My justins are giving up, I've knicked the leather too many times on the side and developed a hole. Seriously considering going the nicks/franks/jk route but... sticker shock.. mucho dollars with the options I chose. My justins lasted a good 5-7 years and I could buy several more pairs of those. They have cons and drawbacks. I'm debating about getting another pair. Figure - 20 more years of work boot wearing. So say I replace boots every 5 years, at 250 a pop, in 20 years the nicks would pay for themselves. Any thoughts on the economics of this? I kind of feel its crazy especially ordering online and hoping it's right. Not rich enough to eat that cost. (thread from 2019 has a poster who returned their nicks because nicks got it wrong) while I'm at this , thoughts on these boot options. One option I want with new boots is a lineman patch so the sides are a little better protected. Any user feedback on that? will it affect the bending of the boot? I'm on gravel, concrete, ladders and knees on any given day. A lineman shank is another option I'm looking at, recommended for people that work on ladders. I'm not on one everyday but I could be for half a day or more. I have a pair of moc toe irish settlers I can wear on ladder days. those are meh but wearable. Also have a pair of red wings (usa) for winter wear/ rotation boots. Not in love with them enough to get a 2nd pair of them. Don't hate them either.
If I'm going be honest I'd get another set of Justins, I'm just trying to convince myself putting up the bucks for handmade vs another run of the mill boot and if it actually makes cents. I think double H or H&H are part of the same conglomeration of companies that owns justin. Heard a good comparison of boots My justins are kind of an f150 while the one I'm speccing with Nicks is probably a f450 with maybe an added trim level.
I’m a Thorogood guy, I’ve had great luck with them. The “USA” made line, leather uppers and wedge soles are great boots. I’ve often considered them the most comfortable shoes I own, outside of my running shoes. I have no experience with these high end boots like what you mentioned, but I just can’t imagine them being that much better. Get what you like, if they are good to you then get some more.
I have some Double H boots that I'm really happy with. First pair of work boots I look forward to putting on.
Was just talking to someone this morning about Rocky. It was so cool to go down there and buy boots that were sewn in the building next door. They got Nafta'd. Contentious issue for us around here as the factory essentially floated a whole town in former coal country. I tried some Irish Setters after swearing off of Rocky products with ok results. I don't wear real work boots anymore. Merrel has taken over my footwear selection almost completely. I did find a pair of Lowa winter boots on clearance this year. I am unsure where I'd look for a heavy, stitched sole lace up right now. Some good names already mentioned. I always liked the look of Danner Quarry boots.
I’m on my second pair of Danner Quarry’s. The first pair lasted 10 years. I did not wear them for a living, just nights and weekends. They are heavy and rugged-kind of logger boot with a shorter heel. My brother is an excavating contractor, and has switched to Thorogoods after 35 years of Red Wings.
If you’re gonna buck up, get custom boots made to your foot. They last longer before getting worn out and the they generally rebuild for less than to cost of over the counter. I wear Drew’s corks and general work boot for my side work and Westco line boots at work for climbing. Franks and Nicks are both really good too. Ask around, there’s got to be a fairly local custom boot maker to you. What ever you get, get good grease not just variety store stuff like Hubbards or sno-seal. Oregon Trail and Obenauf’s are two of the best. The linemen patch won’t bother the bend or flex of the boot. Get lace to toe so you get three eyes on the patch and it will last longer. Any boot maker can double the shank, have them add a leather half slip too. A little stiffer to break in but hugely more comfortable on a ladder or climbing. Make sure they use all leather soles and no cork. Wesco makes the best line boot that I’ve used. The others I’ve tried all had much softer leather that really stretched and I had to send them back. A lot of other line guys are going to mountaineering boots the last several years. Lots of guys are really happy with them so that might be worth looking into, just not my thing. My feet are a big part of making my living, I spoil them and it really makes a difference. Get a small bottle of mink oil, if you get custom boots you’ll get hot spots. Spot oil them and you’ll break in with less pain and faster. I fought the custom route for years because of initial cost. I finally listened to the “old” guys. I’m comfort, body abuse and cost ahead. Don’t expect to just throw them on and go, you will need to break them in, the leather is much stiffer and usually thicker. Owl
Nothing wrong with snoseal. It is good stuff. JK boots recommends it as an example. It's mainly beeswax. Better and cheaper (imo) than a lot of other "waterproof" options. I tried Bicks LP because it's more expensive so it has to be better, right? but their claims of waterproofing are more dreams than reality. Not even close to holding up as well as snoseal. I've used it since I was knee high to a grasshopper with no ill effects.
I found a Redwing steel toe that fits my feet perfectly and have stuck with them. The downside is the price, but they last 3-4x longer than the china junk. Last year I tried Thorogood because they were cheaper, but they didn’t have the perfect glove fit I’m accustomed to. I’m about to wear through the soles and seams are coming apart on my Redwings. My employer contributes for boots annually,full coverage for chiner boots. Next week I will have to bite the bullet and pony up the difference to get my favorites again. For me proper fitting boots are a game changer. Stick with what works! The JK, White, Nicks etc are beyond my spend pain tolerance. Kinda like the 500i
I haven’t tried the custom build boots route, but have been wearing Danner Quarry steel toe boots for the last 12 or so years. I’ll wear a pair for 2 years before they get nicks and deep scratches in them as my good boots, going to the office, and then they become work boots. I get another 3-4 years out of them before I’ve worn the soles down and destroyed the leather on them, and at that point they owe me nothing. I usually stop cleaning them and oiling them when they become work boots as well. I’m hard on work boots they get worn 12-14 hrs a day everyday regardless of what I’m doing. I’m required to wear nice boots for work at my office job, and sometimes site visits require safety toes, so I just wear boots all the time. It also helps that I get a boot allowance each year from work.
I'm feeling that... but keep attempting to reason that I pay 200+ every 4-5 years or put up all for next 10+ still feels crazy I've already resoled my redwings once and probably will get another resole out of them ?. While I like my Justins, I also think it may be time to switch up especially considering their current price and what you get.(thinish leather and no resoles) Nice boot still. they paid for themselves.
I've thought about the nicer fire boots (jk's, nick's, white's) but the trace my foot and send off freaks me out. I've actually thought about flying out to jks and getting measured and a pair maid. I've worn Redwing for many years. Went to a RW last year to get new boots. The don't have anything like what I've been wearing for 15-20 years, and none of what I tried on fit me, really scared the way they wouldn't even go on my foot. Luckily I had an old pair that I had replaced that had a bit of life left. I've pulled them out of the bullpen and making do with them. Hate the idea of getting new boots. But a pair of jk's, nicks etc might would make it through the rest of my fire years, or come close. Work does pay a good amount, but I'd have to put in quite a bit to go that route.
I have some Thorogoods, not really impressed with them but they are functional. They serve as back ups when I oil my others or they get too wet & need to dry. My heavy use boots are Hoffmans, they had some sticker shock @ $450. They are very comfortable & durable. I had them rebuilt for $158, some new eyelets, a couple of seams stitched back up & new soles. They sent new insoles & laces back with them as well. They are uninsulated, EH & steel toe. I have a pair of Meindls that are steel toe & insulated, they are great as well. I have had very good success with Ariat Workhog pull on boots as well. Square toe, EH & composite toe. Hoffmans sells several different brands as well. Hoffman Boots
I have some Meindl hikers that are my daily drivers from around this time of year until end of March. I prefer a pull-on boot for work boots.
