Groundie Boot Recommendations

Birdyman88

Birdyman88

Branched out member
Location
Arlington
I know there's lots of discussion about climbing boots out here, but what about safety toe boots for the ground man? I seen a number of brands being used, and the only complaints I ever heard or had myself were usually because of how they felt. i.e., break in time, boot height, insole, or weight. Some of the brands I remember or have used were Timberland Pro, Dakota, Brahma, Red Wing, military surplus, and Wolverine. I used my older brothers Red Wing hand me downs when I was younger and I have been using Timberland Pro in recent years with good results.

My future son-in-law started working for me and I'm trying to hook him up with something that's good for money. I think he wants to keep it under $100 new. Any suggestions?
 
Straight up mountaineering boots. I’ve worn the same thing in the tree as I would on the ground. Granted I hate safety toes.

Two years ago I popped my toe like a grape, I got freakishly lucky. Would have been much much worse if wearing safety toes.
 
How would it have been much worse? Everything I hear is that load that crush safety toes, will surely crush your feet. IDK.



I keep my feet from under loads and saw chain, this includes trailer tongues, up on a jack.






Sub-$100 boots are for people who don't have feet worth investing in.
You get what you pay for.
What's the best new car for under $10k?

Bad boots make for a pained, and less productive, focused and safe worker.



Do you want your groundie's feet to be ready to work?
 
I just bought my groundie some new boots. 20190615_111909.webp20190615_111913.webp

These run about $140/each. $560 total for these "boots"

As far as regular steel toes for myself, I'm not brand specific but usually spend about $130-$150/pair. They work well and are comfortable until they start breaking down about a year later. (This is with mostly weekend use, and use around my home)
 
evo said:
Straight up mountaineering boots. I’ve worn the same thing in the tree as I would on the ground. Granted I hate safety toes.

Two years ago I popped my toe like a grape, I got freakishly lucky. Would have been much much worse if wearing safety toes.
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What?? Mountaineering boots have ridiculously stiff soles and nearly zero ankle flexion, for use in crampons

Hiking boots on the other hand, could be super awesome
 
I wear Keen Pittsburgh steel toe, wide toe box. Comfortable out of the box. Waterproof, breathable. $175

I beat the snot out of every boot I buy. I don't usually use them for spar work, I'll put on Wescos, unless its little. Spurring on the way up, with an overhead TIP, sure. I get back on the ground and am ready to work, unlike Wescos.


:loco:I don't want to wear mountaineering boots in the summer, unless I can wear shorts. Too hot.
 
Serf Life said:
Chippewas are closer to $150 but will last longer than sub hundred POS. Hard to find anything remotely decent for that cost unless at a used consignment store. Also, check out Labonville boots which are still made in USA and have a couple under $200.
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Thanks for the link man, I'm gonna check out some reviews on their logger boots and maybe get a pair. Haven't heard of them before.

For any work besides climbing, I have a few pairs of Doc Martens Industrial 6", steel toe. They're a little heavy, but once the leather is broken in they're really comfortable and durable; one pair is over 3 years old.
Sadly these ones (and maybe all Docs?) are not made in England anymore, they're made in Thailand. Still very well made in my humble opinion. :)
 
Sub $100: 5.11 ATAK (they're side zip which is the greatest footwear innovation of the decade) but not safety toe

>$100 any KEEN boots. I don't have a specific model recommendation as mine are 5 years old, out of production but still going strong!

I wear KEEN safety toe shoes at work (the Honda factory). Theyre great too...
 
I have work Carolina Lytnings with the Carbon Fiber Ted for years, light and comfortable, but still protected from heavy falling objects and my clumsy self kicking things.
 
I've been very pleased with the performance of my Vasque St. Elias GTX. It's an approach boot, and the lightest in the Vasque line. They're spendy if you buy them at a Redwing store, but you can always go into a store and find out which size works for you, and then look for a less expensive pair online. I bought one pair at the Redwing Store for about $200, then bought a second pair online for about $115. I've been alternating the two pair in daily use for over two years, and they're still ready to go to work every day.

I've seen people bash the eyelets and laces, but I don't think those reviews came from people who have actually used them (or know how to tie their &^H)$ bootlaces). I've still got the original laces and eyelets on mine.
 
southsoundtree said:
Sub-$100 boots are for people who don't have feet worth investing in.
You get what you pay for.
What's the best new car for under $10k?
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Uh, Sean, I'll be straight too. I I strenuously object if we're talking comfort only. Comfort can be very boot/person specific, and price/quality sometimes mean nothing. I'm really looking for the overall picture here, and my guy gave me a $100 target. If they fall apart in 6 months, then so be it. Shit, I got my Timberlands open box for $45, added some $1.00 foam cushions, and my feet are very happy and the boots have held up well. Boots to cars - good boots 2x my target - then you need to be upping the price of the budget car to 30K because I can get a sweet ride for 60K.

Bro, you're talking to someone who has over 800 miles on mountain trails and over 1,400 miles following my daughter around the junior golf circuit. I have listened to a bunch of the granola eating MF's lecture me on hikers and insoles. I tried so many different shoes/hikers of all price levels, and the $80 Merrell Moabs with the ortholites always end up being my go to. They appear to be indestructible on MY feet. I wear them 3-4 days a week as a casual shoe. Wearing them today, in fact. Just add a pair $1.00 foam insoles from Dollar Tree under the insole, switch the foam out every 6 months, and they are right there with my Salomon trail runners, which ARE the best shoes I ever put on my feet. Like I said, with comfort, price/quality don't always tell the whole story. For longevity, then yeah I definitely agree on getting quality.
 
Do you guys have a grainger footwear store near you? The one here sells returns and open box items in store only for 25 bucks. I wear a popular size and have never gotten lucky but my wife got a pair of >$150 boots a couple months back (yes, for $25)!

They WILL NOT post the current iventory online or tell you over the phone, you have to stop in but just one find makes a few trips worth it...
 
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My recomendation is to go to a GOOD boot store and try on everything. Walk around in them in the store for awhile. Some characteristics will change with wear/ break-in, look for toes hitting things and a good fit on the mid foot/lower ankle that will keep the boot from sliding back and forth. And spend more than $100 dollars for god sake. Cheap boots will hurt your feet and wear out quickly making the savings in money not really a savings at all. Spend what it takes to get the boots that fit your foot right and hold up well.
 
Italian hiking shoes are the best but way above price level as they hand form the leather.

Almost every other hiking shoe is stretched leather on a machine. I found stretched hikers like Salomen/Merrell(depending on foot shape) are initially the most comfortable, but the materials used don’t last like Italian hikers which certainly do have a robust longevity you won’t see in others.

I use steel toe work boots here that are the most comfortable of the lot, but the cotton liners inside them die after 9months no exceptions. Can’t quite find a comfortable boot that will also give me longevity but for me comfort comes first.
Note: Spurs don’t help either when doing smaller spars...
 
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