Feet Up! The Work Boot Thread

I got two pairs of Docs just over a year ago and I alternate them for work. I'm on my feet all day. The Brown pair are in a half size and the black pair in a full size. The black pair are very comfortable and the brown pair are ok. Two pairs for under €300 was good value I think. I'm now looking for something a bit smarter. I've been down the route of RM William, and while a well made boot, my feet are alway sore and tired after being in them for a day.

Red Wing Iron Ranger 8084s to cut the grass today

Curious what you guys think. I almost bought a pair of seconds from a well-known work brand during a sale in April, someone bought them as I was checking out.

Lo and behold I see them pop up in August - seconds again, same price. CS tells me they were worn and returned. I asked if they could do any additional discount since they were used by someone else, denied, fair enough.

Now the same pair has been moved to full priced firsts section, no disclosure of their used status, no pics of the wear that CS shared with me.

Am I justified in being weirded out by this or just salty that I didn't get my discount...

Picked up a pair of Red Wing 866 last week. Pretty impressed with the quality of these. They're leather lined like the 877 and 875 models. Basically the slip on version of those boots. Been kicking around the house over the holiday weekend to break 'em in a little. Bit the bullet and wore 'em to work today. They're still on my feet 2 hours past quitting time, so I guess that says something about how comfortable they are.

IrishStu said:

I got two pairs of Docs just over a year ago and I alternate them for work. I'm on my feet all day. The Brown pair are in a half size and the black pair in a full size. The black pair are very comfortable and the brown pair are ok. Two pairs for under €300 was good value I think. I'm now looking for something a bit smarter. I've been down the route of RM William, and while a well made boot, my feet are alway sore and tired after being in them for a day. View attachment 540606

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Late reply, but grant stone makes a nice chelsea

dh66 said:

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Picked up a pair of Red Wing 866 last week. Pretty impressed with the quality of these. They're leather lined like the 877 and 875 models. Basically the slip on version of those boots. Been kicking around the house over the holiday weekend to break 'em in a little. Bit the bullet and wore 'em to work today. They're still on my feet 2 hours past quitting time, so I guess that says something about how comfortable they are.

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I actually just tried on a pair yesterday. I wasn’t shopping I was just waiting for an order to be done at a store that stocks them. They had a 9.5 on display, it fit good in the length but was a little narrow in the forefoot. May need a 10. Impressed you made it a full day plus, they seemed quite stiff.

Bfd70 said:

I actually just tried on a pair yesterday. I wasn’t shopping I was just waiting for an order to be done at a store that stocks them. They had a 9.5 on display, it fit good in the length but was a little narrow in the forefoot. May need a 10. Impressed you made it a full day plus, they seemed quite stiff.

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I went a half size up with these, for that exact reason.

New to me White's Packers - 11B - need a little oiling and correct break in, but well worth the investment.

Bfd70 said:

Late reply, but grant stone makes a nice chelsea

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Thank you. Just had a quick look at them online and they are very nice.

Danner 10” Fort Lewis

Made in South Africa. The exchange rate for 1 Rand is around $0.05. Not for the squeamish who are considerate of race politics, and abusing low wage workers.

These are comfortable. Stitch down construction. Double lasted. Single piece of leather for the vamp. Leather lined. Steel toe will never collapse or lose it's shape as long as you don't drop a car on top of it.

These are not the well built, high priced boots, that are handmade with the finest of materials. These are cheap, mass produced...... and extremely comfortable. Full of cheap foam and rubber to make your feet feel like they are walking on pillows. "Work Boots"? Sure. It depends on the work that you are doing. Depending on what you do, these boots work. They feel like sneakers. No problem whatsoever with chasing down a fleeing felon, engaging a person resisting arrest, or kicking in the occasional door. Beat them up, and you get another pair in a year. Technically, you are getting them for free, since employers provide the uniform.

Here is the ugly truth. They actually last for years and years. It takes quite a bit of use and abuse before you give up on them. Unlike the flatfoot of legend, most of us are riding around in a car. We're really not walking the beat for 10 hours a day. Over the years, I've always kept one brand new pair, ready to replace the pair that I'm wearing. Then I give away any extra pairs that I'm not going to need. None of my friends and family have ever complained about how ugly they are, when the shoes are free.

Fifty150 said:

Made in South Africa. The exchange rate for 1 Rand is around $0.05. Not for the squeamish who are considerate of race politics, and abusing low wage workers.

These are comfortable. Stitch down construction. Double lasted. Single piece of leather for the vamp. Leather lined. Steel toe will never collapse or lose it's shape as long as you don't drop a car on top of it.


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I have seen these are several of their other designs on Rose Anvil and I think that JG will be my next boot buy.

RE: Jim Green Razorback​

if you happen to be in a situation where you're in water or slush, I'd appreciate some feedback on their waterproofness or water resistance. I wouldn't expect them to perform at a goodyear or littleway welt level, but it's an important factor for my consideration, as I'd use them for a hiking boot more than anything else.

davyjones007 said:

I have seen these are several of their other designs on Rose Anvil

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Weston Kay collaborates with Jim Green. Jim Green sponsors Rose Anvil. There is bias.

Ernest P Shackleton said:

if you happen to be in a situation where you're in water or slush, I'd appreciate some feedback on their waterproofness or water resistance.

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It has been raining. Usual weather related hazards of being in The City. Pools of standing water. Water running in streams downhill. Water pooled around clogged sewer drains. Wet pavement. Wet metal grates. My feet have been dry. I haven't slipped. But then again, it's not that wet or slippery on the inside of my truck.

