Boots....a long term test

[John Coloccia]

Three or four years ago, when I first moved back to the east coast, I had to pick up a couple of good sets of boots. If you have a wide foot, let me tell you....comfortable boots are HARD to find. I can find some stuff at places like Eastern Mountain Sports, but they fall apart on me in 6 months. Extremely poor value IMHO.

Anyhow, I just needed some boots, and I needed them NOW. I hopped over to my friendly neighborhood Walmart, and found these cheap boots called Brahmas. So cheap, in fact, that I picked up two pair....one comfy pair, and one slightly less comfy but waterproof pair. I figured that if I get a few months out of them, that'll get me through the winter and I wouldn't have to go on a Decent Boot Safari until next year, the procrastinator that I am. Did I mention they were very comfortable?

And they still are, years later. They're in GREAT shape and show no signs of wearing out anytime soon. In fact, other than a couple of pairs of nice shoes I have, these are the only footwear in recent memory that have outlived a set of laces. Several times, in fact.

So every now and then Walmart and/or one of their suppliers gets it right. I planned on going in there to get a cheap set of throwaway boots and came out with what are easily the best value in boots I've ever seen, and quite possibly the best boots I've ever owned.

Just an FYI for anyone boot hunting for the winter.

[David Weaver]

Boots have been killed by cheapest source manufacturing, just like everything else. I'm in your camp now, I expect nothing to last that long and just buy comfortable and cheap. When they last a long time, it's a treat. When they don't, you still get what you paid for.

I went into a local sportsman's shop here to get danner boots "before they stop making them in the US". They had a bunch of danner boots, but only one pair was domestic manufacture. Danner probably still makes them in the US, but I didn't find them in my local store. They were still $250-$300 despite the fact that they were IIRC far-eastern origin.

If that store was still open, I'd bet they'd have none made in the US. The little details that go into things count. when I know they're all correct, I'll glady pay the price. If I can't tell if they are.... no way.

(I've been wearing a cheap pair of sportsman's guide house brand boots for a while now and am perfectly happy with them)

[Bryan Morgan]

I've been happy with my Wolverine and Magnum boots. I've had them for years.

[Jim Koepke]

Red Wing shoes are still made in America.

Some are very comfortable.

I like safety toes in my shoes.

There are also many outlets of Red Wing factory seconds. My understanding from the last time I bought some of these is that they cannot be displayed in the same store as the full price product.

The full price product comes with a guarantee. The seconds do not.

I have never had a problem with my Red Wings. The store I used to buy from was an independent and also did shoe repairs.

If a shoe is worth repairing, then it is likely worth buying in the first place.

One of the pairs of boots I bought at Red Wing when I first started working at a place that required safety shoes. At that time I wore then almost every work day for a few years. They are still in my shoe selection. So are all the other pairs of shoes I bought at Red Wing.

jtk

[Dave Ogren]

Another vote for Red Wing. When I figured cost per month Red Wing was the big winner for me. I am on my feet a lot, in the woods and on concrete. The quality of the sole is important to me. And Oh! I weigh over 200 lbs.

Good Luck,

Dave

[glenn bradley]

I had worn Clarke shoes since college until they went to pot (the price stayed high, the quality just left town). Knapp and Red Wing boots seem to hang in there along with a pair of Columbia's I've had since the early 90's; that's value.

[alex grams]

Red Wings 1132. On my second pair, and only because I outgrew the first pair by about half a size from my freshman year in college. I just had the second pair resoled after about 7 years and they are as good as new.

[Jerome Stanek]

I am very hard on boots I like Red Wing steel toe 6 inch I can get about a year out of them and then have them resoled. I can get 3 to 4 years altogether.

[Paul McGaha]

I like Red Wings.

My mom bought me my first pair a long time ago. About 35 years.

When I was in the field a pair would last a year or two depending on which jobs you are working on. As I've gotten older and more in the office now a pair will last several years. Current pair at least 5 years old.

I've found that both mud and thread cutting oil are very hard on the boots.

Sometimes I give one of my sons a pair for Christmas or Birthday. A very practical gift.

PHM

[Ed Kilburn]

I've got a pair of Limmer stock boots, they are made in Germany to the Limmer specs. They also make custom boots to fit your feet right here in the USA. I went to their shop to pick mine up to be sure of the fit. Not cheep but the best made boots I ever owned. I've got some pics of the shop, and will try to post them tomorrow.
http://www.limmerboot.com

[Dave Lehnert]

My friend was a nothing but Redwing guy. Would only get a year out of them. Like the OP. He got a pair at Walmart cheap and gets 2 or 3 years out of them.
I got a pair of boots at Shoe Carnival brand name Beaver Creek. I worked on blacktop and got 4 years out of them. The tops were still good but wore the soles down on them.

[tyler mckee]

ive got danners now and so far they are the best boot ive ever had, got around 2 years on them and they are just starting to get my feet slightly damp if im standing in water up to my ankles. I run heavy construction equipment so some days i might be standing in mud and water for 10 hours a day and my feet are always dry warm and toasty. i hose the mud off everynight, dry them with a fan not heat, and oil them every month or two. First pair i had the sole started to come unglued within the second month of owing them, so i sent them back and around 3 days after i shipped them out i had a new pair sitting at my door. $300 for a pair but worth it to me.

[Chuck Saunders]

I wear a 12 5E and I have not found much in the way of shoes. Hitchcock is about my only source. I am tempted to get a pair of D.H. White boots made.

[Rick Moyer]

I wear a 12 5E and I have not found much in the way of shoes. Hitchcock is about my only source. I am tempted to get a pair of D.H. White boots made.

Wow, you could put a motor on the back of those and go bass fishing!

[Jeremy Brant]

Red Wing shoes are still made in America.

Sorry to say, not true anymore either. Most of their lower end models, and some of their higher end models are now made overseas. I bought mine last Feb for work (8" insulated waterproof steeltoe) and they are made in China. According to the store rep, this has been ongoing for a few years, although they claim that they are made to the same quality standard requirements as when they were made in the US.

I've also got a pair of Danner Canadians that I use when hunting, still made in the US. If you go to the Danner webpage, go to boots, under Features you can sort by Made in the US. Seems that they have a few longtime standards still made here, then everything they can sell to the military (military buys US only when possible).