20 American-Made Work Boot Brands Ranked WORST to BEST (Page 2 of 2)
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Originally Posted By Gordo556: I wear USA made keens for safety toe boots. Targhee work carbon toe. I want to try the liberty keens next. I like the look of the moc toe. alot of these boots mentioned dont breath. they stink. feet sweat. get nasty. clunky. bulky. heavy. big. commercial refrigeration hvac work, I want lighter, flexible, breathable. wearing a boot for 6 years isnt a flex guys. its dirty. gross ass bacteria infested boot, how's your athletes foot? stink ass shit.  Stinky you! I worked 12-hour shifts for years and was often wet. I liked Red Wing short boots steel toe with the soft translucent soles. I would put them on a Peet boot dryer every night after work. I had one dryer at work if I had another shift the next day, and I had a dryer at home if it was my last day of that rotation. Keep 'em dry! After I retired, I tried my last pair of "work supplied" boots, Danners. They did not fit as well or last as long as the Red Wings. When I get around to replacing them, I'll look for some Red Wings. |
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Originally Posted By Halberdier: Prove it. Originally Posted By Halberdier: Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By Halberdier: Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By BURN: List from worst to best. Schnee's (1:28) Fenoglio (1:59) Rocky (2:45) Georgia Boot (3:21) McRae Footwear (5:24) Belleville (6:06) Matterhorn (6:42) Carolina (7:29) Silverado (8:04) Double H (8:41) Danner (9:18) Origin USA (9:59) Thorogood (10:50) Hoffman (11:43) Red Wing (12:38) JK Boots (13:29) Wesco (14:40) White's Boots (15:37) Nicks Boots (17:01) Frank's Boots (18:20) If he didn't test Justins, the whole thing is a joke. This video is about American makers of work boots. Justin's specialty is Western boots. The handful of actual work boots they do have is imported. LOL. Tell us you don't know anything about Justin work boots. Never mind...you just did. Prove it. LOL *yawn* |
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Originally Posted By RTX: LOL *yawn* Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By Halberdier: Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By Halberdier: Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By BURN: List from worst to best. Schnee's (1:28) Fenoglio (1:59) Rocky (2:45) Georgia Boot (3:21) McRae Footwear (5:24) Belleville (6:06) Matterhorn (6:42) Carolina (7:29) Silverado (8:04) Double H (8:41) Danner (9:18) Origin USA (9:59) Thorogood (10:50) Hoffman (11:43) Red Wing (12:38) JK Boots (13:29) Wesco (14:40) White's Boots (15:37) Nicks Boots (17:01) Frank's Boots (18:20) If he didn't test Justins, the whole thing is a joke. This video is about American makers of work boots. Justin's specialty is Western boots. The handful of actual work boots they do have is imported. LOL. Tell us you don't know anything about Justin work boots. Never mind...you just did. Prove it. LOL *yawn* That's what I thought. Maybe check some facts before running your mouth next time. |
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Originally Posted By BURN: List from worst to best. Schnee's (1:28) Fenoglio (1:59) Rocky (2:45) Georgia Boot (3:21) McRae Footwear (5:24) Belleville (6:06) Matterhorn (6:42) Carolina (7:29) Silverado (8:04) Double H (8:41) Danner (9:18) Origin USA (9:59) Thorogood (10:50) Hoffman (11:43) Red Wing (12:38) JK Boots (13:29) Wesco (14:40) White's Boots (15:37) Nicks Boots (17:01) Frank's Boots (18:20) Brunts.......so bad they arent even on the list...... |
Does Somebody Need A Hug?
