Need to have 8 inch uppers.

Red Wing

Wolverine has always been my go-to. Available insulated or waterproof too.

Man, Red Wing, Ariat, Double H, Justin.I've had them all. There isn't a nickel's worth of difference between any of them aside from up front cost. It Just depends if you want American leather shipped to China to be stitched together or if you want to pay the premium for American labor with the same material. Personally I prefer the American made but I won't sacrifice comfort for nationalism.

Try them on. Some will suck on your feet and others won't. Buy the ones that suck the least.

BUY AMERICAN: Thorogood

https://www.midwestboots.com/midwestboots.html

Go to a professional shoe store and not academy. Have them measure your feet for length and width. My last pair of red wings went through two rounds of returns before I figured out for the first time in my life that I needed a wide shoe. I like my red wings, but there's other good boots out there too.

I used to be a Wolverine fan but no more. I prefer Timberland for comfort and longevity both.

Always like the Justin lace up roper style.

Thorogood

15 yrs on/around drilling rigs and have had the best luck w redwing pecos

Wodanaz said:

---

BUY AMERICAN: Thorogood

https://www.midwestboots.com/midwestboots.html

---

This is the correct answer. Incredibly comfortable and durable. Great boots. Minimal break in period.

Appreciate the responses.

I only used the 6", but here are my experiences.

Timberland- light, comfy, lasted pretty good
Wolverine - heavy, never broke in like the timbers. Lasted a long time.
Keen - looked kinda like hiking boots. Very light. Didn't last very long.
Ariat - not the lightest, not the best at anything really, but pretty good overall.

I've had most every brand of boot mentioned on this thread and most are about the same. My favorite pair have been my Danner's. It's not even close how much better they are than the others. This is the first pair that haven't required a different insole to be able to wear comfortably for hours on end, day after day. Comfort, construction, durability are all outstanding. The closest thing to them were the red wings, but they are a distant 2nd. The cost is slightly more than some of the others but well worth it for the resulting comfort and fit.

I've hated every single pair of steel toe boots/shoes I've ever tried on except for Redwings. Never tried Thorogood though.

I've been happy with my 5.11 steel toe, much better than Wolverine.

Been wearing twisted x boots for going on right years now (not the same pair, I wear them every day) and they comfortable and hold up well

The most comfortable pair I've ever had we're Dr. Marten.

I have been working in the offshore construction industry for many years, so I have gone through my fair share of work boots. I recently bought a pair of Catipiler like the one in the link below. I wish I would have bought these when I first started. They are light and very comfortable. I am not sure about the 8" height, but they are damn close.

www.shopcaterpillar.com

Another vote for Thorogood. Worth every penny

I'll have to give Thorogood a try.

Twisted-X works well with my wide feet.

dolch said:

---

I'll have to give Thorogood a try.

Twisted-X works well with my wide feet.

---

Be sure and get the wide in Thorogood then, I have a brand new pair sitting at home and stick with red wings cause they fit my wide foot better. The regular (D) Thorogoods don't.

Thorogood

TH36 said:

---

dolch said:

---

I'll have to give Thorogood a try.

Twisted-X works well with my wide feet.

---

Be sure and get the wide in Thorogood then, I have a brand new pair sitting at home and stick with red wings cause they fit my wide foot better. The regular (D) Thorogoods don't.

---

What size? I'm in the market.

I was gifted this pair of Ariat steel toe in 12D and my foot hates them! I gave them a fair 3 days and was out. Anybody wants to trade something for them, I'm in Cypress.

Wodanaz said:

---

TH36 said:

---

dolch said:

---

I'll have to give Thorogood a try.

Twisted-X works well with my wide feet.

---

Be sure and get the wide in Thorogood then, I have a brand new pair sitting at home and stick with red wings cause they fit my wide foot better. The regular (D) Thorogoods don't.

---

What size? I'm in the market.

I was gifted this pair of Ariat steel toe in 12D and my foot hates them! I gave them a fair 3 days and was out. Anybody wants to trade something for them, I'm in Cypress.

---

That is 3 fair days??? You wore them, right? On your feet, and didn't drag them behind the truck?

get the justin model wk4684. pull-on available in wide sizes. Im on my 6th pair.

slammerag said:

---

15 yrs on/around drilling rigs and have had the best luck w redwing pecos

---

The quality on the pecos has gone downhill dramatically in the past 4 years. They went from lasting at least a year to about 6 months before all the stitching falls out and they start leaking.

Not 3 typical days. I was trying to break them in so wore them building feed pens and putting up bow blinds. Used boots is not a market I typically dabble in, so I'm not sure if I'm high or low on my trade offer.

Check out White's too. You can send a tracing in to these guys and they'll work with you

https://bakershoe.com/collections/work

I've worn Wolverine and Red Wing mostly. The Wolverines held up great but were not comfortable. My Red Wings are very comfortable but I have been unhappy with the soles on the Traction Tread models. I had one completely separate after 3 months of wear and after replacing them on warranty my second pair are starting to separate after 6 months. I'll probably go with Thorogood on my next round. Quality seems much more consistent from the guys I talk to.

Red wing heritage and oddly enough doc martin lace up

Another vote for Thorogood

Keen fit me the best

For those looking for a lighter duty non steel toe boot. I've been wearing these military style boots that I got off of Amazon. They are super comfortable, yet durable and resistant to getting dirty. Like wearing a tennis shoe but with much more protection and durability. I also have a pair of the full height military boots similar to this, but they're too hot.



Amazon - Antartica Cordura Boots

One of my favorite boots for working in shorts or working in my yard are these Justin Mocassin. They are very comfortable, easy to tie, available in steel toe or non, and the best part is the soles are mostly flat so they hold almost no dirt. Makes it easy to go in and out of the house while working in the yard. The biggest downside is that dirt gets in them fairly easily if you're working in loose soil or digging.



Amazon - Justin Moccasin

Most comfortable I've had were timberlands, also least durable.

Wolverines we're easiest break in / easiest & cheapest to replace.

Longest lasting have been redwings. But, really long and painful time to break in. I have a wide foot and ended up with the king toe.

Sounds like next pair may try some thorogoods.