Boots Are More Important Than Cameras

[@captain_context9991]

What kind of people has 17 - 20 + years of footage... Enough to make a documentary on his own boots. How is that even possible.

[@helpfulcommenter]

What kind of people? Van. He is techncially one of the first proper vloggers

[@Rockmaster867]

​@@helpfulcommenter he vlogged mostly for himself which makes the footage way authentic. It is not about getting clicks, but capturing a story

[@helpfulcommenter]

@@Rockmaster867 no he vlogged because he wanted to be a filmmaker. He made videos with Casey for clients and he made videos for Tom Sachs. They vlogged for the HBO show. It was always for the goal of making professional work. The concept of “clicks” didn’t exist yet. But they vlogged to make films to share with people to tell stories about their lives.

[@chillydoog]

They call that a girthy amount of footage

[@lakewilkinson9691]

neistats

[@thomasmatthew7759]

I love how Van does that creek crossing in his fancy Limmer boots, and his son just blasts through it in Crocs lol

[@souslesbombes]

That was a puddle let's be honest lol.

[@knifetimestory]

You could hear that he carried him.

[@christopherdesbaux5950]

I've been working class my whole life. Whenever I replace my pair of boots, I spend a good while holding the old ones and reflecting on what they took me through and how far I've come to get to the next pair.

[@FellowHuman18]

Let's all appreciate how long he waited to make this video. The patience on this man...

[@ndkrupp]

I believe these are the Germany made boots he ordered while he waits for his turn on the custom boot list.

[@TougeTourGuide]

This also probably hit the pattern months ago

[@jptbf]

only a 2 and a half years until we get the custom boots video 💯

[@sabrina_sp]

Can you do a video on “retiring” stuff? And at what point something you store may need to be thrown out? Or what you store vs what not

[@rywaproductions2369]

He did a video just like this called "how to throw things away"!

[@rivaled]

The amount of old footage Van has that he can access at any point is insane. I'd love to see how you store and organize all of this to be able to find exactly what your looking for.

[@beng5832]

i think i remember seeing an interview of his on youtube showing his shed where he organizes all the physical tapes/notes/etc! very cool

[@AnnularFrisson]

I work at a synthesizer library and just wanted to say i love that i've been hearing your own music this whole time! I just assumed you had some friend who played synths that you commissioned but I shoulda known you were behind it considering how hand-made things are in your life/videos. The score has been really cohesive, adds a special quality and doesn't get old - you definitely have an ear for it!

[@isabel-rj4kd]

He’s going to love to hear this!

[@wildhurstmanor]

Who is the Gershen Grey person then? Are those just the old videos?

[@JK-vc7ie]

@@AnnularFrisson it adds to the drama of buying a pair of shoes.

[@isabel-rj4kd]

@@wildhurstmanorgrey gersten

[@RichardTomasini]

That first min and 11 secs is a heavy price to see the great Van content.

[@rob060]

My dad had a pair of White's Boots for tree service work. Decades later I got a pair for myself to use for work. Some of the best boots made in America and I've had them for almost 10 years now. Getting ready to send them in to be rebuilt. Gotta invest in your feet if you work on your feet, and also in your bed, because if you're not in one you're probably in the other.

[@plixplop]

Invest in anything that separates you from the ground - boots, bed, tires...

[@SchilkeSmooth]

I had a summer job lined up right after college working for the Randolph Mountain Club very close to Intervale, NH in the White Mountains. The job involved clearing trees blown down from winter storms the previous season followed by extensive construction the rest of the summer to limit erosion. Limmers and Dickies were listed as the only required gear for the job, in order to handle the rugged terrain and any stray axe swings. One of the guys on the job walked in with a pair of $20 Brahma boots from Walmart and kinda mocked some of us for spending the money on those Limmers. By the end of the summer, the sole had split from his cheap boots and he was tired of duct taping them together, so he bit the bullet and headed to the Limmer store like we had. For the rest of our time on the trails he couldn't stop gushing about his new boots and how amazing the service was at the Limmer shop. My brothers followed in my footsteps and got the job working on the mountains and all of us have Limmers. One of my brothers has done trail work all over the world, Argentina, Mount Whitney, Nevada as well as the White Mountains and those Limmers go everywhere with him. My youngest brother just started his first season of trail work and picked up a pair of Limmers right before starting. In an age filled with hyper-consumerist cheap crap, for lack of any better terms, we need more businesses like Limmer, even if the price range is painful. As much as I love second-hand and surplus it seems that even there the cheap crap has started flooding in, so only time will tell if those less expensive quality options can survive in the future. Limmers are probably the only boot I'll ever own and this video reminded me that it's time to show those boots some love and give them a proper greasing.

