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Time to go looking for boots soon. I can’t get away from Red Wings but at $120 a pair I’m willing to consider other alternatives. Steel toe on concrete, over the ankle.
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Don't scrimp on your feet! Pay the $120 if you like them. What other tool do you uses as often? And what other tool treats you as well? Comfy boots affect everything, comfort thru the day, alertness at days end, how the back feels for thr rest of your life. I'd pay even more if the comfort level/durability was there.
That being said, what else matches RedWings? Jeff
*I made the switch to Wolverine boots several years ago, and have never looked back.James
*I'm on my fourth pair of Georgia Boots, steel toe, over the ankle, $85. Used to wear Redwings. The footbed, stability and overall comfort of these Georgia's is (for me anyway) at least 2 or 3x that of the Redwings. The sole is incredibly durable. Mine usually wear out over the steel, they usually last 8mos. working in 'em 40/per., and at that I'm not saying they're shot, cause many guys would wear 'em for another year.
*Hi RJT, All the shoes, boots, sneakers, skates,and so on are lined up in the mud room. I've got Red Wings and Wolverines. I'll go for the Wolverines mostly. They're well made, comfortable and durable. Dan-O
*Sounds like you only use one pair of boots at a time. Just like any fine shoes (meaning leather, lined, last-made), you should get a lot more wear per pair if you have 2-3 pairs and never wear the same pair two days in a row. Your mileage may vary.
*RJT- I agree with both Jeff and Phil. Don't try to cut costs on footwear and try to rotate them. I can't be shaken from RedWing/Irish Setters. If you find something good....why switch?
*Phil and Wood tick, What's the benefit to a rotation?Jon
*I'll pipe in here, leather is a natural material that will absorb your foot's perspiration. that being said it is better to let the leather dry out naturally for more that an overnight period of time. If you try to dry them out too fast they will crack and split in very little time. if you don't let them dry out they will sorta rot out on ya. that's the short and sweet version I'm sure others can go into more detail.
*Sounds good, the bateria that attacks the interior of the boot die off before they proliferate (including the bacteria that cause foot/shoe odour) as do the majority of fungii. If you use trees, then you're always restoring the shape of the boot. If you apply maintenence chemicals (oil, polish, silicones, ...) then they have a chance to properly soak in.
*Yeah...what Steve and Phil said.
*I rotate between two pair of non other than Sears "spice tans". Why cause there cheap, comfortable for my wide duck feet, and the light colored soles don't mark up the decks I build.
*Do you treat your boots? I was advised by Red Wing not to use anything but their oil as it would deteriate their bindings to the sole. But I recently slopped on some regular saddle oil as the boots are getting old and unless I see some damage I'll put it on the new pair.
*RJT if it's the price of Red Wings shop around. I get mine from the Amish (model #209 for $89. ) Love my Red Wings, I agree with switching each day. Jame
*I buy wolverine durashock and have been quite satisfied. I am on concrete most of the time and find that they generally last about 18 to 24 mo. before I notice the platform breaking down. I like the rotation idea. If you go to a local orthopedic supply store you can get better inner soles than you can find anywhere. I bought a pair of silicone inserts that I've had for five years now. They have 100% recovery and are easily cleaned with mild soap and water. They go from work boot to street shoe or even tennipumps. Expensive at $70/pair but after 5 years and xx? miles I think I have saved a fotune in inserts. I have some really strange feet and they pian my sole.....Dave
*Pro-Dek, sounds like we have the same problems in footware. My 12 DDDD (with a B heel) swim fin shaped foot makes finding anything that fits a bit problematic. Red Wings would require me to chop off my little toes (which, family legend has it, my great uncle actually did...). The last boot that I found that fit was a $29.95 jobbie from K-mart. Unfortunately the grooves in the sole wore off in a couple of months and after that they were slicker than greased owl snot on anything damp; which in Oregon is most anything any time. Other than that, they held up surprisingly well. Will have to look into the Sears.
*Casey, I have that EEE duckfoot! Great in the pool, but hell for finding boots.I wore out a pair of the Sears/Wolverines in about a year. I was light on cash at the time and bought a pair of $29.95 jobbies at Wal-Mart to tide me over until I could get some new (better) boots. I've had them for a year and a half and they're still going strong. Light and comfortable as sneakers. I'll probably try another pair before I step back up to the big leagues.
*As far as lower price boots, I tried a pair of Sears "Big Mac" steeltoes. Think they cost me about 45 bucks. I got just over a year of nearly daily wear out of them. Trying some Wolverines now. Picked 'em up for $80 on sale. They are comfortable and we'll see how they hold up. On a different note: what is a good (strong) oder eater type insert/powder. My feet sweat like crazy. Doesn't matter what time of year. I'm using Dr.Scholl's "Shoe Shot" now, but need something more. Might try alternating wear, too.Later. LJ
*b WBA At Your ServiceI have 3 pairs of Red Wings. One pair is winter only, thinsulate with a gore-tex liner, and totally waterproof. Expensive at $165 but my feet have never been cold for the first time in 15 years, they are awesome. I only use them in the foul weather and not for interior work because of the lug soles. I alternate the other two pairs which are steel tipped and are also about $140 - $160. One pair has been resoled one time by Red Wing (about $50 ? ) and is about due for another. I'm not the greatest with the regular maintenance, yet these boots just had their 3rd birthday ! Do I need to say any more ?
*What is the feeling/experience on steel toed shoes. I have never found any that were wide enough in the toes so have only one pair that I avoid wearing. A heavy industrial mechanic said one time that he wouldn't wear them because he knew some cases where something heavy fell on someone's steel toed shoe, smashing the steel cap down and inflicting more damage than if the toes had just been smashed. He felt that while they were OK for protection from light to medium "smashes", that if some heavy equipment ran over your foot that a steel toe cap would cause the loss of more toes than would a shoe without one.
*Hi all, Steel toes are a must in certain work situations for me. I weear them forming and framing and around heavy equipment. They're awful cold in the winter too. Ever try those Thor-Lo brand sox..real good. And for wide feet I always get New Balance sneakers as they come in various widths. Dan-O
*b WBA At Your ServiceCasey, I buy my Red Wings in EEE and haven't had a problem. I think some even come EEEE. Red Wing also has a pair with a polycarbonate toe that doesn't transfer the cold so much. Even my winter boots mentioned above are steel tips and are the warmest things on earth. And really light. I've never heard of the steel cap causing more harm than good. I always find that I drop 2X4's on my metatarsal bone way more often than on my steel toes!
*Anything that's heavy enough, or going fast enough, to flatten a steel toe-cap would turn an unprotected foot into jam. Years ago I was unloading hydaulic trench bracing equipment from a truck with about 3 other folks; each brace weighed about 350# and had all these square edges; well, the guys in the truck lost their footing and dropped one off the platform and onto my foot; split the leather from the sole right up to the tongue and laid the steel cap open; I just got a bruise; if I hadn't been wearing the safety shoes - who knows, but it would have hurt big-time for a long time.
*I've seen those sneakers with steel toes, but how durable are those going to be? I always wear steel toe but like the leather. They do get hot however.
*Has anyone heard of the American work boot made by the American Footwear Corp.I would like to buy a pair if I could find them.
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Time to go looking for boots soon. I can't get away from Red Wings but at $120 a pair I'm willing to consider other alternatives. Steel toe on concrete, over the ankle.
i am very sold on Bates boots..online or your local LE/FF supply store plus zippers up the sides. Work well as duty boots at FD and in remodeling.
Interior remodels we have to protect what’s there that we aren’t going to brutalize. Boots or shoes with soles that won’t pick up stones or debris even with floor protection.
My wife loved your reply about leaving stuff in floor! I am also working on our home and I catch it!
Right now we got old carpet down.
After she read your reply..i noticed a sign in mudroom as I was heading to FD...no shoes/boots In house!
That’s me, ever seeking good feelings from the ladies.
Which over the decades of remodeling has kept me in business.
But, you also should have seen the look on the faces of the new homeowners when we took in that 36” bar chainsaw to cut out their door plates.......
I agree in footwear go for the most comfortable even if it cost you 100$