When I worked in the carpenters union, we were given some money each year to purchase work boots. The allotted money usually didn't cover the entire cost, but, was a big help in purchasing good quality boots.                                          We were required to have steel toe boots. Most of the guys bought Red Wing boots. I had Red Wing, Wolverine, and Carhartt boots when they became available.                                                            Red Wings were always very durable, and with any of these brands you could expect to get one full year of wear. They were hot, and heavy. It always felt good to get them off at the end of the day.                                                    Eventually, I settled on Wolverines as my favourite. They seemed to have less break in time, and were more comfortable right out of the box when new.                                                                     My days of wearing heavy steel toe boots are over, but I still like to have a pair of soft toe boots on hand for various things.                                                   Two questions for you guys: Do you have a favourite brand of work boots that's given you good wear? And question two: Has anyone tried the boots made by Keen? The Keen boots look good, made with good leather, and get good reviews. 

For the 10 years I worked glass construction, I wore Wolverines. They were comfortable right out of the box and only around $100 so I didn’t mind the fact that they only held up for about a year of heavy use. $100 per year for work boots that gets used every day is pretty good in my book. When I started landscaping, I started out with hiking boots from Columbia. Got thrashed pretty quickly but were good boots for landscaping. Now when I landscape I wear Nike runners. I found I don’t need work boots to landscape. But as I transitioned to the electrical field, I had to get steel-toe boots again and I went with Carhartt. They weren’t cheap, and they took a little to break them in and get comfy, but they seem like they will last forever due to the quality. So we’ll see how that plays out. 

Georgia Giants

now known as Georgia Boot

Rocky boots have been the most  comfortable boots for me. 

I've been wearing Wolverine Durashock Raider model for years.  I watch for sales and I am on the Wolverine mailing list. I buy straight from Wolverine. I can usually get them for around a hundred.

FM

Danners are worth the price(or they used to be) I have had about a half dozen pairs of Danners over the years and they outlast any other boot I buy. They are expensive however.

My absolute favorite pair of boots for the last 15 or more years come from Danner, in fact I’m currently wearing a 3 going on 4 year old pair of Quarry 2.0’s. They aren’t cheap but they are assembled in the USA and can be serviced from a simple Resole which I did or can be completely rebuilt. They also offer 100% made in America boots and in my opinion are the best made boots I’ve found in wearing work boots for over 30 years now. I started with Danner wearing their Pronghorn hunting boots in both residential framing and then working for a large commercial construction company building high rises in Chicago and although I own a pair of the new version of Pronghorn boots I’m extremely happy I’ve found the Quarry line of work boots. I will add I’m currently working for a concrete company which if anyone knows what that’s like they know it’s tough on footwear.

41 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

My absolute favorite pair of boots for the last 15 or more years come from Danner, in fact I’m currently wearing a 3 going on 4 year old pair of Quarry 2.0’s. They aren’t cheap but they are assembled in the USA and can be serviced from a simple Resole which I did or can be completely rebuilt. They also offer 100% made in America boots and in my opinion are the best made boots I’ve found in wearing work boots for over 30 years now. I started with Danner wearing their Pronghorn hunting boots in both residential framing and then working for a large commercial construction company building high rises in Chicago and although I own a pair of the new version of Pronghorn boots I’m extremely happy I’ve found the Quarry line of work boots. I will add I’m currently working for a concrete company which if anyone knows what that’s like they know it’s tough on footwear.

My service footwear where & when boots were required, was always Danner. 

(In Black)

Saltwater can do a number on unconditional footwear.  We used Sno-Seal regularly.

A-Jay

I also wore Wolverines for years and still really like them... however...

 

I've been wearing a pair of these for a couple years now, and I really love them. They don't have a steel toe, and aren't technically really even "work boots" ... but for a daily wearer that's insanely comfortable, waterproof, and capable of some really hard work use, I've never found anything better (and I've tried a LOT of boots). Wearing them as we speak, actually:

 

https://www.lemsshoes.com/products/mens-boulder-summit-waterproof?variant=40017815699514&country=US

 

Ps. These are great for people with wide feet. If you're a narrow footed person, your foot will swim in these. 

14 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

My service footwear where & when boots were required, was always Danner. 

(In Black)

Saltwater can do a number on unconditional footwear.  We used Sno-Seal regularly.

A-Jay

Danner definitely has a good selection of boots seemingly specific for military/public service personnel which makes me want to support them even more. I too used quite a bit of Sno-Seal back in the day, that stuff was great on smooth leather.

Danner and Crispi for hunting,  Danner and White's for work boots, Justin for farm duties

Danners for me.  

 

my everyday boot is a pair of RedBacks out of Australia.   i have gone onto a jobsite with them.  

The past probably 6 or 7 years I've been wearing Timberland Pro Boondock steel toes. They are the most comfortable boot I've ever worn, they are comfortable on the feet right away for me almost no break in period. Working in an Ethanol biorefinery is hard on boots as they are exposed to lots of different liquids in different temp and PH ranges. A pair typically lasts me anywhere between 8-12 months. The company pays for 1 pair a year but if I've gotta shell out $200 of my own money to buy a 2nd pair  to have my back and feet not hurt that's money well spent.

