Maine Hunting Shoe

[Boreal Birch]

For the last forty-five some years I have been wearing Bean Boots for the majority of my outdoor pursuits, personal and professional. I have wore them until the bottoms were smooth and thin and then sent them back to the company in Maine for re-soling. When I worked for Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game we were able to get a 50% discount if we ordered on official letter head (this was back in the day when orders were placed by mail). Through this program for professional fish & wildlife workers, I have bought just about every kind of Bean Boot (moccasins, pull on, 6 inch tops to 16 inch tops) I have settled for 10 inch lace up tops as the most practical for me.
A week ago I sent my current 10 inch waxed canvas topped Hunting Shoe back to Bean for re-soling. Yesterday they called about my boots, by the time I got the message it was after hours in Maine. This morning I call Bean, told the lady that I was returning their call, she verified my address, asked me to hold for Paul, the man that was doing the work on my boots. In a moment Paul was on line telling me that the canvas topped boots could not be re-soled, because of the canvas not able to hold restitching to their standards, but they would be sending me a NEW pair of boots, if that was OK. Well sure sounds OK to me how much more $$ did I need to send them. Nothing, what? NOTHING. How great of customer service is that? I did have to promise not to sent them in for re-soling in the future, heck I am 70 years old, not likely to wear out these new boots. I am a happy camper and have always been happy with my purchases from Bean, today I am ecstatic.

 

[Chip]

I had a friend that 20 - 30 years ago worked at Bean's flagship in Freeport, Me. A guy came in to return a pair of boots that were totally worn out, holes in the soles and extremely ragged uppers. My friend questioned how the guy could not be satisfied with the boots because he had obviously been happy enough with them on his feet to the extent he had worn them out via normal wear and tear. The guy received new boots. My friend received a disciplinary letter for his personnel file, since at the time, Bean's policy was "satisfaction guaranteed, no questions asked."

Some retailers, like REI, have changed their policy. At REI, they now guarantee satisfaction for only a year. I don't blame them for changing, because I know people who abused that policy to renew their gear. But, if I am not mistaken, Bean's guarantee is still forever. So, I'm only mildly surprised they sent you new boots. The shoe man must not want to get that disciplinary letter.

Now, go wear those boots out!

 

[Robin]

I had a pair of Bean boots that I sent to have resoled. When I got them back they created a blister under the bone on my ankle. I tried band aids hoping they would break in but to no avail. I ordered a new pair and threw the old pair in the closet. A few years ago on my way to my daughters place in Maine I stopped in Freeport with the old boots. No questions asked, they figured maybe the wrong size new bottom was sewed onto the old tops. Gave me a new pair right then and there.

My daughter told me of one of our relatives who returns her kids outgrown children's coats claiming they are inferior and receives credit for new coats. That's just wrong and I feel bad for the company.

 

[Boreal Birch]

I did send the required $$$ along with the boots to pay for the re-soling a few cents under $40.00. I don't expect to get that back, but I doubt Bean is going to lose any money on giving me a new pair of boots either, as the retail mark-up on stuff is really high. Plus I have given them a bunch of free advertising today, I have told all my neighbors and all my canoetripping.net forum friends. I really like buying shirts, jackets and coats from LL Bean because they offer Tall sizes even on long sleeve T-shirts. I am not really all that tall, only six foot, but I have really long arms from growing up on a farm hauling buckets of water to the critters. My son had his DNA tested, he had a higher than normal Neanderthal markers, which he blamed on the paternal side of the family.

 

[sweeper]

I just had a Columbia Fleece that the zipper started pulling out from the bottom. I emailed Columbia and was told 2 years and there was nothing they can do. I told them I be buying Bean in the further.
REI is a bit tricky to use also. I wanted to return a product I had not even used. No problem, EXCEPT, there are no REI stores in the area and it would cost me $33 to send a $44 purchase to Seattle, Washington.

 

[Canotrouge]

I have 2 pairs, one 10 inches, the first paire I bought , last year I got a pair of 16" and they are great also... The 10" never let water in after seam sealing the stitching, I wasn't as lucky with the 16" I must have done something a it different, but still the best canoe boots out there if you ask me. I love the fit, the grip and the flexibility that they provide, it would be great to have them available with a light insulated liner... but I heavy neoprene socks work pretty good!!

 

[Robin]

I really like buying shirts, jackets and coats from LL Bean because they offer Tall sizes even on long sleeve T-shirts. I am not really all that tall, only six foot, but I have really long arms from growing up on a farm hauling buckets of water to the critters.

That's a good one haha

 

[yellowcanoe]

Don't feel sorry for LLBean guys. I was going to stay out of this thread.
I worked for LLBean for ten years and there are some secrets that you may or may not know. They have a very proactive Loss Prevention Department. Any store that has no locks on the doors nor anti shoplifting beepers has to. ( there is a whole hidden floor in the Flagship store for surveillance and the employee cafeteria)
The guarantee is NOT a Lifetime Gurantee. Its a Customer Satisfaction Guarantee. This means that front line employees do not engage in commenting on returns . As noted in the OP that is a no no for an employee to do.
It IS noted in your record ( you do have one there..the whole operation is pretty slick and tightly run). For folks with legitimate returns this is not an issue. Our poster child in training was a habitual returnee that was walking the Appalachian Trail. As he walked he lost weight and kept returning pants ( very tattered) for a smaller size. This shenanigan eventually caught up with him.

