Need some work boot advice

I've got a brand new set of Black bates durashock steel toes you can have. Sz 9.5 I think. They are at home right now. I've got some barely used Bates tactical steel to boots as well.

 

i wear boots all the time summer, winter it doesn't matter, i have Justin, Rocky, Danner, and Carhartt all are comfortable. The Carhartts i have are the slip on (High with no laces) they call them wellingtons i think they are nice and waterproof also. The Justin's are more of a western boot not the tactical kind you may be looking for.

 

Timberland Pro Series, feels alright for steel toe and they don't have the metal loops for the laces on them so it should be ok for the electrical guys out there.

 

I've got a cheap pair of steel toe diehard boots from sears, put them through hell and there still holding up. There a combination of a climbing boot and a regular construction boot, great for ladders,scaffolding, and roofs as well as mud. They also stop nails pretty well as i have yet to have one go all the way through the bottom with theses.

 

I'm a journeyman electrician in Mass. Have tried quite a few brands of boots but fell in love with Chippewa a couple years back and haven't had anything else since.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/of...ons-recommendations-steel-toe-work-boots.html

 

i have a pair of carhartts they are comfy been wearing them for four years have held up great!

 

Rhino's the way to go

 

OK fellow boot lovers...let me break it down. I have many years experience in the work boot business and can chime in for you.

Basically, works boots are like anything else....you get what you pay for and everybody has a different opinion on what is best.

What you'll find now is that many of your traditional USA Made boots are being sent overseas for production. If it happens the production is remaining in the states, it is only for final assembly. The uppers and outsoles are being produced oveseas and sent here to be assembled.

So, if USA made is VERY important to you, stick with the following brands. This is not to say that EVERY style of these brands are made here, but that the ones labeled MADE IN USA are in fact just that.

Thorogood (My personal fav and HUGE among Union contractors)
Work One
Justin
Carolina
Double H
Danner
White's
Wesco
Chippewa

Others that advertise being Made in the USA, but in fact are only assembled here. All are very reputable and high quality.
Red Wing
Wolverine

Other brands that are made completely overseas but produce very quality footwear.
Timberland Pro
WORX (Made by Red Wing)
Carhartt (Made by Red Wing)
LaCrosse
Rocky
Georgia Boot
John Deere (Made by Dan Post)
Michelin (Made by Rocky Brands)
Dr. Marten

After you choose your brand, decide what you really want out of your boot....All comfort or Bulletproof durability.

If your looking for all comfort and instant wearability, stick with something that is cement construction or direct attached (welded). These will have mauch greater flexability and instant comfort. However, the durability is greatly compromised. Most of these will have PU or TPU outsoles that will be much more cushioned and lighterweight. However, they will not withstand high abrasion or heat.

If durability is your thing, get something that has welt or stitchdown construction. Not only will they be much more duarable, but in many cases they can be re-soled. However, these will have serious 'break-in' time before they are really comfortable. These styles will traditionally have full rubber or dual-density PU outsoles that will withstand weld-slag, ballast rock, metal grating, and high heat...and hold up for years.

My best advice is to try on many different brands and ask other people in your application. They will have the best info suited to what you need. Like I said, I'm a Thorogood guy...union made with American materials in Merrill, Wisconsin. I am very partial to their American Heritage series that are available in both steel and soft toe...jusy my two pennies.

 

All that work and no replies?? C'mon guys....

 

Justin is my favorite, i'm wearing mine right now.

 

Perfect response! You know alot about some boots and I was just searching for 'boots made in the USA' and came up with nothing, thanks for that! Answered alot of what I wanted to know

 

If you buy the Service boots (LE/Military)... They're made in USA. The Arcadia's are my favs, I have 3 pair.

 

i thought electricians had to stay away from steel toes?

i'm a construction engineer. i wear redwings..but my buddies WESCO's are fantastic.

 

Oakley has some awesome tactical boots. Very nice.

 

Not true at all. By default, all of your steel toes boots will be EH rated...meaning they will protect you from electrical shock up to 600 volts when standing on a dry surface. In many instances, a dielectric boot will do you well if working in an application with higher electrical exposure.

As long as an electrician stays away from anything rated SD (Static Dissipative) thy'll be just fine.

 

i have had about 4 pairs of wolverines, very comfy once broken in, one of those were slip ons, took almost 2 months b4 they were broken in right but afterward they were awesome, now i have a pair of red wings, the 80 year old china man who sold me them kinda hit it on the money, somethin weid about my foot, and he sized me up a wider and longer boot, i usually wear a 13 reg, he sized me to 14 b, hella bigger than waht im used to, butn only after a week they were broken in and awesome, but the price was 270, FOR BOOTS!!!! luckily my company subsidized all but 40 bucks, so thats all i had to pay for.
wolverines if you dont have the cash for red wings. just make sure you get yourself FITTED, the fit is key!