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Most rugged work boots?

2oolhound

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Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
5,918
Location
BC Canada
:thumbup: +1 for Viberg ^

Viberg hand made boots cost the big bucks though. They've got their reputation from making loggers boots for about 75 years along the west coast. They ship boots around the world.

In your conditions 2 pair minimum is required. I worked in up to 8" of water all day. Rubber boots were shredded within a week. After a day or 2 they were good at holding some water in. You had to use leather and if you wanted them dry for the next day you would burn them from being too close to the heater. Even with 2 pairs you weren't guaranteed to have a dry pair for the morning. 3 pair would do it but who can afford that. On the 2nd night or early morning you would apply dubbin to the pair that had been sitting drying so they were semi water proof for the work day and I mean you rubbed it in good. I think it took about 1/2 an hour to rub the stuff in. There is nothing worse than starting your day with wet feet.

I have pictures of some work boots that were a few months old and I was wiring the soles to the uppers with tie wire. Too bad they are negatives and not digital or I'd post them.
 
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jerryW

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Apr 3, 2006
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1,167
Location
Phx AZ
I've got a pair of redwings and a pair of similar pair of carolinas. The carolinas cost about 1/2 what the redwings did but outlasted them. Redwings soles are about gone, carolinas are about 1/2 way worn. These were rotated everyday, well taken care of. Both are of chinese manufacture.

Ended up getting a pair of Chippewas, US made this time. trying to find a pair beside the carolins for my 2nd pair.

So far the Chippewas are the most comfortable of the 3 pair.


jerry
 

Steinmetz

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Joined
Oct 11, 2012
Messages
2,274
Location
Washington State
On that note (treatment for leather)... the best product I've ever found for waterproofing leather is Hubbard's Shoe Grease. I use it on all my leather work boots (heck, I even use it to waterproof my saddle!). A little bit goes a long way.

Cedar shoe trees are a great idea, helps keep your boots fresh. I made my own for my work boots.

Huberds. From McMinnville Oregon.
 

JASTECH

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Joined
Oct 21, 2009
Messages
2,671
Location
Gering, NE
I bought Chipys and used Olehauf or what ever the name is. They were worked hard and need repaired now, had registered them so $90.00 for a total rebuild. I made the mistake of not looking inside for COO, sales lady said USA, found out after 7 months the version they sold me is China. They send you the prepaid bag to ship them to their USA Mfg. site, so mine will be USA rebuilt for $90.00 or just buy a new USA pair. They are real comfy! So I would say give them a try, Native American quality (like me)
 

decableguy2000

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Joined
Nov 4, 2012
Messages
650
What kind of work are you doing?

Wesco's are hard to beat and have tons of options, rebuildable, but are pricy. The Georgia's I had where insulated, warm as I could stand, but the soles broke in half after 3 months. Justin's just sucked. Hoffman's have held up good for close to a year and can be resoled. No boot will hold up for long with out a little love.

Jeremy
.
 

Ironhorse

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Joined
Sep 17, 2012
Messages
800
I have gone thru about a pair a year of the $300 usa made Redwings...just went to wesco this year...WOW...these are the best I have seen and used...even set up a dealer account with them...so no more issues..
 

A_Pmech

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Joined
May 8, 2007
Messages
8,002
Location
IL
So who makes a good rugged boot than can stand up to being covered in sticky red clay, submerged in mud/water practically daily and kick around in sand and 3/4" rock and hold up and be comfortable for 10-12 + hours a day?

The reason why they're failing is because they're literally rotting on your feet. If you need to be in water, deep mud and nasty ****, put on some rubber boots! I don't know how you can stand to have wet feet all day long...

I usually get 2-3 years out of those same boots in a welding and machine shop environment.
 

