Work boots

[kide]

All right, this should be near and dear to just about anyone working in a shop..

I wear steel toed boots in the workshop, as I tend to drop things, trip on stuff and kick things when I'm really p....d off (I threw hammers until I was 23, when I did a three corner billiards shot in a small garage and caught myself in the shin). Up until about 2004, I wore Sears Lites as pictured below. Sears quit selling these and since then I haven't been able to find anything quite like 'em.
My number one beef is that everything available now has a deep cleated tread (I think the Cat boots were some of the first). I live in muck country, I'm in and out of the house all day, and if I walk across the yard or the driveway when it's wet, I track mud. Secondly, all the boots I've had since then are a little too high, catching that nerve that's like a funny bone, on my ankle.. And last, the Lites were,well,light - everything I get now (Wolverine, Red Wing to name a couple) weigh a ton. Anyone else have this problem or has anyone seen a boot like the Sears one??

 

[manutter]

Kendell i wear rocky iron clad,their water proof,400gram insulate,very shallow tread,and steel toe,i think they have them in the 6"heighth to.

 

[blanasa]

Kendall,
I can't help you in your quest but I think that you got your money's worth with that pair.
Worn down to the nubbins.

 

[theaton]

Kendell, I can't help you either. I personally prefer 8 or 9 inch boots for the ankle support. Is there anyone else who agrees that their work boot are the most comfortable shoes they own?

Have you checked out BassPro Shops selection? I have some gift cards, and headed there for my next pair.

 

[manutter]

Work boots are the nicest shoes i own to.And yes the most comfortable too.

 

[jsdavis]

Kendell
Look up Georgia boot.Very very comfy out of the box real soft leather,and hold up real well, the pair I have are going on 2 years and the only wear is in the sides where my foot rubs on the roofing shingles.Light weight..Not sure as compared to others,I just weighed them with a referigeration scale 3 lbs 3 ozs both boots (NON STEEL TOE)cant imagine steel toes would weigh alot more.If you have fred flinstone feet like me they make them in wides also!!!They have a shallow slip resistant sole very similar to your lites.Dont know if you are farmiliar with the "old" wolverine durashock but the leather is real soft and the sole is very similar.dont think wolverine makes the same style anymore.The georgia boot is a bit shorter like your lites.I got the georgia boot at a place called boot barn here in california,dont know if they are nation wide

 

[lhinds]

Kendell; You should find what you need here.
www.shoebuy.com

 

[kide]

Well, with the suggestions, I've got some work to do now. Luther - I took a quick look at the shoebuy web site - I'll have to put aside a day to shop there ! I'll also take a look at the other suggestions. Again, most of the outdoor boots have got that big lugged sole on them that really tracks mud. I'll post a picture later of what I'm wearing in the shop right now (hint - angle grinder, Wolverine boots, bad idea - the sole is soft under the surface of the lugs and doesn't last long

)

And yup, my workboots are the most comfortable footwear I own...

 

[chunt]

I have the Rocky Iron Clad boot in the high 8" model. I have had 2 pair now. They are a tad heavy, but I wear them every day and love them.

My .02

 

[klejeune]

Jason D,
I had a pair of the old Wolverine Durashocks like you mentioned. They make something similar now, but I've not bought any. I wore them on concrete all day and were as comfortable as tennis shoes.

I don't wear work boots everyday, but on the weekend I usually do. I bought, out of nostalgia, a pair of Red Wing plain old 6" work boots. Smooth sole, no insulation and plain toe. That's what my grandpa wore everyday but to church. He had two pair. One to work in and a pair for going to town. When the work pair finally gave completely out he moved up the newer pair for work and bought a pair for town shoes. I think of him everytime I put mine on. Yes, they're not the lightest boot, and it took me a while to get used to them but I like them now.

My FIL used to buy Rocky boots a lot, but he says they've gone to pot now.

 

[dsauve]

Kendall, Do you have a Fleet Farm or Fram and Fleet in your area? The Fleet Farm here has several nice Feild and Forest smooth sole boots. I wore FF boots for years, they were reasonably light and lasted as well I could have hoped for (nothing lasts in a fertilizer plant) a civilized environment they should do well.

 

[kide]

TSC bought all the Farm and Fleets in our area (I thought they were gone nationwide). Just for hoots, I'll check the TSC store next time I'm up that way...
BTW, I'm wearing Wolverine Durashocks right now, they had lugged sole, I ground the lugs off - bad idea......They now have soles made of construction adhesive (some really nasty stuff that is tougher than any sole material I've ever seen). (I only wear them in the shop - my wife wouldn't let me out of the yard with them on, somebody might see the soles).
I've been wearing a couple different pair of Red Wings, and another pair of Wolverines, but they're all too tall and have lugged soles. BTW - the Sears Lites were only about a 4" - higher than an Oxford, but still not like the others, which are at least 6"....
Maybe I'll go back to wearing the pointy toed western boots I wore for years....

 

[stritle]

I am required to wear steel toes for work, and have been a die hard RedWing guy for years. I still have a pair from 8 years ago that still work fine, though I save them for real dirty work. They last forever!! You pay for them up front, but they pay for themselves over time.

 

[kide]

And I'd be buying Redwings (or any of the other brands named here) if they built what I'm looking for... See my original post - I'd like less than 6" upper, steel toe, smooth composite sole, padded ankle. I've spent hours looking for a replacement for the Sears product, haven't found any with a smooth sole yet (apparently the boot designers don't ever use their products in muddy areas, or there'd be an option for smooth soles).

 

[kharvey]

I here you about the heavy lugs on all the work boots.Try BAMason.com They have some like you want I think its style 591 Good luck

 

[jdreaves]

Kendell, I think I found a pair or two on www.sportsmansguide.com that just might be what you're looking for. Lightweight and no clog type tread on bottom.

John-David Reaves
ROLL TIDE

 

[kide]

I'll check 'em out.....Thanks!

 

[jdreaves]

Kendell, here is the link to the boots. They weigh only 20 oz each and have a ribbed sole, rather than a lug sole. Hope this helps?

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=483949

John-David Reaves

ROLL TIDE