After about 10 years of buying “middle of the road” boots and dealing with fatigue, fast wearout, and other issues – I’ve decided it’s time to invest in a pair of high quality boots. Any suggestions from the group would be much appreciated.
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Up here in B.C. WorkWear world carrys Doc Marten workboots. Damn comfy, flexible and justplain spiffy lookin. Around $150+ cdn. When I shop fer boots I start at the top and work my way down , something that you wear 8+ hrs a day are worth it. cheers ............Rik(happyfeet)Tacoma..............
We've covered this before...
if the search function worked you'd get lot of old hits....
I vote for Red Wing ....prefer the short over the ankle boots .....I work 80% of the time inside ...so I like a sole w/o the big deep lugs ...even outside ..I'm not climbing mountains....
Just spent the summer in a pair of Nike "all terrain" shoes ......fancy, bulked up cross trainers ......git them on sale ...lasted way longer than I expected .....feet felt fine after a whole day on them ......unlike regular good quality tennis shoes.
My back can spot a bad shoe in a minute .......hurts like hell the next coupla days when I work in the wrong pair.
Got my eyes on a nice 3 to 4 month indoor job this fall .....might check out a pair of Red Wing shoes to compliment the boots....
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Danner Shoe Company makes a good boot. My feet are really hard to fit, so I had a pair of hiking boots custom made about a decade ago. They gave really good service on the custom boots.
They had a huge rush of orders a while back from guys in the military ordering them to wear in combat rather than the standard issue boots. They also are reportedly very popular with beat cops.
These things are not cheap, however, I think they typically run in the mid $200's. The sturdy ones are not the lightest available, either. They are carried by a lot a places as a Google on "Danner Boots" will show. Their website is:
http://www.danner.com/
I had a pair of Danner hunting boots years ago....
got them from Cabella's ...way back before this internet stuff.....
Maybe I'll give their shoes a look see....
Thanks,
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
I'm harder on boots than most and it's Red Wing for me. I've tried some other brands (Dunham, Wolverine, Carolina, Knapp among others) but none have offered the long term comfort and durability the Red Wings have. Get 2 pair and alternate them, keep 'em clean and oiled and they'll last a long. Many models can be factory resoled.
I just bought some herman survivors, they felt good at first , but now my feet are getting tired.
I used to work in a pair of $200 dollar vasque sundowners. italian leather, goretex state of the art sole design,Hiking boots. They were great. It was hard for me to abuse them that way.But they felt great unless you droped a door on your toe.
Last year i bought some of those CAT sneakerboots with a steel toe they held up great in fact the soles never will wear out I don't think. I usually wear the soles of on one side. not those babies. Unfortunately,They were very heavy. I had to get a larger size, and they looked like clown shoes. Most people need a wider size not a longer size. But shoe companies don't want to stock so many sizes.
What I have learned is a this: First of all: REAL leather uppers. They just wear better.
Second:Make sure the sole has a steel shank between the upper and the sole. In time this thin steel plate will form to the shape of your foot. Then They will be yours forever. They newer cheaper style of steel shank is nylon. It is not the same. Also the steel might help nails from going thru your boot.
Third: woulld be soles. i don't know much about the differencesjust make sure they can be replaced when its time.
Look for stitching around the sole. REAL stitching. If you see that, Then you know. If you happen to get lucky, and find the pair you want to be buried in, You will then at least be able to get them re-soled first.
Whatever you do, do not get a pair that looks like they will be comfortable. I bought a pair of CAT's that had a thick rubbery sole. It wore off on one side in a month. I had to throw them out, because they couldn't be re-soled. AMen
Where there's A wheel there's a way, got any wheels?
