Boots

[Antibling]

I've wore cowboy boots and only cowboy boots since I was a little kid, until I got a job welding and then I had to start wearing steel toed boots.

Cowboy boots got a higher heel on them that shifts my weight to the pad of my foot rather than the heel.

I have not been able to find anything with a high enough heel so far when buying boots and the heel of my foot is always killing me because all my weight is landed on that.

Does anyone know of steel toed boots with a higher heel than regular boots, preferably with a met guard.

[DSW]

You may be able to get custom inserts in the boot to help you out. I know Redwings can be gotten with inserts. I get mine from a place that specializes in Orthodic footwear. I need a wedge to help keep my feet level and a bit of heal lift. They ain't cheap, but it saves my back and keeps me from needing new boots every 2-3 months.




I thought cowboy boots already had metal toes. Oh wait, they're silver not steel, never mind.

[William McCormick Jr]

Originally Posted by Antibling

I've wore cowboy boots and only cowboy boots since I was a little kid, until I got a job welding and then I had to start wearing steel toed boots.

Cowboy boots got a higher heel on them that shifts my weight to the pad of my foot rather than the heel.

I have not been able to find anything with a high enough heel so far when buying boots and the heel of my foot is always killing me because all my weight is landed on that.

Does anyone know of steel toed boots with a higher heel than regular boots, preferably with a met guard.

I know what you mean, I walked all over town growing up, in cowboy boats. They were the natural color Tom McCann boots. I later died them black, with cabinet wiping stain, when they looked really dirty.
Never had an ounce of pain, in any part of my body from cowboy boots. Some of the low heel boots I noticed cause me to take a funny posture if I am standing still. Very weird.

Georgia makes a nice boot. Especially considering it is steel toe, it is very comfortable. It was worth the money for me.

They also make a non-steel toe boot as well in the exact same model. I am actually going to get the non-steel toe next time. Because I really do not worry about anything falling on my toe.







I liked the frilly thing on top of the boot, it seems to protect the top of the boot just a bit more, especially from hot slag. But you can take it off, if the guys say anything or if you just do not like it.

Smith used to make a high heel boot as well. I do not know if they make it anymore. It is a bit heavy though.

The Georgia boot, is very light even with the steel. I have walked a good distance in these.


Sincerely,


William McCormick

[gordfraser]

Originally Posted by William McCormick Jr

I liked the frilly thing on top of the boot, it seems to protect the top of the boot just a bit more, especially from hot slag. But you can take it off, if the guys say anything or if you just do not like it.

Smith used to make a high heel boot as well. I do not know if they make it anymore. It is a bit heavy though.

The Georgia boot, is very light even with the steel. I have walked a good distance in these.

What is the frilly thing for?
i see them on logger boots all the time, but i dont see the point apart for other people to have opinions.

[William McCormick Jr]

These are a pair I do not wear much anymore. They were not nearly as comfortable as the Georgia boots. However I did not have a large selection of either boot to choose from. The Georgia seems like a much better boot all around though.






Sincerely,


William McCormick

[William McCormick Jr]

It might just stop a hatchet. Anytime you double up a material you do not just get a doubling of protection. You can get up to ten times more protection or more. That tiny air gap between substances causes some strange effects by actual practice.

If you take two piece of metal and try to put a hole through both at once, it is much harder then putting a hole in one. More then twice as hard, by actual experience. I believe it is because the first slows the advance just a little bit. So now the second one is not hit with enough force to penetrate.

For molten slag caught in the laces it gives you more time to get your boot off.

Sincerely,


William McCormick

[jrw159]

REDWINGS!!! When it comes to footwear, go big or go home.

These are just steel toe with no met guard. They have served me well for 3 years. They "frilly" thing, at least for me, keeps debris out of the natural fold area. I am an inspector now but I am an "in the mix" inspector and not a "behind the desk" inspector so I can tell you these will handle the job site, ROW, or the shop with no problem. Proper care and upkeep is essential to the life expectancy of them so if you do not oil/seal them they will, like any other boot, deteriorate faster.

They did cost a pretty penny but have more than earned that price and they are still good to go.

jrw159

[iwannaweld]

I got a pair of Worx brand (by Red Wing Shoes) back in 2007 that have darn near the same heel height and balance as my cowboy boots. Comfortable on concrete too. More comfortable with gel insoles though! Not cheap but worth it. I think they're a "logger" style.
They're style 5473 - I think the new one is 5481.
Ruth

[mb_welder]

When I get my first paycheck, I'll be looking into a new pair of boots. The ones I have right now can be best described as "well broken in." The ductape will attest to this!

...not that I have a picture.

[Silverado]

you want Chippewas.... theres nothing like them, they're even guaranteed to last.

http://www.chippewaboots.com/

[dougspair]

...Yes...those logger type boots like I have usually include higher heel.....mine are from White boot company ($250+).....I don't wear them except for forestry work....for my job, I like the Wolverines.....get them at Sears...USA made....$100 or so....

