Patagonia started doing this on their adult jackets too.

That’s besides the point of their branding.

Any cleaner. Go buy the gallon+ at a hardware store and get an industrial sprayer. For me I use the Zep brand stuff at Lowes since it’s the closest place. The adjustable sprayers are much better and accurate than your on/off style sprayers.

Patagonia does this too. With a lot more lines on it for more kids’ names because it’ll last.

I moved from Florida to Massachusetts and had heard numerous fantastic stories about legendary retailer LL Bean. My wife was still rocking her rucksack from 20 years ago. Mom-in-law has her 30+ year bean boots. So I go all in. I buy flannel sheets, I buy a backback, I buy a jacket, etc. I know I’m paying a little more but it’s buy once cry once purchase.

The first time I try to take some back, slippers that are 9 months of use, it’s denied do to being “normal wear and tear”. I’m like “the stitches popped out the bottom and they don’t look that work”, too bad next. Ok, one bad experience. My kids backpack, the top nylon strap used to hang it up pulls out completely at 28 days old, I take it to the store. I’m scrutinized exhaustedly, they bring over a manager, I finally push and say it’s less than 30 days, take it back or I’m disputing the charge and they finally replace it. My wife just had a similar experience with a jacket that had a manufacturing defect.

tl;dr the new LL Bean isn’t the same quality and they are no longer handling returns in a way that stands behind their products. LL Bean is now just a brand label slapped on cheap stuff.

Frost river. Sturdy but heavy.

You should check out Origin. Made in Maine with as much sourcing from the US as they can. They probably don’t have as good a selection but the stuff is quality.

Maybe if you're writing the second or third name now.

LLBean changed their lifetime warranty to one year around the same time they started making cheap crap.

I bought four pairs of jeans, and I'm just hoping the wife doesn't notice the tears because ahe likes throwing things away.

$149 is not expensive at all for good boots. Especially made in USA ones.

My disappointment is immeasurable on seeing no names on the trail.

I still have and use my Jansport from 1996. My kids use it more than I do at this point.

Ha, they think it will only go through 3 children. My childhood coat is still in circulation 20 years later. It just keeps being handed to the next nextdoor neighbor.

I'm intrigued, and also shocked that the prices are under $200 (I'm sure shipping will bring it up, but seems worth it so far)

I'll check them out, I've heard that some of their boots have the internal metatarsal guard, which I guess is better than none

Army surplus is hard because you need to figure out your location and sizing in order to buy. I have done a post here about them so you can check that. So in my case I know my sizing in a specific kind of Canadian boots that I can get here but you wouldn't likely be able to get them easily in another country.

But if money was no object I would get something like this myself.

https://williamlennon.co.uk/shop/mark-v-canadian-combat-replica-boot/

Traditionally made, by a traditional maker. Can be fully repaired. Something like that should last years of daily wear and then you can resole it and keep wearing them. But there are many options like this depending on where you are and the specific style you want.

I used to use ironlaces because they're great, but i kept burning through them, so I've swapped to KG Boot guard, they're FR treated, so even if they don't last as long as ironlaces with normal wear, they also me longer as a welder. I haven't had to tie my boots with Mig wire in almost a year now!

Aw I really love this!

hvac tape has entered the chat

I bet those Levi's had some great fades by the time they reached the last kid. Youngest probably didn't even know how cool they looked.

It's why I'm so thrilled when I see older Bean stuff at Goodwill. I'm still kicking myself for leaving an old pair of their boots behind.

My son's snowsuit has colored stitching in it, that you cut when it gets too small and grows with essentially. So it will last multiple seasons instead of one.

Nah, I don't have issues with stepping on things. Metatarsal protectors cover the top of the foot, and the external ones also keep the laces safe from sparks and stuff so they don't burn up. The cheapest pair of boots I've had with them were Irish setters that ran me like 140.

I've had a heavy duty winter jacket from LL Bean that my mom bought me nearly 20 years ago and it still feels brand new.

Fair. I buy our coats secondhand and there’s so many in near perfect condition that I think sadly many kids don’t go outside as much as yours.

Any boot that is made with a synthetic foam insole will have a life in miles not really time. Even if the upper is still in good condition the foam of the sole compresses and eventually fails. But it sounds like your boot is just overall failing based on your description. Running shoes are 300-500 miles. Hiking boots are 1000. How quickly they fail will depending on how you are using them. The only way to really get longer out of a boot is to go with a traditional construction that has no synthetics in the sole. So a full leather sole will last longer but it will be very different then a traditional work boot as you don't have all that cushion. So essentially with a modern boot you get an immediate comfort which sacrifices longer life. Or you go with something that is traditionally constructed, but you will have to get used to that. Most people's feet are used to all that cushion and support. SO trying to go directly to a pair of them from a more modern shoe construction will be difficult.