• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Need a good pair of Steel toed boots/shoes

Anubis

No Lifer
my current pair is on its last legs and im looking for something new. with better foot support/build quality. Need them as a job requirement, now i don't need ones that say a construction worker would need because i work inside so weatherproofing and such inst necessary.

anyone got suggestions or sites to browse
 
Buy a good quality pair of boots and have the steel-toe cap instlled over the boot. Looks like shit, but it's much easier to remove in case of emergency...


I wore White's boots for most of my 30+ years in construction. If you don't want a boot like the construction workers wear, how about Red Wings? They offer steel toe tennis shoes IIRC.
 
Buy a good quality pair of boots and have the steel-toe cap instlled over the boot. Looks like shit, but it's much easier to remove in case of emergency...


I wore White's boots for most of my 30+ years in construction. If you don't want a boot like the construction workers wear, how about Red Wings? They offer steel toe tennis shoes IIRC.

A friend of mine is a MechE and spends a lot of time on the production floor at Nestle so he was also required to buy a pair of steel toes. He loves his Red Wings. They look like a decent dress shoe/boot with the durability of a workboot (and steel toe).
 
Red Wings would be my choice. If you buy red wing, make sure you get an american-made model. There will be a price difference, but in this case the higher quality is worth it. If you want something cushiony and comfortable, get one that includes Red Wing's "Comfort Force" cushion insole.
 
I never tried Red Wings, but I've heard good things about them too. The most comfortable work boots I ever used were Wolverines that I bought from either Sears or JC Penny.

They held up pretty well too. At my old work environment my feet were constantly getting splashed with acids, chlorine, salt water (or submerged), all kinds of shit.

Some of my co-workers wore Timberlands and swore by them.
 
Last edited:
I'd recommend Danner boots just because I've lived in them for weeks in cold-weather environments. They aren't magic, but they are superior construction.
 
my favorite pair ever were a pair of Doc Martin work boots. They aren't like the stoner ones from the 90's. Totally light, steel toe, anti shock and anti slip. GREAT boots.

They come in weir sizes but they are worth checking out.
 
Are you required to use steel, or can you use a composite substitute? Admittedly, if you've been wearing steel for years, probably won't matter to you much.
 
I guess red wings will work for office environments but they are overpriced crap IMO. I've worked in some nasty(men with a pair only) environments and they just don't hold up. Not only that there wasn't enough insulation in the boot so guys were getting there freaking toes frozen. This is in Texas so I could only imagine up north. It was so bad we asked our company to switch our boot provider to a different company.
 
i usually go for timberlands. I get them at the outlet store, usually like $50-60 on sale. They last me a few years.
 
I guess red wings will work for office environments but they are overpriced crap IMO. I've worked in some nasty(men with a pair only) environments and they just don't hold up. Not only that there wasn't enough insulation in the boot so guys were getting there freaking toes frozen. This is in Texas so I could only imagine up north. It was so bad we asked our company to switch our boot provider to a different company.

Exactly which model were you using? You know only a few red wings actually have any insulation at all, and the ones that are made overseas are substantially lower in quality than the ones made in Red Wing, Minnesota. I sell work boots to oil field workers, and I have to deal with the ones that come back defective or wear out before they should. By and large the Red Wings hold up the best compared to all our other brands, with the exception of the ones that are made in china, and even they are no worse than other brand's boots that are also mostly made in china.
 
I guess red wings will work for office environments but they are overpriced crap IMO. I've worked in some nasty(men with a pair only) environments and they just don't hold up. Not only that there wasn't enough insulation in the boot so guys were getting there freaking toes frozen. This is in Texas so I could only imagine up north. It was so bad we asked our company to switch our boot provider to a different company.

Thats funny, cuz they're made in Red Wing, Minnesota. They hold up just fine here.
Maybe you should have got insulated models instead of normal ones.
 
I guess red wings will work for office environments but they are overpriced crap IMO. I've worked in some nasty(men with a pair only) environments and they just don't hold up. Not only that there wasn't enough insulation in the boot so guys were getting there freaking toes frozen. This is in Texas so I could only imagine up north. It was so bad we asked our company to switch our boot provider to a different company.

100% They're narrow too.

I don't know a farmer around here who doesn't have some of this shit.
 
I guess red wings will work for office environments but they are overpriced crap IMO. I've worked in some nasty(men with a pair only) environments and they just don't hold up. Not only that there wasn't enough insulation in the boot so guys were getting there freaking toes frozen. This is in Texas so I could only imagine up north. It was so bad we asked our company to switch our boot provider to a different company.

guess where i work
 
A friend of mine is a MechE and spends a lot of time on the production floor at Nestle so he was also required to buy a pair of steel toes. He loves his Red Wings. They look like a decent dress shoe/boot with the durability of a workboot (and steel toe).

I've got a pair of Red Wings, and have worn them most days since I bought them (almost five years).

Most comfortable boots I've owned. The tread is gone, the insoles are done, and the laces are a little ragged, but Red Wing will replace all of this if I send the boots back to them with fifty dollars. Then I'll be able to get another five years of them no problem.

I also bought a pair of Belleville boots, also 8 inch and steel toed, for the winter months. Good boots, but I like my Red Wings more.

My Red Wings
My Bellevilles
 
Last edited:
Exactly which model were you using? You know only a few red wings actually have any insulation at all, and the ones that are made overseas are substantially lower in quality than the ones made in Red Wing, Minnesota. I sell work boots to oil field workers, and I have to deal with the ones that come back defective or wear out before they should. By and large the Red Wings hold up the best compared to all our other brands, with the exception of the ones that are made in china, and even they are no worse than other brand's boots that are also mostly made in china.

You probably are referring to the Worx boots a subdivision of Red Wing boots. Is that what your selling to the oilfield workers. The ones made of neoprene I believe? Those seem to be holding up pretty well.
 
You probably are referring to the Worx boots a subdivision of Red Wing boots. Is that what your selling to the oilfield workers. The ones made of neoprene I believe? Those seem to be holding up pretty well.

Those are good too. In fact, they're the only red wing boot made in china that seems to give decent performance. For specific applications, namely for those workers who are in contact with caustic chemicals and oil based mud, they'll outlast a leather boot.

Really the boot I had in mind was style #2231, or the basic wellington slip-on steel-toe work boot, though. People seem to have a love/hate relationship with that boot. They love it for its durability and traction, but hate the breaking-in period. Red wing makes other boots with similar durability and much more comfort though. I'm a fan of style #2270.
 
Back
Top