can anyone recommend some good boots that are comfortable for long days? the ones i have now are fine for what i've needed them for in the past but now i'm gonna need some that i'll be wearing a lot more and i want something comfortable.

5/4/2010 3:16:02 PM

I used a Caterpillar 6" steel-toe this summer when running a chainsaw. very comfy. not the greatest in morning dew or puddles. but not too heavy and great traction. i still use them when i do heavy yard work back home. cost about $80

for my wildland fire training, i had to buy 10" uppers. i went with Red Wing on the recommendation of our crew boss. i love them and i wish i had an opportunity/need to wear them more often. when i get called out west for a wildfire i'll have to use them. cost $160 but i got a $100 reimbursement from the gov't (found a good deal at a mom n pops place in MI). i'd only recommend these if you need maximum protection

[Edited on May 4, 2010 at 3:31 PM. Reason : 2]

5/4/2010 3:24:59 PM

i got some from the timberland pro series that kick ass. they have some kind of titanium alloy (i think) toe that's a lot lighter than steel, you really forget they're hard toe until you kick something or someone steps on them. i wear them on the jobsite pretty much daily. they're really comfortable, i think they retail for like $100ish but you could try them on in the store then find em online cheaper.

5/4/2010 3:28:02 PM

Fumbler likes nick's for his forest firefighting. they aren't steel toed iirc. they probably make some though. his were $texas though...

http://www.nicksboots.com/

[Edited on May 4, 2010 at 3:29 PM. Reason : ]

5/4/2010 3:28:25 PM

i'll be using these for on-site surveying, i'm trying to stay as light and cool as possible.

what are the best brick and mortar stores to go find something comfortable?

[Edited on May 4, 2010 at 3:30 PM. Reason : .]

5/4/2010 3:29:56 PM

Tiberland Pro series. I have worn them daily for the past 3 years at my job. I love them.

5/4/2010 5:24:38 PM

if you dont step on the bank in them it should be fine

5/4/2010 5:45:50 PM

i have a pair of caterpillar steel toed boots as well

if you're in the raleigh area you can go to the gregory poole dealer location off blue ridge & buy some. i dont know for sure if they have boots but i know they're known for having the biggest selection of cat stuff. you could always call and ask if they carry boots

mine were about $80 as well

5/4/2010 5:47:58 PM

i tried some of the timberland boots, but the toes just weren't comfortable. ended up getting a pair of dr martens ironbridges that are super comfy. right at $100

5/4/2010 6:37:12 PM

^ thats a great point. Everyone's feet are different. Therefore different shoes will be comfortable to different people. Your best bet is to go somewhere and just start trying on.

5/4/2010 6:41:01 PM

I have a pair of these

http://www.redwingshoes.com/productdetails.aspx?prodid=2044

The toe cap is larger than normal so it doesn't feel as constricted. I wear these anywhere from 25 - 90 % of a normal work day and my feet never hurt. There is a Red Wing store off of South Wilmington St.

http://www.redwingshoes.com/Locator.aspx?ZipCode=&City=raleigh&State=NC&Country=US


There is also a Lehigh Safety Shoe store at the corner of Miami Blvd and T.W. Alexander driver

5/4/2010 9:03:39 PM

You don't want to buy cheap boots, period.

5/4/2010 9:50:38 PM

I've got a pair of Bates composite toe that I wear all the time working long shifts. Meet the same standard as steel toe but lots lighter. They are more oriented towards fire/police so most of them are black but they are extremely comfortable. Also, they've got a lot of them with side zippers too.

5/4/2010 10:19:11 PM

depends on how hard your work is on boots. I can demolish a pair of timberland or wolverines in 3 months. my Redwings have held up for 5 years, although they are showing their age.

5/4/2010 10:43:34 PM

there is a place in RTP that specializes in work boots. i don't remember the name though.

5/4/2010 10:47:38 PM

Red Wings, if you're serious about it and not just looking to reinforce what you want to hear then go to them. There's a store down south wilmington in the raleigh area. They've got a good workboot selection and you get properly fitted by someone who (usually) knows what they're doing; not just a boxrunner changing out sizes. You're talking anywhere from $100 to $300 or more. I've heard nothing but good things (other than the price) about them and the boots are about as close to perfect as you can get. Good selection, too.

5/4/2010 11:09:52 PM

i have no opinion now (well other than mine are too cheap to cut it) so i'm open to all suggestions. i think i'm gonna check out red wings, $100-$150 was the range i was hoping to find something in.

