In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Lets hear about Boots for working in the woods.

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by happysawer4741, Jan 20, 2021.

  1. Theashhole

    Theashhole

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    These will be for mostly my day job (walking, small amount of warehouse work but mostly walking on concrete/asphalt)
    I'm gonna get a pair in 8inch safety toe for sawing/treework

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  2. Redneckchevy

    Redneckchevy

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    I got a pair of caterpillar steel toe boots this spring and they were a nice boot, but the sides are splitting so in snow your feet get wet very quickly,. Got a pair of insulated lacrosse hunting boots before deer season that I am using every day now.
     
  3. Lastmohecken

    Lastmohecken

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  4. Lastmohecken

    Lastmohecken

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    I did buy a pair of 12" tall JK's several months ago, and they are a heck of a boot, but very hard to break in, I thought. However, after about 6 months, they get pretty comfortable. And that's wearing them for 12 hours a day, mostly, or longer. I think maybe I will buy one more pair, but they will be 16" tall for spring and summer, because I want to tuck my pant legs in and taller boots seem to hold them in better, this is because of the ticks. I suppose snake protection would be a bonus but I don't really worry about that much.

    I also found a pair of old stock Red Wing slip on's, not steel toe, without inserts, which were big for me, so I bought them and added inserts. I finally got these broke in and are getting pretty comfortable now.

    I also bought a pair of Georgia boots, (made in China) last fall, and wore them thru the winter mostly. I put a pair custom inserts in them, which I had made thru my foot doctor, to combat a heel spur I have and they have worked out in the end fairly good but are already wearing out but pretty comfortable, and I will probably get another pair eventually, as they are light and insulated and fairly waterproof. I like to have options to give my feet a break, depending on what I am doing.
     
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  5. tamarack

    tamarack

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    JK boots look to be very nice, well built handsome boots. They better be good, I think they start at about 600$. !!!
     
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  6. Farmchuck

    Farmchuck

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    image.jpg Welp I just bit the bullet & bought a pair or JK Boots.:tears: I guess I’ll find out how hard they break in, they look to be made very well as you would expect for the price.
     
  7. Farmchuck

    Farmchuck

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  8. Farmchuck

    Farmchuck

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  9. Redneckchevy

    Redneckchevy

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    Never heard of JK before so I googled them :bug::bug:. Now I know why :rofl: :lol:
    I almost cried paying $180 for my hunting boots, I normally buy cheap Walmart boots for summer, this year miss Redneck needed shoes so we went to a shoe store and they do if you buy one pair you get a pair for 1/2 price so I got Cat boots for 1/2 price.
     
  10. Ashwatcher

    Ashwatcher

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    D773583A-A6FD-4BC1-90AB-3B6960DA39B2.jpeg Gotta keep apples with apples, but I’ve been rocking these since 2016, many miles and many cords. They have held up very well, @$140 when purchased then.
     
  11. JPDavis

    JPDavis

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    For everyday use in the forest to the granite trails to in the shop our lakes division has gone with the Keens. Keep in mind these are not climbing boots or geared toward a logger, they are sturdy, steel toed and more comfortable to stand in for 8 hours plus than and other boots we found at Cal Ranch, they also have excellent traction when the ice and snow comes. My new pair after day one and my feet feel great. My coworkers swear by them, too. IMG_20211217_181853708[1].jpg
     
  12. Theashhole

    Theashhole

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    You wouldn't happen to know the model of those would you?

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  13. JPDavis

    JPDavis

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    Logandale WP 1017828D
     
  14. Dakota Hoarder

    Dakota Hoarder

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    Just picked up a pair of Georgia eagle light work boots for $40 on FBMP. All my PPE is now complete! They almost look to good to wear in the field! So far if just kicked around in them a bit, but they are petty comfortably. But they are not waterproof which sucks!

    not my boots, just a stock pic.
    4E974627-7D89-4AED-AC4E-1952D42DC221.png
     
  15. Redneckchevy

    Redneckchevy

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    You could hit them with the boot waterproofing spray, you have to reapply it every so often but does help.
     
