sdguy55
Well-known member
Hey guys lookin for a new pair of work boots. Budget is 300 tops. Must be steel toe and waterproofing is a plus but not needed. Opinions?
Work boots
- Thread starter sdguy55
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countryroad82
Well-known member
Chipawa (think I spelled that right)
gahrajmahal
Well-known member
Check the recent edition of " Mechanics Illustrated" . They did a review of steel toes, and now carbon fiber boots for different trades. I want to look at the " Keen" brand. Their regular shoes have a lot of room for wide feet. About $130.00
I bought Red Wings for 40 yrs. was happy with them. Just last month bought a pair of Chippewa's (I think I spelled it right
). I had bought a short boot from LLBean a couple years ago that they called their Engineer Boot. I love'em. Turned them over and they had the Chippewa label. Bought the it 8" vibram sole boot last month and have worked them hard. Well, as hard as I can work'em these days
I understand that Red Wing is bringing their manuf back to the states. I always felt I had the best boot with Red Wings. I hope they do well, but these Chips should be the last heavy boot I need.
). I had bought a short boot from LLBean a couple years ago that they called their Engineer Boot. I love'em. Turned them over and they had the Chippewa label. Bought the it 8" vibram sole boot last month and have worked them hard. Well, as hard as I can work'em these days I understand that Red Wing is bringing their manuf back to the states. I always felt I had the best boot with Red Wings. I hope they do well, but these Chips should be the last heavy boot I need.shoturtle
Well-known member
timberland pro are good also. But each brands cuts differently, one that fits someone perfectly will not fit someone else as well.
wnstwolf
Well-known member
Second the timberline Pro's Shoe truck comes to work 2x a year. Steel toe, oil rest, very very comfortable and durable for about $125
csp
Well-known member
I have had timberline pro's for 4 years now and i dont mind them...but they seem to just get drastically less comfortable around 8 months. Kinda wanna try somethin new. Looked at the keens and im pretty interested in those. Hopefully the composite toe is rated the same as steel toe.
kyles974
Well-known member
Do these brands even make a $300 boat?
kyles974
Well-known member
If you don't have luck here, try posting this in the "Free Parking" section. I spend more time in that area lately and you may have some great luck there.
Do these brands even make a $300 boat?
bmxr4life87
Well-known member
I have timberland pro pitboss if you try on timberlands make sure they have the 24/7 comfort suspension mine have plenty of room in the toebox and grip our floors very nicely even covered in oil I will certainly get another pair of tb pros
joemustang
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2012
- Messages
- 26
Red Wing going on 2 +yrs Still waterproof I wear them every day
deezilram
Member
I've never really like steel toe boots, but recently purchased a pair of Keens w the composite toe. One day to break them in a little and I'm good to go for 8+hours on a concrete floor. Highly recommend them.
deezil
deezil
Alfred8100
Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2012
- Messages
- 5
Quality is most important thing in this regard...Red Wing....good one.Best pair of boots I've ever owned.
sc105b
Well-known member
Lovin my Chipewas. Got'em at Bob's for $120 w/ a coupon..
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
If you are the type of person that steel toed boots bother them, as I am, the only one out of many that has never bothered my feet is Florscheims. They are one of the most comfortable that I have ever wore and I never notice the steel toe in them. All of the others it seems, dug right into the side of my big toes. I wear the lowcut show, but they did have a mid height boot in the same style.
Kent Skinner
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2010
- Messages
- 106
I did a long, long search for a good pair of work boots. I used to wear Dickies - they fit great, but the sole would wear out in 6 to 9 months. They were cheap and Chinese.
I went to look at Red Wings. For $250, you can get a pair made in China. No thanks.
Also, they were a bit narrow for my toes - fortunately, the saleswoman told me that the toe box would stretch a bit. Since she had just handed me a pair of steel toes, I explained to her that they wouldn't stretch and never went back.
I bought a pair of Danner Quarry 2 Gore Tex, steel toe. They are comfortable and warm. However, they started making them in Pakistan (for a $250 boot). The QC on the eyelets *****. After a few months, the eyelets wore down enough to become sharp. Now they eat a pair of laces every 6 weeks.
I bought a pair of Wesco boots (made here) for $400. When I manage to wear them out, they can be rebuilt for about half price of a new pair. They are so much more heavy duty than the Redwings or Danners. Still made here in the NorthWest. You can have your foot measured, and they will custom make the boot for your foot for just a few buck more than a stock pair (the measuring costs about $90, but they keep it for life).