[@souslesbombes]

RMC 🤩 It's just the best in the Whites. Love from Québec.

[@thatmre]

The last trip I took with my aunt before she died was to the hiking location you showed in palm springs. It is a wonderful thing to see how connected the world is and to know my boots have traveled in the same footsteps as yours. Thanks for making these videos, it's a true craft.

[@travismitchell9637]

I bought my Whites Smokejumpers in March and I don't think I could ever wear another pair of good enough boots. The Limmer boots are excellent as well and the added waterproof element makes them perfect for hiking.

[@sao_renao]

A man that can reflect on everything on his life and surroundings is a contemplative man. A ˈstaɫkʲɪr of a continuous exuberant little thing. Slow thinker, a naive anxiety tamer, a smart malicious maturity liberator, real and ancestral. Thanks for this experience of deep and immersive nothingness and thanks for the bravery of just be enough to let this message leave your inside. Its hella helpful for some, like me.

[@JidduVillarin]

4 minutes in and this man has me pausing and looking up boots...

[@seretoninman]

you know betterhelp still sells customer data, please stop taking sponsorships from them if you care at all about your audience

[@curbsideaudio]

That was pretty bad but, to be fair: BetterHelp was fined $8mil by the FTC, banned from continuing their existing practices as it relates to sharing costumer data, and forced to make changes to their handling of it going forward. This was over a year ago.

[@speweikmedia2974]

I see so many other videos sponsored by better help but only Van’s gets all the hate in the comments. Why? Just skip forward.

[@Karma46819]

@@speweikmedia2974how is this a “hate” comment? He is trying to convey a message Van might not be aware of.

[@CagriUslu]

It's not just selling customer data, it's much more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmSml6mIZdiHnNE

[@2pac1307]

Yeah, not many(including me) are aware of it! ​@@Karma46819

[@sammybwoy]

This is one of your best videos Van! It captures your unique way of story telling + it uses your great archive footage of your life WELL DONE (I've been a fan of your work for well over a decade)

[@tagecom]

before I even started watching the video, I was hoping it was going to be Limmer. I bought these boots 30 years ago. I hitch-hiked across the country in these boots. I climbed Kilimanjaro in these boots. I lived through Alaska in these boots. They are now handed down to my son, who has taken over the boots for his own adventures. Living in New Hampshire I am so thrilled that you paid our little state a visit. Thank you for making this video Van!

[@isabel-rj4kd]

We went to NH just for Limmer🤍

[@tagecom]

@@isabel-rj4kd Love it!!

[@natepotter6911]

My whole family is from right down the road from Intervale, and my dad (who just passed away) was an old "shoe dog" shoemaker that did some revolutionary things in the biz, so this particular episode is very interesting to me, as is old world craftmanship in general. Cheers!

[@froggergoat]

I have a pair of Justin work boots my grandfather bought for me when I was 17 or 18 in 1997. They are still in decent shape. I’ve always used mink oil on them and they’re still soft and pliable.

[@ae.thelred]

Vimes' Theory of Boots: it is more expensive to be poor. Took my first ever paycheck in 2014 and bought a pair of Gore-Tex L.L Bean Boots. Using them as motorcycle boots wore a hole in the soles from shifter/brake levers and friction when stopping with feet down, but, a resole and pair of dedicated mx boots later, they are still my fall/winter dailies!

[@captain_context9991]

Im sure there is a part in the "Theory of boots" that says at some point its worth buying new ones.

[@Rufio1975]

​@@captain_context9991 At what point is that?

[@captain_context9991]

@@Rufio1975 I havent read it, to be honest. But there has to be a ROI.

[@Rufio1975]

@@captain_context9991 I'll have to look into it. Sounds like it could be interesting. Peace

[@ae.thelred]

@@captain_context9991 Big Boot psyop

[@alicecarter9672]

Something I really like about your videos is how perfect the music is that you put along with the videos :)

[@travismitchell9637]

Next week you can check out the video on how he makes his own music for the videos or become a patreon and watch it ahead of time. Pretty cool stuff :)

[@Financial_Awareness]

A good quality boot makes all the difference. 14+ months into my Nick’s…love’em!

