Meindl Airstream chainsaw boots

Events, News and Reviews
Meindl Airstream
chainsaw boots
Still nice
and
clean…
HAND CRAFTED IN THE 300-YEAR-PLUS, FAMILY-OWNED
MEINDL FACTORY IN GERMANY, THESE BOOTS ARE
DESCRIBED BY MEINDL AS ‘A REVOLUTION IN COMFORTABLE
FITTING CHAINSAW BOOTS’.
Additional press information maintains that the Airstream is
‘a stand-out-from-the-crowd, modern-looking work boot with
many innovative built-in features’.
This Class-1 chainsaw boot has a Gore-Tex waterproof and
breathable lining, with a cushioned 3D mesh tongue, which,
says the manufacturer, make this boot 33% more breathable
than a standard boot. Added comfort and fit comes with the
built-in memory foam to the heel area, which provides an
individual custom fit to the wearer. Meindl DiGAfix lacing
makes for a secure foot hold inside the boot. Protection comes
with the high rubber rand around these boots, frontal Kevlar
protection, steel toe cap and the famous Meindl multigrip
double-density sole unit made by Vibram.
That’s a lot of bold claims to make, so essentialARB was asked
to put the boots to the test. David Oliver (of Tales from the Trees
fame) has had the boots for three months or so. This is what he
had to say…
This has to be one of the most difficult reviews I have written –
not because I have anything critical to say or the struggle that
being objective over a fault brings, but because of the opposite.
Firstly, and most importantly, the boots come in my size – 9.5 UK
(or 44 EU). This matters because having to wear either a size 9
or 10 boot that doesn’t quite fit is extremely annoying. The sizes
available range from 6 to 12.
The next thing is that the boots are easy to pull on. After 25 years
and the almost inevitable back issues combined with missing
finger parts, this is a key feature – particularly first thing in the
morning. The laces undo to a point where the boots can be
slipped on and off without having to bend down to pull them and
adjust the tongue.
As an
aside,
and it
seems
irrelevant,
the laces are
good quality
too – not
really a deal
breaker, but I
have worn boots that make me wonder whether
the manufacturers realise what tree surgeons do
all day! Boots need to be tied securely.
The tongue is soft and comfy, the boots do indeed mould
to your feet, exactly like they say they do – something called
Meindl Memory Foam System apparently.
The boots claim to have 33% more breathability. I’ve been
wearing mine for around 6 weeks through May, June and July,
and although my feet have been hot, they aren’t too bad –
certainly better than any others I’ve worn.
The Gore-Tex makes them completely waterproof and I know this
because my feet were dry in wet long grass and in the river. In
fact, because you can tie them tightly and with ease at the ankle
you can prevent some water ingress even if you go too deep.
The features include the standard steel toe cap, good quality
soles and grip and a high rubber seal between the sole and the
top of the boot – over an inch.
After a month there was no sign of wear and it seems to me
that this higher rubber seal could help the longevity of the boot
insomuch as there is less opportunity for the boots to ‘separate’
where the sole meets the leather/suede. Whether or not this
proves true remains to be seen, but one of my men, who has had
the same boots for 6 months, reports no signs of wear.
There is Class 1 20m/second chainsaw protection. I haven’t
tested this – it would be a shame as I don’t want to damage the
comfiest boots I’ve ever worn. And that’s the point. It’s easy to
read the leaflet and copy out a few of the selling features, but I
was given these boots to test, which is what really matters, how
they feel. On this alone they are faultless.
From day one I forgot that I was conducting a test, because
I forgot I was wearing them. I’ve worn them for hiking, tree
surgery, farming and even to the Arb Show and I can’t think of a
single criticism. At the end of the day I wear them to do the office
work because there’s no particular rush to take them off, unlike
some boots, which I can’t bear to be in any longer than I have to.
… and after
several months
of work.
I also fell out of a tree in them, not because they didn’t grip, but
because I failed to put my rope around anything whilst abseiling
down a larch I was felling. I’m certain that I fell 25ft (though
my men reckon it was only 15), and I landed on my feet. This
really was the ultimate test because where I hurt my knees, back
and (oddly) my elbow, my ankles were totally supported and
undamaged.
Although it makes me look like a covert Meindl employee, I’m
not going to find fault with the boots.
I’m sure there are plenty of other good boots out there. Whether
or not they are as good, and at the same price (£179 RRP), I
don’t know, but I don’t really need to know – these will do me.
Wiltshire Dave
30
Summer 2014