Homesteading footwear

[Wayne02]

What are you guys doing for work boots in the home shop, or around the property these days? I need to get a new pair, probably something in the 6" high variety, and without composite toe, unless those have gotten substantially more comfortable than when I've used them in the past. Leather athletic/walking shoes are the most comfortable for me, but I need something with some more ankle support and better water resistance.

I went to the local shoe/boot store yesterday and was overwhelmed with the choices - Danner, CAT, Wolverine, Timberline, and bunch of ones I've never heard of before.

I hear people say the redwing are best, in part because they can be resoled. Is that still true, can the new redwings really be resoled, and does the overall boot last long enough to make resoling viable? Now that I think about it, I'm not even sure we still have a shoemaker guy in our town anymore. I have a terrible time finding boots that fit correctly, does redwing offer any kind of return policy on their boots?

Maybe I should be looking at hiking boots instead of work boots, should be lighter, eh?

What say you about footwear?

[agmantoo]

As a result of an accident, I have lots of feet related problems. I read that New Balance shoes correct some of these problems and find that the information was correct. It is difficult to find anything in the New Balance line suitable to the farm. New Balance does make shoes under another name, Dunham. This is what I cam currently wearing
http://www.shoebuy.com/dunham-crew-chief/181882/409158

[chas]

I found deep cleated light weight hiking/work boots at Wally/mart by Brahma.
I've gotta get a pair,these with all the manure ,mud,snow,and water may not make it through two years.
Chas

[Cabin Fever]

These are the boots I've been wearing for the past six years...everyday for the past six years...yes, everyday for 12 hours a day. Okay, so I bought my second pair 2 years ago, after I wore out the soles on the first set. Never before in my entire life have I ever bought a second pair of any footwear after the first pair wore out until these boots. I will buy a third pair when these have had it.



If you're interested, you can find these boots at:
Cabelas 7" Hunting Boot

[dk_40207]

Currently i am wearing timberland Titan workboots. They are steel toe but are made with titanium and are very light. I have been extremely happy with them.

DK

[bill not in oh]

A word about steel toed boots..... (please don't let this cause thread drift)

A couple of weeks ago, I was working with a guy that is a farrier. He mentioned something to me that I'd never realized or even considered. While discussing the hazardous nature of the horseshoeing profession, he commented that he still had two toes that had not been broken. I, in my complete ignorance, suggested that he should have been wearing steel-toed boots. His reply was that if he had been, he might not have any toes as they probably would have been severed when the horses crushed the steel as they stepped on it. I believe he said that most steel-toed boots have a resistance to crushing of something like 50# per square inch. Someone else mentioned that when they worked in an automotive garage that they weren't allowed to wear them for the same reasons. I'm no longer ignorant about the protective value, or hazards of wearing steel-toed boots - Yea!

[newfieannie]

The ones I wear look exactly like Cabin Fever's but they are Cougar. day in day out for the past 8 years. they are steel toed but I'm prone to dropping stuff on my toes. the soles look the same as they always did but the top looks a bit scruffy. still lots of wear left in them yet though. those are the ones I will buy again if I can find them. Georgia.

[paulaswolfpack]

Give this place a looksee cheap prices on namebrand closeouts I hhave been buying my familys shoes here for years. Good return policy and when they say shipping 3-7 days I always get mine in 3-4. I have coupon codes for $5 and $10 off just pm me and I will send you the codes,and check out thier lunchtime and night owl specials for even more discounts I love the reebok high tops under $30 and sometimes $20,paula

http://www.bargainoutfitters.com/bro...asp?c=11&dc=11

[BTO]

Originally Posted by Wayne02

What are you guys doing for work boots in the home shop, or around the property these days? I need to get a new pair, probably something in the 6" high variety, and without composite toe, unless those have gotten substantially more comfortable than when I've used them in the past. Leather athletic/walking shoes are the most comfortable for me, but I need something with some more ankle support and better water resistance.

I went to the local shoe/boot store yesterday and was overwhelmed with the choices - Danner, CAT, Wolverine, Timberline, and bunch of ones I've never heard of before.

I hear people say the redwing are best, in part because they can be resoled. Is that still true, can the new redwings really be resoled, and does the overall boot last long enough to make resoling viable? Now that I think about it, I'm not even sure we still have a shoemaker guy in our town anymore. I have a terrible time finding boots that fit correctly, does redwing offer any kind of return policy on their boots?

