Anyone have suggestions? I've been wearing Redwing 9" logger/linesman for the last 7 yrs. They are still holding up, but they way a ton and really wear me out for simple firewooding. I find myself going to my regular leather toes hikers more and more. Would like a good compromise of adequate protection and light weight. P.S. any experience with alternative toes like carbon fiber or aluminum?
By experience, do you mean testing their actual protection? That I can't say. But in the face of cutting hazards I would take aluminum or fiberglass over just leather. Or just generally comfortable and durable? I've always worn protective toes with fiberglass or aluminum toes and how long they hold up is completely unrelated to the toe material. I've also worn a number of non-boot style safety shoes, including the sneaker types, and the same holds true - a well-designed shoe made of quality materials seems to be the winner. Associating that with a choice of material does help find that "right" shoe. Timberland makes some decent leather safety shoes that don't weight a ton. But the outsoles wear out after a couple of years daily use.
Redwing makes another uninsulated logger/lineman boot with a composite toe...very nice boot...but quite spendy close to $350..ive worn nothing but redwings for years...best boot made imo..
I can't help you, I wear the same. They are clunky but comfortable. Got mine 1/2 off from a kid who worked there, no warranty that way though. My sole stitching is coming undone. Other than that, and the slice I put in them with the Fiskars, they are great. Just greased them up for this winter. Mine were the made in ? variety, very disappointed when I discovered that.
I just bought a pair of steel toed, water proof boots from Redwing flying the Irish Setter name and they are light and cut more like a hiking boot. The Redwing staff told me that all their steel toed boots and shoes are made in China or Viet Nam. I believe they were $179. I stayed with steel because I've seen the video of cut testing of composite toe boots. It ain't pretty!
I believe that's correct - their heavy-duty product lines are made in USA. Their "other" styles (low-cut, dress shoes, sneaker style) tend not to be.
Many variables play into this. Carbon fiber is lighter. Are you splitting at home in the summer-nice cool carbon fiber mesh sided shoe works great for me with little need for support of ankles and they breathed to keep my feet cool and dry. Out in woods cutting trees down carbon fiber 8" boots helps prevent a lot of injury. Personally have never found much use in the 6" boot. All my personal feeble minded opinion that works for me.
I really like my Wolverine Big Horn boots. Only problem is the sole is some foamy rubber, so it will wear out if you're on a hard surface a lot. Out in the woods, they don't wear bad at all. They're not heavy and the leather is very durable. I'm on my second pair of these. I don't really hunt, but they're great for firewooding! http://www.wolverine.com/US/en-US/P...rproof-Steel-Toe-Hunting-Boot?recID=285285427
I've worn name brand boots before but recently got a pair of "Herman survivors" aka Walmart brand. I expected to use them last summer and throw them out when I got a better pair, but they've held up shockingly well to 8 or so months of heavy use on a tree crew, and doing my own firewood tasks. Along with day to day walking. They're nice and light, and very comfy Never would've expected this from a Walmart boot, but they're actually not bad
I have a pair of Bates steel toed that I like so far. I only picked them up because I needed a wide size, and I found them for $55. But they've held up so far to 2 years of light to moderate use, and since they're more of a "combat" boot style they are incredibly light. I still prefer my Carolina work boots if I can get away without a steel toe, but when I cut wood the Bates are great. http://www.amazon.com/Bates-Mens-Inches-Durashocks-Steel/dp/B00814TY8G
I don't wear steel toe boots for anything unless forced. I have Chippewas and Hoffman but they're heavy as well and no safety toe. Paying attention to what you're doing and not working past a fatigue point is better safety equipment than anything else.
Fatigue is exactly why I went out and got a lighter pair of protective boots. Went to the local Red Wing dealer and spent a bunch of time with him discussing what I wanted and trying on a bunch of styles. This is why I go to the local shop and don't shop on the internet. Wound up with some 2260's with full leather and fiberglass "King Toe." Love how wide these toes are compared to regular steel toes. These seemed like a good compromise of moderate protection and light weight. Only thing I didn't like, was that all the King Toe boots are made in China.
Georgia boots make a good boot made in the US for the logger style. They are available in steel toe and regular toe.
I love my Carolina USA loggers! Seem very lightweight to me but of course I'm in big steel toes all the time for work. There is a place in KC called Mickey's Surplus (913) 831-1493. I can't find them listed on the website but they had wildland firefighter boots for $30. There were several brands but all built to USFS specs, fireproof, steel toe, crazy tread sole. They reminded me of a combat boot. The only reason I didn't buy 6 pairs were none in my size!
I think that steel can offer a degree of protection that the lighter materials can't. I seem to recall a thread where someone caught the composite toe on a boot with a chain and it went through it like a hot knife in butter.
If you're looking for impact protection, the composites are probably fine. But if you're looking for protection from a chain saw chain, I don't think composites offer much, if any, added protection.
Red wings are hands down in my opinion the best boots out there. I am disappointed that they have moved a lot of their product overseas but they do not hide it and they still make lots of great boots in America. The Redwing Kingtoe while made in China is a comfortable light weight boot and a lot of guys I work with wear them and love them they also last a long time through some pretty tough treatment.