Edited 8/18/2003 5:08:32 PM ET by MuleSkinner
Edited 8/18/2003 5:13:38 PM ET by MuleSkinner
I used to buy Redwings and still would if they were conveniant to buy near here . One problem is that they would mark up any floor I walked on with hard to remove black scuffs. You can get Redwings with a different sole though that doesn't scuff. An old timer said to not buy a boot with a heel but I found that to not be a problem. He claimed a heel would trip you when you were roof framing. Lately I have been using some Raichle light hiking boots and they have lasted unbelievably long. Hiking boots are comparable in price to good work boots and seem to last at least as long. They can be more comfy and provide more ankle support. I have some toes that cripple me when boots don't fit right. I always add an insert that is like an orthotic but about a tenth of the price. The brand insert that works for me now is "Superfeet". I think comfort is one of the most important things to consider for work clothing. Get good socks too. Whatever you do, do not work in tennis shoes or anything similar. Besides not lasting for long they break down far before they look broken and give minimal support for carpenters who are used to climbing over plumbers and electricians and all their stuff. A good boot could work like a hammer to move a wall a scoche if you are framing. A tennis shoe would hurt to kick anything. Also light shoes are not comfortable if you spend any time on a ladder. Do not get steel toes either. For one thing, they freeze your toes in the winter and if they ever crush from something heavy dropping then you may have to get out the sawsall to extricate your feet.
ron, i buy Dexter 901-4 for year round... ( 10 eyelet high ).. about $79.... they're waterproof if you keep the mink oil / snow grease on them.. and don't step in too deep
...... and the 6 eyelet version for lighter work or real hot days
flat black crepe sole , with no lugs... so less dirt in the customer's house..
right now i've got a pair on from '97.... i rotate 4 pairs.. and i wear them for about 10-12 hours , 6 days a week
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 8/18/2003 5:50:41 PM ET by Mike Smith
which ones do ya golf in?
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
my sunday shoes are dexter , too !... those are the ones i golf inMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I have been wearing out my boots on wood for almost 30 years now. You will never catch my feet in anything other than Red Wing Boots. Many styles to choose, one will be right for you. I get loyalty discounts, periodic sales too good to pass up, and comfort that cant be beat. Wearing them out takes 1 1/2 to 2 years, and then I get them resoled for $50. I keep two pair each for summer and winter, and switch back and forth so they can dry out. They range from $100 to $275, depending what you need. Even in eight inches of dirty icy water, my feet are always dry and warm.........
They just came out with a new insulating material that works year 'round. Cools you in the summer and warms you in the winter. I have worn them all summer, and have always been comfortable.
If I haven't sold you yet, here is the kicker. My feet are two different sizes; enough so that I cannot wear shoes off the rack. I can go to a Red Wing Store, (the ONLY place to buy them. Watch for counterfeit!), and I order my boots in two different sizes. I get them in a week, and it doesn't cost extra.
These are not the Caddillac of boots, they are the Rolls Royce of boots. I will never buy any other brand. Period.
Daddoo,
I went to a redwing store and bought a pair of boots which I like alot but I too have different sized feet and I asked about different sizes and he wouldn't do it nor offered to special order. Since breaking my leg early this year this has become a serious issue with me. Also i was having a real problem with gout and I decided to get a good set of boots instead of cheap stuff and it has made a huge difference almost totally eliminated my gout flareups.
ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
I cant say for sure, but I don't think the stores are a franchise. Therefore, I would ask for the manager, and nicely ask, then insist.
I have been dealing with the same store and people for a decade, and I am sure that makes a difference. If you have no luck, try contacting the high mucky mucks at corporate HQ. Maybe you qualify as being handicapped. Here in NJ, handicapped is anybody who doesn't finish first in the state marathon.
Companies love Good PR. Lay it on thick.When all else fails, use duct tape!
Kodiaks. $140 Canadian. See http://www.marks.com and do a search on "Kodiak"; I think they ship to the U.S. Marks also sells oversized heavy weight cotton T-shirts for $10 Canadian (and made in Canada, not some third world sweatshop), I wear them all the time.
