Work Boots

Look for a redwing store. There’s probably one close to you. They’ll have all their styles there and they own Irish setter and a few others too.
 
shelby27604 said:
I read through that thread, lots of Keen love, I like their made in USA hiking sandals, but the boots are not a good fit on me.
Is everyone doing online orders now, or are there stores that actually sell boots still? I looked at boot barn, but the two closest stores to me have almost only cowboy boots in my size....no lace-up style work boots.
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I loved the regular Keen shoes but the work boots sucked ass in my opinion. The quality was crap and they weren't really that comfortable.
 
Aside from water activities, I only wear boots... so comfort, weight, and tread are the biggies. Fawk a bunch of heavy, stiff/slick soled brogans!

I was THE Keen hiker fan boi... 1st pair came out of the box for Labor Day in Hillsville VA and 15+ miles like a cloud.
Until I realized their boots had gone to total Chiwanesse shit (3rd-4th pairs sole layers delaminated = monthly "Shoe Goo" repairs until nothing left to glue and 5th specifically to address soles = lowers ripped along lower edges 🤬 ).

Latest pair are Oboz (Hecho in Vietnam?) and doing nicely
 
shelby27604 said:
I read through that thread, lots of Keen love, I like their made in USA hiking sandals, but the boots are not a good fit on me.
Is everyone doing online orders now, or are there stores that actually sell boots still? I looked at boot barn, but the two closest stores to me have almost only cowboy boots in my size....no lace-up style work boots.
Click to expand...
I buy mine from HG Greenes in clingman. Gives me a good price and he supports our FD, so I buy a lot of stuff from him.
 
I hate wearing boots. They're too dang heavy and make my feet hurt after a few hours. I am on my feet all day, probably walk 2 or 3 miles on concrete and gravel and also am constantly climbing in and out of truck or grain bins and elevators. I really like Merrill's. A pair will last me almost a year before I've worn all the tread off. I have boots for hunting, but all other times I wear my Merrills.
 
I wear my work boots almost everyday of the year, from the field in the mud, cow shit, chicken houses construction work, welding, running machinery then into work on a concrete floor all day.
The only boots I have had to last are my redwing model 2408.

Those that had redwings and didn't last bought the cheap import redwings. They have 3 price points of boots.
1, made overseas with foreign materials
2, assembled in the US with some foreign materials
3, made in the US with all US materials

You can actually sort through their boot models on their site by those 3 choices.

My first pair of 2408's lasted through 7 years of abuse and then I had them resoled and bought a second pair to have and keep clean for work (pharmaceutical plant) and the old pair for everything else.

Now comfort is another thing they do take time to break in, just like any all leather boot and I like having no lining so if you like a lining they may not be for you. Also my foot measures out for a certain last which this model boot is made off of. You should have your foot measured and the last model identified and only look at boots built around that last if you want a longterm comfortable boot.

Also go to YouTube and watch roseanvil for good cut open boot and shoe reviews.
 
Caver Dave said:
Aside from water activities, I only wear boots... so comfort, weight, and tread are the biggies. Fawk a bunch of heavy, stiff/slick soled brogans!

I was THE Keen hiker fan boi... 1st pair came out of the box for Labor Day in Hillsville VA and 15+ miles like a cloud.
Until I realized their boots had gone to total Chiwanesse shit (3rd-4th pairs sole layers delaminated = monthly "Shoe Goo" repairs until nothing left to glue and 5th specifically to address soles = lowers ripped along lower edges 🤬 ).

Latest pair are Oboz (Hecho in Vietnam?) and doing nicely
Click to expand...
I have had a few pairs of Oboz.....I walked the soles right off the first pair in less than 3 months.....those shoes were perfect right out of the box, so I bought a second identical pair hoping it was a fluke....no such luck, the bottoms of the shoes were slick as a drag radial in 4 months (but no delamination). The waterproofing on those shoes was second to NONE....I used them for a few years just to wash the vehicles. Alas, I don't mind paying for something that will make it a year....but at $150 a piece, those shoes would cost between $450-$600 to keep my feet covered for 12 months.
 
Lace up give me a pair of scarpas any day, pull on double h us made with the ice insole , work / weekend tecovas with the vibram sole
 
Keen Targhee 3 Waterproof Mid in 13W for me, toe box is great (roomy) and wear like a sneaker while being tough as nails. They were the only boots to get me 2 full seasons of daily hard use and didn’t leave me feet aching.

www.keenfootwear.com

Men's Boots | KEEN Footwear

Shop men's boots & gear up for your next adventure with trail-tested boots, around-town explorers, pull on leather boots & more. FREE SHIPPING on orders $100+!
www.keenfootwear.com www.keenfootwear.com
 
Stuntman Autoworks said:
I wear my work boots almost everyday of the year, from the field in the mud, cow shit, chicken houses construction work, welding, running machinery then into work on a concrete floor all day.
The only boots I have had to last are my redwing model 2408.

Those that had redwings and didn't last bought the cheap import redwings. They have 3 price points of boots.
1, made overseas with foreign materials
2, assembled in the US with some foreign materials
3, made in the US with all US materials

You can actually sort through their boot models on their site by those 3 choices.

My first pair of 2408's lasted through 7 years of abuse and then I had them resoled and bought a second pair to have and keep clean for work (pharmaceutical plant) and the old pair for everything else.

Now comfort is another thing they do take time to break in, just like any all leather boot and I like having no lining so if you like a lining they may not be for you. Also my foot measures out for a certain last which this model boot is made off of. You should have your foot measured and the last model identified and only look at boots built around that last if you want a longterm comfortable boot.

Also go to YouTube and watch roseanvil for good cut open boot and shoe reviews.
Click to expand...
this! 2406 or 2408 are my go to! people that complain about redwing are buying the import.
 
NCJeeplover said:
I've been looking into this heavily lately. I know they're expensive, but you can send them back for a resole for 100 bucks and not have to break in a new pair of boots. They might just work out to be cheaper in the long run.
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I know a guy that works for cat as a shop tech and he did that a few years ago. He said it was the best decision he ever made. He did a foot outline thing on a piece of paper and took some measurements and sent them in. He was nervous about it at first but when they came he said they fit like they should just a touch snug, but after wearing them a week they were perfect.

He’s had them resoled twice I think and one time they did a clean up job of some sort and fixed some wear places.

I would do it but the environment I work is rough. The salt and other chemicals just destroys the leather so it wouldn’t do me any good.
 
I made my way to tractor supply last week, they had several brands in my size. I tried on some araits, timberland pro, wolverine, and keen (iirc).
The timberlands fit best for me with a safety toe. I ordered the pair I wanted from their site and had them 2 days later. Today is the first work day with them on......these are going to need a break in period for sure. Will update in a week if I am happy or crippled.
Years ago, I remember a set of timberlands being really comfortable, but the oil/coolant at my plant turned the soles to Jelly in a few months. Fingers crossed these go the distance for a while.
 
I'm not in the field that much, but when I am I see what the everyday construction guys wear and recently that has been Thorogoods. I really like my Thorogood 8" Emperor Toe composites, enough that I bought a pair of the 6" wedge soles for anytime a safety toe isnt required and I'm not on ladders. They replaced some Georgia 6" comp toe that were to soft to walk around in all day. I do have a 8-10yr old pair of Georgia 8" that aren't nearly as soft and still get brought out for LKQ duty.
 
I like a square toe slip on with the dual material sole. I had a pair of wolverines I wore until the steel toe was stabbing my foot. That took about 2 years. I’m about a year into a pair of Justin’s that are the same style.

My boss bought me a set of red backs. They seem really popular for mechanics but they make my legs ache.
 
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