boots. I can’t afford boots like that even with a sale so I wear 15 yrs. old winter boots with removable liner. Pull on and if snow’s very deep put coveralls or jeans over the top so snow doesn’t get in. Will keep wearing them till a hole is worn through the bottom. I have replaced the liners and repaired some too. Glad you like them so well and they’ll last a long time. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply to Deb Berning's comment

  9. Norma on January 11, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    Coming from a country with mild winters of only rain, I’ve found this very interesting! You are giving me a real picture in my mind of life in your neck of the woods. I haven’t even seen snow and it would scare me in a survival sense of the word!
    It’s our Summers in the Southern that are very dangerous and could kill you if you are from the city and not aware.
    Love the boots.

    Reply to Norma's comment

  10. EL on January 12, 2013 at 2:45 am

    That’s funny. I found some keen boots (not rubber) at the thrift shop last year (otherwise I couldn’t have afforded them). So far they have been waterproof and I just put LLBean stabilicers (that’s what they call them) on them which keeps me from falling (and we get some pretty good ice around here). I like the LLbean version of the stabilicers as they essentially are mini crampons and are also heavy duty (I’ve had mine for about three years and they haven’t died yet).

    I don’t know about tools, but it is winter and my back alley freezes, as well as the postoffice parking lot here. I have a pair of iceskates that I can wear on my boots which I bought from a Connecticut company. So far I haven’t had a chance to use them, but am hopeful that the alley will freeze soon (right now it’s snow). It takes a bunch of snow that gets packed hard and then a couple of quick thaws and refreezes to get this, but it seems to happen every winter. We’ll see.

    Gardening tools: I have to say that my ARS japanese pruning saw is wonderful. I’ve used it to take down trees, saw firewood and cut slash. My old one broke and it was so old that I couldn’t get a new blade, so I ordered a new one and extra blades. I use it for everything. ARS is an excellent company for such things and surprisingly unknown. I think it could give felco a run for their money. The saw is definitely the best japanese pruning saw ever. I also tend to like companies that have great customer service and this company is great that way.

    I also love my trowel which I got from the Gardeners Supply Company. They don’t carry it anymore, which is sad, seeing that it is American made and heavy duty. It is made by Wilcox and is solid stainless steel. It is an incredible trowel. I think that I have the 14″ one, but they make other sizes as well.

    Reply to EL's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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