The Kodiaks have a dual density polyurethane (not rubber!) sole based on a design by Ontario Workers Compensation board. Cambrelle lining. Thinsulate insulation. Brand new, mine fit like a warm glove, far better than Doc Martens or Caterpillar. We don't have Red Wings, so I can't compare to them.
Regards,
Tim Ruttan
I alway worn redwing, ( they are really great boots) but I hated the first 60 days breaking them in. I got three pair of woleverine in the closet and never really like them. This season I wearing a Justin work boot made by the Justin Cowboy boot people. They the best I ever had on my feet, do not know how long they last. i walk in mud and wet concrete every day.
tim.. agood looking boot.. but not for me.. the sole is lugged and carries too much dirt..great for the deep woods.. but not so great in my customer's homes
also.. the eyelets run all the way up.. my top four are speed lace..... i love speed laceMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Dat's funny, I hate speedlace! Probably because on an 8" workboot, I don't do up the top 3 eyelets anyway, unless the mud or snow is extra deep.
And I should have said, generally I'm not wearing the workboot, you're right, too cumbersome unless you're working outside. For inside work, I wear a low-cut slip-on safety shoe, which is only worn inside so as to keep the customer's house clean. This very comfortable shoe is actually on sale right now at Marks for $70 Canadian...if anyone's interested, look up
"Men's Dakota ST Closed Back Air Splog" on http://www.marks.com (no, I don't know what a 'Splog' is...
Regards,
Tim Ruttan
lugs ... lugs again... tim , it's got lugs.. smooth sole is smmmmmmmoothhhhhhhh..
no lugs...Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Been working on my feet since Vietnam. Tried everything. White and Westco are THE best. Start at $300/pair and worth every cent. Last years longer than Redwing and are completely rebuildable. They can be custom made to yr foot for a negligible additional cost. Westco is a family owned and run biz. Call them up and you talk to the founders granddaughter. These boots are used exclusively by smokejumpers.
We don't hesitate to drop $300 on a 14V impact driver used 6 hours a week and walk all day, all week in inexpensive footwear that costs a bundle in frequent replacement and ruined feet.
Get lace to toe Westco for the ultimate in support and fit. You will finally be properly dressed for the occasion and look sharp as a tack. If you want to look sharper than a tack you can order black vamps and brown uppers. Call Westco tomorrow and ask for a catalog and a fit kit .
Ditto on the RedWings. Ditto on speed lace. Ditto on no heel. Ditto on no lugs.
I work in the PacNW and we get RAIN. I finally bought some Redwings last year and I love them. I spend two days standing in water above my ankle, never got wet. I almost had fun :-)
Edited 8/20/2003 12:22:11 AM ET by TIMUHLER
REDWINGS, REDWINGS, REDWINGS...
I too have a pair of Danners that are almost 25 years old still in great shape ..I only wear them a few times in the winter mostly when bird hunting or when the snow is deep (not to often in kansas) i keep them mink oiled and they do keep your foot dry ...their great boots
But for everyday work boots I wear a Sears Die Hard boot. Ive been buying them for 25 years. Smooth rubber sole, (easy to clean off mud) short heel ,steel shank,ankle high boot. they last me about 3 years of construction site use. plus i love em...very comfortable for me anyway.
i have 2 pairs one pair for good and a work set .The good ones I wear for golf
For me,
on a scale of 1-10 with ten being best ever,
Redwings Comfort 8 and Longetvity 10
Mason upland hunters Comfort 10 and Longetvity 8
Wolverines Comfort 7 and Longevity 8
Georgia Boots Comfort 3 and longevity 12( i never wear them out because I can't stand to wear them for long)
Doc Martins Comfort 7 and Longevity 9.
Excellence is its own reward!
Redwings work great for me, but I'm an easy fit. I've got a couple pairs of Danners that I use in the woods. Both are American Made! (Should count for something).
I also have an old pair of Chippiwaws (sp?) that I was wearing when I tangled with a black bear a few years ago. They're riddled with fang holes and discolored with old blood stains (mine), but they are still comfortable.