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Originally Posted By JRJ: White's and JKs. Both bomb proof https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/12907/IMG_0088_jpeg-3829959.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/12907/IMG_0133_jpeg-3829961.JPG |
Make crime illegal
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Originally Posted By JRJ: White’s and JKs. Both bomb proof https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/12907/IMG_0088_jpeg-3829959.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/12907/IMG_0133_jpeg-3829961.JPG I found the limit with my White's. Time for a rebuild, but I haven't heard good things since the ownership change. |
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Originally Posted By maslin02: Best for what? Redwing 607s are the best I’ve found for our porcelain tile shop floors. Anything with the white rubber wedge sole or Vibram-style hiking sole is a death sentence, like skating on ice. Maybe some spiked Whites would work, but the AMG customers might get upset  This. I work from home as an attorney, and usually wear slides most days, but I work the family ranch on the weekend. I don't like gaudy things, so for me Red Wing 1155s are perfect. |
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Originally Posted By batjka104: I'm partial for Wolverines, have been wearing them for 27 years, 12-14 hours/day. Red Wings are just too heavy. Feel like bricks. Same. I wore flat sole boots for the longest time but prefer one style of Wolverines and I’ve worn that style fir many years now. The single pair of Whites boots I own are OK but pretty firm. They are insulated and quite warm but not really cold weather boots. |
“Liberalism, the noble annihilator, has hollowed out every institution, every binding force, every social failsafe and backstop, and its agents feign surprise when the liberating infanticide it promotes is taken to its next logical step.”
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Originally Posted By Halberdier: That's what I thought. Maybe check some facts before running your mouth next time. Originally Posted By Halberdier: Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By Halberdier: Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By Halberdier: Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By BURN: List from worst to best. Schnee's (1:28) Fenoglio (1:59) Rocky (2:45) Georgia Boot (3:21) McRae Footwear (5:24) Belleville (6:06) Matterhorn (6:42) Carolina (7:29) Silverado (8:04) Double H (8:41) Danner (9:18) Origin USA (9:59) Thorogood (10:50) Hoffman (11:43) Red Wing (12:38) JK Boots (13:29) Wesco (14:40) White's Boots (15:37) Nicks Boots (17:01) Frank's Boots (18:20) If he didn't test Justins, the whole thing is a joke. This video is about American makers of work boots. Justin's specialty is Western boots. The handful of actual work boots they do have is imported. LOL. Tell us you don't know anything about Justin work boots. Never mind...you just did. Prove it. LOL *yawn* That's what I thought. Maybe check some facts before running your mouth next time. LMAO. You're the one that had to go back to edit your post to admit you were wrong. And you were wrong again when you said just one pair. Not sure how many they make in the US now and don't care - certainly not enough, though. I do have both of these, that I highly recommend, depending on whether you want a lace-up or a pull-on. In fact, this 0440 lacer is the best and most durable work boot I've ever worn. Lace-up Pull-on Maybe you should try listening to people who have been working in Justin boots for years instead of trying to be the internetgooglespert.  |
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Originally Posted By RTX: LMAO. You're the one that had to go back to edit your post to admit you were wrong. And you were wrong again when you said just one pair. Not sure how many they make in the US now and don't care - certainly not enough, though. I do have both of these, that I highly recommend, depending on whether you want a lace-up or a pull-on. In fact, this 0440 lacer is the best and most durable work boot I've ever worn. Lace-up Pull-on Maybe you should try listening to people who have been working in Justin boots for years instead of trying to be the internetgooglespert. Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By Halberdier: Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By Halberdier: Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By Halberdier: Originally Posted By RTX: Originally Posted By BURN: List from worst to best. Schnee's (1:28) Fenoglio (1:59) Rocky (2:45) Georgia Boot (3:21) McRae Footwear (5:24) Belleville (6:06) Matterhorn (6:42) Carolina (7:29) Silverado (8:04) Double H (8:41) Danner (9:18) Origin USA (9:59) Thorogood (10:50) Hoffman (11:43) Red Wing (12:38) JK Boots (13:29) Wesco (14:40) White's Boots (15:37) Nicks Boots (17:01) Frank's Boots (18:20) If he didn't test Justins, the whole thing is a joke. This video is about American makers of work boots. Justin's specialty is Western boots. The handful of actual work boots they do have is imported. LOL. Tell us you don't know anything about Justin work boots. Never mind...you just did. Prove it. LOL *yawn* That's what I thought. Maybe check some facts before running your mouth next time. LMAO. You're