Maybe I should be looking at hiking boots instead of work boots, should be lighter, eh?

What say you about footwear?

When working around the farm I like boots/shoes that don't have heavy cleats. Smooth soles while slippery, don't bring mud/manure into the house.

[fordson major]

depends on the time of year and what i am doing! most days start with baffin rubber boots, either unlined or lined for winter. have a pair of nike's for driving the mushroom (see avatar). getting a pair of terra wildsiders http://www.terrafootwear.com/, my dw has had a pair for over a year (a record, usually wears her boots out in 6 months) that have lasted extremely well too organic acids and inorganic acids plus her very active daily routine, her coworkers are also going with them as they know the rigors she puts her foot wear through!

[lonelyfarmgirl]

I as well, have seroius foot issues, forklift crushing and all...

shoe shopping for me is a nightmare. It usually takes over 100 pairs to find one I can tolerate.
fter the foot crushing when I could wear a shoe again, I had success with a pair of danner high top boots.
um.danner strikers. but I had to special order them, because no boot company has my size on the shelf.
I had to reorder the exact same size, and they made another pair, because the first pair that came in had a stitch bump inside that I couldn't stand. they had no problem doing this.
they were regualr boot bottom, only water resistant, and did nothing against the cold, but its all I could stand. at about 2 years, I split the soles.
danner will resole for about 100 dollars.

after that, I bought a pair of lacrosse brand. they guarantee waterproof to where the tongue meets the laces for six months. (gander mt. was where I got them)
I still have them 3 years later, and still wearing them. Ive walked through 4 inch deep creeks and was ok
(darn good thing, because getting my feet wet is similar to death for me)

I also have a pair of arctic snow stompers, ranger brand that I can wear. they kept my toes warm to about zero, and are rubber coated.

my dad found a company called haux, and he said they are the best boots he has ever had.

[clsmith15]

My favorite boots are Blundstones. They are by far the most comforable footwear I've ever worn and very well made. They are made in Australia but you can find them on E-Bay, sometimes on sierratradingpost.com at great discounts, and other online outdoor stores.

[TedH71]

I can't wear steel toed boots because every time I wear one..they start hurting like heck. Red Wing boots didn't do a good job for me. Too stiff and not wide enough.

[heritagefarmer]

Would never buy cats again, as they always let in, even in light snow, (like half inch) you end up with wet socks.
we always wear Dakota- they are a brand of Marks work warehouse, and they are slip on (muckers?) non slip, steel toe, but not heavy.
Been wearing mine 12mth so far, every day, all weathers, still looking good.

They do bring in a bit of muck tho, just need to take them off on the back step.

[CountryHaven]

I am horribly hard on shoes of any type around our homestead but I love my Brahma boots I got at Wal-Mart three years ago. They are still in fantastic condition through all three years in all season. They're waterproof, and insulated so they do fine in mud, snow, and any stall muck, lol. They are NOT steel toed. I hate steel-toed boots. The only thing I've done is I've gone through three pairs of laces, but the boots are still great. Mine were on sale for $15.00 when I bought them. It was THE best $15.00 I ever spent on shoes.

[airotciv]

Muck boots during the winter and Dockers during the rest of the year. Both are expensive, about $100.00 each. I have had my Dockers for 9 years and the Muck boots for 8 years. I still have about 2+ years on both. So In the long run, thats about $20.00 a year for shoes.

[Ramblin Wreck]

I've had good luck with Vasque shoes/boots. Maybe in error (after reading the above posts) I do keep a pair of Rocky steel toed shoes I got at a closeout price from Sierra Trading Post. Here is a link if you want to browse their shoe/boot clearance list: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/e/3...and-Boots.html

Good luck in finding something your feet like.

[CGUARDSMAN]

Ariat lacers most comfortable boot i have had. they weren't cheap but i learned long ago that cheap puts your foot health in the toilet.

[ldc]

Several friends with serious foot problems also love New Balance shoes; foot dr recommends, etc. I wear clogs. ldc

[Rockin'B]

Vasque hiking tenny runners for light walk around stuff. Georgia Boot lace to toe loggers for real work. The boots get the most use by far.