The problem I've experienced with a lot of work boots is that different manufacturers use "lasts" (the building form) that are unique. Danners, for example, tend to sport a little wider heel space than others, which is good for some, bad for others.
In the Winter, here on the "Wet Coast," I wear Lacross hunting boots with the removable liner if I'm working in the rain and muck. (dry, warm feet on a snotty cold day is always good!). The LaCross boots are good for about two seasons.
My Grandad, who slogged through France during WWI in the winter wearing boots that were 2 sizes too small, leaving him somewhat permanently crippled, always advised to "Buy a good BED and buy the best SHOES."
Good advice that I've always tried to follow.
As a lot of the people said before, Redwing, have three pairs and rotate.
Cant beat it.
Doug
My Redwings don't quit but thing is......I have the steel toe model and I think theres something about the steel toe that messes with my toes. Not sure exactly why but my toes always hurt after I wear em' a few days in a row and the fit is perfect so its not that. MAybe its just me.
I also hate how heavy they are. Tween my boots and tool belt.....ugh.
Also wouln't wear any boot that doesn't come over my ankle laced up. Its saved my ankle way more than the steel toe saves my toes.
I also hate lugs on the bottom of my boots especially when walking on dirt that gets stuck inbetween the lugs and falls off on "my wife's" floor when I walk in.
No way am I taking my boots off when I get to my front door after a hard day.
Wish theres was a SMOOTH soled boot that still grips.....anyone know of such an animal??????? Even my all terrain sneakers get mud tween the sole ridges.
Be full O' sole
andy
In his first interview since the stroke, Ram Dass, 66, spoke with great difficulty about how his brush with death has changed his ideas about aging, and how the recent loss of two old friends, Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg, has convinced him that now, more than ever, is the time to ``Be Here Now.''
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Andy
I had one of my Redwings resoled, the sole was not of the lug style, not smooth but kinda. Never wore the steel toed ones, two much extra weight.
I agree that the weight of them is a bit heavy but I hurt my back once and they do as much for that as they do my feet.
Doug
Wolverine ankle high with a steel toe. The steel cap takes some getting used to, but the shoes were very comfortable from the first day.
Do it right, or do it twice.
like Jeff said the all terrain sneakers last a long time and are very comfortable otherwise I use Red Wings but even more important are really good socks.
In his first interview since the stroke, Ram Dass, 66, spoke with great difficulty about how his brush with death has changed his ideas about aging, and how the recent loss of two old friends, Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg, has convinced him that now, more than ever, is the time to ``Be Here Now.''
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I work in a plant environment and have for 23 yrs. That means that you walk on nothing but concrete and steel all day. Wolverine Durashocks are the standard here. The cushioning makes the knees, ankles, and hips a little less painful after a 12 hr. day. My weekends are spent on the farm, no concrete, different shoes. Redwings or Rockies depending on the mud levels. Each work area has a different need and each shoe has a different strength. Not to mean that we should be like the women in another thread with 50 pr. of shoes <g> but a few pair of work shoes for different work environments couldn't hurt, could it?
Lefty - Lurker without an attitude or a clue
one brand ill avoid now is wolverine boots. While they are comfortable at first those air shocked soles soon become worn and get small cracks. As you walk it sucks air in and out sounding like squishy shoes. its quite annoying. Those wolverines also had lousy stitching, coming undone after about 3 mos.
Though the steel toe wasnt noticeable, and the shoe was comfortable at the store, i dont think ill buy another pair. Ive talked to some others who bought similar wolverines and found that squishy problem wasnt isolated.
Im wearing danners and vasques (a redwing boot) hiking type shoes. If im needing my steel toes ill toss on my Justins. They have all held up well.
Redwings non-insulated gortex smooth soles. 30 years of wearing redwings, approx. 2 years before resole and new leather on toes. I have purchased approx. 6 pairs in this time period I certainly feel I got my money worth. Recently purchased toe guards by redwing that glue on after 2 yrs. just need a resole.
