Mike Garner is a lifelong sportsman whose love for everything outdoors has been the driving force behind his career. With over a decade of television production experience under his belt, he has cultivated a track record of storytelling excellence.
Flying Over Mesa, Arizona
February 16, 2010
You wouldn’t think flying in a vintage World War II era T-6 Trainer would evoke thoughts or memories of rugged outdoor footwear. And, I have to admit the thought didn’t immediately cross my mind. But, somewhere over Mesa, Arizona, that’s exactly what happened.
I recently found myself working in the back seat of a T-6 Trainer, flying at a comfortable cruising altitude of 3,000 feet and moving along at a steady 150 MPH. While capturing some beautiful HD footage of vintage aircraft in formation the thought occurred to me, I was wearing a pair of boots that could have easily been found in that same plane 70 years ago.
The North American T-6 Texan was a single-engine trainer aircraft used to train pilots in the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, and the Royal Air Force, among others. The plane was first flown in 1935 and was in full-blown production by the late 1930’s.
The popular warbird aircraft is the subject of a project I am producing called WarBikes. The only “outdoorsy” thing about the series is the fact that we are shooting out-of-doors. Not the typical sports afield type story most boot guys would associate with the Chippewa brand.
Nevertheless, the classic engineer boot would have been found on land surveyors, ship builders, and no doubt engineers connected with everything from public works projects to aircraft manufacturing – thus the name.
What’s not surprising is the fact that a product designed with practical utility in the late 1930’s would find a home in fashion today. Such is the case with the engineer boot. The stovepipe tops and the adjustable leather straps across the ankle and top of the shaft allow for the perfect fit.
Ironically, the Chippewa Shoe Company of Chippewa, Wisconsin, originally produced the boot. Although their address has changed the boot hasn’t.
What more can you say about a tough good looking pair of boots suitable for everything from riding motorcycles to flying planes?
| 3 feedbacks » |
 Permalink
|
SHOT Show 2010
January 28, 2010
Cushioned insoles with good arch support were the order of the day and function over form seemed to be the rule. But, you could still find everything from athletic shoes to wingtips.
As a life long sportsman and admitted outdoor footwear addict, I could not have found a more appropriate place to kick start a little boot dialog than one of the industry’s most demanding proving grounds – the 2010 SHOT Show.
Don’t laugh. I’m serious. With 700,000 square feet of smooth concrete and poorly padded carpet, the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, presented an ideal opportunity to test the comfort and fit of a good pair of boots.
And I wasn’t the only one. The ultimate shooting, hunting, and outdoor trade show featured miles of aisles with 1,633 exhibitors, 31,280 buyers, and 1,804 media professionals. Almost everyone covering the same ground the same way – on two feet.
I chose the best of both worlds; a great fitting all-leather boot with ample support and more than enough style to pass as a working media professional. The classic engineer boot in tan bomber jacket leather was perfect with jeans and a button-down shirt. And the distinct Chippewa brass buckle set me apart from the rest. The idea that you need loose, steep, or even rugged terrain to properly scrutinize your footgear is fairly inaccurate. The simple fact that Mother Earth is comprised of shock-absorbing soil and vegetation is often overlooked. The shock of concrete floors is transferred from the foot, to knees, to hips, and lower back. And it’s that prolonged exposure that creates the discomfort and fatigue often associated with long hours on convention floors or chasing billy goats up and down rocky peaks. Nevertheless, in four days on the SHOT Show floor I averaged almost 7,000 steps per day or about 3.5 miles. That’s according to my trusty Walking Shop step counter, (kind of dorky but effective.) In the end it was the feet that told the story. Great fit. Successful show. Not a bad test. So, I beg the question. How do you put your outdoor footwear to the test?
| 2 feedbacks » |
Permalink
|
