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These Boots are Still Made for Walkin....
I erroneously made an assumption that my original blog post below was yanked and sent to the Principal's office for violation of TOS (that's Terms of Service for you acronym-challenged folk)--but we all know what happens when assumptions are made.
Wikipedia it if you were born in 1809 and don't know what I'm talking about.
So here it is...in its entirety, and thanks to WebChief for the clarification/go-ahead.
These Boots Were Made For Walkin....
Phenomenal.
Now I've got Nancy Sinatra's warbling firmly entrenched in my brain. The only thing that might shake that loose is something peppy from the Partridge Family, and quite honestly, I'm not sure which is worse. But I digress....
I've been lured out of my self-imposed blogging retirement by an opportunity that I just couldn't pass up. I won't reap any benefits, financial or otherwise, from this little experiment, but hopefully my emergency services brethren will benefit from an honest and legitimate review of one of the key pieces of firefighting PPE....yer boots.
Caitlin Gambee from TrueNorth PR found me hiding under my internet rock, and asked me if I would consider accepting a pair of Black Diamond X firefighting boots to take on a test drive. In exchange, I'd blog about the boots (and was told in no uncertain terms that if they suck, I was to say so honestly....whilst refraining from actually using the word "suck" or "blow" or any derivative thereof if at all possible).
To be perfectly frank, my department doesn't run that many calls per year (we prefer to think that it's due to our exemplary fire prevention tutelage vs. something more geographic) so I was feeling a bit iffy about taking on the Black Diamond challenge. It could be WEEKS before we'd get another call....and quite possibly a year before I actually broke the things in...which is where my buddy Jim got involved.
Jim (Brunelle Jr. http://www.firefighternation.com/profile/JimBrunelleJr?xg_source=pr... ) is the Chief of Department up in Washington County, NY at the Kingsbury Volunteer Hose Company #1. It's a busy department. They answer more calls in a week than I answer in six months. Jim might be a White Hat, but that certainly doesn't keep him off of the fireground. He's also a good friend of mine, one of whom I'm pretty sure I owe a favor or two to...so what better way to get myself off the hook than by offering him some firefighting boots to check out in exchange for his painfully honest feedback?!
So I shot him an email and asked if he was interested. His response encompassed a whopping two words; "Hell Yeah".
The boots got here lickety-split, and my next post will cover Jim's initial impression of the boots as to fit, feel, appearance and all that other stuff that men don't generally think about when trying on footwear; to wit, the classic male response when trying on shoes or other footwear "It fits, it's fine". (I may have to embellish his feedback a smidge...).
I, for one, wasn't all that "up" on Black Diamond as a company in general, or more specifically as a vendor of firefighting boots. Then again, my department isn't keen on blowing a lot of budget dollars on expensive leather boots, so I slog around in a donated pair that thankfully fit me and get the job done. (Thanks Kali http://www.firefighternation.com/profile/KaliGoddessofDestruction84... )
Here's a little bio on Black Diamond, along with a link to their Facebook page (if you ain't Facebookin....you ain't livin, son)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Black-Diamond-Boots/22431...
Here's the Official Dog and Pony Show verbiage, straight from the Pony's mouth:
BLACK DIAMOND BOOTS ARE THE FIRST FIRE BOOTS TO HAVE THE SEAL OF ACCEPTANCE BY THE AMERICAN PODRIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Black Diamond is pleased to announce that it is the first fire boot to be awarded the Seal of Acceptance by the APMA. The APMA Seal of Acceptance Program was created to inform podiatric physicians and consumers about products whose quality, safety and effectiveness promote good foot health. In order to qualify for the Seal products must pass a grueling scientific evaluation by a panel of APMA members and rigorous testing at a recognized laboratory. The results are then evaluated by a committee of Doctors of Podiatric Medicine who decide to grant or deny the use of the Seal.