So...William McCormick Jr.......are you saving that #8 TEK screw in your Vibram sole for something?.....

[mla2ofus]

Originally Posted by gordfraser

What is the frilly thing for?
i see them on logger boots all the time, but i dont see the point apart for other people to have opinions.

Back when boots were built to really last, the laces would literally wear thru the tongue. That's what that "frilly" thing is for and it is a big help for weldors also. If you haven't had a peice of hot slag land on the tongue and just lay there, then you haven't learned to do the welder's jitterbug yet!!! That "frilly thing helps absorb the heat of the slag instead of the top of your foot.
Mike

[TEK]

Originally Posted by mla2ofus

If you haven't had a peice of hot slag land on the tongue and just lay there, then you haven't learned to do the welder's jitterbug yet!!! That "frilly thing helps absorb the heat of the slag instead of the top of your foot.
Mike

Actually, after welding for a few years, you learn to feel the little dingleberries when they land on your foot, and you know if you need to move long before the heat gets there....

and you old guys know exactly what I'm talkin' about........

[HTCSW]

If you don't have to have lace-ups, try H&H boots. The closest thing that i have found to a steel toed cowboy workboot.

[Crickertj]

I second the whites boots. Or hoffmans Boots same style.
Whitesboots.com
Hoffmanboots.com

The whites are pretty spendy. My hoffmans are about 260 for a 10 inch height. Steel toe. They are hell to break in though. But once you do its awesome. I live close to where hoffmans are built. They are great to deal with. Whites is only about 70 miles from my home
TJ

[William McCormick Jr]

Originally Posted by dougspair

...Yes...those logger type boots like I have usually include higher heel.....mine are from White boot company ($250+).....I don't wear them except for forestry work....for my job, I like the Wolverines.....get them at Sears...USA made....$100 or so....

So...William McCormick Jr.......are you saving that #8 TEK screw in your Vibram sole for something?.....

Yea, the van tire. I believe they first lodge in the boot, then fall out, and get lodged into the van tire.


Sincerely,


William McCormick

[William McCormick Jr]

I usually only get dangerous slag from stainless steel. Every now and then, I will drop a huge piece, that either blows through or ran out. And that stuff just sits there burning. It lodges into whatever you drop it on. Gloves, boots, welding jackets. I have danced.




Sincerely,


William McCormick

[Rivershark2005]

I may be bringing this up too late but someone else may find it helpful. I usually wear ropers, so work boots are quite uncomfortable for me as well. Justin makes a great set of steel toe ropers but they are pricey. Ariat has a full line of western work boots available. I just bought a pair of Ariat Sierra steel-toes that I absolutely LOVE. Full roper heel and toe, available in wide sizes, and about $50 less than Justins.

My daily wear black ropers are Justin Basics. Wouldn't replace them for anything. But in the field and at school, I need a thicker sole and steel toe. I will never wear a work boot other than Ariat again.

[wannabe_welder]

I'll cast a vote for Ariat boots also. I'm on my second pair and not looking to try any other brands any time soon.

[welderShane]

I just bought a pair of red wings and so far im loving them!

[daddy]

My redwing dealer told me not to use mink oil on the boots, and the only thing reccommended is snow seal. It is basically bees wax.

Anyhow, I took his advice, and after occasional cleaning and snow seal applications, my latest pair of boots looks like new.

Only time will tell, but he said the mink oil actually deteriorates the leather, so I thought I would pass it along.

[new]

I'm not sure what the perfect boot is for me yet. I have Wolverine with Met guards, but they are near the end of their life. I don't see myself with lace up boots unless they have the met guard because I know the laces would get ruined and sparks in my boot with the type of welding I'm doing. But on the other hand I may just go for the pull-on style next time because I'm tired of all the metal dust and crap getting in the cracks and creases behind the met guard and tongue/laces.
So its hard to know what the true best all around is. Dr. Marten has some industrial boots with the soles that withstand 600 some odd degrees (lace up with no met guard or pull ons). Anyways, any further input would be great guys.

[dieselmudder]

i actually have 2 pair of boots well 3 to get techincal, my daily work boots which are HH lace ups, a pair of waterproof carhartt for out in the snow an rain, and one of my old worn out pair of justin pull ons for welding. i dont want to burn the bottoms off of my good boots so whenever im doin a lot of welding or heavy cutting i slip my old justins on. theyre already broke down with not much left of the soles.

[Crickertj]

I AM IN LOVE WITH MY GEORGIAS. Very comfortable for work or play. I wear mine 14-16 hours a day and they are great.

[pilebuck]

whites boots+1. Downside is your probably gonna drop over 400. Boots seem to be one thing where you get what you pay for. Danner's USA pretty good also, but in the last couple of years they seem to be going downhill(watch out for chinese made danners)