Yer Fave Workboots

[jyl]

Since I am making a sartorial conversion to blue collar workman, it appears, must be time to ask about your favorite work boots.

What do you need in a work boot, what do you wear, how spendy are they, how long do they last you, and what fails?

[Bill Douglas]

In the Unilever factory we had to wear steel cap work boots. Some days I did and some days I didn't. I found the days I wore the heavy steel cap boots I was exhausted at the end of the day. Walking walking walking around the large factory. And if I wore my light weight Salomon hiking boots I was fine at the end of the day.

The extra grams, every step, sure adds up over a day.

[pwd72s]

The summer I set chokers, I wore a pair of Danner Caulks...not good for wearing indoors...but good boots without the Caulks..

[Zeke]

A subject that is well worn in a LOT of forums. Only one thing is clear, they must fit so one brand that is excellent is not so good for the next guy. That and cheap won't get you anywhere w/o problems from your feet all the way to your back and in between.

Red Wing for all the flack they get being so expense are excellent for me. I have not bought any in 15 years. Next up is Craigster's favorite —Thorogood. Almost as good as RW's for me.

I will buy Wolverine and they are comfortable to wear, hard to lace up well and they offer less ankle support than a typical 6" mock boot. I can't help myself when I see them for 80 bucks. Probably the best <100 dollar boot, but not top shelf by any means. You can walk a lot in them I'll give them that.

I looked at my order history and the last Thorogoods I bought were in 2013 for $78 Amazon Resale. I had them redone by Thorogood last year for $125. New $264. I can't justify that. For that kind of money I'd have to find some RW's on sale.

[Bob Kontak]

Holy smokes!



Danner boots with calks. Your's were probably leather uppers but pic is for the calks for those that do not know.

[Evans, Marv]

I have a few depending on what I'm doing and where on the property I'm working. Mostly I wear the Red Wing work boots. Paid $300 for them and had $90 worth of Vibram soles put on them to replace the white foam stuff without any traction. I wear the Red Wing logger boots mostly when I'm going around in high grass where I might find a rattler. They give good traction on slopes too. The Wolverins slip on quickly and can be worn out in the rain. The other pair is an old pair of REI hiking boots I bought for $140 at the time and now run over $350.

[911boost]

I have a few pairs, like others have mentioned, depending on the type of manufacturing facility I am.

Lately I have worn my made in the USA Danners the most, but also have Double H USA made cowboy boots with the protective cap. I have some Red Wings with the metatarsal protection, but they are pretty heavy duty.

[Brian 162]

I had Caterpillar work boots, they were light weight.

[billybek]

I purchased my Redwings in the year 2000. Still going strong.

[gregpark]

Redwing for me. I've had my linemans for decades (they'll probably out last me) but got myself some shorter light weight Redwings that are my work all day boots. Super light, almost like sneakers. Puncture proof sole and crush proof toe. A bit expensive buy worth every penny

[70SATMan]

I've had good luck with Red Wing Lineman and Irish Setter which is a Red Wing brand. Irish Setter has both aluminum toe and composite toe which for my line of work is great, less weight while climbing.

I also have a pair of steel toe Dr. Martins. Got those for working through the seasons in Canada. They're cold weather lined and meet both US and Canada safety regs.

[fanaudical]

I have a pair of Northlake boots that I have had for - I kid you not - 38 years. I used these for hiking in the snow and as a general work boot where steel toes are not required. The leather finally started to crack two years ago. I don't wear them as much as I used to, but they were very comfortable and supportive for a long time.

I have a pair of Doc Martin steel toe boots that are still the most comfortable shoes I own.

[jyl]

I have been using my Danner Elk Hunters for working on the project. I don’t like beating the Danners up like that - I think they are actually too nice a boot to thrash. Also, I get tired of lacing and unlacing boots and my right ankle has some limited ROM that makes it hard to get in and out of a tall boot like the Elk Hunter. So I’ve drifted to wearing sneakers. But stepping on the third nail made me decide that is stupid.

I picked up a pair of Steel Blue “Southern Cross” workboots. It’s an Australian brand, though the boots are made in Indonesia, which at least is not China. The upper is quality-looking thick sanded leather, there is a steel toe plus a rubber-ish protective toe cap which makes them look a bit like clown shoes. The back is cut low, which is for more comfortable driving over long Australian distances I guess, I don’t care about that but it makes the boots easy to get into and out of. There is a beefy side zipper which really makes it easy to get in and out. The sole is puncture resistant. Supposed to be waterproof, with a gusset inside the zipper. The innersole is much more substantial than the typical innersole, but I put some Superfeet in anyway, and there are some shock-absorbing pads under heel and ball. Outsoles are a urethane material, aggressive tread, seem very non slip. I couldn’t tell you the construction but it looks like the usual molded boot. Jury is still out.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Holy smokes!



Danner boots with calks. Your's were probably leather uppers but pic is for the calks for those that do not know.

If you want to say it like a logger, they're pronounced "Corks" to describe the boot. And yeah, if you're late teens to early 20's, and want a summer job that'll put you in shape, that'll do it. Choker setter low man on the totem pole... I wouldn't want to do it again, but the money was good...and GAWD would I like to have the body I had after that summer...

A popular tale here is about the time a pack of outlaw bikers stopped off in the tavern of Cascadia Oregon on a friday night and announced to the loggers there that they wanted to take over the place. Gee, who do you think was in better fighting shape?

When it was all over, the bikers were told not to come back because: "We have heavy equipment and there are lots of places to hide bodies here." Far as I know, they didn't come back. That happened a few years before I was there, but it was still talked about.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've had these Chippewa for over 30 years, well used, great boots. Also had taller Red Wings that got stolen, also great boots. The short boots are perfect for every serious outdoor work.

Men's Boots, Clothes, and Accessories

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

If you want to say it like a logger, they're pronounced "Corks" to describe the boot.

I texted a pic of those to my pal way up in Maine who has 150 acres and (with his younger wife) still does some logging for retiree walking around money.

He said the spikes tore up everything they touched. I could tell I hit a nerve. lol

[wilnj]

As management I don’t beat up boots like I used to. I have a pair of Georgia Boot chukkas.

They’re easy to slip off and on when I’m in and out of the car.

The worst was a pair of Red Wings eaten up by the residual bromide refrigerants when we were demoing 3 absorption chillers. Lasted less than a month.

[unclebilly]

Totally depends on what I’m doing and where I’m doing it.

I have some Viberg lace ups made in Victoria, BC that were custom built for me. They are heavy and will outlast me. I wear those on local jobs in the summer or fall in the field because they are too heavy to travel with. In the winter, I have some incredible leather Dunlop T-Max boots that are incredibly warm and comfortable but clunky. In the spring, I like the green Dunlop rubber boots. I currently have some Helly Hansen ones that are not near as nice as the Dunlops. In the shop, I have a few pairs. I generally like the low profile steel toed shoes.

[flatbutt]

My old azz Red Wings finally gave up the ghost. So, now as just an FYI homeowner I chose a much less expensive brand. Walmart's own Brahma brand. Good enough for me.

[VINMAN]

My Red Wing 405s. About to be sent back for thier third re-sole and refinish

I have about five different pairs of work boots including two other different RWs but these are my absolute faves