I had to opposite experience with Wolverine boots. They lasted maybe 6 months. Thankfully my best friend’s wife works for Wolverine so I got a steep discount otherwise I would’ve been ticked.
 

I used to wear Carhardt and those lasted two years and I bought another pair. I believe I got them for around $120 and I’d say those are the best boot in that price range. 
 

A previous company I worked for gave us a $250 boot voucher each year so I ordered a pair of Justin boots. I have a pair of square toe western boots that are Justin and they were great! The work boots are going on their fourth year. Break-in was about 3-4 days. I don’t wear them as much now. I’m back to my western boots.

 

My son has Ariat square toe western and he loves them and they’ve held up pretty good. I bought a pair of their steel toed western work  boot and I’m not sold on them. 
 

All my boots are steel or composite toed.

 

When it comes to boots you truly get what you pay for in my experience.

I work in steel fabrication. Boots take a beating. Work gives us 100$ every year towards boots, so buy the cheapest option at Meijer, burn through them in a year. Repeat. 

10 hours ago, IYAOYAS said:

Danners are worth the price(or they used to be) I have had about a half dozen pairs of Danners over the years and they outlast any other boot I buy. They are expensive however.

 

I don't wear boots for work but I do when I hunt.  Danner gets the nod for this guy.

 

I've also used Rocky, Redhead, and Red Wing for hunting.  I still like Danner better than the others.  As you stated, they cost more, but they are more durable and they seem to break in quicker.

The best work boots I ever wore were Herman Survivors. They fit great, had great foot support and lasted. Unfortunately Walmart made them an offer they couldn’t refuse, they shifted the manufacturing to China, and they are now crap. 
 

if I had to wear work boots again, I’d wear Red Wings. 

On 5/8/2025 at 7:08 PM, 12poundbass said:

 

When it comes to boots you truly get what you pay for in my experience.

 

On 5/8/2025 at 8:20 PM, IcatchDinks said:

I work in steel fabrication. Boots take a beating. Work gives us 100$ every year towards boots, so buy the cheapest option at Meijer, burn through them in a year. Repeat. 

 

In the mid 90's I got a job in a steel mill.  I decided I wanted to take care of my feet and bought expensive name brand steel toe boots ($100-$150).  These boots were not lasting a year and my last name brand boot, the heel started to de-laminate.  As I stepped, the boot tried to roll my foot to the inside.  I was two months into these boots and no way was I going to be able to return them.  

 

Around that time I was in a Walmart and noticed they had some steel toe work boots.  Looking them over, the only real difference I could see was they were not all real leather.  For $30 (1990's money) those boots lasted as long, and were as comfortable as the name brand boots as I was buying.

 

The company I work for now provides us boots annually.  They are heavily into Hytest boots, with a few other name brands thrown in.  Mostly, you don't know about boots until you try them.  Unfortunately, once I decide I like something I'm told, "Yeah we don't make that anymore".

 

Today, I find having a proper insole or arch support most important.  Most manufacture insoles are garbage, and I have to get my own. 

 

 

 

When I went into manufacturing from retail, I had to get steel toes. Having little free money at the time I looked for the best ones I could get at the best price.

 

Got a pair of Dr. Scholls work boots (back then they had a steel-toe model) that lasted me 5 years. After that I had to settle for some Wolverine's that didn't last near as long.

My last pair was some Sketchers that held up just fine and I still have.

 

I have a 4E (EEEE) wide foot. Options for any footwear are very limited, Lots of New Balance, Dunham, etc. 

 

If anyone knows of good 4E work boots, let me know. 

I used wolverine boots for years but it seemed every pair wore out sooner than the last.

This year I went to the Red ball store and got a pair of Irish Setter work boots.  Had to pay 1/3 more than normal but They have a good  free maintenance plan moving forward. So far so good.

51 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

I have a 4E (EEEE) wide foot. Options for any footwear are very limited, Lots of New Balance, Dunham, etc. 

 

If anyone knows of good 4E work boots, let me know. 

You should call Danner directly. They are super pleasant and extremely knowledgeable about their products and although expensive I cannot stress enough how pleased I am with my Quarry work boots. When I spoke with them about the changes made to the Pronghorn hunting boots they were very patient and even offered to let me return them but in the end I kept them and although I probably wouldn’t buy that particular boot again I cannot express how pleased I was dealing with them on both purchases and having a Resole done which they first declined but after talking to them they agreed to do the work.

Wolverines worked well for years for me and weren't too pricey. I like Keen now. I have narrow feet, but like to be able to spread my toes out. Plus they have decent arch support. They are ugly as sin, but who cares. 

4 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

I have a 4E (EEEE) wide foot

 

What the heck is that?  Your foot size is a 4 but its quadruple E wide?  Are you saying that your feet are wider than they are long?  lol

27 minutes ago, gim said:

 

What the heck is that?  Your foot size is a 4 but its quadruple E wide?  Are you saying that your feet are wider than they are long?  lol

No it's a size XX, but EEEE width

Like me - I wear a 10EE - he might be a 12EEEE