I work in a plant and have just discovered ariat. I love them. I have been a doc martins man for a great many years (yes I am metal... deal) even before I started working in the chemical industry. Just what are your opinions (if you work in this kind of field) on the best boots out there. I just tried wolverines and even bought the expensive ones and I will never try them again.
Best Work Boots?
- Thread starter patrickmjett
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I've always liked Timberlands. Wore them all the time as a teenager and in college. Can't really do it now that I'm in an office, up I've always found them to be of extremely high quality.
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I used to wear tims when I was in the marines. They are hard to find in Texas. The problem is their workboots are awful. I tried some and they were so stiff it wasn't funny.
RedWing gets my money. But, I had some Justin steel toe lace ups that were a nice change up and not as heavy.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again!! German ex-army para-boots. Cheap (I typically pay less than £30/pair), incredibly comfortable (I walk miles every day, and wear them all day throughout the year), indestructible (until the soles eventually wear out, which takes a good few thousand miles - even then, the leather's still fine, they're just so cheap they're not worth repairing), waterproof, warm, and shine up nicely. Just don't buy the DMS ones.
Can't recommend Red Wing highly enough, although Ariat makes a good boot.
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These German boots... Do they come in steeltoe?
I think LittleBigFeather may be able to hook you up with some steel-toe jodhpurs ...
I know they are below your price range, but check out Throrogood boots. They're made in the usa and quite comfortable.
Anything made in the USA is what you should go with. That means Thorogood, most Red Wing styles, most Danner styles, most Justin styles, some Chippewa styles, some Carolina styles, etc.
There are so many styles by other work boot makers that look cool, but the fact that they're not made in the USA is, for me, a deal-breaker. I find Timberland work boots to be an especially tragic case. They, like everything else, used to be made in the USA -- Timberland's flagship style! But then the fact that they became a "gangsta" staple became a turn-off. And now, since they're made in China or other third world countries these days, that was the final nail in the coffin.
There are so many styles by other work boot makers that look cool, but the fact that they're not made in the USA is, for me, a deal-breaker. I find Timberland work boots to be an especially tragic case. They, like everything else, used to be made in the USA -- Timberland's flagship style! But then the fact that they became a "gangsta" staple became a turn-off. And now, since they're made in China or other third world countries these days, that was the final nail in the coffin.
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IMO Iron Ranger is more of a "Dressy" work boot.
Red Wing makes a lot of USA made work boots that would be good for you. I've heard good things about Danner, Georgia Boot, and Chippewa boots. If you want a great deal on Danners, Sign up for the Breakroom and they often have good deals on their workboots, i.e. today that have some of there goretex steel toes for $80.
Red Wing makes a lot of USA made work boots that would be good for you. I've heard good things about Danner, Georgia Boot, and Chippewa boots. If you want a great deal on Danners, Sign up for the Breakroom and they often have good deals on their workboots, i.e. today that have some of there goretex steel toes for $80.
Georgia Boots are made in China; American-made is way better!
Yes, but the steelies are quite rare. They do gore-tex lined versions too. No idea why, I've stood in water for hours and the non gore-tex ones don't leak....
If you can get them in America, I've always had good service from Redback. You can get them with laces or elastic sided. Not too expensive, and last well. Comfortable for guys with wide feet as well.
+1 on the Breakroom. You can get a pair of Danners for half price and they usually have some type of steel toes available. I wear Eccos and Danners on a regular basis and my feet never hurt.
Blundstones www.blundstone.com.au
I'm partial to Bates boots.
I was working at nuclear power plant shutdown/refuels for a short time and tried Red Wing composite safety toes and didn't like them. Everything is really spread out so we walked a good distance everywhere we went. Up and down stairs, carrying loads, climbing scaffolding, and standing for hours. All kinds of conditions. Many of the other workers wore one of the Georgia Boot models and I switched to them and really liked them. I've also tried Dunham (made by New Balance) that were light weight and comfortable but I don't know if they offer a safety toe version.
Instead of German Army you can get Swedish Army mechanics boots usually from the same place as the German Para boots, the Swedish ones are steel toe capped and are of excellent quality, I highly recommend them.
