Shop Footwear?

[rbattelle]

In 1996 I bought a pair of these for a job I took at an automotive parts warehouse. I used them daily in relatively punishing conditions at work. I beat the snot out of them, and never did any sort of "maintenance" on them. Later, they became my "daily driver" shoe during the winter months in NY (read: major road salt, slush, cold wet conditions). I worked in that warehouse for over 6 years during the summers and on weekends year-round.



These days I don't work an industrial job, so I wear them when working on vehicles or working on the house. Admittedly, the last 4 years they've had an easy life compared to their first 6 years. 4 years ago I placed them in storage for about 6 months where they grew a nasty layer of some kind of mold all over the outside. When I pulled them out I hosed off the mold and they were fine.



As time has gone on and these approach their 10th anniversary they are still comfortable, and still in excellent shape considering the abuse they've been put through. There are no holes in the leather, although there are lots of scuffs and scrapes and gouges in the toes. About 60% of the tread is still there. They don't leak any water. Even the shoelaces are intact.



These have been simply the best pair of shoes I have ever owned. They ask absolutely nothing, and they deliver "performance" whenever I need them. I think I heard some time ago that Cat footwear is actually made by Wolverine.



I'm starting to think about maybe retiring this pair and buying another pair of the same boots. But I wondered what the "industrial" guys in here like...



-Ryan

 

[JoshPeters]

I wore Cat boots for a few years. I wore them through. The tread was usually pretty good still but the leather would crack along what I'll call the toe line. The Steel toe's I had I wore the leather through... as typical steel toes... you could/can see the toe.



As with ANY boot I've tried from Redwings, to Cat, to my new favorite Redback, I collapse the soles. I have pretty small feet for my body size. I'm 5'11'' 195lbs but I only have size 9 feet. To much Pounds per square inch I think. Between that and working on Concrete all day... they are done for.



My Favorite boots are the Redbacks from Matco Tools. They are imported from Austrulia. http://www.redbackboots.com/

Slip on slip off... but the elastic never seems to go bad. I've had 2 pair in 6 years. Both are in great shape.



Josh

 

[Dl5treez]

The OSHA gods will crucify me for admitting this but unless I have an absolute need for leather work boots, I wear my Vans/Airwalk/Adio/Sneaux "skater" shoes in the shop.



I also have about 6 different pairs of work boots/shoes, my favorite being Ecco Track. Very comfortable, but no steel toe.



My steel toe boots are Red Wing slip on "Wellington" style boots. No nasty greasy gross laces to mess with--simple.

 

[Champane Flight]

Try these

Pilot exalto from Michelin. #ad




I wear them all the time, at work steel toes, not too heavy, great in oil and gas. The price is not too heavy, and they wear like iron. The only problem is that they tend to rub on the heel a little until broken in, this can be solved by putting a piece of padding on the achilles.



http://www.ironageshoes.com

 

[nickleinonen]

at home, i wear what ever on my feet when working on stuff [sometimes barefoot] but at work, work boots are manadtory. and there, i am lucky if a pair of boots last 8 months [this current pair has lasted me almost a year now, and the tread is 95% gone, but i did spend 4 months in school with them not being used... ]. i have a habit of buying cheaper boots to use at work as i can't justify spending $250 on a pair of boots that last as long as a $100 pair. and i shop for sales too. i will buy boots sometimes nearly 1 year in advance if i fine a great sale. the company does pay for 33% of the boots when you turn in your recept for them, but later, you get to pay income tax on top of that 33% and average income tax is close to 30%

 

[WDixon27]

i've been wearing wolverine durashock steel toes for about the last 8 years of working at a salvage yard/shop, depending on the tread design i get a year or two out of a set and sometimes less, a couple of the designs are prone to splitting at the arch or the sole separates at the toe so i try to avoid them, they are the most comfortable lace up work boots i've found, some of the others i've tried have crapped in as little as 4 months and been less comfortable so i guess i am hard on them

 

[rbattelle]

I guess I must be easier on my boots than I thought! I'm also a lightweight (150 lb)... that might help.



-Ryan

 

[WDixon27]

6'2" 290 here i've busted through regular wolverines (non durashock) in 4 months and dr marten industrials in 6

I guess I must be easier on my boots than I thought! I'm also a lightweight (150 lb)... that might help.



-Ryan

 

[swankmetal]

my favs are my redwing chukkas. usually get 1 1/2 to 2 years outta them. you'll see me in those or my whites. i really like those redbacks though. might have to try a pair.



dave

 

[Matt400]

I use this boot at work.



This model came out in 2002, I have been working on concrete since 1977 and these boots are the best I have found for cushion. They are very durable, have safety toes and of course oil resistant. I wear them while doing home projects as well.

 

[GBobbitt]

I have worn Mason Shoes for years (www.bamason.com), and they seem to last longer than anything else. I had the last pair 3-4 years although I did not wear them all of the time and some of the environments I wore them in were not too hard on boots. I bought my first pair of Red Wings about a year ago and I will see how they last. I shop for price, comfort, availability, and weight because a size 16 steel toe boot is expensive, hard to find, and heavy.

 

[DieselTweaker]

I wear red wing's 6'4'' 300lbs i get a year out of them and I love the way the feel.