Good work boots for XL feet?

[jwilson645]

My son has recently started his career as a commercial electrician apprentice. He wears a 15eeee and has a pair of steel toe, EH rated Wolverines from school but we wanted to get him a nicer, high quality pair and bought him a pair of Thorogoods but the largest I could find was a 15ee. We got them to try and had him wear them around the house for a week just in case we needed to send them back. After a week, he insisted they fit fine and started working in them but after wearing them to work for a few days now says they're too tight in the width.

I've looked and looked and Carolina and Wolverine are really the only ones that I've found that come in a 15eeee.


Any other suggestions? Is it possible to stretch the Thorogoods width?

 

[RTM]

Any other suggestions? Is it possible to stretch the Thorogoods width?

Find a good cobbler, some older person with a gigantic sewing machine older than your dad, or his dad, would be? They can tell you what you can do, and good ones won't give you false hope.

 

[jwilson645]

Noone else has gigantic sasquatch feet issues and difficulty finding a good boot?

 

[bwringer]

This comes up once in a while. There are a few reputable websites specializing in enormous feet.

In steel toe, these folks seem to have only Carolina -- which is a perfectly fine brand making great boots.

Steel Toe Boots

We have the widest selection of large size steel-toe boots available up to size 18. Brands include Georgia Boot, Nautilus, Weinbrenner, and Carolina Boot.

www.2bigfeet.com

These folks seem to have a few more options in steel toe:

Men’s 4E Wide Shoes, Boots, Slippers, sandals & Socks - Buy Mens Size 15 Shoes, Boots, Socks, Slippers, Sandals, & Sneakers | Xl Feet

Pick the best one from the collection of men's 4E - EEEE wide shoes, boots, sandals & slippers designed to provide the perfect fit for extra wide feet only at XLFeet., Buy big men’s extra wide size 15 shoes, boots, socks, slippers, sandals & insoles. Find the latest styles from top brands like...

xlfeet.com

They don't seem to have a good filter:

Wide Shoes | Wideshoes.com | Hitchcock Wide Shoes

Wide Shoes available at Wideshoes.com. Shop for extra wide shoes, orthopedic shoes, wide width shoes and mens wide shoes

www.wideshoes.com

And you've probably found these already.


Anyway. as long as you're sure he's done growing... it would be well worth the expense of having a custom pair made. I have no idea whether there's anyone in your area making high quality work boots. When you look for boot makers, you come up with a lot more folks making pink snakeskin cowboy boots than work boots.

Nick's, for example, is very well respected, but they're in the pacific NW somewhere. And at the far end of the size range, you would want to get in touch before ordering for advice. There may be someone closer to you, too.

Work Boots - Steel Toe Boots - Slip Resistant Boots - | Nicks Boots

Nicks Handmade Boots has been making custom work boots for the past 50 years. We make serious work boots for firefighters, construction workers, and have custom options for nearly all professions, you tell us what you need and we'll handcraft a boot that's unmatched on the market today.

nicksboots.com

 

[ive]

How about Redwing?

 

[CS454]

13eee here. I treat boots as consumables, and wear Timberland Boondock Pros near exclusively. Get about a year from a pair.

 

[jwilson645]

How about Redwing?

We will look into those. One problem we've found is that rarely do stores carry anything over a 13 or 14 that he can try on, so we have to order and return if they don't fit.

 

[captain14]

Once you get a good fitting boot, consider getting another pair so he can do a regular daily rotation so the boots can dry out. I’m a size 15 so I know about getting things first to try on before purchasing.

 

[Tynee]

We will look into those. One problem we've found is that rarely do stores carry anything over a 13 or 14 that he can try on, so we have to order and return if they don't fit.

I alternate between a 15 and a 16, sometimes wide, sometimes medium. Redwings have been my go-to's for decades. If you can find a Redwing store, they will measure and fit the boots to you. Ask them to order several options, then only walk out with the ones that fit the best. Unfortunately, at his size, there's no way to get around ordering and waiting.

 

[tincanoe]

Propet boots are available in 5e and 15's, they specialize in shoes and boots for wide feet, and take special care on the shoe interior because they also cater their product to folks with diabetes. I have several pair of there mid height hiking boots, a pair of winter boots, and some low cut hiking shoes, and am very pleased with all of them. Some of there shoes I ended up not keeping because the toe box was just too wide for my foot. They probably won't wear like the best brand work boots, but if they are comfortable, that is what is most important. They offer certified composite toe safety boots, not sure about steel toe. Check out amazon warehouse, unusual size feet can be a mixed blessing, you may find some real bargains on new/returned boots in your sons size. That is where I find my shoes (14/15eeee).

 

[Doubled33]

Although my foot is a lot smaller I wear Wesco, Nicks and Whites. I suspect Wesco would be the one for the size you need.

They will not be cheap but customize them how you want them.

 

[scooby074]

Id say Nicks or Whites custom. Hed get a decade out of them if he got them rebuilt, like most do. I only wear a 13D or E workboot and its hard enough to get something off the shelf.

 

[sparky 1971]

Is it possible to stretch the Thorogoods width?

I've never tried it with boots, but I use rubbing alcohol to stretch leather tool pouches, etc. quite often. Just make sure to oil the leather first or it will dry out and crack. I'd put the boots on, dump the alcohol on them, and go for A walk.

 

[Zewnten]

Carolina's all the way. Good quality, good price and very durable if you get one of the USA made lines, as in the stitching failed on my redwings in 6 months but the Carolina's are fine a year later. Also redwings run narrow and getting any bigger sizes is like pulling teeth ad they don"t hold up, the redwings of old is not what is available today. Thorough goods also run narrow ad I do not enjoy them especially in a steel toe. Timberlands are also pretty good especially for the price point.

 

[merkyworks]

Nick’s boots, every set it handmade custom fit.

 

[Mani khan]

Some good work boot options for XL feet include Timberland PRO Men's Pitboss, Carhartt Men's 11" Wellington, and Keen Utility Men's Pittsburgh. Check sizing charts and reviews to find the best fit for your feet.

 

[Packard V8]

Anyway. as long as you're sure he's done growing... it would be well worth the expense of having a custom pair made. I have no idea whether there's anyone in your area making high quality work boots.

Work Boots - Steel Toe Boots - Slip Resistant Boots - | Nicks Boots

Nicks Handmade Boots has been making custom work boots for the past 50 years. We make serious work boots for firefighters, construction workers, and have custom options for nearly all professions, you tell us what you need and we'll handcraft a boot that's unmatched on the market today.

nicksboots.com

Two thoughts:

Feet are never done growing. I wore 11 when I was 21, 12 when I was 25, 13 when I was 40 and 14 now in my 70s.

Some quirk of boot fate, we have three of the best custom work bootmakers in the world here in Spokane, WA. The best is White's. Nick's is a White alumi, as is Frank's.

jack vines

 

[CGarage]

Talk about a WIDE load!

 

[Sumboodie]

Whites, Nick's, etc.

Expect to spend $500+ they measure your feet and make the boots.
Also expect to take 2-3 months to break in.

 

[Rc_Guy]

Noone else has gigantic sasquatch feet issues and difficulty finding a good boot?

Our son is a little over 6’-11” and has good luck with red wing boots, the American made one’s though, not all are made in America, he wears a 15 I think but not sure if it is wide though. I was lucky enough to work with him most of the last five years of my career as a fire sprinkler fitter, now he is the superintendent of the company I retired from.