Brand is ECCO. Boot I love is the Track. Leather upper, slightly padded cuff, gore tex liner. All year long, indoor & out. They have a non marking sole too..
I get about 12 months out of a pair.
I have had 2 pair of Ecco. I bought them at Nordstom because of their return policy. First pair leaked, second pair lasted one winter and leaked and I got a third pair that I have kept nice and wear them out and about. Ecco is a great shoe. I'm happy, I've had three pair and paid for one.
I did notice though with those boots, that I wasn't as comfortable walking the walls. The sole had kind of a curve to them. Anyway, they are a great summertime boot.
I have Ecco dress shoes, and they're fantastic. Wish I could afford their golf shoes. Are the Ecco boots you guys are talking about safety rated (steel toe & shank)?
Regards,
Tim Ruttan
NO, no safety rating. For our construction type jobs I usually switch over to Wall Mart Cat. brand boots while on job, then switch back. 90% of my job is walking...
untill the circumstances change, my answer will remain the same...
Trimbutcher
I can afford their golf shoe... I just wish I could afford their boots!!!! : )
Lee
I wish I could afford some golf! Golf's been so expensive around here (Toronto) for the last 5 years that golf clubs & shoes almost look inexpensive...
Regards,
Tim
Redwings may be great for you guys with pointy toes, but for those of us with real feet (shaped like swim fins in a 12 EEEE), Redwings and most of the others that have been mentioned just don't cut it. The problem with recommending a boot is that there are so many different shaped feet but most boots makes only have one or two styles of boot last. (I actually had one boot salesman suggest that I tape my little toe under my other toes so that I could wear his boots...)
So, I need a boot with a wide toe box - like the combat boots with the toe cap that I was issued when I went through basic training (only a 10 1/2 wide back then). Wore my two pair for a number of years, lasted a surprisingly long time, but when I went to get replacements, they had changed the boot last so that only the pointy feeted could wear them...
It usually takes me trying on about 50 pairs of boots before I find one that fits - and then the next time I try on that boot they have changed the last. The last pair I found was at K-Mart, but only the ones that were made in Singapore - the Chinese made ones with the same model number had a different last with a narrower toe box. Unfortuantely, they are only good for about one season and aren't worth getting repaired - but for $39.99, or $29.99 on sale, only a year wasn't too bad.
My favorite boot right now are a pair of Timberlands. I cant praise them enough. Have actually thought about posting here about how happy I am with them. The model I have is ther 6" lace steel toe. They have two models out their that are very similiar, one has a timberland emblam/sticker on the heel, the other model has timberland emblam engrained in the leather on the heel. I got the model with the emblam engrained.
The pair I have are incredibly comfortable ( I wear them all the time, even wear them instead of tennis shoes when I walk my dogs). Have had them a year and so far dont seem to be wearing out. The only problem Ive had is that the leather on the toe wore out quickly ( probably from trying to kick a beam/ stud/ something into place). I just put on some of those rubber toe covers you can get from Redwing. What is really nice about these boots is that the sole is wide ( sticks a bit out past your foot) so you have great stability. The heel is quite stiff also, so you get nice support there.
Have two pair of Redwings that I havent worn since I got the Timberlands.
M2akita
P.s. The pair of Wolverines I had where crap, only pair of boots that I have ever actually threw away
Look at an Ariat boot before you buy the Red Wings. I went to Gebos with Red Wings on my mind but tried the Ariat on before I plopped down the cash. The difference in comfort was night and day.
I left the store with my first pair of Ariat boots. Having worn them for about half a year now, I think it's safe to say I'll never own another brand. Every bit as rugged and durable as the Red Wings but far more comfortable.
I do like the substantial ankle support I get from the high top speed lace too. At least in the framing stage of building where everything is rough terrain. Too many twisted ankles in my life to opt for anything less. Sure makes for a goofy looking tan line at the ankles when I switch to the loafers at the end of the day though.
Kevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -