The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Work boots

After starting a new factory job in January, I find that a comfortable pair of steel toe boots can be challenging to shop for. I am on my feet 8-12 hours a day. The wolverines I purchased are not as comfortable as I had hoped. Required to wear daily they are as important as any tool. Do you have any favorite boots that are proven comfort to you? Do you have a recomended brand, model# ?

I found out years ago that cheap inexpensive foot ware does not serve me well, when I'm on my feet all day. Thankfully, steel toes are not required at my place of employment, as that would really limit my options.
In the past, I have had good luck with BA Mason shoes. You have to order them either online or by mail, which is a hassle. That's why I don't buy them anymore, but they were by far the most comfortable shoes that I have ever owned.
Some of my coworkers have recommended Red Wing shoes and work boots. I have never owned a pair myself, so I don't have any opinion to offer on them. Except, that the local store that sells them were somewhat rude when I stopped in, so I spent my money somewhere else.
Until you find something comfortable, you might try changing your shoes at break or lunch time (that is if you have another pair of steel toes).

Good luck

John

When I was welding for a living,I was on concrete all day.I wore Red Wings with the smooth sole.I always bought them at Farmers Co-op.

Yep, Red Wings.

I won't argue about brand. I've had most of them over the years, including cheapies. I've even had comfortable cheapies, but they fall apart in a year.

What I look for is construction. I want there to be a cut in the leather where the ankle bends. Having that cut so the ankle can bend forward without any restriction makes a boot much more comfortable for me. The support is still there since there 2-3 lacings above the cut.

Larry

Infantry boots, military surplus if you can find them. Don't fall for the new knock-offs.

I used safety toed tennis shoes from Cintas uniform company, if you have them locally, check with them.I found their shoes to be very comfortable and durable.

Red Wings are nie and durable, but the last boots I bought were Timberline and they are just as comfortable, 2 yrs on this pair, just ugly now fron weld splatter and hydraulic oil. The next will be Timberline. At $135.00 they arent cheap but worth the money, the best part is my back and knees don't bother me as much.

Red wing shoes are junk if your just walking in them your ok but if ya work the boot they come apart and they do not back there shoes up very well either

I only wear Red Wings. Only boot I've found that fits my odd size properly and is comfortable, too. I only have to get new ones about every 6 years or so.

Buy some higher end gel inserts for your Wolverines and see if that helps out. I find that give a boost to both comfort and support. Just my .02.

Hank

Must be your local seller. I've worn Red Wings for decades and never had an issue with either quality or customer service.

I always get low cut workboots. I need steel toes and I get thick but soft soled shoes because I am often on steel roofs, 4/12 pitch. Never buy stuff from China. I usually get 2 years out of a pair.

Ihave worn them for years to and they are not made like they use to be

I buy red wings only also. I make sure that they are made here in the USA. I don't buy their chinese brand. I've never had a problem with repairs. All the stitching is gauranteed and getting the uppers resoled is easy. I have three years of daily use on my current set with one resole. Just keep them oiled and they last. My last pair lasted about 3 years and only failed when I had completely worn the leather on the toe down to the steel from scraping on concrete. As a matter of fact I wore the steel some too.

54Monster

My foot is wide across the toes, and I have a hard time finding a steel toe with a cap wide enough to keep from feeling like my toes are getting cut off after standing in them all day. The best ones I've found for comfort for my situation were Doc Martens. They've got a nice wide, rounded toe cap and comfortable soles. Next best pair for comfort I had was a pair of Caterpillar branded boots. The docs are pricey, but the Caterpillars were just over fifty bucks at a local farm and ranch store. I think the Caterpillars have gone up in price since I bought mine, though. Both brands held up really well for me.

I like Redwings and Wolverine's when they don't have the steel toe, but I've never found a steel toed pair of either one of those brands that didn't hurt my toes.

I can't wear a pair of boots out anymore, and while that nay sound like a good thing it hasn't made them a comfy boot.
The soles of boots today are stiff which makes them hard to flex when kneeling down, and then the sole goes to cracking.
If that doesn't happen then some part of the boot just comes apart.
I've got a weird foot to fit so finding a comfy pair is hard. Right now I'm in a pair of Carhartt's which have been a good boot for about a year, but I just noticed the sole is coming loose at the toe on the right boot. So once again the boot is falling apart, cause its not worn out.
When Bill said he gets 6 years out of a boot the first thing I thought was he must be sitting still to get that much time out of them. lol It's only what came to mind, Bill.
Boots are a tough item to find for me and the price has little to do with it.