So... you can spend $400 now, and $200 when they wear out. It averages $300 a pair.
I went to look at Red Wings. For $250, you can get a pair made in China. No thanks.
Also, they were a bit narrow for my toes - fortunately, the saleswoman told me that the toe box would stretch a bit. Since she had just handed me a pair of steel toes, I explained to her that they wouldn't stretch and never went back.
I bought a pair of Danner Quarry 2 Gore Tex, steel toe. They are comfortable and warm. However, they started making them in Pakistan (for a $250 boot). The QC on the eyelets *****. After a few months, the eyelets wore down enough to become sharp. Now they eat a pair of laces every 6 weeks.
I bought a pair of Wesco boots (made here) for $400. When I manage to wear them out, they can be rebuilt for about half price of a new pair. They are so much more heavy duty than the Redwings or Danners. Still made here in the NorthWest. You can have your foot measured, and they will custom make the boot for your foot for just a few buck more than a stock pair (the measuring costs about $90, but they keep it for life).
So... you can spend $400 now, and $200 when they wear out. It averages $300 a pair.
mccaer01
Well-known member
I've always worn redwing outside the shop, I wear redback slip on boots when working in heavy mud or grease because of the ease of removal and they are pretty comfortable with insoles
SINISTER
Well-known member
As a master tech, and CM on a few construction job sites my boots get quite a work out. They don't get as abused as they used to when I worked 70 hour weeks as a hoist constructor/journeyman going through a pair every 6 months. Now being in my boots everyday of the week I go through a pair of boots at a rate of about 1 pair per 8-12 months. I have owned everything from Redwings to Danner to Chippewas to Timberland to Snap-On, and while the Redwings seemed to be my favorite a few years back they just dont do it for me anymore. I am usually a pit boss guy as far as timberland goes, but being in my boots so often and not doing any real heavy work they are a bit bulky and heavy to suit my needs. I have also developed a foot problem from the way my feet plant themselves, I have bad foot pain at the end of each day.
4 months ago I purchased a pair of Timberland PRO HELIX. They are by far the lightest, and most comfortable boot I have ever worn. A lot of the light weight comes from the high strength composite safety toe as opposed to the steel toe. The steel toe chill in cold weather is not there yet they are still rated to the standards I need. There are a lot of ergonomic features in the sole that enhance foot comfort over long periods of time. 10/10 in my book.
4 months ago I purchased a pair of Timberland PRO HELIX. They are by far the lightest, and most comfortable boot I have ever worn. A lot of the light weight comes from the high strength composite safety toe as opposed to the steel toe. The steel toe chill in cold weather is not there yet they are still rated to the standards I need. There are a lot of ergonomic features in the sole that enhance foot comfort over long periods of time. 10/10 in my book.
I have a pair of keen boots and they are excellent!
i always liked georgia's but a few months ago i got the timberland met-guard and couldnt be happier. comfortable, warm, waterproof to a point and available in a 6" or 8". i am a fabricator so the extra protection is nice. they are a little heavy but worth it.
caseyrod
Member
I wore redwings for years but always though they were to price and i usually wore them out in a years time resoling is $80.00 last time I had them resole they did a bad jod count wear them after that I went to wallmart bought aset off herman survivors for $45.00 my feet cant tell the difference I buy a pair every 6 month and I am still ahead off the game and yes they are steel toes.
2chipped
Well-known member
I work in mud,dry sand, clay, and on concrete in the S.E Ga heat.
My feet are short,wide, and a high arch...so I rotate 1#pair of Justin 8in shoes 1# pair of Justin boots.......and in really wet conditions.....1#pair of rocky gortex.
My shoes/boots, and leather belts get sweated up in the summer...so they get
oiled once per month .
I bought shoes last yr....so I will buy boots next yr.
My feet are short,wide, and a high arch...so I rotate 1#pair of Justin 8in shoes 1# pair of Justin boots.......and in really wet conditions.....1#pair of rocky gortex.
My shoes/boots, and leather belts get sweated up in the summer...so they get
oiled once per month .
I bought shoes last yr....so I will buy boots next yr.
hydramatic
Well-known member
Red wing...
rwreuter
Well-known member
danners
If quality is the top priority
Hawthorns are the 300 dollar version of Whites. You wont find better quality in a boot from anyone anywhere period.
Red wing, Danner, Carolina ect....... Are all not even close at all.
All I wear are Whites if I can help it anymore.
http://www.whitesboots.com/index.php
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