Todd.Brock

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Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Messages
4,248
Location
Cincinnati
I spent about 150 bucks on a pair of Carolina steel toe, insulated loggers. They have never been comfortable in the 4 years I have owned them. They **** AND they are made in China. That pissed me off to see that. Love the style of boots, but they **** *** in the comfort department.
 

marineengineer

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 2, 2012
Messages
77
Location
Vermont
I use 2 pairs of Carolina boots rotating them every other day. The thing that seems to make them last is KGs boot guard for the toe. I always wore the leather off the toe and those plastic things got ripped off.
http://www.kgsbootguard.com/

its nasty stuff but follow the directions and it has lasted a long time.

Another thing is neatsfoot oil. I get it a tractor supply or the tack shop.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/fiebing-s-100-pure-neatsfoot-oil-32-oz--5019779


I always put these on new boots just after they get out of the box. On old boots use it and it brings the leather back a lot. i put it on with an old clean paintbrush after using a scrub brush to knock off the dirt. Apply both of these a few times a year and my boots last 2-3 times as long... Its not new boots but its cheaper than a new pair and it helps them last a lot longer
 
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Tucko

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Jul 28, 2012
Messages
1,650
Location
Whittier, Ca
I like my steel toe and shank Doc Martens. Not made in England anymore, but I get a year out of them.

I forgot my real boots once and had to wear a pair of Doc Martins to work once. NEVER again. They aren't made for being on your feet all day. I love my new US and Union made Thorogood boots.
 

Beaubeau

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Joined
Oct 12, 2012
Messages
51
Location
Sydney, australia
Steel blue boots.

My last pair lasted 3 years with daily use 1 year of 7 days a week work in the desert as a heavy diesel fitter for transport company hauling rock for the mines here in Australia, 2 years in a normal workshop in the city 5 days a week, they are still good actually had to replace laces once, soles are still good and can still read the logo on the base of boot, my longest lasting pair of boots, only replaced them cause snap on offered me a good deal on their boots.

They do boots for mining, Emergency, army, industrial, electrical, smelter etc you name it they do it work wise.

Not cheap but worth every penny.
 

scrapdaddy

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Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Messages
126
Location
Dittmer, Mo.
Nobody has mentioned Throughgood boots, made in the U.S.A. and under $200. I get two years out of them, with every day wear.
 

Holt

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Joined
Dec 5, 2008
Messages
1,212
Location
Bellevue, Nebraska
Have you gone to a dedicated boot store. Around here we have a few dedicated boot stores and I go to one in particular. The that runs the store is knowledgeable of all his products. For my job in the field I wear Carolina Loggers. Just hit 2 years with them. I never oil them. During the winter or rainy season they are soaked after a 10 to 11 hour day. I put them on a boot dryer overnight. They go through large temperature swings daily from frozen solid outside to a house with the temp set at 90 degrees. The leather never fails on me. I replace laces when they break, and add new insoles when the old ones where out. The only real issues that causes me to buy new ones are the rubber outer soles where out. The backs in particular since I have a tendency to drag my feet. Cost $160
 

dylanmitchell

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Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
166
Location
Southern California
Have you tried rotating two pairs of boots giving them a day off to dry out? Helps your feet too. It is a bit of an upfront investment but you should get your money back when your boots last longer.

Boots rotated every other are supposed to last three times as long. I never wear the same boot or shoe two days in a row and my footwear lasts a long time.
 

MrDeerHunter

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Joined
Nov 19, 2017
Messages
110
I am going to chime in here because I have used a ton of boots. If you are looking for all around comfort and safety the redwing 2240 is what you want. I walk about 10-18 miles in a 12 hour shift (approx 300 shifts a year) through a ton of water, ash, slurry, and coal dust, on concrete, grating, and track ballast. I am on my third pair but they last about two years before they lose their waterproofing then I buy a new pair. The soles hold up and never had a stitch pull loose. Hands down the best boot out there. Tried ariat, Rocky, danner, Carolina, wolverine before finding the redwings

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using The Garage Journal mobile app
 

magma

New member
Joined
Nov 9, 2019
Messages
4
Location
NY
Red Wing have been good for me, but my next pair might be Thorogood or Carolina to see how they hold up.
 
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