the one that had to go back to edit your post to admit you were wrong. And you were wrong again when you said just one pair. Not sure how many they make in the US now and don't care - certainly not enough, though. I do have both of these, that I highly recommend, depending on whether you want a lace-up or a pull-on. In fact, this 0440 lacer is the best and most durable work boot I've ever worn. Lace-up Pull-on Maybe you should try listening to people who have been working in Justin boots for years instead of trying to be the internetgooglespert. This seems to be a very emotional issue for you. Why is that? Are you one of those people who's been working there for years? This is what comes up in a simple search. Looking through their website confirms it. Justin is not what Justin was. You may not be willing accept this, but that doesn't change the facts. Roughly 20% to 25% of Justin Boots are made or assembled in the USA, while the remaining 75% to 80% are manufactured overseas, primarily in China and Mexico. |
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Originally Posted By JQ66: I only saw one boot reviewed that had metatarsal guard over the top of the foot. Matterhorn, don't think I ever saw those before. And those looked likethey were even clunkier and heavier than the pair I have now that I swear weigh 10# each. The best or at least most comfortable metatarsal boots I have had I think were Carolina, and they were like trail hiking boots. They were light and comfortable, could wear them all day and not even wish I had my tennis/walking shoes on. Unfortunately the soles were not very durable and only good for maybe two years of decently hard work, or 5-7 of office and occasional plant floor work. Probably made in malaysia I had a pair of danner made in USA met guard boots, and even though they were supposed to be wide and I thought a half sized up, they hurt my feet, just too small. Can't recall what brand i am wearing now, but they are too heavy. But they might last me until I retire. I should get a new pair anyways, the company does reimburse us. We always called Matterhorns "Moon Boots", but they seem to be the standard in underground coal, unless its a very wet section and you're wearing mucks. |
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White's? Lol, I'd rank them just above Wesco. Hated those things. Frank's, JK's, Nick's, and Drew's are about the best you can get outside of really, really expensive boutique stuff from Japan. Nick's are the classic PNW boot, they've got shitloads of options, but The leather is like fucking iron. If you have the patience to break them in, and you get the right size/last the first time, they're pretty good. Frank's are a bit better than Nick's, I think, but their selection is much more limited, and the lead time is lengthy. Got about 5 years of daily wear on concrete out of the first pair before the arches started collapsing, need to get them rebuilt. YMMV, but mine broke in within minutes. JK's are a bit of a mixed bag, really depends on what you get. Some of their stuff is as stiff as Nicks, other things break in really quickly. Their OT is probably the best option for a set of work boots that you don't need to really think about, they break in quickly, and they're very durable. I got the 6" OT pro in bison when they did a run of those, broke in within a couple hours, and they're my current favorite. I wish they did the tongue on those the same way they did their wedge sole boots, that'd be about perfect. |
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I'm content with the recraftable Danner boots I have. I have a couple pair I need to get resoled. 2 pairs of Acadia (1 safety toe, 1 regular), soft toe 10" Ft Lewis, 8" bull run safety toe, 6" bull run safety/moc toe They got a lot more money out of me after they honored the 50% off friends and family discount that made it into the wild 15 years ago or so. |
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Originally Posted By maslin02: Best for what? Redwing 607s are the best I’ve found for our porcelain tile shop floors. Anything with the white rubber wedge sole or Vibram-style hiking sole is a death sentence, like skating on ice. Maybe some spiked Whites would work, but the AMG customers might get upset This gets completely glossed over on all these boot rankings. The use and location the boots will be makes such a huge difference. Just like your example with the surface. Going up and down ladders, I want laces and high ankle support. Lots of flat terrain walking, I am going to focus on weight and sole comfort. I generally have more than one pair in the rotation as a travel to different places and am I different kinds of facilities. |
I'm going to be upfront regarding Frank's, Nick's, and the White's bootmakers in Spokane, WA. If you have a non-standard foot shape or straight feet, and not the the standard curved "bean" shaped foot, do no bother going to either of those three boot makers unless you can bring your own custom made, for your feet only, shoe last(the foot shaped form they make the boot/shoe on). All three shops only use "standardized" shoe lasts now. They also will not accept foot tracings. I spent $600 on a set from Frank's after talking to the other two shops. It was an absolute waste of money. I couldn't even force my feet into them. 
