After a long day in the field, I have found that a good quality pair of boots is really worth the money spent on them.
I am 56 years old and a (slightly overweight) Mississippi surveyor, so most of the terrain I walk on ranges from hard packed to muddy silty clay; leaf litter on soft sandy loam soils; gravel shoulders on roadways and asphalt or concrete pavement. I sometimes get to walk on manicured lawns with sidwalks, but mostly I survey rural areas with tall grasses and weeds.
I wear non-insulated Red Wing #914 lace-up 8-inch boots with a Gore-Tex liner and a "supersole" made for hard surfaces. I give regular treatments with a silicone spray. I have also used a "mink oil" waterproofing compound. The boots cost about $200 and last about 2 or 3 years. These are the best that I have used, and it is getting time for another pair.
Down here, the weather is mild, so I just put on a pair of wool socks for cooler weather. The 100-degree summers are pretty tough, but the winters only average in the 30's and 40's. I have a pair of LaCrosse boots with Thinsulate felt liners that work really well in cold, soggy, wet-weather conditions. When the high humidity Mississippi wind chill factor is 10 below zero, this ol' boy is parked in front of the computer! All-in-all, we can work outside most of the year except in extreme heat or cold conditions.
What kind of footwear do you have and why? What are the benefits and what do you look for when it is time to get a new pair?
I have never really liked wearing heavy footwear in the field.
Some sites require us to wear steel toed safety shoes during work.
I find it very difficult to get around uneven terrain using them.
My favorite survey footwear? Fila Running shoes. Light & slip resistant soles
for wet & muddy terrain.
A pair of these made my old boots last much longer.
> What kind of footwear do you have and why? What are the benefits and what do you look for when it is time to get a new pair?
I've worn Red Wing Style 877's for decades (serially, not the same pair). It takes a day or two to break them in and they are very comfortable. I prefer the crepe soles on rock.
When I look for a new pair of boots, the criteria are:
a) Are they made in the United States?
b) Are they well constructed of quality materials?
and
c Are they Red Wing 877's?
Life's too short not to wear decent boots.
I really poured my heart into my post on the subject here
http://beerleg.com/index.php?mode=thread&id=119879#p119894
Scarpa ZX65 or similar (currently Kailash's)
Reasons: Very versatile. Good for all conditions I face. Serious ankle support. Comfortable. Best set of boots I've owned.
Other boots - Lace up steelcaps for work on sites that need it. Still trying to find a pair I can wear comfortably when serious walking is needed.
Strong believer in steel toes.
They are great for supporting manhole covers when prizing open.
Used to use our home grown Blundstone boot but since they went off shore now use Mongrel Boots
When in rugged areas, 'wilderness' areas etc I wear my Scarpa bushwalking boots.
A comfortable boot can make the difference between coming home like a half shut pocket knife or still fit and raring to go.
I've always preferred steel toes, took one misstep with a machete that would've resulted in a trip to the emergency room had I not had them on to make a believer out of me.
I used to like Georgia boots until the last pair I ordered had the 'Made in China' tag, can't fault them for trying to stay competitive.
I'm curious as well, how many good American manufacturers are left in the footwear department?
I've never had good luck with Red Wings, every pair I've bought split at the sides within a few months and the last time I sent them back they refused to repair them. It's probably the whole daily exposure to wet concrete thing that turned them off to me as a potential customer.
I used to only wear lace up boots. I still keep a pair of boots in the truck just in case. I wear these for 95% of the work we do and my feet thank me 😉 http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/24642M/55921/Mens/Chameleon4-Stretch?dimensions=0
I've been wearing Justin logger boots for the most of the last decade and they do well for a about a year and a half. I am seriously considering making my next/last pair of boots the infamous Whites smokejumpers. I've heard nothing but rave reviews on them and in the long run, they will be cheaper, as they are completely rebuildable.
I have four danner boots: 10" Super Rain Forest Plain Toe, 8" Super Rain Forest Non Metallic Toe, Mountain Light II, and 17" Jackal II GTX Snake Boots. They are all wonderful products. In fact, I have regrets that I did not include before the footwear as part of surveying investment.
I am very happy with my Danner Boots. In fact, I consider them as wonder products. No more back pains.
These are what I wear 99% of the time. They are extremely comfortable.
For scrambling like a youngster round about the Blue Ridge I can't go wrong with these Danners. I don't spray nothin on them and I shy away from duck or mink oil and instead use Sno-Seal to condition and weatherproof the leather. I note them younger fellas now coming in with some similar looking Asolos. And then a course once you drop down below the age a maybe twenty-six your mind ain't yet on your footware--it hasn't yet dropped below the bemus.
I just love this pair of boots. Very comfortable. No more back pains.
> For scrambling like a youngster round about the Blue Ridge I can't go wrong with these Danners. I don't spray nothin on them and I shy away from duck or mink oil and instead use Sno-Seal to condition and weatherproof the leather. I note them younger fellas now coming in with some similar looking Asolos. And then a course once you drop down below the age a maybe twenty-six your mind ain't yet on your footware--it hasn't yet dropped below the bemus.
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Danner 10" Super Rain Forest Plain Toe provides confidence in the field that can't simply get wearing athletic or trekking shoes.
I just bought this one:
I don't know how well it will work out, but it was immediately comfortable. I can wear it all day right away. It appears to have good soles, is waterproof, and steel toes. They called it the "detroit mid" hiker.
Some of the selling points from one of the web sites that sell them:
These sturdy workboots are so comfortable, you may have to remind yourself that you’re at work.
Waterproof nubuck leather upper.
Keen.Dry waterproof breathable membrane locks out rain and humidity, but releases the heat and perspiration created throughout a hard day’s work.
Removable metatomical dual-density EVA footbed.
Torsion stability ESS shank.
Dual-density compression-molded EVA midsole.
Contoured heel lock.
Dry-Lex footwear lining with hydrophobic/hydrophilic 2-zone comfort technology.
Reflective webbing for additional safety.
Oil and slip-resistant non-marking rubber outsole.
Unique anatomically-correct steel-toe design provides a roomier toe box and maximum comfort. ASTM F2412-05 and F2413-05 I/75 and C/75 standards.
Shaft: 5 in
Circumference : 15 1?2 in
Weight : 26 oz
Product measurements were taken using size 10.5.
I will second mmm184's suggestion. I always tried to stay below $150 till one day I just went ahead and spent the money on a good pair of danners, similar to the ones he linked. Wore them the next day in 30 degree weather, it was raining we were topo'ing the side of a hill. My feet were dry and comfortable and most importantly NO BLISTERS!!! Still have the same pair and it has been 2.5 years.