Any views on what is a good pair of steel toed work boots? I’m a weekender, doing mostly woodworking, minor home repairs, and landscaping. My last attempt was a pair of Carolinas that had the sole split in half after not a lot of use. What’s worth the money and what isn’t?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
A standardized approach, quick-to-install hardware, and a simplified design make building custom casework cost-effective.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
This has been gone over a bunch of times. It all depends on what fits your feet. Red Wings, and Danner seem to be the most popular
Doncha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
I've been very happy with Wolverine durashocks for years. I just bought my first pair of work shoes for the summer. I searched for an athletic style work shoe that was a real work shoe and didn't look like an orthopedic. Carhartt just recently introduced just such a shoe. I got a pair and they are absolutely the best wearing work shoea or boots I have ever worn. They also make a leather style with the steel toe.
Chris Calhoun
Blackstone Builders
Douglas, GA
The best work boots I ever had were made for Sears. No help though-they don't exist anymore. The next best were from the Cabela's Catalog. They are advertised as being made of kangaroo leather. Whatever! They are the most comfortable I've had. Mine happen to have Thinsulate and no steel toe. They do have a version with a steel toe, though they are not always in the catalog. Most other "top brand" boots are just too stiff for me - last forever, but kill your feet. Cabela's internet address is http://www.cabelas.com.
I love my Redwings. I had the footbed lift after more than a year and they said it was a manufacturer defect. They replaced them for free. 190.00$ for the boots but after replacing them for free it's well worth it.
Headstong, I'll take on anyone!
Timberlands fer me.
I live in mine.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
I've worn Red Wings for a long time.
They're expensive, but well made. And, Red Wing will resole the boots, vastly extending their life. I have had boots that have had 2-3 sets of soles before they gave up the ghost.
At least around here, Red Wings are sold in their own store; so you can be pretty sure there is somebody there who can fit you properly.
********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Red Wings !!
Made HERE, top quality, seems to wear forever, comfy, good service in their own store. Made HERE. Worked factory assenbly line for 12 yrs, only two pair and a couple of resoles and a reconditioning. Worth every penny when you coinsider how many others you go through in the same time.
Did I mention........made HERE !!! USA !!!! Jobs at home !!!! I'll gladly pay the difference if they are made HERE !!!
bum
...keep smiling...makes 'em wonder what you're up to !!
red wings are the toughest boot made. well worth the money. but I cannot take the break in period, So I wear Justins
I guess I'm lucky in that I never encountered any trouble for 'break-in'. My son did, though. He wasn't fitted properly and he was lazy in the way he laced them. They gave him full credit, even after one month and gave him a new pair that worked out well.
bum
...keep smiling...makes 'em wonder what you're up to !!
You can't lose with Vans.
you must be a framer?
True that.
What better way to stick to a board than with a fine skate shoe?
Plus, I've got super-wide dogs plus high instep. Vans are the only sneaks that fit my cut right off the shelf. Viva la Vans!
be safe walking walls.
lest you have the right shoe.
Check out the Chippewa. The ones that are made in the USA are sized with letter widths, the China are Med, Wide,Exwide.
Did some research and found a couple of things out. Justin and Chippewa are now owned by???????? The company of the second richest man in the world. BRKA stock symbol, or for us poor guys BRKB.
Thanks for the many leads; I think it's boot fitting time this weekend. And no, I had no idea Berkshire owned Justins. What business ISN'T he in?
I Like Red Wings but, 2 almost 3 years ago I bought a pair of Wolverines Gortex with the fiber toe. Same rating as steel toe but not with the piece of cold steel to freeze your feet. These boots have held up better than any I have ever owned. Still going strong to this day!! I think I paid around $125 to $150
I have worn nothing but Danner shoes for about 26 years. In the long run they are the cheapest shoes for me to wear because I can get them resoled about two times.
Check out Thorogood boots. Made in U.S.A. I've had a pair for over a year and have been very happy with them. http://www.weinbrennerusa.com/
Anything with Vibram soles. For me that's Chippewas in winter and Merrells in spring, summer and fall.I can't handle steel toes.
I roof. I just found Carhartt makes a real decent boot for a good ( 120.00) price. Check em out.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
tagline comments are temporarily suspended due to Percostte
I must recommend WORX by Redwing, for several reasons......1) they are made in China
2) they are cheaply made in China
3) they are cheap
4) they have a tendency to fall apart
5) when they fall apart, they do so all at once...like a tire blowout
6) the dealer I buy my Redwings from HATES the brand....but they are CHEAP and he sells tons of them to idiot college kids..other than that...........they are great boots, I like the sole since I work in a foundry now and there is a LOT of sand everywhere, too bad the boot is crapI bought one pair of MET75 because I needed a pair for the next morning and he did not have the Redwings in my size...the WORX lasted .......3 whole weeks, mine are MN 5584.
.
.
'Wer ist jetzt der Idiot?'
just a follow-up........ I now have to replace the replacement cheapo China WORX crap that I picked up on the 19th of April....15 days the second replacement pair fell apart in the same spot sometime on Friday........watta load of crap these boots are !......hahahaaaa.
.
.
'Wer ist jetzt der Idiot?'
Redwings...always Redwings. One pair for everyday work...second pair for meeting with clients. Third pair will be non-steel toes...PITA through security checks.
rustbucket
van's
Jordans
Wolverine
Grunge on. http://grungefm.com
Wolverine Durashocks. I live in mine and go through about a pair a year. Just picked up a new pair on sale at Sears for $100. They normally go for about $130.
Another vote for Red Wings because of their comfort and they last. They take a bit of break in but they're well worth it.
Just picked up a pair of Red Wing 1905 6" boot with the crepe sole....
I wear 12EE and it is the most comfortable boot since the last pair of red wings that was finally un-resoleable.
Wearing em right now in fact!
Redwings wear as good as any and are better than what most professional carpenters wear.
Whites boots are more comfortable and can be custom made to your prefferences in leather and fit, all the way to making a custom last if you have funny shaped feet. These boots are litterally the most comfortable boots made. They are the standard boot for many outdoor professionals and construction workers in the west. It's quite a nice feeling to actually talk to the guy who will be hand-making your boots. They are also rebuildable for about half the cost of new, where they replace the heal & toe leather, reshape the arch and restich it all. They are also the only people I'd let resole their boots.
For about $400 I like the 400V in 10-1/2 C with brown leather sewn rough side out. The leather really does feel smoother against your feet and the stiching wears longer on the outside. The honey-vibram soles are grippier/softer and don't mark floors, but they wear faster and don't provide the stiffness in the sole that a black vibram does. 8" tops are favored by some, but most go with a 10" (available up to 14"). While the Whites are perfect for working in the dirt, for general carpentry they are a bit heavy.
http://www.whitesboots.com/index.php
For 50% of general carpentry I usually wear an all-leather hiking style boot from Asolo since they fit my C-width foot and provide a great deal of ankle support. The other 50% of the time I wear the half leather/half fabric version of the same boot.
http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/product.asp?s%5Fid=0&pf%5Fid=PAAAAAMLLDKDKBPC
Redwings get my vote as well. I only have a few pairs and I wear them all the time. I've had a couple of them resoled and occasionally restiched. They are definitely a good investment that can be amortized over a few years. When I get my boots resoled or restiched, I have rubber/plastic toe bumpers installed. They work well and help extend the boot's life by a bit longer...
,dasko
For me timberland working boots are the perfect and everyone should try them at least once. They are super comfortable and lightweight also.