"We are proud to be the first fire boots to be recognized and awarded the APMA Seal of Acceptance" said Black Diamond President, Rob Mills. "The APMA's efforts to promote better foot health is consistent with our efforts to build boots that will support the brave men and women in the fire service as they provide world-class support and protection to our communities."
Black Diamond is the leader in performance protective footwear. Our boots are in service daily with fire departments from around the world in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Canada and the United States of America. Utilizing proprietary footwear constructions and "best in class" components and materials such as CROSSTECH® and Ortholite®, we build a better boot for people who demand all-day comfort, support and protection.
We are bootmakers - it is what we've known for the past three generations. Our boots are built for firefighters who perform random acts of bravery - it's not just their job, it's their passion. Our passion is to make the best damn boots to support these bold and brave men and women who run toward danger while others run away.
OUR MISSION IS CLEAR. OUR PURPOSE IS SIMPLE. BUILD THE BEST DAMN BOOT.
Well I'd say them there's some fightin words...or at least a challenge, wouldn't you?
So here's the skinny:
Jim's going to provide me with his unabridged and searingly honest commentary and feedback on the Black Diamond X Boots he's been provided with, and I'll post it here in two parts; one for initial feedback, and the other for a follow-up visit to see how the boots are working out after getting worked out.
Here's a photo of the aforementioned boots followed by the specs (for the whacker gearheads who just HAVE to know, down to the nano-inch, what the boots are made of and measurements and all that other stuff that makes my mind go to white screen)
Black Diamond X-Boot
- Comfort System: Comfort Fit Plus - with Enersole
- Boot Height: 14 inches
- Leather Upper: Firetuff Leather(tm) with Fusion Fabric
- 3-Point Heel Lock System: Exclusive 3-Point Heel Lock
- Lining: Crosstech Fabric with Omaha Lining
- Kevlar Lining: Kevlar Lined For Protection
- Insulation: Standard
- Tibia Protection: Padded Shin-Guard Protection and Comfort
- Toe Cap Protection: Rubber Toe Cap For High-abrasion
- Steel Toe: HI 500, Meets or Exceeds ASTM Standards
- Steel Midsole: Stainless Steel
- Steel Shank: Ridge Steel
- Outsole: Rubber Comfort Cup Sole with Comfort Flex, High-abrasion and Traction Performance
- Footbed: 3-Density Removable Pu Orthotic Footbed
- Pull-On System: Integrated Pull-On System
- Certification: NFPA1971 Edition
And if that wasn't enough, Black Diamond also has a contest on their webpage to win a free pair of their firefighting boots, and here's the link for THAT
http://www.blackdiamondfootwear.com/Win/
So I'll be back in a few days with Jim's initial feedback on the boots, and in the interim, why don't you go check out Black Diamond's web page and Facebook page. For the record, I'm 99.9% sure that the babes modeling the boots on both sites don't come with the boots themselves. I'm just sayin....
Add a Comment
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Comment by Mike on April 8, 2010 at 11:00pm
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Just glad she's blogging again...
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Comment by Jack/dt on April 6, 2010 at 11:42pm
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Mary Ellen, My apology for having accused you of collusion (or the appearance of collusion).
I simply wrote what I observed and how it appeared...to me. So you weren't pulling a "fast one" . I wasn't the one that pulled your post to begin with and wasn't even aware that, of the 7 boot posts, yours was one of them. And since I don't know you, I assumed (took for granted) that you were yet another spamvertiser here at FFN. Since every time I've actually have given a shit about the quality of this site it's usually turned and bit me in the ass. Trust me, I've learned my lesson. It can spam in here until hell freezes over.
Feel free to expunge my previous comments if you wish.
cheers
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Comment by Mary Ellen Shea on April 6, 2010 at 9:57pm
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Jack, there's nothing subjective about you stating that my motives for posting this blog piece were suspicious and that Caitlin and I were in cahoots to promote Black Diamond. You said it, I responded with a rebuttal, and Pompeia aside, I have been blogging on this site with a keen eye and sensibility for veracity from the infancy of FFN.