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Originally Posted By bayonet_shrew: I'm going to be upfront regarding Frank's, Nick's, and the White's bootmakers in Spokane, WA. If you have a non-standard foot shape or straight feet, and not the the standard curved "bean" shaped foot, do no bother going to either of those three boot makers unless you can bring your own custom made, for your feet only, shoe last(the foot shaped form they make the boot/shoe on). All three shops only use "standardized" shoe lasts now. They also will not accept foot tracings. I spent $600 on a set from Frank's after talking to the other two shops. It was an absolute waste of money. I couldn't even force my feet into them. I sent in a foot tracing that Franks provided when I had a pair built. I think they have several lasts you can choose from . Good luck. Edit - I got a pair in a custom harness leather they offered along with a few other options among those an extra speed hook in place of an eyelet for easier on and off . |
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Originally Posted By JVD: I'm content with the recraftable Danner boots I have. I have a couple pair I need to get resoled. 2 pairs of Acadia (1 safety toe, 1 regular), soft toe 10" Ft Lewis, 8" bull run safety toe, 6" bull run safety/moc toe As I've mentioned here several times try the RAT boots and I'm sure you will have a new favorite. The supply will dry up at some point but seeing they are mil surplus you can get a pair of $400 boots for a little over $100. |
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Originally Posted By DDDDCheapAF: I sent in a foot tracing that Franks provided when I had a pair built. I think they have several lasts you can choose from . Good luck. Edit - I got a pair in a custom harness leather they offered along with a few other options among those an extra speed hook in place of an eyelet for easier on and off . Yes, they have lots of standardized lasts to choose from, when I went to the stores physically. But all of them have a curve in them and I have straight, square feet with no curve. Trying to correct one of their standardized lasts for my foot would have made for a weirdly shaped boot. Also when I went there, at that time, they would not take a foot tracing. Also, to note, the boots the salesman at Franks were wearing clearly showed this issue, as his toe leather was stretched to the point of some of his toes overhanging the sole of his boots. That is not the sign of a shoe matched properly to his feet, just that he had worn them long enough that the leather stretched enough to accommodate his feet even though the boot sole was the wrong shape for him. |
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I use the redwing 607s in the winter. Coated in boot oil and wax. Carolina mocs most of the rest of the time. I hate everything waterproof because my feet sweat all the time. Even in the winter when it's 5 degrees out. Wool socks are key. Your mileage may very. I have seen the 607s soles turn to shit after a year for some people. Might have something to do with the chemicals you're around. Or oils. There's no perfect boot, but some are close. Unfortunately most are made to a price point. Id like to see non waterproof options for a lighter boot with composite toe, Goodyear welt with leather, and non moc toe. I can spray fish fucker upper water proofing on them and have them breathable but water proof enough. Unfortunately 99% of all composite toe boots are made in China with cheap leather and a cheap waterproof liner that's like wearing bread bags in your booties. Disgusting. |
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Originally Posted By BURN: List from worst to best. Schnee's (1:28) Fenoglio (1:59) Rocky (2:45) Georgia Boot (3:21) McRae Footwear (5:24) Belleville (6:06) Matterhorn (6:42) Carolina (7:29) Silverado (8:04) Double H (8:41) Danner (9:18) Origin USA (9:59) Thorogood (10:50) Hoffman (11:43) Red Wing (12:38) JK Boots (13:29) Wesco (14:40) White's Boots (15:37) Nicks Boots (17:01) Frank's Boots (18:20) Thank you |
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Originally Posted By maddmatt: We always called Matterhorns "Moon Boots", but they seem to be the standard in underground coal, unless its a very wet section and you're wearing mucks. I’ve worn Matterhorns for 20 years , they are the gold standard for mining, unfortunately for the last 5 or 6 years the quality has gone down hill. They don’t even last a year anymore and it’s a hard pill to swallow considering they are almost 400.00 a pair. |