BEST Pair of Work Boots?

[DPetrey]

Well here you go i wore a pair of Danner Centurions until the sole's wore out got them resoled 4 time's now they have Kevlar toe's cause it is to cold up here for steel and the military buys nice boot's for there people it has been 10 yrs and still have them just my . 02 guys

 

[MoparBob]

The latest pair I just bought are these Danners http://www.danner.com/product/military/tactical/desert+tfx+8%27%27.do and like Matt400 above, they were pricey but now that I've worn them for a couple weeks they are worth the price. I needed a new set of water proof boots for this winter to replace the last set I had (Bates... pretty decent boots by the way). I have owned a lot of different brand of boots and I have learned that all I need to do is find a "Quality" brand of boot that fits well and is in my price range.



Quality brand is where I start, but no matter what the price or brand, if they don't fit well, what's the point?

 

[DieselTweaker]

RedWings here, I use to wear Rocky's all the time They use to be made 20 mins away from me but when the closed the factory and took everything oversea's, I went to Redwing's,,,, Wish I would have done it a long time ago.



Zach

 

[Grizzly]

I'm on my third pair of Carolina Work Boots. Best boots I've ever had.

 

[Diesel Power]

ive tried every thing from walmart to redwings, and i have settled with a diehard flatsole, there awsome and priced well too

 

[DBogo]

i stick my feet in these every day bit pricy but worth every penny

http://www.chippewaboots.com/boots/searchdefault.asp?id=25405

 

[CLamb]

I work with car batteries for a living so mine take quite the beating with acid and such. I use Boots from Sears, Diehards lol and thats not the battery company I work for. My Company pays $60 every 6 months for boots so I try to stay as close to that as possible. After tax the diehards are about $80 and they last almost a year before the acid really gets to the threads around the toes etc, by that time the soles are worn out from the metal steps on my work truck anyways. So far its the best brand I have come accross.

 

[basilry]

My vote goes to Caterpillar, wear them everyday all day, very comfortable, affordable, and last long too.

 

[Rip Rook]

Interesting thread, thanks to JGrefenstette for starting it. 1st 4 years I elk hunted, my feet froze with inexpensive store brands. Last time out, I stepped up to thinsulated Danners. Wow, I was a fool to try to save money on winter footwear. I'm a slow learner, but I've got that one figured out

Red Wings for me day to day, with double digit temps.....

 

[Mike Ellis]

Are any of the brands mentioned so far Made in America? If I can't buy American, I would prefer something from Canada. I hate pumping my $$$ into China and the far East.

 

[Mactruck]

My Chippewa's are "MADE IN AMERICA"!

They even have cute little American Flags on the laces that I keep on all the time.



I show my Pride in the flag by wearing it ... . On my boots?

 

[randrade]

made in usa

My whites are hand made in the USA also

 

[WilsonJ]

I use wolverine cause they are the only ones i've found that have steel or compsite toe with gore-tex. Wear them all the time and my feet never hurt. Cost about the same as redwings.

 

[WadePatton]

Nick's Handmade--Spokane, Washington USA!

Short story: I thought I had found the answer in footwear with Danner (USA models only), then had foot problems and got a pair of Nick's. Nick's are like White's, just a smaller outfit with great service. Anyhoo (this is the short version). I'm getting a second pair of NICKS! They're THE stuff.



Yes, they're pricey--but figure in the unlimited rebuilding and longer life and ultimate support, protection, comfort... start saving them quarters!



www.nicksboots.com



Long story: I got tired of wearing out a couple of pair of run-of-the-mill hikers every year and started looking for something more substantial. I found Danner. I started with the Danner Light II's. Then I bought a pair of Danner Rainforest. Then I picked up a pair of Danner Acadia on ebay. Summary: Rainforest, dang good boot, but I've about worn them out and the fit has changed. Acadia, easy on the feet, but lacking in support, least comfortable for long days on hard surfaces. Light II--I've had 'em resoled once by Danner ($75) and have about worn that sole through and the rest of the boots is quite worn, BUT they're a good, light, 6" boot and my Danner favorite. I wear them now with podiatrist-fitted orthodics.



Then I found myself on concrete for long hours making a retail store out of a warehouse. Feet pain started. Got worse. Got more worse. Ordered the Nick's. Takes a long time to get Nick's. HAD to go to foot doc. Foot doc hits me for about 400 for orthodics. Helps, but still have to limit time on feet.



FINALLY I get the Nick's. Breaking in a boot like Nick's is BRUTAL, but I endured. THEN, no more pain. I try to alternate between the Danners with orthodics and the Nick's (without--the way Nick's are made makes the orthodic insole useless (but Nick's can build in orthodic requirments if necessary-my doc looked at the boot and said "You won't need an orthodic with that boot. " )) But I was in too much pain to wait. I had to wear a splint at one point for tendonitis caused by my modified gait--walking "around" the pain.



Summary, I still sometimes wind up on my feet too long now and my feet hurt, BUT if that happens when I'm wearing the Nick's, the pain passes before the next day. Before they'd ache all night and the next day too. Now if my feet start bothering me with the Danner/ortho setup, I put the Nick's on and all is well.



The process starts by giving them a call or going to the website. The online catalog isn't that good, but there's some good info there. The printed catalog is good and comes with the fit sheet. Takes two people to do the foot outline and all the measurements. You send that in. They send a try-out pair in what they think is your size. Then you call them while wearing the try-out pair and have a discussion with the fitting department. Then they start building your boot, if it's not a stocked size. I had mine custom colored brown over black--snazzy.



So I'm looking to get another pair for Christmas so I can alternate between a Nick's boot and a Nick's boot! Switching pairs daily helps your feet and boots be happier. It allows perspiration to fully evaporate and gives you time to clean/grease a pair every now and then.



I wear boots everyday. Soon I'll be wearing Nick's boots every day.



I have the Hotshot LTT 8" (current list price 387) and am ordering the Ranger 8" (CLP 310). Yeah, that's some bucks, but that's cheaper than my Danners + the orthodic.



You CANNOT order these by size. I wear an 11D in most boots, a 10. 5D in Danners, and my first pair of Nick's is 10D and we may be going to 10C in the next. They'll start a file on you and then you'll have a permanent record that means something. :-laf



They are a tad heavier than most folks are used to, but hey, that just builds up my sexy calves. Look at the cutaway model--lots o cowhide in there!



I have nothing against White's. I just started with the smaller company and have been flat out HAPPY with the product.



Nick's or White's or something JUST like them is probably going to fulfill my footwear needs for a very long time.



Don't be afraid to try the Danner USA products--they're pretty darn good (they have import junk too, beware) BUT when you want to quit fooling around and wrap your foot in some serious leather--well, you know what I'm going to say.



And for the best over-the-counter boot prices check out quantico boot. There's also a cut-rate place in TN, but they have to peg me with nearly 10% sales tax...