I got to work in Returns and front line Customer Service.. So I got to see the back end in Returns.. When an item is returned the reason for return and the returnee is noted.. Most returns are straightforward ( exchange for another color size etc). Some go to the second level.. investigating the customers reason for return and record. Habitual returnees returns record goes to the Loss Prevention Dept. where "customer education " happens( as I didnt work there I don't know what the process is)

So if you have to return something because it falls apart needs repair ( especially the Bean boots, which have unfortunately become hard to find as they are millenial fashion trend) go ahead, I am sure you wont be returning a pair a month.( that will land you with the Loss Prevention Dept)

I have had to return some things..heck last year we returned an entire tent. the King Pine car camping tent. We had the old model and the poles kept snapping( fiberglass). the tent had been used maybe 20 times in five years. We had been before at two am just to find poles and the supervisor stripped the floor model saying the tent was being discontinued. So when those snapped and we still hadn't gotten what I thought was reasonable use from a tent we went back lugging this parcel ( 30 lbs across the parking lot). They just issued us a credit for a new tent because the tent had been redesigned and they could not get parts. I know TENT is on my customer record and that is fine. I am not a smuggler who stole a UPS truck of Bean Goods and trying to return all for money.

And if you have something from them that is a durable good like camping equipment or home goods, and a part breaks call them. There is a whole Product Support gang( about 150 people) who try to find parts. Its interesting to watch them thread through thousands of vendor and LLB catalogs..and roll around in the back with a tent to find a fitting.

Oh those boots,, they really are locally made. Product Support at the 800 number can advise on best care too.

 

[wgiles]

My boots will turn 50 this year.

 

[Boreal Birch]

Fifty year old Bean Boots? They have to be like my old fishing and trapping partner's Collins Hudson Bay axe. Instead of two new heads and ten new handles, your boots have had two new tops and the bottoms replaced numerous times.

 

[lowangle al]

I have 3 pairs, 16" and 10 " Maine hunting boot and a 6" bean boot. The Maine hunting boot has a soft sole like a moccasin (better for canoeing IMO) and the Bean boot has a steel shank and is stiffer, better for hiking but and less comfortable in the canoe.

 

[wgiles]

Fifty year old Bean Boots? They have to be like my old fishing and trapping partner's Collins Hudson Bay axe. Instead of two new heads and ten new handles, your boots have had two new tops and the bottoms replaced numerous times.

In most cases that would be true, but these are original. While you can surmise that I don't wear them often, I do wear them when the conditions are appropriate, slushy and wet. Most shoes this old would have fallen apart on their own, with or without use. The rubber is still good, I keep the leather in good condition and the stitching is still in good shape. I got them in Freeport in the summer of 1967 while on a family vacation. I was not quite old enough to drive.

 

[yellowcanoe]

The Hunting Shoe was designed with that soft sole so the hunter could "feel " the ground before committing to a step. He could tell if he was on a buried stick that might snap and make noise.

Todays foray into Beans produced more things I didn't know I needed.. Lots of stuff on sale.. including a new line of dehydrated foods made in Maine.. pricey.. Developed by a chef who abhorred the usual commercial offerings. Reasonable sodium content
https://goodto-go.com/

 

[Grandpa Paddler]

Developed by a chef who abhorred the usual commercial offerings. Reasonable sodium content
https://goodto-go.com/

I think what she is abhorred about is the fact that a large %age of the other offerings are not vegan, vegetarian or pescawhateverian...

 

[sweeper]

The fish was looking Pret-ty good after reading the her menu.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I think what she is abhorred about is the fact that a large %age of the other offerings are not vegan, vegetarian or pescawhateverian...

No.. more like most backpacking freeze dried tastes like crap. And I agree.. most of it tastes alike.. You can always add meat. which I plan to do. I like some of Pack It Gourmets vegetarian stuff and add meat..

 

[Grandpa Paddler]

No.. more like most backpacking freeze dried tastes like crap.

Ever tried Hawk Vittles? Also prepared by a chef.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Ever tried Hawk Vittles? Also prepared by a chef.

Sure. For about eight years. I only like a couple of things. For the most part I find HV bland. No salt at all. Not an issue if I remembered to bring salt. The bison stew was the best

 

[Boreal Birch]

Just to get this back on the topic of boots and not on freeze dried so called food, which I put in the same category as instant coffee, under the column entitled Yuk!

wgiles........You are lucky that your feet haven't outgrown your boots. Fifty years ago I wore size 10 1/2 boots, since then I have grown my feet out to size 13. At the same time that my feet were getting longer, I went from six foot, one inch down to 5' 11".

Best boots I have ever worn were Russel's, Joe's Boot from Berlin, WI. They are also the longest lasting. Second best pair were White's Packer Boots from back in the day when Otto White still ran the company. For winter outdoor wear my favorites are smoke tanned moose hide mukluks with canvas tops, but unless you know the right person you will have to settle for Steger Mukluks in Ely, MN which are really good and last longer in a semi town life in q really cold climate.

What other boots are favorites of forum members?

 

[Robin]

I like my Sorels, the only thing that keeps me in a tree stand for any length of time. I bring a spare pair of socks in case my feet sweat on the way in and change out as soon as my feet begin to chill.
They are good while doing snow removal and working outside in cold weather.
My daily shoe is a pair of Red Wing 606's. I wore them when I was truckin' back in the day C'mon and I'm on my second pair in retirement. I will no doubt give them a fresh "mink oil" treatment for Easter Sunday.