I have had a pair of Danners for 8 years and am still on the original soles. I'm currently thinking about having them resoled. I have tried other boots but have always come back to my Danners after a short amount of time. I have done TONS of miles walking, TONS of miles driving, and a fair bit of running even.
Danner has changed and started making some lower range boots, but their high end US made stuff is still the same. I'm obviously another vote for Danner.
I also will vouch for the red wings. The extra that you pay for them is made up by the fact that they last so much longer.
I'm currently wearing Timberlands, but it really boils down to the fit.
The single most important thing for me, because I tend to walk out the side of my boots, is to have one extra eyelet down the toe, so I can keep them snug and prevent wearing my little toe out on the safety cap. I went for many years without steel toes because of that. The other nice advantage is I can step into my boots without sitting down on the floor like a kindergartner trying to get into his snow boots.
These are what I've worn for a few years now. Notice the extra shoelace...
https://www.timberland.com/shop/mens-pro-work-boots/mens-timberland-pro-helix-6in-comp-toe-work-boots-87566214
KyAllroad wrote:lrrs wrote:My work provides out steel toed shoes. After repeated cycles of Timberland Pro sole splitting we aren't allowed to buy them anymore. I also like the Keenes, I have a set for summer wear and they held up better than I did in my motorcycle crash.RealMiniParker wrote: I've had Timberlands. They sucked. Comfortable, but didn't last six months, before the sole split.If you still have the Timberlands, call them. You may get a free replacement.
Work provides our safety-toe shoes, as well. After coworker and I split our second pairs of Timberland Pros, we said, "berk 'em"
this is all good news to my feet.. but here is my problem. I have -very- narrow feet. To the point that I either need to special order my shoes, or wear the woman's version. The only problem with the latter "solution" there is not a lot in a size 12 woman's (size 10 men)
So I am going to take your suggestions this far and see what I can come up with
The Red Wings I'm currently wearing completely changed my opinion on boots. They are, without a doubt, the most comfortable piece of footwear I've ever worn. They are model 606 (according to their website), and it looks like 607 is the black version. I'm typically on my feet for 10-18 hours a day, 5-7 days a week.
This will be my third year in this pair and I have no intentions of replacing them anytime soon.
mad_machine wrote: this is all good news to my feet.. but here is my problem. I have -very- narrow feet. To the point that I either need to special order my shoes, or wear the woman's version. The only problem with the latter "solution" there is not a lot in a size 12 woman's (size 10 men) So I am going to take your suggestions this far and see what I can come up with
What width are you? I'm a D to EEEE depending on the shoe/use, and instep size. You're probably an A? http://www.redwingshoes.com/footwear/filter-usa/width-A
Redwing and Chippewa are both good, for more expensive boots there are White's, Nick's, Dayton, Viberg, Danner, etc. $250-$450 is the normal price range for really good boots, but there are certainly cheaper ones that will work fine for a couple years if they fit you.
I'd recommend finding a place that repairs boots and sells several brands. My guy sells everything and after half an hour of talking and trying boots on we ended up spec building a set of Red Wings. He actually picked the upper and sole I wanted, added to safety toe and nail guard, picked out the shank for the right amount of stiffness, and placed the order. Two weeks later the set of boots Red Wing custom made for me was in my mailbox. That was $275, and almost 7 years ago and I wear them every day.
I tried two sets of redwings over the last fifteen years and if I wear them a couple days in a row my back starts hurting. I've had the best luck with the timberland pro, my back is fine and it's ok if I replace them every 6-9 months since the company pays most of that. Tried the doc marten steel toes but couldn't find a size that fit well. Years ago I tried a Lehigh boot and it was great, I left one in my tailgate though and drove away.... The pair that replaced them were junk and everyone else who I know who bought them said they were junk also.
I've never tried the boots upmarket of redwing, I work around semis and the leather of just about anything gets nasty in a year or two so they will get replaced regardless.
I rotate between two pairs.
Right now Ariat and Danner.
But I have never had boots last more than 2 years I break down the heel on the outside.
Boot buying for me is an excruciating ordeal I have to try on everything it seems til I find something acceptable. My arthritis demands the lightest shoes and springy soles and since I'm outdoors gots to be water tight and no synthetic upper so they breathe and my toes don't rot.
