Just stuff

[TxHuntermn]

I have sent the pair of Orvis Gokey, all leather snake boots, that I received from my Dad when I graduated from college (more than a few years ago), back to Orvis three times in the 36 years I have owned them....the first time, they called and said they wanted to send me a new pair of boots...after several calls, they understood I just wanted new soles, as I have literally hunted all over the world, in four continents, wearing those boots. Gokey complied, and the next two times, I had not to say a thing. A rep called me both times assuring me that they would retain everything on the boots salvageble. Those boots have turned back three rattler strikes, one gaboon viper strike in the Kalihari desert of Botswana, a pissed off blue heeler hog dog in the midst of dispatching a russian boar at a midnight “baying”in the Texas Hill Country and allowed me to kick a porcupine away from my best Setter a couple of decades ago. They are old fashioned, heavy, and ugly. And although I now own several other pairs of snake boots, unless I require water proof, I go to the gokeys, they are my “old friends”!!,

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Mark Ray

They are old fashioned, heavy, and ugly. And although I now own several other pairs of snake boots, unless I require water proof, I go to the gokeys, they are my “old friends”!!,

I disagree, I'd say they are just getting into their prime and sounds like you have gotten some dang good proper use out of them. I have the all leather Gokey boots as well, but mine are only 10 years old. Yep they are heavier than some, but worth it, for the peace of mind. I don't think they are ugly at all and have been told so and complimented by a couple of women that I know that have briefly seen me wear mine. Every time they say "why don't men wear tall boots anymore". I could care less about the fashion part of it, but their comments surprised me. If they function to protect me from a bite, protect your clothes, heck have even worn them for trail rides, then good, bad or ugly all works for me.

Now that is a testament stopping a Gaboon Viper hit. They have two inch fangs and are heavy and strong enough to get through something not designed for snake protection. You need to let Orvis know about that.

[TxHuntermn]

Originally Posted by Todd Poer

I disagree, I'd say they are just getting into their prime and sounds like you have gotten some dang good proper use out of them. I have the all leather Gokey boots as well, but mine are only 10 years old. Yep they are heavier than some, but worth it, for the peace of mind. I don't think they are ugly at all and have been told so and complimented by a couple of women that I know that have briefly seen me wear mine. Every time they say "why don't men wear tall boots anymore". I could care less about the fashion part of it, but their comments surprised me. If they function to protect me from a bite, protect your clothes, heck have even worn them for trail rides, then good, bad or ugly all works for me.

Now that is a testament stopping a Gaboon Viper hit. They have two inch fangs and are heavy and strong enough to get through something not designed for snake protection. You need to let Orvis know about that.

I was being tongue in cheek with the ugly comment, but mine are also equipped with LOTS of "patina" Oh, and I need to set the record straight....the snake in Africa was a Puff Adder, not a Gaboon Viper!! I don't know what kind of "Freudian typo" made me pull that name up! Although the 'ol Puff adder is no slouch in the fang department either! It felt like someone was using a driver to knock my foot out from under me! The scary thing was that my wife was immediately behind me on the trail, and she was wearing chukka boots! Needless to say, my yelling, and the .416 Remington shot screwed up the Hartebeest we were stalking for Robin! Two Bushman trackers walking the same trail, just ahead of me walked right by that snake barefoot! That was the last day of our hunting safari, and the only day I wore snake boots. The rest of the trip I wore a pair of Westley Richards buffalo hide low tops, but I had soaked them through the evening before helping the PH's work on the camp water well, so I wore the Gokey's that I had brought for back-up!

A couple of shots of the subject boots!

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Todd Poer

A couple of women that I know that have briefly seen me wear mine. Every time they say "why don't men wear tall boots anymore". I could care less about the fashion part of it, but their comments surprised me.

Young men do wear tall boots anymore, they just leave them wide open and look like slobs (but they think they're making a fashion statement.) but they are not outdoorsmen at all.






.

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Todd Poer

"why don't men wear tall boots anymore".

mostly because few companies make them

my Beans boots are 12" that was the tallest they had when i bought them- when i was young I had 16" lace up leather boots like you see in the old pictures - loved those - hook eyed, no "speed Laces", I had a way of holding the laces and going side to side to lace them in seconds - first wife threw them out.


i really should have gotten a pair of Gokey's years ago- my duck hunting mentor when i was young was a Gokey - although the family had sold the business by then - he was a quiet man and deep down as tough as the boots

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Rick Losey

mostly because few companies make them

my Beans boots are 12" that was the tallest they had when i bought them- when i was young I had 16" lace up leather boots like you see in the old pictures - loved those - hook eyed, no "speed Laces", I had a way of holding the laces and going side to side to lace them in seconds - first wife threw them out.


i really should have gotten a pair of Gokey's years ago- my duck hunting mentor when i was young was a Gokey - although the family had sold the business by then - he was a quiet man and deep down as tough as the boots

I think Beans still makes the 16'' boot. I have seen some tall leather boots but mostly those are all more like logging boots. Red Wing used to make a tall leather boot and guess they still could if they thought they would sell.

That is awesome that you got to know the Gokey clan. Great history. Definitely not a disposable boot. Problem is finding a shoe cobbler to work on your good stuff. I have pair of the 10 inch boot I think they call Sadonna model now and the snake boots. Boots will probably out last me.