Fifty150 said:

Made in South Africa. The exchange rate for 1 Rand is around $0.05. Not for the squeamish who are considerate of race politics, and abusing low wage workers.

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I wouldn't say this is a non-issue for me, so I looked around a bit. Carl Muwkawski (sp?) did a couple videos on this brand, and he mentioned good treatment of workers and fair wage pay. I don't like to be skeptical, but I also know how this youtube game works. It reminds me of how the stereo equipment and outdoor gear reviews were back when I read magazines. They never, ever gave bad reviews of anything. If the manufacturer wasn't already an advertiser in the magazine, they were potential advertisers for the magazine. It pretty much made the review sections worthless. So I'm not exactly trusting of Muwkowski's details. I also recognize that the ultimate end game for these youtubers isn't just viewership, but to collaborate with makers to create their own brand of clothing, boots, etc. For example, Muwkowski sells limited edition work jackets for $500 that sell out in hours, if not minutes. Rose Anvil also collaborates with makers. The end game is not information, which is also glaringly obvious by how much they become a character for their videos. They're performers and entrepreneurs. At least Rose Anvil dissects the boots and lets you see inside them.

I'm hopeful these Razorbacks are a real option for my next pair of hikers.

We have wet, sloppy winters here with lots of salt on roads and sidewalks. Not great conditions for fine leather footwear. This winter, I've chosen to wear a pair of old Bates ICW (intermediate cold/wet) military surplus boots. They're not too bad, there's a goretex liner which still seems to work, and I had them resoled with a Vibram Arctic Grip sole for extra traction on snow and ice. Not the prettiest boot, but they're understated enough to go with anything and get the job done.

Observe said:

We have wet, sloppy winters here with lots of salt on roads and sidewalks. Not great conditions for fine leather footwear. This winter, I've chosen to wear a pair of old Bates ICW (intermediate cold/wet) military surplus boots. They're not too bad, there's a goretex liner which still seems to work, and I had them resoled with a Vibram Arctic Grip sole for extra traction on snow and ice. Not the prettiest boot, but they're understated enough to go with anything and get the job done.

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Those remind me of the Corcoran 1525 Paratrooper II boots (I don't think they call them that anymore), sans the toe box. Yours are less military looking though

Ernest P Shackleton said:

Carl Muwkawski (sp?) did a couple videos on this brand, and he mentioned good treatment of workers and fair wage pay.

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For all I know, the employer provides 1 hour massage breaks. I don't know. And that's my point. I don't think Carl actually knows either.


In all fairness, I don't think that he flew to South Africa, brought a hidden camera into the factory to document working conditions, or conducted candid interviews with factory workers. Nor did he visit any factory workers at home to see that they did not live in a shanty. And he probably has no idea what the prevailing wage is in South Africa, how much it costs to live, or what the factory workers actually earn. I cannot, for lack of knowledge, speculate if the workers are working 16 hour days, not given breaks, forced to meet production quotas, paid overtime, paid for sick days and holidays, receive any sort of medical benefits, et cetera.

Ernest P Shackleton said:

Rose Anvil dissects the boots and lets you see inside them.

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Here is where it gets bad. If he is paid to do so, even a poorly constructed boot is praised for it's use of poor quality materials. He promotes Golden Fox, Rock Rooster, HuckBerry...... In order for the promotions to work, he has to degrade the competition. Look at the negative reviews of Alden, Allen Edmonds, Wolverine, and Wesco.

Ernest P Shackleton said:

the ultimate end game for these youtubers isn't just viewership, but to collaborate with makers to create their own brand of clothing, boots, etc.

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YouTube content creators are paid by YouTube, based on an algorithm of "likes", "subscribes", and comments. Content creators also have sponsorships, where they can mention the sponsors and promote the sponsors. Content creators can also post links for viewers to click on, which redirects them to a product page. The sellers will pay the content creators a percentage of the sales generated. Common is the "Amazon Storefront".


Now here is the part that nobody talks about. A content creator is not regulated. If I had a channel, I could go to different companies and shake them down. Tell them to pay me whatever my asking price, or I give their product a bad review. Or companies may approach me, and simply negotiate a price for me to say great things about them. Just imagine how many of these reviews you watch are actually paid endorsements. A manufacturer gives the content creator cold, hard cash, and a positive review is posted online.

Nobody on YouTube is obligated to be honest, and no law requires them to be unbiased. It's just business. How many boxes of cereal are those athletes really eating? Or are they simply being paid to promote a product?

Observe said:

a pair of old Bates

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Bates, which is owned by Wolverine Worldwide, makes boots and shoes for military and law enforcement. Rocky Boots is another brand that fills that niche. Good enough quality. A cop or a soldier gets a pair of shoes issued every year. They can't hurt his or her feet. They have to be good enough that the wearer doesn't slip when running. The shoes have to be reasonably rain resistant. Synthetic materials can accomplish most features, and at the same time, reduce weight. Not heirloom quality, where you plan to resole and keep them forever. But usually good enough to last at least a year, and still be wearable until you are issued another pair of boots. To the civilian who is not fighting a suspect or fighting a war, they could last many years of just walking on city streets during the winter.


I have several pairs of boots by Bates. They stand behind their product. I had a pair which I never wore. "Dress Uniform" shoes. After a decade of not being worn, the soles actually disintegrated. Bates gave me a new pair.

I’m using my first pair of Rocky boots for work. Previously i had primarily used red wing, with a recent venture into red back. I rate the Rocky at 3/10. My feet never sweat so much. They don’t breath at all. The soft toe loses its outer layer the first time you go to ground. I’ll wear them until March then they are off to goodwill.