Recommendation for good work boots?

[FreakyStyley69]

4 years!!!!! I never had a pair last more than 6 months before sole separation from leather.

I tried danner and redwing and wolverine. All lace up. Now I only wear slip ons. My first pair were carhartt (Chinese) I don't know alot about boots but the leather on one was really thin while the other was thick. These boots ALMOST lasted me 2 years before the seam down the side split.
Now I have some ariats.

The boots seem very well constructed. Much better so than the carhartts. However they have me the worlds biggest callouses on my two outter toes, and pain for months.. Working 7 days a week. Finally they maybe broke in? No more pain and feeling great.

All these boots were worn 50-80hrs a week

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by FreakyStyley69

4 years!!!!! I never had a pair last more than 6 months before sole separation from leather.

I tried danner and redwing and wolverine. All lace up. Now I only wear slip ons. My first pair were carhartt (Chinese) I don't know alot about boots but the leather on one was really thin while the other was thick. These boots ALMOST lasted me 2 years before the seam down the side split.
Now I have some ariats.

The boots seem very well constructed. Much better so than the carhartts. However they have me the worlds biggest callouses on my two outter toes, and pain for months.. Working 7 days a week. Finally they maybe broke in? No more pain and feeling great.

All these boots were worn 50-80hrs a week

My current pair of Redwings are going on 5 years. Two years of that was construction, two years has been surveying (which is extremely hard on boots), the rest of the time has been a mix of stuff. I wore the toes out and had them recapped because they were still perfect otherwise.

If you have problems with blowing out the side seams, buy these ones.
http://www.redwingshoes.com/red-wing...nch-boot-brown
They have no side seams. The bottom portion is one piece of leather and the top is sewed on the bottom. Super simple construction, as few seams as you can get and can be easily fixed if they split. Plus, no seams to let water in if you step in a puddle.

lowsound

[FreakyStyley69]

I dunno alot of the guys from work wear Justin. They get about 1 year.

Industrial electric. We have a mix of concrete, gravel and dirt. Plus grating. I have wide feet. But the carhartts Definatly out did my other by about 4x the length. And I see my ariats going a while too

[graver555]

They are less of work boots and more hikeing but for being on your feet all day I love my Murrels. Not sure if they make steel toed tho.

[Unprofessional]

Red Wings and take advantage of the free cleaning/oiling service.

[sloasdaylight]

Originally Posted by Unprofessional

Red Wings and take advantage of the free cleaning/oiling service.

This.

I worked on a printing press for over a year, averaging about 45-50 hours a week, and the shoes I had been wearing before just didn't cut it (they were some comfortable tennis shoes, but 10+ hours on a concrete floor every day wrecks your feet). I went and got a pair of Red Wings and never looked back. Best couple hundred dollars I ever spent on a pair of boots. They were so comfortable they turned into my every day wear shoes for a while.

[Axtman]

What is the best work boot for smooth jazz?

But seriously, thanks for the tip! I see that there is a Redwing Store near me and I will check it out.

[MJ5150]

You'll be happy with the quality of Red Wing, no doubt. What always impressed me more was the quality of employees that worked in the handful of shops I went to. Always some older fellas wearing the little aprons with scuff marks and shoe shine stains on them. Those guys knew everything there was about the boots they were selling and did a fantastic job qualifying my needs before recommending me a pair.

-Mike

[Pilgrim]

Have your boots made by White Work Boots in Spokane, WA: http://www.whitesboots.com/ These are SERIOUS work boots.

There are non better - anywhere, any time. Made to fit your foot using measurements you supply, they keep your specs on file, and they can rebuild or replace the boots by order.

http://www.whitesboots.com/index.php...iew&page_id=18

The farmers and smoke jumpers in the Pacific Northwest have depended on them for decades.

Not cheap, but worth it.

[Indiana Mike]

Red wings don't feel good to me ,they don't fit properly for some reason....

Wolverines are ok for me.

Timberland pro feels good and aren't expensive.

Lacrosse has always been good to me.

I'm wearing hytest right now ...waterproof ,EH rated ,slip and oil resistant, poron metatarsal, composite toe .....

My advice ...try them on before you buy or make sure you can return.


I burn thru two pairs of anything every year .... I wear them every day and punish them all.

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by Indiana Mike

Red wings don't feel good to me ,they don't fit properly for some reason....

Wolverines are ok for me.

Timberland pro feels good and aren't expensive.

Lacrosse has always been good to me.

I'm wearing hytest right now ...waterproof ,EH rated ,slip and oil resistant, poron metatarsal, composite toe .....

My advice ...try them on before you buy or make sure you can return.


I burn thru two pairs of anything every year .... I wear them every day and punish them all.

I find it hard to believe that you can't find Redwings that fit you, as they come in every half size and every width there is. To each thier own though.

lowsound

[Indiana Mike]

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

I find it hard to believe that you can't find Redwings that fit you, as they come in every half size and every width there is. To each thier own though.

lowsound

I went to the store and ever pair I tried in rubbed my feet the wrong way.... Given I have requirements for work such as metatarsal,EH rated ,steel or composite toe and preferably waterproof so that greatly limits my selection of available boots to try on....

Maybe if I found a bigger red wing store ?

I'm not saying there inferior at all ,,,a lot of guys at work have them and swear by them.

[Pilgrim]

Check my link on White Boots up above...they're worth talking with.

[JacoLesFlea]

Red Wings

[iamlowsound]

I just bought a pair of Cofra thermal winter boots an they are fantastic. I have been standing on top of a hill in the wind and cold for the last three hours and my feet are still nice and warm. If you need warm boots, buy a pair.

lowsound

[Axtman]

Thanks guys!

So yesterday I had enough! My feet hurt so badly after work that I could barely walk. I had to soak my feet in epson salts and hot water!

So today I drive over to my local Redwing Shoe store and buy a new pair of work boots! I put my 3 old pairs in the box to go to Goodwill.

At the store I tried on a few boots but finally chose the "Irish Setter" with safety toe. I did not really want a safety toe but the same style in soft toe was not available at that store. And I wanted a pair of boots NOW!!!! I was not going to leave the store without a new pair of boots on my feet!!! As far as the safety toe goes it tends to make the boot heavier, but I figured that the first time I drop a tool on my foot, I will thank myself for the safety toe.

I wore the boots out of the store and onto the job site. Wow! They were very comfortable all day! To be honest my feet hurt a little but not nearly what they did yesterday.

Thanks again!

PS - Your momma wears army boots!

[Axtman]

Pilgrim,

Yeah I had forgotten about White boots. Thanks for the reminder. Next time I am in Spokane, I will stop by and have a pair custom made for me. So I will start saving my pennies now!