Work boots

[Mith]

I've got a pair of thermal insulated Cat boots.
Not sweaty in the summer, and warm in the winter. They have a little tag on the tongue with 'thinsulate' written on it, whatever that stuff is, it works nicely!

I second what Egon said though, as long as they are waterproof get some warm socks.
I wear cotton, with wool on top, my feet get cold real easy, but in the last 2 years with these boots, and those socks going out in the snow is almost fun

Aside, I got the Cat boots slightly second hand, they were used by a guy on a welding course for that course only, he wore them for about 10 hours. I swapped my old £30 boots for them

 

[Egon]

Mith:

If you get into the real cold ditch the cotton. It gets wet and freezes. You need some silk or poly socks that wick the moistyre away from your feet so they stay warm and dry. Fleece socks work well too. The boot also has to be able to breathe to let the moisture out.

The insulated boots are okay but they do get soaked with sweat after a time. Socks you can wash.

If truth be known some of my boots go thru the washing machine to get cleaned.

A fellow needs at leasttwo pair of boots to keep his feet happy!

 

[meledward23]

Vasque has to be the most comfortable boot I have ever worn. They are more like slippers to me. I wear mine with every thing. People think I am a mountiain man as I wear Vaque 24/7 literally. I wear shorts and boots in the summer to go grocery shopping. My feet start hurting if I am standing for 5+ minutes if I am wearing just about anything else.

That said, I dont really consider them work boots. I own a pair of Red Wing (actually two pair). The pair I favor is styled like a a Cowboy Roper type boot. They are comfortable and not as blocky as most work boots. Downside is they seem to wear faster than the other Red Wings I have. May be from more higher use rate.

My Vasque last me about 3 years of daily use. Although after the second year holes start forming.

 

[LC Brewing]

Monkeymonk - Figuring I've only got to endure the White bite about once every 5 to 6 years, it's not too bad. And, during the break-in, I alternate between old and new pairs to get a break.

I did make the mistake (too far from Spokane) of not getting the first pair completely custom built...but the first pair I got felt good when I tried it on, and broke in fast, so it didn't bother me. When the wife ordered pair #2, she just called up and they pulled my file with the original last listed and whipped out another pair. Now I just need to get around to sending the first pair back for a rebuild.

 

[GeneD14]

For warm weather I bought some "John Deere" boots at TSC. I'm not sure who makes them. They were on clearance last year for $34. They are very comfortable.

For cold MI weather I have a pair of leather Wolverines that are insulated. They keep my feet warm to about 15 degrees F. They also have a non-slip rubber sole that gets sticky on wet pavement. After 1 year I really like them.

For super cold weather I have some Herman's that look like snowmobile boots from Gander Mountain that have kept my feet toasty to -15 or so.

 

[InlineDieselFan]

Casey/LC brewing,

Have you heard of Kulian boots? They are in Centralia, custom fit the whole works like Whites and Nicks. Which I have a pair of each of the latter. Just before we moved down here I found out about Kulian.

steve

 

[Egon]

My comfortable 8 year old Redwings. Soles are getting a little slick.

 

[_RaT_]

My comfortable 8 year old Redwings. Soles are getting a little slick.

Yeah and the tops are looking a bit disheveled as well. My Vasque will end up looking much like that less the steel toe and still be water tight, that is what I really love about them. Well that and they are comfortable and they are relatively light compared to the many boots I see being brought up here. I like a boot to be more then just a work boot. I want it to be as versatile as a tennis shoe while having the protection of a tough boot. I find that in a Vasque.

 

[1bush2hog]

RaT -

I agree with you on the Vasque's. I have three pairs, one of which I bought in the late 70's when I went to college, one pair I bought about 6 years ago, and one pair I bought 3 years ago. The newer boots are much lighter and comfortable though, are all leather, and gore-tex ligned.

I have worn Wolverine's, Timberland, Browning's (my second choice), and Herman Survivor's - I'm hard on boots and shoes, but the Vasque hiking boots I have are easy on my feet.

 

[CharlieTR]

This is a great post.
I am always looking for good boots and want to try some you all mentioned.

Have always had a hard time fitting shoes and esp. boots.
Cause of my high arches. Seems that I measure as normal width but wider ones fit better.

For the chores I wear Georgia boots from TSC. There are a good price and they are as comfortable as they claim. I saw an ad in a sports mag that said "REAL MEN WORK THOUGH THE PAIN."
"9 OUT OF 10 BOOT COMPANIES ARE COUNTING ON IT!"
Not sure who the ad was for though.

 

[Mith]

Mith:

If you get into the real cold ditch the cotton. It gets wet and freezes.

If truth be known some of my boots go thru the washing machine to get cleaned.

A fellow needs at leasttwo pair of boots to keep his feet happy!

Fortunately our climate is a little less extreme than yours I believe

Does washing your boots not wreck up the washing machine, or more importantly, your boots?
I dont think I have ever cleaned my boots that thorougly, just hose the dirt off when I dubbin them.

I agree on the 2 pairs of boots, especially if you wear them every day. If only they werent so expensive......

 

[Egon]

Washing the boots does not seem to hurt them. They do get quite wet sometimes just while wearing them.

 

[rdln]

curly, theres a good chance your new danners are vasque. I bought My first danners in 1997 for a week long hiking trip that pair was american made, my next and current pair was the same "model" but now made in italy ala vasque.

 

[rdln]

I like the masons this flavor. with care and weekend use should last 10 years

BAMason.com - Home

 

[_RaT_]

curly, theres a good chance your new danners are vasque. I bought My first danners in 1997 for a week long hiking trip that pair was american made, my next and current pair was the same "model" but now made in italy ala vasque.

Wow, such a new pair, I wish my two pairs looked half as good as those. Those are indeed Vasque.

 

[czechsonofagun]

I found a pair of Dr.Martens at a fancy clearance store. I will take boots for 20 bucks anytime - and after wearing them for few weeks, there is something to the sole, I have to say. Nice boots, punks and fashion - I dont really care for

 

[CaptPat]

Wesco Boots

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

Currently I swap between my Danner Stingers (gore tex lined) and black leather mil surp combat boots. Absolute hands down best boots I ever owned were a pair of Matterhorn lace to toe 200gram thinsulate and gore tex lined combat boots. They never died - I ended up giving them to a buddy who had an identical pair and his died after 10 or 12 years (resoled 3 times before the leather finally gave out)
When I started building the ouse i got a pair of wolverine durashox and was not impressed. the sole started peeling bits off the side immediately, they were not waterproof or even resistant for very long, and they made the soles of my feet feel bruised after a day of working on the house. (not so bad when I was doing stuff outside on the dirt, but concrete and ladders were not good)
I've also had good luck with Rocky in the past.
Have not tried Redwings - have wide feet, so Doc Martens don't fit.
Keep looking at the timberland Pro's, but can't find them wide enough.
Dunham makes good boots, too.

 

[caver]

Wolverine Durashocks were the thing through two pairs. A very comfy boot right out of the box. The last pair though,,, they changed how they do stitching and what a torture device. I never could get the broke in and quit wearing them. I need wide width and steel toes so that limits my choices. Right now I'm wearing Carhart boots but they were also hard to break in. Anything I've bought off the shoe truck at work has not lasted a year.
For hiking I like the Merrell's I bought several years ago. Very comfy and felt broke in right out of the box. They also come in wide widths.

 

[farmboy12]

Brand: Survivor; Model: Tim. Great boot all the way around. I'm a 10 1/2 but my foot is very wide. They're waterproof, steel toe, and clean p nice so they can look good when you go out. I wear them everywhere-from the feed store to $200 per steak resturants.


Kyle