Opinions on work boots

I went to my local store and tried more on today. Thorogoods fit very narrow for me. I usually prefer wide boots and Thorogoods double E wide isn’t nearly wide enough. Even there triPle E felt borderline narrow. I just don’t like their fit. It sucks because I know their boots are quality.

 

Spent the majority of my life wearing work boots every working day, always worn wedges for work when not down in the mud.

Red Wings, Chippewa, Thorogood all good, all American made. Wedge soles pretty vital as a carpenter, don’t track as much dirt, more contact area hooks up better on roof sheeting and not having a dropped heal helps you not hook your heal on nails or plate breaks when walking walls. Vans work great too, but obviously don’t stop a nail lol.

Not sure what is your main need, but on even surfaces wedges do better than lugged soles because of the increased surface area. The wedges are also comfortable, the soles have good shock absorption.

The last decade of nerds wearing work boots as a fashion statement drive the prices up, used to be able to get a mock toe 6 hole pair of Redwings for $120. Good luck finding a pair of decent AMERICAN MADE boots for less that $200 now.

I wear Thorogoods, they hold up well, comfortable.

 

I’ve tried a lot of different Thorogoods on and the fit is weird to me. They’re very tight width wise. I just can’t find comfort in them

 

My boots for working in trenches/concrete are steel toe redwings. Soles have good traction and great cushioning, but they are heavy. Everything is heavy though when you’re slogging around on uneven surfaces

 

I really like the redwing worx steal toe sneakers. They last me one year of constant abuse for 10-12 hours a day. With the special redwing inserts it comes to about $200 for a pair.
I'd like actual redwings but they don't make three inch boots with steel toe.
Since I figure the profession matters for this I am an auto mechanic so I have to deal with oil/grease/coolant.

Best thing I've got for shoes is my peet feet shoe dryer rack, they get rid of the sweat and rain from the day and putting warm shoes on every morning is real nice.

 

Yeah, definitely gotta go with what fits. I have narrow feet so Thorogoods work well for me.

Danner, Redwing, Chippewa, all American made, worth the price for the quality.

I cheeped out and went with a few pairs of Wolverines, they just got cheaper and cheaper in build quality until the last pair I bought the speed lace hooks broke off and the sole came undone. By the time I took them to a cobbler I’d bought a pair of good quality boots

 

Had these for 5 years or so now, held up awesome and I'm on my feet all day. Will probably buy them again once their worn through. Keep my feet dry too. https://www.redwingshoes.com/work/mens/King-Toe-00435.html?cgid=mens-work

 

I’m wearing my first pair of thorogoods as we speak, I bought them 2 years ago. Best I’ve gotten out of a pair of Keens is 6 months. I’ve had good luck with red wings as well, I have the hiking boot style. I’d buy more thorogoods in a second, they’ve lasted better than any other brand.

 

All the boots from them I’ve tried just don’t fit right for me. It’s a shame because I think they are a great boot.

 

I’ve been eyeing some origin boots as well. They take every step to make them as us made as possible (with the exception of one piece). Seem like a cool company. Their “built” boot is the only one with a shank and what seems to be a true work boot. They claim all their boots are for work use.

also eyeing whites, jk, and nicks. Which are pricey but seem to have great durability and longevity.

 

I've worn 2 pairs of identical Wolverines, 2 pairs of Redwings which I recently resoled one pair and just tried my first pair of Thorogoods.
The Wolverines were okay. Lasted a year a piece but when they were done they were done as they cracked and leaked around where your toes are. Red Wings are good. Wore out the soles on the one pair but the leather was still good so I had them resoled and they are as good as new. At the time i was doing landscaping/mowing and regularly doing 10k+ steps in them 5 or 6 days a week in the summer. They are comfy too.
So my newer Thorogoods are nice and comfy for the 3 months I've had them. 2 things I'll say about them are they aren't waterproof so you'll have to mink oil or waterproof them and the eyelets have pulled out on me.
Thankfully they have a 1 year warranty against defects under normal usage...

The resoled Redwings are the further away ones and the Thorogoods are the closer ones...


Here's the link to the Thorogoods
https://thorogoodusa.com/emperor-toe-6-briar-pitstop-work-boot/

 

Redwing is a great boot for the money
Next level is Nicks Boots , Wesco Boots , or Whites Boots
All USA made and are truly the best out there

 

Not sure if White still does it, but when I was fighting wildfires out west in the '80s-'90s, they would have reps come into the fire camps and sell their CUSTOM MADE/FIT boots. They would take a shit load of measurements of each foot and make a pair just for that person. If I recall, they were $200-$250/pair 30-40 years ago and took maybe 2 weeks to get them? But the guys who bought them swore by them. Very rough and variable terrain on the fire lines, too.

 

They still make custom boots
You draw an outline of your foot and send it to them
You can also buy off shelf ones
But they are the real deal

 

Timberland Pro Endurance, (

$170 Timberland PRO Men's Endurance 6" Steel Safety Toe Puncture Resistant Work Boot Industrial, Brown, 8 Wide

https://www.amazon.com/Timberland-PRO-Endurance-Puncture-Resistant/dp/B001FXZUHY) steel toe, steel shank. Heavy af, but last about a year -- sometimes a hair more -- as a working carpenter. Top 2 lace points are either speed hooks (good for me, since I sometimes take them off in people's houses) or normal eyelets. Usually 150 bones on Amazon.

Last pair, I thought I'd be all smart-like and spend 30 bucks more for composite toe, because, well, **obviously** they'd be lighter weight. Nope. I can't remember exactly, but they were either exactly the same, or an ounce heavier than the steel. Sheesh. Those went back pretty quick.

 

I keep coming back to ariat slip on boots over the years. I always browse Amazon warehouse and pick up a pair when they are around 70$

 

I’ve always had difficulty getting mock toe Thorogoods to seal up. If you work in the weather that’s an issue.

 

Here again to narrow for my feet.

Unless their EE is wider then other boots labeled EE

 

Huh never read that when I was looking at reviews. I think some come "waterproof". Mine have sealed up quite nicely from some of the snow removal I've done in them. They're the "Emperor Toe" boots so they have a nice rounded toe area.

 

These, and add a custom insole for all day comfort.