In reply to tuna55:
I've worn DM 8-eyelet boots for about 35 years; nearly every day for the first 20. I stopped after they moved production to China and the uppers would split and fall apart before the soles were worn. Also, the didn't look or fit like the old UK boots. When they introduced the "new" UK made product I was intrigued but unwilling to drop $180 on a pair of DMs. When I got an email about a 35% off sale, it made it plausible, so I pulled the trigger.
I couldn't have been more pleased. They're ~exactly~ the old 8-eyelet DMs I wore forever. I liked them so much I bought a pair of the 3-eyelet shoes.
Concrete floors were killin' my feet, added to that a heel spur and arch problems. Their shoe truck boots were out, DuraShocks helped a little, soft-soled safety shoes a little better and I always fitted new insoles w/ arch supports. There was no true answer after hunnerds of dollars spent. New job provided Carolina's, imported but light and comfortable, couldn't ask for more comfortable boot outta the box, add insoles and supports, the moar better. Never seen that comin', sometimes it's just hit n miss.
motomoron wrote: In reply to tuna55: I've worn DM 8-eyelet boots for about 35 years; nearly every day for the first 20. I stopped after they moved production to China and the uppers would split and fall apart before the soles were worn. Also, the didn't look or fit like the old UK boots. When they introduced the "new" UK made product I was intrigued but unwilling to drop $180 on a pair of DMs. When I got an email about a 35% off sale, it made it plausible, so I pulled the trigger. I couldn't have been more pleased. They're ~exactly~ the old 8-eyelet DMs I wore forever. I liked them so much I bought a pair of the 3-eyelet shoes.
I need to get such an E-mail, then.
But why would they not offer a 'lifetime' warranty on the good boots?
If you like doc martens, check these out also.
https://www.solovair-shoes.com/
In reply to Travis_K:
Ok, I'm interested.
Wearing timberline pro with composite toe, heavy and clunky but fit me well. Had chinese docs and the we're a form of torture and didn't last, junk.
benzbaronDaryn wrote: Wearing timberline pro with composite toe, heavy and clunky but fit me well. Had chinese docs and the we're a form of torture and didn't last, junk.
My chinese docs have lasted nearly a year, but the soles are getting pretty smooth. I don't do real work anymore, I'm a desk jockey. I would not purchase them again.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:
I haven't owned any, but the solovair boots are supposed to be very similar (I think even made in the same factory) as the MIE doc martens. If you like that type of boots, Tricker's are nice too (although not as much intended for heavy duty work boots), but they are very expensive unless you find them on sale (-$300 vs $500+).
I did not need to see that solovair site. lalala 
Does Solovair offer safety toe boots?
I've yet see a reasonably affordable (under $250) pair of boots with safety toe that aren't bulbous looking.
I used to be a Red Wing guy, but I had a set of $170 chinese made steel toes fail after 3 months (sole split)& then the replacement boots failed 3 months after that. Red Wing told me that the 6 month warranty only covers the 1st pair, not the replacements so these new ones were out of warranty.
Bought a set of Keens, they are excellent. They look new after 4 months.
I have to agree with Kendall_Jones. Keens are the best. I've been wearing safety shoes for 30 years. Bought my first pair of Keens last year and have not look back, by far the most comfortable boots I've ever worn.
oldopelguy wrote: I'd recommend finding a place that repairs boots and sells several brands. My guy sells everything and after half an hour of talking and trying boots on we ended up spec building a set of Red Wings. He actually picked the upper and sole I wanted, added to safety toe and nail guard, picked out the shank for the right amount of stiffness, and placed the order. Two weeks later the set of boots Red Wing custom made for me was in my mailbox. That was $275, and almost 7 years ago and I wear them every day.
This is the greatest thing I've ever heard. What would you look for to find a "boot guy?" There has to be someone in the Chicagoland/Milwaukee area who does this exact thing.
Appleseed wrote:oldopelguy wrote: I'd recommend finding a place that repairs boots and sells several brands. My guy sells everything and after half an hour of talking and trying boots on we ended up spec building a set of Red Wings. He actually picked the upper and sole I wanted, added to safety toe and nail guard, picked out the shank for the right amount of stiffness, and placed the order. Two weeks later the set of boots Red Wing custom made for me was in my mailbox. That was $275, and almost 7 years ago and I wear them every day.This is the greatest thing I've ever heard. What would you look for to find a "boot guy?" There has to be someone in the Chicagoland/Milwaukee area who does this exact thing.
Call the red wing store in Arlington heights, they probably can.
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