Meindl Dovre glue failure & rubbish service!!!

[roaring_stag]

Seems like this topic has been done to death now… however my experience with Meindl as follows:

I have had a pair of dovres for about 9 years. I have had them re-soled twice (third sole). I have taken very good care of them and have cleaned/mink oiled as regularly as i could. They are now giving away at the lining/leather upper, I don’t feel hard done by at all as they have done a fair bit of work with me.

I also have 2x pairs of Altberg brown leather army issue boots, which are excellent (you can pick these up cheap at surplus stores etc). As @caberslash says above, better to rotate between boots rather than shag one pair to death. I tend to have 3 pairs on the go at a time.

In terms of the current meindl offering - sounds total shite, and a shame that the company have totally dropped the ball in terms of quality, craftsmanship, materials being unreliable. I for one will certainly not be re-purchasing a pair of Meindl boots.

I’m looking at getting a pair of Crispi Highland pro boots, as they are getting good reviews.

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for - just a shame that you currently get shite when you pay good dollar for dovres.

RS

 

[foxinmad]

Got a set of Lowa's, leak more than a church roof.

New set of the Crispi's that everyone is buying now through work. Seem fine but only had for 2 months.

Think the Meindl Artic range are still OK, had a set for 2 years no issues and down to -10°c

What goes first is the soles and there is no point getting new ones put on now due to cost.

Sounds crazy but better to rotate between 3-4 pairs vs. wear one pair everyday.

Boot driers can be a killer of boots as well.

Just wear Meindl Dovre for yardwork now

View attachment 287494

Le chams, 20 years old and have seen loads of miles, burst now, but still good enough for a walk with the dogs on a dry day.
I have 3 pairs of boots on the go just now, I rotate them regularly.

 

[Stimo444]

I had a pair that fell apart with sole coming off. I sent them back to company and they said “yes they do that after some time, just send us another £105 and we will resole.” I declined the offer

 

[crouch valley]

Take a refund and buy Chrispi boot definitely the comfiest boots I’ve worn including my Meindl’s

 

[sich1]

+1 on the crispi's. really like my nevada legend GTX

 

[Donkey Basher]

Looks like damage caused by excessive loading to me

Oi - I resemble that remark!

 

[Dan Newcombe]

This happened to the right boot of my last pair of Hanwags in less than 12 months. I sent them back to the supplier and 3 weeks later got a new pair

Where did you get your hanwags? Struggling to find anyone with them actually in stock.

Cheers

 

[baguio]

This happened to the right boot of my last pair of Hanwags in less than 12 months. I sent them back to the supplier and 3 weeks later got a new pair

Where did you get your hanwags? Struggling to find anyone with them actually in stock.

Cheers

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[Dan Newcombe]

Cheers

 

[Pedro]

As some have said, there are a number of companies that have, over years built good reputations only to destroy or seriously damage them in the drive to cut costs, many by switching their production to somewhere in the Orient. Meindl, Hunter, Harkila, Barbour, there are probably more I can't bring to mind at the moment.

And the problem is that once you get a bad rep, it's not too easy to shake off. Harkila boots were famously poor in recent years and have now binned their range and released another. More expensive, but by all accounts miles better. But ask many people about Harkila boots and they will remember the rubbish ones they or a pal had and that influences their views.

I've got a pair of Meindl Dovre Extreme GTX boots and a pair of army surplus Altberg boots. One pair costs around £330 new, the other £50 or so. I do rotate them, tending to wear the Meindls on very wet days because they are taller, but they aren't doing as well as the Altbergs, despite wearing the Altbergs more often. And they are more comfortable. I heartily recommend getting a pair of Army surplus boots, there's any amount on Ebay (Altbergs and other makes) if even only as a backup pair. And if they do fail, at £50, it's not a disaster!

 

[Bowland blades]

Le chams, 20 years old and have seen loads of miles, burst now, but still good enough for a walk with the dogs on a dry day.
I have 3 pairs of boots on the go just now, I rotate them regularly.

I have a very old set of Le-Chams i still wear walking the dogs. Used for stalking till the fold line cracked through the leather rendering them no longer waterproof. I think 15 years plus heavy regular use. You wont get that out of what they produce today ( far from it )
vibram soles are a must for me ever since i bough these
I am on Dedito now bought at last years NSS and worn most days out in the fields and wood daily , they are doing well thus far . However i wouldnt but any of the later Le cham stuff

 

[tolley]

good write up im clad i read it first , was going for a pair of Lowa till reading reviews , then Salomon not wide enough , but not sure which to go for , maybe Meindls , Altberg .
any other makes your all getting good results with , £250 limit ?

 

[Bowland blades]

good write up im clad i read it first , was going for a pair of Lowa till reading reviews , then Salomon not wide enough , but not sure which to go for , maybe Meindls , Altberg .
any other makes your all getting good results with , £250 limit ?

I have been doing well with dedito , nearly 12 months now worn daily , no issues . Made in Italy the same factory that made most of the good European brands before other brands cheaped out on quality and put them to the cheaper makers in China . If the story is the same at the next Northern shooting show i will likely buy another pair even if i dont need them

 

[tolley]

which Dedito boots do you have ?

 

[Julian S]

Altberg the way to go, had 3 pairs meindl and Altberg British and way cheaper

 

[Bowland blades]

which Dedito boots do you have ?

moorland

 

[Klenchblaize]

Happened to the original soles of first boots below and after some 5-years of languishing within a darkened cupboard having only been worn a couple of times. Paid £50 to Bramwell for a re-sole. Note the green stripe that denotes use of an aftermarket sole:
View attachment 287462
These ones have been fine so far:
View attachment 287461
K

Foooooking spoke too soon!

These seldom get used as too much boot for Sevenoaks but they keep me warm during lambing protection forays as per this morning. Fine when I put them on at 4AM and now useless at Noon!

I feel a letter to Meindl taking form as I write.

K

 

[NickJL]

Good luck with that. I’m the original post and I got nowhere. The place in the UK they use to fix them must be inundated with work and complaints. They did reply to my complaint, but it was pretty much a polite way of saying, sorry they are sh1t!!
I managed to return mine for a refund because they were so new. I bought a pair of Lowa but haven’t given them a proper test yet because the season ended by the time I faffed about waiting for Meindl. Never ever again with Meindl!!

 

[Bowland blades]

Gosh think of the value of these brands BEFORE THEY SOUGHT HIGHER MARGINS TO MAKE MORE CASH ! Been better selling the brand to people who actually wanted to continue trading well into the future eh ?

 

[BRYAN]

Years ago when these rotting er ....soles came up it was suggested by someone that the polyurethane was decomposing over time even when in storage. Something to do with the chemical composition.
More recently I have been hankering after a nice pair of English brogues and studying internet and the tube.
Somewhere it was mentioned even neoprene, I believe is supposed to be lightly oiled with something to extend it's lifetime.
I didn't read it properly as was not what I was looking for at the time.