[@jonahterry6505]

Love this video, as a beginner shoemaker focusing on cowboy boots at the moment. I appreciate the light shed on my community. I hope to be as good as limmer one day

[@jcannn]

Love this! I got into boots 5 years ago. I started with Red Wing Iron Rangers, which are amazing, but the addiction furthered into Nick's Boots. The best boots you can ever buy! I highly recommend them. Ever aspects of the boots are 100% American-made, and they are also custom and handmade in Spokane, Washington. I now own 3 pairs.

[@ObelixCMM]

Nick's are made to order not custom, for custom boots you need to be fitted.

[@jcannn]

Uhh, yes, they DO have an MTO option, but they also have a custom option. I have both. The custom option takes a lot longer...up to a year.

[@mathiasiemens]

Congrats on the baby!

[@Jacob-bm6wb]

the boots or his actual child?

[@mathiasiemens]

@@Jacob-bm6wbboots

[@severoromo640]

Congrats on the boots! The break-in period is tough, but they’re great boots. I bought a black pair about ten years ago, and lat year, I bought a brown pair (non custom). I didn’t have to wait for either pair. Once again, they’re great boots. I spotted them in your thumbnail.

[@canadude6401]

I met a runner before who told me to discard old shoes after 6 months of running or 1.5years of walking. I actually date my shoes since I walk 3miles a day. Once they lose support and bounce, you are doing damage to your knees and joints. I am as frugal as it gets, but not for footwear. It gets the "boot"

[@PostFamilyPilgrimage]

In honor of this video, I wore my flip flops to work today… truth but I also have a pic of me in my dad’s Vasque boots when I was a kid then went on to wear them myself and get my own pair when I got even older!

[@zerriox]

Your such an inspiring person on many overlapping topics to me and i love the way your doing life. Greetings from Switzerland 🤟🤓

[@ddutton0]

The best part is the kid in Crocks just living life! Good boots are like a piece of art.

[@UGCDad]

I wear Blundstone for the warranty. But I might be tempted to pick up a pair of these

[@kerbalairforce8802]

"Because Max Fisher wore red laces" FYI, in some places colored laces in combat boots has gang affiliation symbology. I'd recommend looking in to what I'm talking about before traveling to unfamiliar cities.

[@MarcS4R]

my oldest pair of Red Wing boots is from the early 2000s, a "Clapton Classic" round-toe model, resoled many times, still going strong.

[@yey2wavy999]

How in the world you have a 2010 clip that perfect matches a boot video, CINE

[@samflurey7621]

I’m from New Hampshire and I cannot believe I have never heard of these boots!

[@loftymcdowell5789]

I always wore flip flops till 9/11. Van that hit me hard. You just never know and boots are best. Nice work man!

[@cfc1001001cfc]

There is a special pleasure of owning something with quintessence...the one truly exceptional example that has a great warranty, great design, great functionality and durability, and will last you until the end of your days, then giving away or disposing all of the previous worn out and/or less than optimal iterations of said object. May those boots take you many, many miles!

[@otter-pro]

I've still got my US standard GI army boots, it's the most expensive footwear I own because I earned it with blood, sweat, and tears while serving in the military. I feel too old to wear them now, but someday i would like to start wearing them.

[@Definitely_is_me]

As someone who has went from shitty department store boots to a pair of red wings the switch to quality is irreplaceable

[@allandp]

the title made smile big upon seeing it bcuz i just recently got my new boots :)))) Thank you for the boots story.

[@EasternSunset007]

1:28 rocking red laces too. I don’t think most people even knew what Doc Martin’s and red laces signified. 🤔 Did you know?

[@555Gear]

I have a pair of Alicos that are about a decade old! Love them

[@skudak]

Wow, I expected this to be about a place to be in the PNW. Turns out I live 30 minutes from Limmer and never knew it

[@ferrumlynx1914]

I'm breaking in my Swedish army boots, NOS from 1947. Have looked at the Swiss ones many times also. Great video! Also in the progress of breaking in two front quarter horsehide leather jackets from Aero so my whole body is a leather break in lab.

[@katielowen]

Once you go boot you never go back. I’ve been wearing black Rocky USPS mailman boots for about a decade now. All my foot problems went away and I never have tired feet anymore.