5/4/2010 11:29:54 PM

I've always liked Wolverines. I go for the gortex steel toe, and I've never found them to be too hot, but I don't really have a problem with that. The durashock insoles are comfortable as hell and even with the steel toe they aren't too heavy, but the downside is the boots themselves don't last very long, I typically get a year out of them, 1.5 at the most. I think the most I've paid has been $150, least is $80

^You'll be hard pressed to find Red Wings for less than $150 for a decent pair. Not that its impossible to find what you want in that price range, just don't count on it

[Edited on May 5, 2010 at 1:50 AM. Reason : ]

5/5/2010 1:49:11 AM

if you are looking for comfortable and light then go with composite toe. i have a pair of wolverine's that i wear every day for 8+ hours a day and are very comfortable.

5/5/2010 8:40:13 AM

I love my Danners

5/6/2010 12:51:20 AM

I, too, recommend Red Wings.

Can't you write off this expense on your taxes or bill the cost to your work(or a project)?

5/6/2010 9:03:50 AM

Quote :

"Bates composite toe"

5/6/2010 9:22:34 AM

i am still wearing a pair of wolverines that i bought 7 years ago

i wore them every day for 12 hours for a year of that time

comfortable

the most important thing with a boot is to get one that actually fits, get someone who knows what they are doing to size you up

[Edited on May 6, 2010 at 11:00 AM. Reason : bates boots are pretty good too, i have about 8 pairs of them in storage for when my wolverines give]

5/6/2010 10:59:36 AM

i loved my bates when i was in the military

5/7/2010 4:25:14 PM

Quote :

"You don't want to buy cheap boots, period."

Especially if you have rice paddy feet like I do.


Nicks does make a steel toe...
but Nicks may be out of the price point. Mine cost around $500 (all custom fitting, double thick midsole, some other custom work)

If your feet aren't screwed up just buy some Red Wings. From what I've seen they hold up better than the other cheap stuff...well actually the Brahmas they sell at Walmart hold up well too but fit like mittens.

[Edited on May 7, 2010 at 5:03 PM. Reason : Get some with a kilty. They aren't real boots if they don't have a kilty.]

5/7/2010 5:00:19 PM

My company paid up to $90 for me to get a pair of steel-tipped shoes.

Found a pair of timberlands for exactly that price. They are really comfortable, do not look like the ones out of a rap video, and solidly built. Only thing I don't like about them is that my feet get hot in them because they are insulated pretty good.

5/7/2010 5:41:20 PM

http://www.zappos.com/dr-martens-hardhat-rigger-boot-teak
i have a pair of these... love them, they also make a lace up version. The plastic toe makes a huge difference in terms of waterproofness.

5/8/2010 1:24:15 PM

Quote :

"I used a Caterpillar..."

5/8/2010 1:36:01 PM

http://www.timberland.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1774620&cp=1762199.3762135&int_prevBucket=0&showSizeSearch=false&pageBucket=0&hasPagination=false&totalProductsCount=83&doVSearch=no&doVSearch=no&pageDisplay=superfamily&pageType=family&page_bucket=0&pageNum=3&pageCount=4&int_nextBucket=0&page=4&parentPage=family

Thats what I wear all the time for boots, whether I need the steel toe or not. Second pair of those that I've had. The first ones lasted close to 4 years of almost daily wear.

5/9/2010 10:36:01 PM

I've been using these for about 2 years:

http://www.zappos.com/dr-martens-7b10-st-7-eye-boot-bark

I've been happy with them - surprisingly comfortable, and have held up very well.

5/10/2010 9:42:27 PM

Whatever you do,

Buy good socks, people will spend 500 on boots then get some tube socks from walmart.

I bought a few pairs of the red wing climate control socks or whatever, and i would never buy anything else, hell, i even got some red wing socks i wear when i play hockey.

5/10/2010 10:45:22 PM

Wool/wool blend socks ftw.

I used to wear cotton and would get blisters. I switched to wool and never get blisters. Wool holds up better too so they are well worth the investment on that factor alone. Some synthetics are great for keeping your feet dry and blister free, but they wont hold up like wool.

[Edited on May 12, 2010 at 1:31 PM. Reason : ]

5/12/2010 1:30:51 PM

^^^^ i wear those every day (brown oiled leather). i work a desk job, but i am in an auto shop just about every evening and on weekends. steel toe was probably not necessary, but after dropping car parts on my toes i figured it would be nice, and it has worked out well. i've had them for maybe 6 months and they're holding up very well.

5/12/2010 2:29:49 PM

another vote for the Timberland Pro series

5/12/2010 3:10:56 PM

went with these:
http://www.redwingshoes.com/productdetails.aspx?prodid=1961

the king toe and wide size fit great

5/12/2010 4:12:42 PM