Right-Fit, U.S.-Made Workboots
Learn why carpenter Dejah Leger would recommend these Keen Dover boots to other tradeswomen.
I’m a carpenter in the Seattle area, so I ask my footwear to take a lot of punishment. I also care about look and comfort. The newest Keen Utility Dover boots are made specifically for tradeswomen, with a molded foot bed and a more narrow heel and ankle, and they come in smaller sizes than the men’s version (I wear a 5-1⁄2) without compromising comfort or durability. They have a well-covered carbon-fiber toe that I’ve managed not to dent yet, and they have withstood the famous rain and snow of the Pacific Northwest. I’ve put them through trenching, jackhammering, concrete, demo, and framing, and they’re still impressively intact.
They feature Keen’s signature wide-toe look, which comes down to aesthetic preference. I did notice that the roomier toe box meant that my feet never felt pinched by the steel toe. My only con is that the top of the shoe hits mid-ankle, which felt awkward at first since I’m used to mid-calf boots. Overall, the durability and comfort of the Dover boots, plus the fact that they are made in Portland, Ore., using sustainable practices and are designed for working women, make them boots I would recommend to fellow women in the trades.
Dejah Leger, superintendent at Carlisle Classic Homes
From Fine Homebuilding #306
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- Podcast 262: PRO TALK With Carpenter Dejah Leger
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