Comfortable Hard Toe Shoes/Boots

Those Wolverines look appealing if I go with traditional 6" work shoe design. I going to try to find a dealer that sells them so I can handle a pair. They would still look pretty good with your pants down over the top and you get ankle protection with the height.
 
Good news. Xrays taken today and a preliminary review by the doctor of the xrays showed no break. So, it looks like this has been just an big attention getter for me for wearing protective footwear even during work times that there is little known hazard.

I am going to dig out the couple of pairs of hard toes that I own now and decide what to do next. But I think, I want composite hard toes with a non-aggressive tred to minimize tracking of mud and so forth into people's houses. If they turn out to be comfortable, I suspect I will wear them a lot working where steel toes are not required.
 
stjames said:
I ended up using Keen footwear, but I was looking for a pair I could wear in an unairconditioned warehouse in Las Vegas during August.
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You know, the strangest thing happened to me with keen footwear. I bought some targhee 2 lows that the sole started separating after not even three days of wear, I returned them and the ordered the same model except they were mids this time and an eyelet that held the lace at the ankle juncture popped off. Strange huh? But man they were were the bee's knees when it came to comfort though! I wear a size 16 so it's hard to get shoes/boots for myself sometimes.
 
I've been wearing a pair of Bates for a little over a year now and they have been holding up pretty well. If I am not mistaken it's their 5" tactical sport boot, and it's as heavy as a pair of tennis shoes very breathable, comfortable after you break in the soles which take a few days but till than it feels a bit stiff (it breaks in more than any sole in a shoe I've worn). I would highly recommend a pair of Bates, if I am not mistaken it's made by the same people as Wolverines. Wolverines is a brand my brother swears by, but I have no experience with them.
 
My son had redwing low boots with a safety toe that was composite rather than steel, which would be very helpful if you have to go to places that have metal detectors (courthouses, federal buildings, etc)
 
I agree with the choice of Keens. I have a nightmare of a time finding shoes that don't kill my feet, and it's even worse with boots. I bought a pair of Keens for work, and they are the most comfortable boots I've ever worn. They required zero break-in and the factory insoles are excellent. The toe caps are asymmetrical aluminum, and you don't even know they're there, even with wide Squatch feet like mine. They remain comfortable even at the end of a 12 hour shift. I've only had them for a couple of months, but they're wearing great so far. I also use Keen shoes for running, and they've held-up well for years.
 
I bought a pair of keens last year and have used them a handful or times. At this point in my life my safety toe boots only get used when leading or helping disaster recovery crews.
With that said I really like the fit of the keens. I'm not sure if they'll hold up as well as some other boots but for my use and very wide get they seem to be great.
 
Just about every thing I've put on my feet in the last 20 years has been steel toed boots. I love my Redwing Loggers, and Ariat Workhogs. 5 days a week I wear Red Wing steel toe Romeo Boots, and a suit, and I'm on my feet the whole day. The most comfortable boots I've ever worn were Danner Strikers, they felt like well padded sneakers, and very light weight.
 
I wore a pair of Redwing Wellington hard toe boots for a couple years working in the field. I am familiar with the design and the feel.
 
The China part troubles me as I have been looking at them and all their work boots seem to be made in China now. Made in China is not necessarily a deal breaker, but it makes me consider other brands more. Redwings and the USA were almost instututional.
 
22-rimfire said:
The China part troubles me as I have been looking at them and all their work boots seem to be made in China now. Made in China is not necessarily a deal breaker, but it makes me consider other brands more. Redwings and the USA were almost instututional.
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Well, I can say that they were wonderfully comfortable until they started falling apart. The rubber shredded quickly and started separating from the rest of the sole. I wish Tilley made shoes, because I love their hats.
 
If you buy redwing heritage edition boots they are made in the USA i have a pair of the red wings heritage edition model 1907 which has a leather safety cap underneath the toe of the boot and they are extremely comfortable I wear them 6 days a week on 10 hour days and my feet and legs are not the bit of sore
And I've had mine for over a year and they are not coming apart at all, but I'm religious about keeping my boots maintained every week.
 
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Dropped by the Red Wing store. I also visited Walmart just out of curiosity to see what they had. Anyway, I got measured which is always interesting (the pressure part in particular) and was the same size from about 5 years ago. Tried on and walked on a number of their more casual designs. Looked at the basic old standard boots. Then I saw some Irish Setters that were slightly reduced in price and tried them on. Seemed to fit pretty well.

Wore them for a day and decided to get a Dr. Scholl's gel insole insert. Tried that for a day and the extra height caused my ankles to rub on the leather; Took them out. Wore again for another day as well as around the house in the original configuration and they aren't too bad. I wouldn't want to take a long hike in them, but for work, they seem to be very good quality. It is hard to get past the bias of "what a work boot should be like" when looking and I immediately gravitated to the old work boot designs. Tried on the newer lighter, softer ones, but bought an older pattern. It just seemed to me that they simply wouldn't last a couple years of wear and I feel that is a requirement as long as I don't wear them every single day.

If they begin to "hurt", I'll buy a pair of Keens and give them a try.
 
I've been wearing safety shoes for over 20 years. The last two years have been Keen shoes. They're the most comfortable yet. I've had some good red wings as well, but Keens have been by far the best.
 
I have been wearing safety toe shoes for about 13 years. I am wearing U.S.A. made Redwings now. Redwings feel pretty good on my feet after a little break in time.

Jim
 
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