I don't take kindly to having my motives questioned or for the suggestion that I might be pulling,for lack of a better term, a "fast one" .
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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on April 6, 2010 at 9:55pm
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Das Boots.
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Comment by WestPhilly on April 6, 2010 at 9:23pm
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Uh, no, Jack, I think we'll further discuss this right here. If you wanted to take this outside of Mary Ellen's blog, you should have dropped me a message to that effect. But instead you decided to take part of my response to Art - and completely out of context - and post it here. So let me put it back into context.
Yes, I referred to you as a feminist/weenie, part-time vollie FF, AFTER I referred to myself as a sexist/chauvinist, real life Philly Fire Captain. It was - and you know perfectly well it was - obviously facetious, coming as it did, right on the heels of Art's obviously facetious suggestion of a cage match between us. Did you take that seriously as well? And your charge that I was attempting to "minimize" you to "maximize" me is either disengenuous or a flagrant lie. Either one is pitiful.
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Mary Ellen,
Uh, I don't know you either. As to whether or not I was casting aspersions, it's a subjective call. You mention how Caitlin contacts you, and then all of a sudden your blog is there in the middle of hers. Certainly appeared to be some collusion. Even Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.
Since der Web Meister has not called foul, it mustn't be one, or so I would assume. I was simply expressing my viewpoint. And I never once assumed you were braiding each other's hair, although I'm sure philly would be willing to help out. At least I might assume as much.
Am I being led back down the slippery slope, or back up it? I assume a slope, being slippery, would tend to 'lead' one down it, but it may be a different slope than the ones you're used to.
Not sure about your reference to Sisyphus, I don't believe he was on a slippery slope. Pushing a slipper stone, perhaps, but the mythology doesn't imply slipperyness of said slope. Sometimes mixed metaphors work, sometimes they don't.
WestPhilly,
"feminist/weenie, part-time vollie FF"
Really? Coming from someone who seems at every opportunity to reproach someone for personal attacks and insults, this seems a bit over the top even for you. But...I guess by attempting to minimize someone else, it helps to maximize yourself. If that's what it takes to make you feel good about yourself, have at it. If you'd like to further discuss your view of me feel free to drop me a message and we can do it outside of Mary Ellen's post. I'm sure this wasn't what she had in mind when she posted here.
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thanks to all for the feedback; I laughed, I cried....
Uh, Jack? I don't know who you are, and you clearly don't know me, so I'd greatly appreciate it if you could refrain from casting aspersions on my character or stating "collusion" without asking me. As stated above, we all know what happens when one makes assumptions.
For the record, Caitlin was not a friend of mine prior to this review venture; Nor do we sit around braiding each others' hair and gossiping about boys. I wouldn't know her if I tripped and fell over her on the street (although I'd certainly offer her a hand up if that were the case). I was not familiar with either Black Diamond OR her PR Firm, True North, prior to two weeks ago.
As to the comment that my post seemed "whiny"--well, that's your opinion, and you're certainly entitled to it, but that leads you back down that slippery slope of assumption building, doesn't it Sisyphus?
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Silly me. Now what could have possibly led me to the assumption that you were talking about Jack?
Art, please don't strike me, I'm no match for you.
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WP:
Who said anything about Jack?
You know; I can be pretty cagey...
For an old guy.
I've been working out. Tattoos are getting bigger.
Wait; that's the new bifocals kicking in.
What were you saying?
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Art, get real. A cage match between a sexist/chauvinist, real life Philly Fire Captain and a feminist/weenie, part-time vollie FF? I already feel guilty about "snapping at his heels", I'd never get over stomping his guts out. (Not that I'd do that - I'm really a pacifist) And he's probably an OK guy, deep - way deep - down inside.
And it's funny you should mention missing Mary Ellen, (that's my pet-name for her) because I was just telling Jack she doesn't come on here very much.
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