Started working at Walmart TLE and think I need an upgrade from the E36 M3ty $50 anti-slip shoes I have. What do you guys wear that's solidly built and won't degrade in a short time to oil or degreaser? Being comfortable and under $130 would be nice too.
You can find timberland pro anti slips around 90-110$ online with the steel toe and they last. I have even had them resoled.
Best boots I have ever worn are thorogood's but they run a little small in the toe with the steel insert and I awalys get the wide to be safe.
I have worn Keen's for years, but there is nothing more comfortable than a pair of Merrill's.
I've been wearing Wolverine boots for about 4 years now and I've been very pleased with them. Comfortable and hold up well.
The shoes I wear the most though have custom insoles which was an absolute game changer. Not cheap but I'm standing on them 700 hours per year so might has well have happy feet.
Doc martens industrial
Wolverine wellington. Only sub $300 boot that last more than 6mo for my use.
I'm still happy with my Belleville's from when I was in the military
Professor_Brap (Forum Supporter) said:Wolverine wellington. Only sub $300 boot that last more than 6mo for my use.
oh you sir, are the genius in the room.
I work in a brewery 50-60hrs a week. Breweries are absolute hell on boots. Keens, Danners, Merrills, timberlands, hell even $$$$$ Red wings and Carolina's. Nothing has lasted more than 6 months for me aside from the wellingtons, which usually last me about 12-14mo. The break-in is longer than normal in my experience, but well worth it once you get them broken in.
For the money, you won't be able to beat it. I promise.
In reply to golfduke :
I work in a weld shop/commercial refrigeration/mechanic and they last 6-9 months for me, but for sub $80 a pair well worth the money. If you use a boot waterproofing lube of your choice they break in a bit faster.
Warm, dry, comfortable feet are worth every dollar in comfortable foot wear. Cuts fatigue and saves your back. Don't have a recommendation, but quality is well worth it.
Thorogood
trucke said:I have worn Keen's for years, but there is nothing more comfortable than a pair of Merrill's.
I have a older pair of Merrill's I wear out in my shop. They are easy to to get off and on when I need to go into the house. For work in an industrial area I always wore Red Wing short boots. They were comfortable after being broke in and had good arch support for long days standing on concrete.
In reply to Dootz :
I wear topsiders. They are deck shoes. ( for use on boats ) Thick non slippery soles. Lightweight and they slip on and off reasonably easy. I'm an old geezer and bending down to tie shoes isn't going to happen but I do keep a long shoe horn right where shoes go on and off.
I regularly walk on that roof to fix things, clear off leaves etc and feel very comfortable and safe. ( I'm 72 ) those shoes never slip.
They are what I used to build that house and they last me at least 2 years. I don't worry about getting them wet and walk in the lake with them on regularly.
Since you're already at WalMart and maybe can get a discount . . . Brahma Brock. Not steel toe - composite which is lighter and offers some protection but not as much as steel. In the tire lube area that maybe sufficient.
I wear mine when I'm going to be in the shop, or similar, for the day - not daily. So I can't say what their longevity is. They do look well made but probably not on the level of some of the brands mentioned above.
I have the Doc Martens Industrial and have been very happy with them. But I still love taking them off at the end of a day.
I had a friend tell me a year or so ago to try Sketchers work boots. He is a carpenter and said they were the most comfortable boots he's ever worn. So last spring I bought some. The worst work boots I've ever worn. I'm a heavy equipment operator and while I'm not down in the mud like the rest of my crew, my boots don't usually fall apart. I usually only wear the balls of the feet from working the pedals and boots can last me a couple seasons. The Sketchers were toast in 6 months. I used to get Red Wings but they are too much and the leather stretches too much.
Thorogood work boots, not cheap but if you're standing on concrete they're amazing and the upper wears like iron. If you have a decent cobbler in town they can be resoled for 2nd and 3rd lives.
Mr_Asa said:I'm still happy with my Belleville's from when I was in the military
Hijack ahead. Holy smokes they have so many choices. How to pick?
I'll vote against the Thorogoods. I bought a pair while my custom Nick's were being built. It may just be my particular feet shape but the Thorogoods did not agree with me at all.
Having went the handbuilt custom fitted workboot route I can never go back to factory boots. Not even in the same league. But I'm on concrete 12 hrs a day 6-7 days a week.
I tried Wolverines. Not sure the model, but they disintegrated after 3 months.
I've been completely satisfied with Redwings.
I am retired, so my go-to work boots/shoes are indoor slippers, a pipe and a single malt glass at my side, but when I work on cars I find that Timberlands are very good and Wolverines are also excellent.
Matt Risinger just posted an Instagram video where he likes the Keen San Jose soft toe. Very comfortable and durable for a construction guy.
And for his ranch he liked the Chippewa 6" lace up men's. Again comfortable.
He hated the Keen Manchester and Red Wing Iron Rangers. Both for comfort reasons.
In reply to nutherjrfan :
Everybody's feet are different. My iron rangers are very comfortable to me.
In the machine shop I wear iron rangers because with the smooth sole they don't track metal chips everywhere. If I wear shoes with tread the carpet in my car will be mostly metal after a few weeks.
In reply to Trent :
Agreed, my Iron Rangers are extremely comfortable whereas my thorogoods are torture devices after about six hours. When I first put them on the thorogoods feel excellent, however that is short lived. But at the end of a shift with my Nick's I have no desire to even take them off. My iron rangers are not work boots and feel super light duty compared to my Nick's but they feel like slippers to my feet now after having them broken in for about three years.
I wear true hiking boots at work, Lowas. The hard part is finding any hiking boot all in black.
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