I am [almost] delighted to know my feet were not the problem although they are big !! Just a few days ago I wore my Moacs for the first time in a couple of years. The soles separated from the uppers and both disintegrated 20 minutes into a country walk. They had been stored in a dry wardrobe and had not been dried out incorrectly.
I still have the original box in which they were purchased and in which was a flyer from a company called Graingers who appear to have been recommended for waterproofing systems for Moacs.
I think you will find various threads on here about the expected life of soles....and soles crumbling with just old age.
MOAC itself has long gone (by the looks of it) and you would have to be able to prove that they were not of merchantable quality or fit for use....as well as prove to the supplier that you got them from them.
Me....I'd ask LSR for a quote to resole and wear them more often..........
MOAC or Mountain Activities but that was never used, were Brighams post the old Brighams boots. Well so Ellis told me when I worked for them 20 years ago. A Moac was the first wedge shaped climbing nut created by JohnBrailsford in resin then alloy and I think Brighams were involved there. When I was at Bangor Normal Collge we had buckets full of them but bthen JB was boss of the OE dept.
MOAC is a name from the past and the main product of theirs which springs to my mind is the heavy woollen shirts which used to sell very well here in the shop (before my time.....but can remember plenty of them hanging up in the shop when I was visiting my dad here at the shop).
I found this whole trail of MOAC conversation after trying to find a new pair after 15 years. They've been up ALPS, to the Lakes, Wales and numerous dog walks. As others say they're really comfortable.My mates dad who borrowed them for a while even wanted to buy them.
I'm after a new pair of boots as one of the lace rings pulled away some leather and the repair is not brill. Probably my fault for neglecting to keep up my regime of wax or MARS OIL. I think I got my green (not that you'd know now) ones from a Regatta shop in Chester. they were ten pounds cheaper than the brown. I drew the line at blue.
I don't know if anyone is still following this but I bought a pair of MOAG boots today, 13 Feb 2012! Apart from trying them in the shop I can't comment on them but they were £15 or 2 pairs for £25. They are brand new and in nice clean original boxes. They seem to be Nubuck type leather with Cordura uppers and Vibram soles. Apparently the shop had just found them, they had been moved from one of the old shops some time ago and been forgotten. The inside of my box is date stamped March 2003! They had sizes 43,44,45, and 46 if I remember right. They were at
Allweathers and Hill and Country
Summerhill Garden Centre
Pipps Hill Road North, Billericay, Essex CM11 2UJ
01268 293712.
I only found this forum as I wondered who or what MOAC were.
I've just bought a pair second hand and came looking here to see the reviews. My own pair were just 3 pounds from the charity shop, Mary's Meals. I'm glad to say they are sturdy looking, weigh a ton, hardly worn and, like so many walking boot bargains in charity shops, they'd been left to gather dust and looked kind of dirty. Now they've been dubbed up they look good as new. I'm glad they have no middle sole to crumble.
The only odd thing about them is the peculiar clicking noise they make on walking - but I kind of like that. So good luck with the boot hunting, Moac fans.
I have a pair of MOAC boots size 6, hardly worn them and am looking to sell them, anyone interested? My email address is saramartin@iinet.net.au (I can email you photos). I bought them in North Wales about 10 years ago and have been mostly sat in my cupboard ever since.
