my husband has a bad knee, any slip can put him out of work for a long time, not good! he has about had it with his brogans because of this. twice now he has slipped and felt pain. he has heel plates, but wants something on the toe part of his shoes so he wont slip... is there anything? i need to find something otherwise hes going to rubberize the soles and im trying hard to keep him from doing that!!!

Is the problem surfaces like wet grass, where a cleat-like solution would work? Or on flooring where cleats are just going to be like ice skates?

Hobnails are a possibility where cleats could dig in. For flooring or stone walkways, man, I wish I knew. If the brogans are brand new, a little coarse sandpaper to roughen up the bottom may help a little, and they may do better without the heelplates, but I've never found a real solution other than walking carefully.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Quote :

hanktrent wrote : Is the problem surfaces like wet grass, where a cleat-like solution would work? Or on flooring where cleats are just going to be like ice skates? Hobnails are a possibility where cleats could dig in. For flooring or stone walkways, man, I wish I knew. If the brogans are brand new, a little coarse sandpaper to roughen up the bottom may help a little, and they may do better without the heelplates, but I've never found a real solution other than walking carefully. Hank Trent hanktrent@voyager.net

Hopnails are about the only authentic solution for the wet grass etc besides just being careful. In the past I did quite a few school programs and used an old pair of brogans without heelplates and glued some rubber shoe tips on the sole just for walking on hallways etc. I also brought along a correct pair to show the students.

its for grass, though sometimes he is on cement, but thats not all that often.

where can i get hobnails? i did a search and didnt find any? or can a cobbler put them on?

Almost anyone who sells brogans should be able to install hobnails as well. Check at the next decent size event you go to and surely there will be several vendors that can do it for you.

Also they will become less slick with some wear but they are a leather soled shoe after all. Our ancestors went through the same thing.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-07-15 20:56:45 --

Concentrate when you walk. Make sure you put your heel down first, all the time, every time. You'll be surprised. We're used to walking in tennis shoes...

The only place that I've seen (online) that sells hob nails is Fall Creek.  I haven't looked for them at an event.  I was thinking about getting some myself, but for some reason, when I'm strolling along sutler's row, I never think of it.

To keep from slipping indoors, on tile or whatever, I hear that duct tape does the trick.

Missouri Boot and Shoe sells them too. However, be advised, they're a little longer than your sole is thick. So, guess why the cobbler uses one of those upside down metal shoe looking things when he installs them?

Quote :

To keep from slipping indoors, on tile or whatever, I hear that duct tape does the trick.

Works wonders in airports.

hes mainly on grass, occassionally hes on cement (mainly for a few parades)... will the hobnails cause problems on the cement? or could i put a piece of duct tape over them to help him from not slipping?

ill order them from missouri boot and shoe.. they are cheaper in the long run. i better call the cobbler to make sure he can put them in!

grumpy... wish i could tell him to just walk right.. but alas.. he is doing this for me, he really isnt all that into it (though the more he does, the more he enjoys it). trying to keep him period correct is all up to me. hes threatening rubber soles or wearing his regular boots... so im trying hard to keep him from doing either one!!

Concrete and asphalt should be OK, just be careful if you run into a tiled convenience store on the way there or home and for goodness sake stay off hardwood unless you like that "column of cavalry came through here" look to your floors.

I also advise letting the cobbler put them in because if you think they are uncomfortable now wait until you hae the point of a hobnail pointing up inside the shoe. It only takes a few minutes for an experienced cobbler to put them in.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-07-17 08:50:25 --

Must agree with Robert, those tiled school hallways are one slippery floor...been on my back once or twice. Your heels just go out from under you.

i plan on having the cobbler install them, in fact im going to call him right now, perhaps he has some already available! that and i want to make sure he can do it.

ill just have dh wear other shoes if he has to go into a store or something, i didnt even think about that!

you dont think that acupuncture would feel good?

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Marc wrote : Must agree with Robert, those tiled school hallways are one slippery floor...been on my back once or twice. Your heels just go out from under you.

Had to stop at a Wally World near an event once and the looks you get. Of course it's hard not to look when you hear that click...click.....click...click....

Try traveling by bus to an event, and wearing your period shoes to save packing them. Every bus station has a tile floor, and the bathrooms and water fountains are always in the farthest corner!

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Although it may be farby (no more so than duct tape), here's an excellent solution from a former figure skater in the ranks. Have a cobbler place rubber half soles on the front of the soles of the brogans. They are only about 1/16th of an inch thick with a slightly grooved bottom surface and are glued in place. They are totally unnoticeable unless you look at the soles from the bottom. Most of the troops in my unit have done this and we no longer skate around. The good thing is, being rubber, hardwood floors are in no danger. Ask your local shoe repair man/cobbler if he can he fix you up. I think we paid $7 per pair and we all agree it was money well spent. I know, it ain't really period correct, but the half soles can't be seen and I got tired of busting my keester

Gregg Hensley
22nd NC, Co. K

thank you gregg!!! may be farby but its better than my dh replacing the whole sole!  and its safe for any place...

my husband is the sole provider for the family..if he hurt himself (and he has a job he has to climb poles, dig holes, walk milkes, etc) then we would be in big trouble, and i would never hear the end of it. im going to see if we cant get that done. im very happy to know there is an option other than hobnails.

You're quite welcome! I'm glad to be of service...I hope my suggestion helps out.

Gregg Hensley
22nd NCST, Co. K

someone just told me that regular stores sell the stick-ons too. so im going to check those out. im going to get me a pair too so i dont fall!

I've found that as I've gotten older, I'm much less sure of my footing. A couple of years ago, I slipped on the stairs in the tavern at "Old Bedford Village". I was sore for a month and my chiropractor and I got to be great friends. I have considered putting rubber half soles and heels a pair of brogans for use at only the events where they would be accepted.

You might want to reconsider those heel plates. They can be a killer if you have to walk on paved surfaces. I figure it's better for my health and welfare to just get the heels replaced every season.

It's hell to get old.