[@whiteswoodworks]

Welcome to the family, these are my favorite Boots.

[@Sturnburn772]

Great video. Very interesting and visually compelling story telling. A few tips to maintain the life of your boots longer because 3 boots wearing out in 17 years is not appropriate if you take good care of them and assuming they are made from actual quality leather. Use shoe trees, brush with a horse hair brush after every wear and condition the leather with a leather conditioner when they get dry.

[@eblackshaw]

Love a good boot story, along with the thought process around them. As important as financial strategies, automechnic choices and primary health care ... fundamental to a ... spirited man 😏.

[@7Sonic7]

You can have any boot rebuilt. The right cobbler will make a pattern from the worn-out leather and make a new boot for you. Probably a decent chance they can save the upper

[@JosephSivits]

A pair of timberland pros are good starter boots -- I've worn them for 6 years now and I have _zero_ complaints. Steel toes have saved my feet a few times, haha

[@sebastianHG__]

your content is amazing man, never dissapoints, thank you.

[@jaketrustin]

Van is the best storyteller on the internet

[@Hiluxtaco]

I"m perfectly happy with my insulated Danner Rainforests... Bought them back in the 90's. And they are still going strong today...

[@zac9311]

I just bought new boots too. Thorogoods, to replace my redwings which i apparently wore beyond the point of repairablility

[@IsntThatRandom]

I ordered a pair of boots from sutorial boot makers in flint Michigan. Artist is named Tim, he does the same thing and sews everything by hand. The boots are around $500 and I ordered mine took about 5 months! Kevin bacon also has a pair of his boots

[@adayinthelife5496]

As a former construction worker, I'll never wear boots again if I can wear flip flops.

[@americanpancakelive]

"river crossing" ha- love this though and once you find 'your boot', you stick with it.

[@micnole5038]

I too have a pair of leather hiking boots I love to wear and have been thinking of replacing with the same pair.

[@Rustie_za]

WAIT WHAT YOU GUYS HAD A NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY? WTF NO VID ON THAT?? CONGRATS!!!

[@jairusjcastillo7055]

Love the story telling van

[@Affalterbach1967]

Life lesson from Van: To be good, you need to be insane and obsessed.

[@Jacob-bm6wb]

I got some jim green african rangers since I cant afford us made boots and at least these are not outsourced to another country. Designed to be practical. Maybe I will get on the waitlist for those boots in a year so I can get them as a reward for myself when I become a journeyman

[@AJeffMiller]

The chef's kiss on this video would have been showing the lace up style. There's several ways to lace a boot. Although the Swiss boots look like he was just doing cross diagonal, nothing wrong with the basics.

[@xtreamchance]

I saw Bryan Adams with his Red Wing boots, on stage at the Pantages in 1984...so I got Red Wing boots to ride my shaft driven honda bike. I still have them in my closet.

[@mohsin65T]

I hate breaking in new leather boots/jackets/gloves but man once they're good to go..❤

[@KrigareAvHallarna]

If anyone is on his Patreon, tell Van to get Ironlaces. They are are unbeatable.

[@adamstoke8642]

Looking at the style of boots you wore for many years I was really hoping Limmer is who you were going with and then it cut to you pulling into their parking lot, you won’t be disappointed!

[@HunterMatthew]

Wow I did not expect you to say New Hampshire. Born and live here. I will check Limmer out! Thank you! Loved the video, Van

[@kyle6209]

Agreed. A well worn pair of boots tell a far greater story then sneakers

[@KrigareAvHallarna]

I stopped wearing sneakers, like, a decade ago. Waste of money, of you ask me.

[@JK-vc7ie]

@@kyle6209 why do your shoes need to tell a story ?

[@kyle6209]

@@JK-vc7ie to remember how asses you have kicked

[@JK-vc7ie]

@@kyle6209 So zero for you.

[@LuisMercadoorg]

@@JK-vc7ieeverything you do and use tell a story

[@rhymeswithbombs]

@vanneistat I feel like a fitting tribute would be to unstitch those 3 pairs of boots and use the leather to make something else- maybe a single pair of shoes cut from the remains?

[@aayotechnology]

He could collab with KZbinr Bedos Leatherworks.

[@pezguy729]

Would love to see you do a boot care video of applying the boot grease or mini oil

[@BMW_MOTORRAD_VERFUGBAR]

Very beautyful film, I am swiss very pleased to see people eslewhere like swiss military equipment and appreciate our love of hiking shoes.