Dan

[quote=glasman]When Bill said he gets 6 years out of a boot the first thing I thought was he must be sitting still to get that much time out of them. lol It's only what came to mind, Bill.
quote]

Actually, I work in an auto repair shop, and am constantly on concrete, crawling under cars on the alignment rack, and in the winter, slogging around in the lake of meltwater and salt due to the lousy drainage in the shop.

Im on the concrete at the plant 10/12 hrs. a day, Ive had my best luck of late with "Timberline Pro Series steel toes" for best out of the box comfort through break in and continued wear..current pair is going on 18 months an they are now starting to break down inside and will be replaced in a few months.
Ive always felt if you can get a good yr. out of a pair of work boots on concrete they are pretty darn good!..I usually walk the insides out before the outsides fail.
Tim

I have tried more work boots that you can count and Redwing is by far greater than any thing I have used. They were used in a Canning work place where you get water, acid, grease, weld splater, cutting and grind sparks, fruit juices and all kinds of oil on them and they used to last two years. I have a pair of Redwing copies made in China and they are holding up fairly well around the place working on my Chevy PU. I think this is going on the 3rd year.
62Blue
Don

Well, from what you guys say it sounds like I should try on a pair of Redwings. Bill, it sounds like you give them a workout... I know you weren't sittin still with them on.

I just hope they fit my weird feet.
Dan

Terra Nova boots made in Newfoundland are excellent..if they can make it on "the rock" they are beyond tough.

newfie runners

Try the Dr. Scholls inserts for helping with leg pain. I put them in my Wolverines and they helped a lot. I bought the inserts at Wally World. Hope this helps

I worked with folks that swear by Redwing, never had a pair myself but thier history is hard to deny.

THE best pair of boots I had lasted several years, made a few trips to Antarctica with them. They were custom made for my squadron by Chippewa, with steel toes and sheep skin lining. Super warm, dry, but they dont come cheap!
http://www.chippewaboots.com/

These days I wear Bates uniform boots, steel toed with a side zipper. I spend hours every day on my feet, I even wear these boots when I'm off work thy're that comfortable. I've also found that the best way to wear them is with cushion sole wool/synthetic blend socks, keeps my feet dry and comfortable wether it's cold and wet or warm and dry.

red wings are very good I swicthed to Danner after years of wearing only red wings.what I like about Danners there are lighter so easer on my knees. Iam on my feet 8-10 hrs. a day as a carpenter.you might give a try?

to add my 2 cents redwing makes a light weight spun aluminum toe hiker that meets the gov standers for osha that are great i have 2 pair just alike i have inserts for my feet problems and they fit these boots also have wide feet I don’t like wearing the same pair every day so I rotate every other day to let them dry out as they get wet most days in the canal where I work as a park ranger. my boots see 10 hr most days at work and another 6 to 8 at home so on my feet a lot. Love these boots. With boots you get what you pay for. I get one pair paid for by work a year and I buy one pair a year. After a year I give them to my brother who gets another year or two out of them. So about 3 years use in all. They are around 150 to 175 a pair.

Try Union Boot Pros.com these boots are made in the US. best boots I've ever had. they make all different styles and prices match the Chinese Junk!

Another vote for Timberlands.
I,in a previous job walked 12-15 miles a day and used these boots.
There was very little break in period(no blisters) and they were extremely comfortable.
I averaged 2 years from mine and even then it was internal wear that consigned them as my garage boots.

Red Wings.

When I was in your position everyone told me Red Wing Boots are good but I was on tight budget and got Ariat, Style No. 37400

steel toe and have some ATS equipped, dont know if that does anything they are commfy tho.

only intelegent advice I have found is that you want a pair that have a "shank" in the rubber sole. not sure if it is molded in when the rubber sole is made or what but it helps keep your foot straight.

My first pair of work boots were Justin, JUNK, they did not have this steel "shank" in the sole and for some reason, maybe I walk like a pengiun, but the bottom of my soles wore a lot faster on the inside of my foot. it got so bad that it hurt to walk, and now if you set the pair on the ground and look from behind they sit like this /\.

Like I said before Union Boot pros. they are American Made in the US, Throgood brand make all types cheeper than the Chinese Crap. The Company has been around along time, check out their website. These are made for the real Tradesman,you know what we call Skilled Labor. Thanks Brett IBEW Local639 San Luis Obispo Calif.

"Like I said before Union Boot pros. they are American Made in the US, Throgood brand make all types cheeper than the Chinese Crap. The Company has been around along time, check out their website. These are made for the real Tradesman,you know what we call Skilled Labor. Thanks Brett IBEW Local639 San Luis Obispo Calif."



I will second Longboarder. I've had good luck with this company as well.
Jay IBEW Local 697

Right on Jay, I'm working the outage at Diablo Canyon Nuke. My boots are going strong with a ton of walking on asphlalt and concrete. In Brotherhood Brett