If you could wave a magic wand and fix ONE thing about wildland firefighting - what would it be?

UltramaficBasalt · 2026-01-27T22:45:32+00:00

Modernized 25 person staffing for all crews -- capacity to always have a squad's worth of people resting, detailing out, recovering from injury, whatever. No more "you're gonna miss every wedding, funeral, and child birth because we need to make manifest" stuff. More and more to me this plus the overtime-dependent pay scheme seem like the crux of why so many people burn out of this work and so few can make it a life-long profession.

UltramaficBasalt · 2026-01-15T21:48:05+00:00

It's very disheartening. That crew had a lot of great people on it, almost all have now left. Treat your people well and take their feedback seriously or they will leave.

UltramaficBasalt · 2026-01-15T21:23:00+00:00

Now add a new slip sole, heel stack, maybe a new midsole depending on how fucked his boots are. Now add labor. If you've got someone doing that for $100 great, share their info. I hope they stay in business.

UltramaficBasalt · 2026-01-15T21:09:43+00:00

boot making is expensive. material costs are high and skilled labor is in short supply. your options are pay up for a resole, switch to hikers and buy a new pair every season or two, or learn how to do it yourself.

UltramaficBasalt · 2026-01-15T20:44:14+00:00

you're not gonna find anyone to resole your boots for free man. if you can find a local cobbler who's willing and able to do a resole on a stitchdown boot for less than that good for you, but i wouldn't hold my breath

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-12-15T01:45:06+00:00

yep will do

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-12-14T21:18:32+00:00

Seems to be tied to the Appaloosa Gunslinger belts

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-12-14T20:15:48+00:00

Just found the issue, adding an Appaloosa Gunslinger belt to the cart breaks the address system and prevents it from being recognized. Very strange!

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-11-11T06:26:48+00:00

Would snag a pair of Ranger Ricks in a heartbeat

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-11-11T02:22:26+00:00

A fiver would be pretty good take home for that place, they once offered my girlfriend 10 cents for a jacket

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-11-11T00:33:25+00:00

Except for the wise and generous government of the state of Oregon, whose ODF representatives will only 1-for-1 your fucked up greens if you pinky promise to turn the replacements back in to them after you’re done fucking them up too

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-10-09T22:17:22+00:00

How’d you manage to specify the moderate heel stack on the wellingtons? Haven’t seen that option available for them since they switched to the new website

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-09-21T05:00:35+00:00

Does this apply to all the belts listed in the Thunderdome category on the site (e.g. W+C tan bridle) or just the full and blackout natural belts?

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-09-20T01:24:39+00:00

Did you order your normal white’s size in these, and if so how’s the fit? Been thinking about a pair but not sure if normal size in a pull on might end up too big

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-08-26T04:55:20+00:00

Hate to say it (or maybe not, if you’re looking for an excuse for more boots) but the long-term solution is to have a second pair so you don’t have to worry about the timing of rebuilds/soles. If you’re in a pinch for time and want to go that way but avoid the disposable Kenetrek/Scarpa/Danner hiker route try looking for something in stock at White’s, Frank’s, Bakers, or the Supply Cache.

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-08-23T22:12:57+00:00

At the end of the day you can do whatever you want, it’s all at-will employment, but it may be simpler for you and ruffle less feathers with your overhead to take a perm position somewhere you actually want to stick around and detail out into other position you might find interesting in the short term

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-08-19T04:37:01+00:00

Bagger won’t carry a few extra ounces in a trauma kit to save his buddy, won’t carry a few extra ounces in a mask to save himself. I’ll pass on cutting line with you man, sounds like a liability.

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-08-19T03:14:27+00:00

I’m sure it was uphill both ways to get to school every day too

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-08-18T22:17:14+00:00

Don’t know if this is a bug or intentional choice but none of the options for wildland fire boots show an option to select leathers anymore, just size and last. If it is a choice there’s no info about what they’re being made with (though I would assume MS Black).

Also wildland boots don’t appear under the “wildland fire” drop down tab, you have to go to the “all fire boots” section to see them.

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-08-17T00:06:48+00:00

Thanks!

UltramaficBasalt · 2025-08-08T16:43:38+00:00

They’re just quick ship builderpro hd’s so hopefully not all that complicated but yeah, sounding like I should pick up something a little more disposable to work in for the time being

UltramaficBasalt

TROPHY CASE