Steel Toe Boots/Shoes

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I have never had to wear steel toed footwear in my life but I may have to purchase a pair for a possible upcoming job. I'm looking for comfort and something that's not going to blister my toes up. I wear a 13 but I figured maybe trying a 13-wide might help. Any suggestions on style and brand would be greatly appreciated!.
 
Go wide...nothing worse than having your big toe bent in to a small fitting steel toe.

Currently wearing Olivers (made in Oz), style looks a bit Judge Dredd, and has a rubber overlaid toe (which I don't like, I like them polished)...Nice and Comfy. I get about 8 months out of them.

Blundstone (formerly Oz, now China) used to be a good thing.

Personal preferences ?

I LOATHE elastic sided work boots. I always go for high riding lace-ups (about 7" at the top), because in the places I need steelcaps, I tend to turn my ankles in anything with less support.
 
Red Wings, Danner make really fine boots.....but they will cost you. Made in the USA and quality. Make sure to get boots with "Stitch Down Soles and Heels", these boots will be recraftable when you need new soles.

I found some really good work boot made by a Company called Twisted X. They are really well made by former USA boot-makers. They are made in China....but they are great boots! I have a pair of the Western Style Wellington and they put my Red Wings to shame for comfort an durability. They are recraftable.


Outstanding Pull on Steel Toe boots at a Great Price.

http://www.twistedxboots.com/class/Work Pull On.htm
Good luck.
 
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If you are going to be wearing these out doors in inclement weather, I recommend Composite toes. The steel gets numbing cold in the winter and blistering hot in the summer.
 
Originally Posted By: mongo161
Red Wings, ..... make really fine boots.....but they will cost you.


Be careful, REDWING sold me some China made JUNK that lasted three weeks before they literally FELL APART.
 
I did some looking online while I was waiting for replies. Any body have any experience with Wolverine DuraShock boots? I found a pair of 13 extra-wide for $125.
 
Originally Posted By: gfh77665
Originally Posted By: mongo161
Red Wings, ..... make really fine boots.....but they will cost you.


Be careful, REDWING sold me some China made JUNK that lasted three weeks before they literally FELL APART.


That's why you have to research BEFORE you buy. On the Red Wing web site as well as the Danner boot web site they will let you know if they are imported or made in the USA. They will also let you know if they are "Glued on" soles or Stitch Down, recraftable boots.


After some people highly recommended these Twisted X boots to me.... I have to admit....these Boots by Twisted X, that are made in China, under the supervision of USA boot-makers, are some real quality. I never thought I would say that about the imports....but these boots have really surprised me with the quality and comfort. Had them 3 years now and they are great.
 
Originally Posted By: mongo161
Originally Posted By: gfh77665
Originally Posted By: mongo161
Red Wings, ..... make really fine boots.....but they will cost you.


Be careful, REDWING sold me some China made JUNK that lasted three weeks before they literally FELL APART.


That's why you have to research BEFORE you buy.


Before you try lecturing me, you need some details. The RW store I visited only had several boots, but just a few shoes (that I wanted), and ONLY ONE pair in my size. I took it because I needed it. You failed to know the circumstance.

Besides, if they choose to put their name on it, by golly, its their reputation they are willingly stakeing on it.
 
Sorry, I did not mean to come off as lecturing to your. I apologize if you took it the wrong way.

I would send the boots back to Red Wing, in Minnesota and see if they will replace them, give you credit toward a new pair or a full refund.

I currently own two pair of Red Wing boots and 3 pair of Danner boots and I've had them for years. Had them re-crafted a couple of times and have had nothing but good results from their boots.


The Red Wings that I purchased were the Model # 2414 and Model # 2412. That's what I base my opinion on for Red Wings.
 
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Go wide...nothing worse than having your big toe bent in to a small fitting steel toe.

Currently wearing Olivers (made in Oz), style looks a bit Judge Dredd, and has a rubber overlaid toe (which I don't like, I like them polished)...Nice and Comfy. I get about 8 months out of them.

Blundstone (formerly Oz, now China) used to be a good thing.

Personal preferences ?

I LOATHE elastic sided work boots. I always go for high riding lace-ups (about 7" at the top), because in the places I need steelcaps, I tend to turn my ankles in anything with less support.


olivers are good; agree on the blundie elastic sides thing - does not work for me, not good for snake bites either! currently have china mart hard yakka ones, seem to work OK, next time WILL go for the olivers.
 
Carhartt. 6 inch lace ups. 2 1/2 yrs and they are just now needing replaced. Mind you, I wear these things constantly. From working wind turbines to gas rigs to opening my own tire store, I have worn them a minimum of atleast 70 hrs a week.
 
our co makes us wear ST now and i got 2 pairs for 1.98 (they chipped in 100), skechers and hi tec cross training looking shoes...i like the hi tec better, they are more comfortable...all st shoes now are fairly wide...if you work outside get composite toes...i also have double thick dr scholls and a insert too in shoes...i dont like supporting china but they make most boots and ST
 
Hemi, please get good quality (non-cheap) if you are using the boots for work.

In my work I kneel frequently so be sure to "kneel check" the steel toes - many will push into the top of your foot when you kneel.

Composite toes are great! Like the previous poster said they can be warmer and are a bit lighter.

I'm a Red Wing fan (mostly because my work subsidizes them) but I also like Danner. Get something comfortable. Good luck.
 
When I got my job as a supervising park ranger 3 years ago, I really didn't want to be wearing my $300 hiking boots. So I happened to be at Walmart and noticed they had steel toe boots and decided, for the price (around $30), I would buy a pair just to see if they would handle wear at work. To be honest, I figured they would fall apart. Well I was wrong. After a month of them, I decided that they were going to last so I bought a second pair to rotate thru (In case one pair got wet, I would have a second pair handy). So after 3 years of hard use, it's time to retire these and buy another set. BTW, the steel toe does work. I was splitting wood one day with our wood splitter and a large and heavy round fell off and landed on my toe. No damage.
 
Belleville 800 ST - Waterproof Black Safety Toe Flight and Flight Deck Boot. Is the nicest steal toe boot I have worn but a pair will cost you about 170 dollars but they lasted about 1 years with use on steel decks and non-skid.
 
Google up shoeline.com That is where I discovered 8" Carolina boots . Mine are US made and very comfy. They break in easily. I just skip the top holes before the transition to hooks. This allows more ankle flex. Lots of brands with good descriptions. They generally tell you the country of origin .
Back when I working in the shipyard, I wore steel toed boots. I got them a 1/2 size large so I could wear 2 pairs of wool socks. winter and summer. I get uninsulated boots because my foot sweat would rot out the lining. Better to use wool socks and let the boots air out. When the weather got really cold or wet , I kept a pair of heavy duty rubbers in my locker.
 
I've been wearing Red Wings for 25 years but when I bought this most recent pair it turned out that particular model was discontinued and they got me one sent in from a warehouse. I suspect the replacement model was going to be something from China. Looking back with hindsight, I probably should have bought an extra pair or two since I refuse to buy the Chinese replacements.
 
My last pair of Redwings (steel toe - slip ons) the sole cracked in half like if you snapped a carrot in two pieces. Some companies give you a yearly allowance to buy new steel toe shoes/boots.
 
Don't worry, because I work in the Bakken Oil Fields, and I wear size 16 boots. I used to have a difficult time finding Large Steel Toe Boots until I found XLfeet.com.

They were the difference between me having a job or not. Believe me the Oil fields require long, and I mean long shifts, and the work boots from XLfeet, were more than sufficient. They even have insulated steel toe boots by BOGS which come in handy on those -40 days.

Hope this helps.
 
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