Good boots for work/hiking?

Need something durable that isnt overly expensive. Would prefer around $200 or less but could be persuaded to do a bit more.

Replacing my Columbia boots. I do have a pair of thursdays too but those are more my "fancy" boots

 

Keen makes great work/hiking boots. I have very wide feet and they fit with exceptional arch support
https://www.keenfootwear.com/

 

Thorogood has great boots. i dont know about hiking, but I love the work boots. May be in your price range.

 

I’ve been using Salomon boots and shoes for years now. Highly recommend them.


Do you have an REI close to you? They have a ton of good brands to try on.

 

I had a pair of Roper boots last me 7 years.
But I mink oiled and cleaned them all the time.

My latest set is Ariat, They are 3 years old now.
Been good so far.

I should say, I only were them about 5 months out of the year.

The rest of the year I wear Columbia hiking shoes.

 

Keen or Dannner have served me well.

 

Those are different things.

Work is strictly Redwings. They even make a lightweight, white soled, protective toe boot that I wear around the office. For a work shoe, it's damn comfy. For the field, also Redwings, but in a heavier boot.


For camping/hiking, Merrell. For camping sandals, Keen.


Edit:

Field work, Redwing Pecos.

Office and laboratory, Redwing Extralight Industrial.

Hiking, Merrell Moab.

Camping/kayaking/night pisser shoe: Keen Newports.

 

I personally like the Red Wings King Toe. Sadly not made in the USA but are roomy!

Thorogood are also great! I have the Briar Pitstops and they are nice but the hooks for the laces pulled through the leather so those will need to go to the shoe repair place

Edit: I can easily wear out at least one pair if not 2 a year. I'd say the Red Wings are plenty comfortable!

 

Redwing for work. Hiking , now that’s a different ball game. For hiking I’d highly recommend REI as they have 12 month return policy. Brand to many to talk about. Do want snake plates, how much toe drop to ya like, low, mid, or high ankle support ? Water proof, water resistant, doesn’t matter? Are ya hiking in the snow or mostly dry season? So many choices and things to consider.

 

Depends on your definition of work.

 

Good recommendations in here. I’ve had keen work and hiking boots that’s I’ve liked. Have some danner hikers that I really like.
if you’re up in Portland, the danner store out on airport way is their outlet. You can get some good deals on boots there. My hiking boots were 50% off retail because of a small flaw in the material. Once I wore the boots I never could see the flaw again.

 

Therin lies the real trick. Something my grandfather always tried to drill into me and it never took.

Shoes that get worn every day last about a year. Shoes that get worn every other day last four times as long.

That's of course a rule that I follow for the shoes that I pay for. But when I'm allowed to expense shoes for work, fuck it, I'm going to treat those bastards like I treat a rental car.

 

Here’s the deal with Red Wings
They push the steel/king/composite toe. None of them fit my feet. Yes my feet are very wide. Thorogood are too narrow and that pisses me off cuz they make great work boots. Danner make great boots but the super rainforest 8’s are like walking on 2x4’s on concrete. I really liked my red wings until they made them all safety toe so then the tried the Irish setters (red wing subsidiary) and they didn’t last that long. I even own a pair of White Smoke jumpers for tree work but not practical everyday work. I been there done that with all the major boot manufacturers and Keens have been my go to lately. They hold up and are comfortable with plenty of room for my Fred Flintstone feet. Look into the made in the USA line. They’re way superior built. Wish I could fit into some Merrill’s or others. Ariat is charging full force into the work boot domain and I had a pair for a year but they broke down and i might still try out their new sole platform.

My pick for a work/ hiking boot hands down would be the Keen Braddock. Bulletproof boot that can be worn for any work or weekend warrior. They come in black or brown


https://www.keenfootwear.com/products/mens-braddock-waterproof-mid-soft-toe-raven-estate-blue

 

For hiking, keen. For work. Thorogood is king

 

Great topic! I start a new job with SWGAS next week and will be given a new work-boot stipend. Would love recommendations as well. I have a pair of red wings from previous job. They are okay. Took freaking forever to break them in but at least comfortable now. I've heard good things about Ariat and was thinking of giving them a try. My job, requires safety boots but I am not shoveling dirt or in and out (or around) heavy machinery. It's purely a safety thing (engineer type job that occasionally has to go on-site).

 

Some say Thorogoods are narrow...but if you buy direct, they will exchange. I had ZERO break-in with the Thorogoods. This is what I wear. They may be OG style...but so comfortable. And they smell like a new baseball glove, outta the box.
https://thorogoodusa.com/american-heritage-6-tobacco-safety-toe-moc-toe-maxwear-wedge-804-4200/

 

Thorogood are American made, in Wisconsin. I was amazed at how comfortable they were out of the box. And the breakin went smoothly without excessive blisters

 

I’ve never had a good pair of keens, they suck! Their adhesives aren’t great, I’ve ripped soles on rocks and had sole peel from bad glue. Can’t recommend a combo for both, I say get work boots first and a separate pair of hiking shoes. If you need ankle support for hiking I can’t help there I hike in shoes cheap adidas’s and they’ve lasted longer than any boots I’ve tried from Merril, Keen, Oboz and others..

 

Bookmarked them. Thank you!

 

Reason I say both hiking and work is my job is running routes in all weather conditions. So im outside and running around on all terrains pretty much.

Walking on pallets in the back of my truck has shredded some of the "leather" on the sides and top and my current boot. Fucked up the water proofing.

Will definitely go through the current suggestions here soon when i get a moment. Just saw the how some were saying either/or. A hiking boot or hybrid makes more sense for me.