LL Bean Boots

[johnniegold]

Today, I gave my LL Bean Boots, Gumshoe a cleaning and conditioning. These boots are between 15-20 years old.

The leather uppers looked in need of some nourishment and the rubber section needed to be wiped down/off

Wiped down using a sponge soaked in warm, soapy, water.

Treating the leather upper with some Bick 4

I’m going to have to pick up a snow sealant for the rubber section of these boots.

I’m thinking of another pair. Either the shoe or the 8” boot and some new laces.

You have a pair? Let’s see them and give your maintenance tips.

 

[johnniegold]

Still…

 

[WThomas0814]

Still…View attachment 1997403

View attachment 1997412

Not sure if they are anymore. The bottom label on new ones just says "LL Bean."

I can't see myself paying $130 for Chinese boots.

 

[DesertIguana]

L L Bean use to have great products with lifetime guarantee.

Company has gone in opposite direction last 20 years.

Businesses change.

 

[htownmmm]

Today, I gave my LL Bean Boots, Gumshoe a cleaning and conditioning. These boots are between 15-20 years old.

The leather uppers looked in need of some nourishment and the rubber section needed to be wiped down/off
View attachment 1997385
View attachment 1997387
View attachment 1997388

Wiped down using a sponge soaked in warm, soapy, water. View attachment 1997386

Treating the leather upper with some Bick 4
View attachment 1997392View attachment 1997393View attachment 1997395View attachment 1997396View attachment 1997397View attachment 1997398

I’m going to have to pick up a snow sealant for the rubber section of these boots.

I’m thinking of another pair. Either the shoe or thr 8” boot and some new laces.

You have a pair? Let’s see them and give your maintenance tips.

Last of the Mohicans. Hold on to them and treat them right. The ones made today are not the same quality.

marty

 

[johnniegold]

Not sure if they are anymore. The bottom label on new ones just says "LL Bean."

I can't see myself paying $130 for Chinese boots.

Interesting.

But on their website they state the following…

 

[Doc4]

These boots are between 15-20 years old.

Bean there, done that.

 

[Tommy Tutone]

I've had these since probably the mid '90s and they've been worn hard and put away wet. One of my boys with "normal" size feet still wears them (when I'm not). Great all around boots for wet or slushy conditions. Popular here in SE Michigan at least while I was growing up. These are the 10" Made in USA dark brown model. No real maintenance secrets, but they could use a refresh and maybe some new soles..

 

[Rhody]

Today, I gave my LL Bean Boots, Gumshoe a cleaning and conditioning. These boots are between 15-20 years old.

The leather uppers looked in need of some nourishment and the rubber section needed to be wiped down/off
View attachment 1997385
View attachment 1997387
View attachment 1997388

Wiped down using a sponge soaked in warm, soapy, water. View attachment 1997386

Treating the leather upper with some Bick 4
View attachment 1997392View attachment 1997393View attachment 1997395View attachment 1997396View attachment 1997397View attachment 1997398

I’m going to have to pick up a snow sealant for the rubber section of these boots.

I’m thinking of another pair. Either the shoe or thr 8” boot and some new laces.

You have a pair? Let’s see them and give your maintenance tips.

What type of snow sealant would you use on the rubber?

Bean used to refurbish these by adding a new bottom part to the leather. Not sure they do that nowadays

 

[WThomas0814]

On the LL Bean website.

8" boot on the left, Gumshoes on the right.

 

[johnniegold]

What type of snow sealant would you use on the rubber?

Bean used to refurbish these by adding a new bottom part to the leather. Not sure they do that nowadays

Not sure. Maybe a tube of Sno-Seal.

I think LL Bean still refurbs their Bean boots.

 

[camjr]

Very nice. I've used Sno Seal, mink oil, and Bick's 4 through the years. I purchased these 8" Maine Hunting Shoes new in 1985, and they've been back to LLBean twice for new rubber boots (I always opt for the Maine Hunting Show bottoms rather than Bean Boot bottoms-they are different). The leather is original, very soft, and barely stands up on its own. No telling how many foul weather walks, muddy dove hunts, or camping trips these have been on. Take care of them gents! They'll last forever!

 

[Rhody]

Not sure. Maybe a tube of Sno-Seal.

I think LL Bean still refurbs their Bean boots.

I think they sell colorful replacement laces for beam boots too
I’ve got to get this bicks.

 

[Rhody]

Very nice. I've used Sno Seal, mink oil, and Bick's 4 through the years. I purchased these 8" Maine Hunting Shoes new in 1985, and they've been back to LLBean twice for new rubber boots (I always opt for the Maine Hunting Show bottoms rather than Bean Boot bottoms-they are different). The leather is original, very soft, and barely stands up on its own. No telling how many foul weather walks, muddy dove hunts, or camping trips these have been on. Take care of them gents! They'll last forever!

View attachment 1997600

What is the hunting shoe bottom? How does it differ the chain tread?

 

[camjr]

Same tread. A bit more flexible.

 

[johnniegold]

This is the Gumshoe model that I’ve owned for about 20 years.

I’m thinking about a pair of the Rubber Mocs.

Also, while I would like a pair of the 6” or 8” Bean Boot,

I’m just not sure they would get platooned enough with the #550 by Blundstone during inclement weather.

 

[johnniegold]

Let’s clean this mess up with a new set of laces using the Eastland knot.

The laces are 32” taslan laces from Red Wing since it doesn’t appear that LL Bean sells their laces on their website ( unless I just missed it).

A Google search for LL Bean laces turns up the Red Wing laces, which I ordered from Amazon.

I wanted to give a neater appearance than the previous haphazard way I laced these boots up. And because I had cut them, they became a bit too short to utilize the Eastland knot.

A close look at the laces shows the LL Bean laces (on the right) to be a bit heavier.

I like it.

Whenever I get to the LL Bean store near me, I’ll see if they sell laces separately.

IIRC, back in 2011 when I had a pair of Iron Rangers, Red Wing would give you a replacement set laces for free for as long as you owned your boots. All you had to do was send them the model of your shoe and they sent you the laces. Nice touch of customer service. Don’t know if RW still provides that service.

 

[Rhody]

Let’s clean this mess up with a new set of laces using the Eastland knot.
View attachment 2005988

The laces are 32” taslan laces from Red Wing since it doesn’t appear that LL Bean sells their laces on their website ( unless I just missed it).

A Google search turns up the Red Wing laces, which I ordered from Amazon. View attachment 2005989

I wanted to give a neater appearance than the previous haphazard way I laced these boots up. And because I had cut them, they became a bit too short to utilize the Eastland knot.

View attachment 2005990

A close look at the laces shows the LL Bean laces (on the right) to be a bit heavier.
View attachment 2005991

View attachment 2005992

I like it.

Whenever I get to the LL Bean store near me, I’ll see if they sell laces separately.

IIRC, back in 2011 when I had a pair of Iron Rangers, Red Wing would give you a replacement set laces for free for as long as you owned your boots. All you had to do was send them the model of your shoe and they sent you the laces. Nice touch of customer service. Don’t know if RW still provides that service.

I know sone LL stores sell replacement laces in different colors. I think the cut them to length but it’s been years.