  16. Dave_in_abq

    Dave_in_abq

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    I finally got boots i like a couple years ago. They aren't work boots, per se; they are custom hunting boots. Russell Moccasin. I use them for all things rugged outdoors.
    .
    I had always hated boots. Never found any that fit right. Square toes (mine arent), extra wide, etc. I decided boots were not made for human feet.
    .
    I got a pair of hiking boots from REI many years ago. Recommended as necessary for any activity in the woods. Got the best fit they had. Couldnt stand them. The ankles don't flex. Its even more difficult to move around on steep, uneven terrain if your ankles are locked. (i've since watched boot-wearing people walk and they move differently, awkwardly, cause their ankles dont bend.) The boots also gave me blisters. I went back to my athletic shoes. Worked great for the next 25 years.
    .
    Winter pointed out the limits of athletic shoes. This was about 4 years ago. By this time I had also started using zero-drop shoes (heels at same height as the balls of the feet). They keep my knees, hips, back from hurting because level feet keep the body aligned. They are also more stable on steep terrain (picture walking down hill in high heels). So 4 years ago I went backpacking at the grand canyon in December. My Altra trail running shoes did great. Even worked with the crampons necessary at the top of the canyon. (Altra Trail shoes are the most popular shoes among backpackers for all the reasons mentioned above.) Then my friends asked me to go snowshoeing. That was it. Snowshoe straps & deep snow.
    .
    So I broke down and started looking for boots. Tried on several pairs. Still not made for human feet. I'd think they'd figure that out. Square toes, extra wide, and high heels. Searched online for zero drop boots and found Russell Moccasin. Custom made. They had three models that came without high heels. So I picked the most athletic model, spec'd how i wanted them built, sent them a trace of my feet (pointed toes & all), and waited for a couple months.
    .
    So now I have some nice boots - rugged, stable, insulated, waterproof, they fit!, they are comfortable, no blisters. Many miles on them. They have 7" high ankles of nice soft leather. If i need more to keep snow out i put on my gaiters. I generally leave the tops untied so my ankles can flex. Basically they are athletic shoes with waterproof leather uppers and moderately lugged vibram outsoles.
    .
    They dont have steel toes. They wont stop a chainsaw. Outside of that they are great. They are pricey compared to stock shoes, but i figure they will cost me less in the long run than multiple pairs of Chinese carp shoes. I plan to get a non-insulated pair for summer.
     

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  17. Geoff C

    Geoff C

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    I don’t wear loggers but Thorogood are the best boots I’ve ever owned. It’s all I buy now.
     
  18. Farmchuck

    Farmchuck

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    Which style?
     
  19. firewoodbuckenman

    firewoodbuckenman

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    From looking at the group of high dollar leather logging boots from all the different companies, I notice all are made the exact same way right down to the same Vibram soles.
    Now some don’t use steel shanks but others do but as far as the build and materials there the same.
    When I ordered my White boots during the beginning of the pandemic shutdown, they were on sale around $230 their normal price then was over $400 something but today All the high end Custom leather boots are over $600+
    In truth all you get when ordering a custom fit boot is a boot that is near to your marked foot print you send with order, there is no little boot maker building your pair from scratch.
    Maybe 75 years ago they were made from scratch but no longer today it’s all about production and cost you do get a good well made boot for the money.
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2021
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  20. Chud

    Chud

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    Nicks boots implies made from scratch. I agree all the high $ logger boots look the same. I wore Wescos everyday when I was younger, but wouldn’t do it again. Still have the Wescos in my closet. My everyday boot is Redwing, because they have b widths and are still under $300 on work boots. They will resole like the custom makers too. Some red wing stores have a fancy foot scanner machine gimmick if you don’t know what size boot you need.