[@conorreynolds9739]

I had a pair of off-the-shelf Limmers, and they honestly became unwearable after a year. One had a different “fold” pattern than the other, and it began cutting the top of my foot. Immensely disappointing, even if they were the cheaper $300 pair. I’d still consider a custom pair, maybe someday.

[@johnny8030]

as a NYC union carpenter who loves well crafted boots, I just can not comprehend wearing them when Im not working.

[@williamphillips1642]

Do you have a link for where you get the Swiss army boots? I’m having trouble finding them

It would be amazing to know how you store and organise all the footage that you have been recording all these years. And how do you find the videos that you want ?

[@pedroluisadamesborrero]

I've been looking into my first pair of boots for the past week. Isn't crazy that you just posted this?

[@sean9820]

As Ben Franklin once said, the poor man pays twice and that is a very apt warning when it comes to boots! Quality = Longevity.

[@ZachNagy]

Whoa! Saw this on the patreon! Weird haha, I guess I will just have to watch it again over lunch!

[@jarnoverhoeven3118]

Fantastic that shops like that exist, but Germany, Switzerland and Austria have a longggg tradition of making hiking boots, and those Limmers certainly seem like they are descendants of that lineage (and Limmer certainly is a surname which could have come from those regions). So I wonder how many europeans travel to the US for hiking boots. They look great though, and that process to get custom boots made is an experience for sure! If off the shelf is an option as well Hanwag and Meindl make great shoes, choose either AB or B class (C and D will be a lot stiffer as you are able to fit crampons on those) shoes for everyday use.

[@animal355]

The old adage: 'Never skimp on these 3 things, your bed your coat or your boots. If you're not in your boots or coat, you're in your in the other'

[@ioScala]

Loved this - makes me want a pair of Limmers!

[@thebakeryband3381]

It's all about the boots. Great boot/cool video. "There's a Pair of Limmer Leathers", by The Bakery Band, on YT, good sound track. Happy travels.

[@victorramalhobustamante3565]

i've been realising the value of a great pair of boots

[@JoeBoyle-pe5mw]

Linmer is legit. Merrel boots was originally started by Randal Merrel who was an old school boot maker like Limmer then went all super size.

[@bruceh5933]

What a crazy coincidence, I put my wife on the Limmer list yesterday before I even saw this!

[@nedanother9382]

Awesome...now I need custom boots...thanks for that. I suppose at least once in a lifetime you buy a top of any line custom shoe. Maybe one nice suit or jacket. Im a backpacker and feel very fortunate to having some of the very best gear. Kinda sucks to not need more. ..

[@oliverglobalexplorer]

Minerva was/is a Swiss military boots maker - mine are 2004 and have also been made by Minerva

[@brandonpatterson6907]

Careful with the red laces and no hair, people might think you're a "new" fan of German politics from the late 30s...green may be the better color.

[@YouCanChangeYourWorldToday]

Especially with that Thunderbolt imagery on the side of his old boots Smdh lol 🤦‍♂️

[@nardoxhd7501]

In german street code red laces are used by leftists and punks while white laces with black army boots are worn by fascists

[@williamoconnell8348]

Where could I find some Swiss surplus leather boots?

[@Swagg3r3d]

I love Intervale. Great xc skiing!

[@MichaelTV44]

I always thought you had some Pacific Northwest logger/fire boots. Like the wildland firefighters use.

[@wieszjakoszczedzac5522]

Van, would you consider making a video about your data/footage management explaining how are you able to go through all these hours of film to get the pieces you want? Or am I an ignorant and you have already explained that?

[@TommyNitro]

You won't regret getting a pair of Limmers.

[@serridgeas]

Altbergs are amazing boots made in Yorkshire and they will fix them even 30 years on

[@davids8267]

The moment you drove up I knew you were going to limmer. I’ve been a boot guy all my life. I prefer grant stone Norwegian stitch toe and also have them in shell cordovan

[@Brahmananda]

where can i find a pair of boots like these, NEW?

[@copperthumb]

Invest well in the things that come between you and Terra Firma such as tires, shoes, bedding and boots.

[@arncj18]

are those limmers all year round with only ankle padding, or padded fully for winter?

[@AuthenTech]

yeah but do they have sport mode like my crocs?