My Red Wings say Made in China.
Whites are what I wear. They are just so comfortable, tough and last so long.
A pair of waterproof insulated Red Wing (Irish Setter) boots for winter; but last winter I hardly needed them, the Whites work well until it's under 15-20 degrees.
I have a pair of cheaper Hawthorns that I wear in the office. They are also a great boot and also comfortable to wear and if I need to go out they work great, they just don't have a lug sole.
Wesco, Nicks, Schnee, Russell Moccasin, Viberg (Canadian) all make great boots.
The trick is to get the real size of your feet. The American companies will build your boot at your real size. If you get a shoe made out of the country it will probably be too narrow and a size too small.
Baker's boots is a good online site if you don't have somewhere locally to buy and they sell Danners and Red Wings along with Whites and Wesco.
seems Danners are popular - my faves are the Mountain Light II.
I have worn these for field work for about 15 years+. first pair lasted about 7 years, with one re-sole of the Vibram sole. Second pair is still going on the re-sole, altho the outer sheel is torn and ugly now, still waterproof and with strong ankle support. with new pair at over $300, I'm beginning to look at other options, but will probably go ahead and spend the $, these boots have saved my footing on some steep rocky slopes.
Redwing Pecos style boots with steel toe for most jobs. Redwing lace ups with steel toe for swamp or hilly jobs. I have a flat foot and it helps my feet. My son has a helluva arch in his foot, so we buy him Justin's for that reason.
The tops of my boots, when I'm in the field, wear out before the sole. I like the super sole on redwings. I don't oil mine because the briars and machete will make them non-water proof soon enough, so it's kinda pointless. 🙂
Kent
As an avid redwing wearer myself, the best and quickest way to break them in is to fill them up with water, and walk them dry. Takes one day, and they are form fitted to your foot for the rest of their lifespan.
White's, but even if you don't want to wear the best, treat what you have with the best by using the best boot care products in the world!
SHG
[sarcasm]Is that a pic of your's or Mary's boot?[/sarcasm] :-O
Daryl,
Do these come with the bolts for your neck too? 😉
> 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?
Since I'm in the office 80% of the time, and when I'm in the field it's someplace like this then I can get by wearing these.
I've been satisfied with these for the past two years. My secondary pair (winter use) is a pair of Chippewa's in the winter. I got those a size larger to accommodate heavy wool socks..
Duluth Boots
2 years ago I bought a pair of Carolina Grizzly boots (Made in the USA). I liked them a lot better than Red Wings. I just checked, and apparently they don't make that model in the USA anymore. That's a major downer, because I get around on a pair of skis (size 13B). Can't wear Danners because of the narrow foot. They do have some styles that are still made here.
I stopped in Red Wing last year on the way home from a fishing trip in Brainerd. Checked out the factory but they don't have a factory store anymore, just a big retail spot on Main St.
You buy "long kinda Led Lings"...
Harold-
I think my boots are these:
http://www.redwingshoes.com/red-wing-shoe/2408-red-wing-shoes/2408-red-wing-mens-8-inch-boot-brown
I use harness oil like this: http://www.ronshorseharness.com/products/Harness-Oil.html to keep them waterproof & they seem to last a long time as a result.
And, they are made in North America !!
Cheers
Derek
Hey, just walk about 4 blocks south and one block east, and have some tapas at Jaleo!
Well, I been using Red Wings for some time. But it appears they sold and have them made in China now. I'm gonna take that into consideration for the next pair of boots. Might be wearing something else. Heck the way things are going I might be bare footed (no American made footwear). Got a new Carthart coat, made in Mexico. At least its North America. If we applied the made in the US strictly we'd be looking at going naked. Sorta sad isn't it!
Edit: Not a total loss yet. From the Red Wing Website:
Today, 98.8% of all footwear purchased in the United States is manufactured offshore. RWSC continues to manufacture over 60% of our Red Wing brand products in the U.S.
Thanks, guys!:-)
White's are made in Spokane, be a part of the 1%, don't go barefoot!