Brunt work boots
- Thread starter doublebase
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I’ve found I need good insoles regardless of who makes the boots. I’m currently wearing Brunt Ryng boots and they are as good as any other boots that cost the same. Redwings (import or domestic) have been more durable, Wolverines have been more comfortable and lighter.
+1,000,000,000 on buying quality footwear and mattresses.
You gotta try-on shoes. Mail order shoes and boots; specifically, the trial and error of fitting, is beyond inefficient.
I worked a lot on wooden flooring, so my boots always lasted longer than average.
I got good service ($/year?) from lighter weight, glued sole (Dunham's etc.) style of boot.
Also, the sole pattern is important. Rarely does any worker need heavily lugged soles. This pares the selections down.
You gotta try-on shoes. Mail order shoes and boots; specifically, the trial and error of fitting, is beyond inefficient.
I worked a lot on wooden flooring, so my boots always lasted longer than average.
I got good service ($/year?) from lighter weight, glued sole (Dunham's etc.) style of boot.
Also, the sole pattern is important. Rarely does any worker need heavily lugged soles. This pares the selections down.
I’ve had mine about a month and have been very pleased.
$264 still makes me cringe and is $114 more than what can reimbursed.
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I’ve heard/seen some bad reviews on the Ryngs (since I dug a little deeper because of my own situation with Brunt), but glad you’re doing good in them. I did consider replacing the insoles in my Marins, but I’m not sure it’s even worth doing that at this point. They feel completely wiped out. I offered my boots to a younger kid today (who needs a pair badly because his are totally wasted). I may just give mine to him, plus he’ll really where them for an entire year or more, and I’d like to see what they look like after a full year.
Which will lead me to buy another pair of boots, and believe me I’m not skimping on my next pair. Usually I’m a red wing guy...sometimes Chippewa, but usually I’ll buy something red wing, as their durability, support, and comfort have served me very well in the past. I took a chance on Brunt’s hoping for the best, instead I got the absolute worst boot I’ve ever owned (And I used to buy Walmart boots when I was younger).
JHZR2
Staff member
I have a set of lightly used Carolina Union made boots, and the white sole has come off. They were “out of warranty”, despite obviously looking new and having minimal use. They wouldn’t so much as give me help on where to take them for repair at my cost, let alone make it right. Somewhat disappointed because I like the boots….
I have become a big fan of Haix boots. Picture attached shows my old service boots prior to being resoled two months ago. Note that the only signs of age are some wrinkles in th eleather and the only damage are the small cracks in the glue at the seam between sole and leather. (Also, the rubber in the sole had hardened to a degree that it became extremely slippery - which was the primary reason for getting new soles). These boots were issued to me by the THW in 2003!
I got a new pair (different model) a coupe of years ago as the original ones had been written off after 10 or 15 years, but was allowed to keep the old pair. As they are no longer on the books, I had to pay for the resole out of my own pocket. Not cheap - 112€ including VAT and some other stuff (they also did something to the inner fabric upholstery, although it looked perfectly fine to me. Now there is a leather heel strip on the back which wasn't there before.) But if this pair lasts another 19 years I guess that's ok.
I also have a Pair of Haix P9 (German Army warm climate combat boot) that I purchased privately as hiking boots. These are now also 9 or 10 years old and are also holding up well. I used to kill cheap "desert boots" every 1.5 years... As one of the previous posters said, paying extra for quality shoes is a lot cheaper in the long run.
All Haix are manufactured in Europe (Bavaria and Croatia).
I got a new pair (different model) a coupe of years ago as the original ones had been written off after 10 or 15 years, but was allowed to keep the old pair. As they are no longer on the books, I had to pay for the resole out of my own pocket. Not cheap - 112€ including VAT and some other stuff (they also did something to the inner fabric upholstery, although it looked perfectly fine to me. Now there is a leather heel strip on the back which wasn't there before.) But if this pair lasts another 19 years I guess that's ok.
I also have a Pair of Haix P9 (German Army warm climate combat boot) that I purchased privately as hiking boots. These are now also 9 or 10 years old and are also holding up well. I used to kill cheap "desert boots" every 1.5 years... As one of the previous posters said, paying extra for quality shoes is a lot cheaper in the long run.
All Haix are manufactured in Europe (Bavaria and Croatia).
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Well, hopefully the Carolina’s weren’t these, because I just bought them three weeks ago to replace my garbage Brunts.
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JHZR2
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Lol. Love them!!
But yes, same ones.
The rest of them are superb.
The only other shoes I’ve ever had this happen on are a set of kids Nike shoes.
I bought my Carolina boots online at a great price. Maybe they were seconds?!?
They are great, and comfortable otherwise…
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Jesus! And those look brand new! Mine are three weeks old now, and I probably have 75 miles of work into them. I think my soles are going to be ok, I’ve been kicking stuff with them for three weeks, but I will definitely keep this in mind the next time I kick something. Wow.
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A pair of Thorogoods cost $100+ more than those Chinese Brunts.
What did you think you were getting ?
What did you think you were getting ?
JHZR2
Staff member
They were. But also we’re maybe 2 years old. Had just been in my basement.
Wore them a few times, then they were on the shelf, then went to wear them and……. Noted that crack.
Need to figure out what glue to use….
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I thought I’d experiment and get a year out of them. By the way, Thorogood moved much of their boot manufacturing operation just north of the factory in China that Brunts are made. Same with Carolina (now Mexico), and Red Wing (Vietnam).
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I bet a cobbler can reattach that for a pretty small amount. If not? Liquid nails have never failed me.
My US made Thorogood boots can also be sent back and rebuilt. Not sure on Carolina, but I would expect something similar could be done at least by a 3rd party.
I’m hoping to get at least 1 year out of mine, buy new again, and send the old off to get rebuilt if needed.
I’m hoping to get at least 1 year out of mine, buy new again, and send the old off to get rebuilt if needed.
Here’s a good list of some US made offerings from Carolina and Thorogood. You might just have to go into a Redwing store to see what they have. I’m guessing they’ll be identified as such.
I’ve have been wearing the Redwing 3507 for 15years but since this thread I’ve been interested in building a new boot for myself. I have been really interested in this company all USA made.
https://www.jkboots.com/collections/soft-toe-boots
https://www.jkboots.com/collections/soft-toe-boots
The shoe itself looks well-made, and probably can be re-soled by a good cobbler.
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I saw an add for them the other day on Facebook. Boots look very nice.
