I've been wearing Red Wing loggers for years and have been very happy with the exception of the weight.
So this year I purchased my first pull on boots.?ÿ Irish Setter 11" Marshall style.?ÿ They are waterproof and very comfortable.?ÿ We'll see if that hold up like the old loggers did.?ÿ Which would usually last me a few years.
What's your brand?
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?ÿI know guys who really like the Marshall boot, some swear by ariat pull ons. I have whites hunter for most of the year, keen snow boots and Irish setter pacs for really cold days.
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Wear these almost full time.?ÿ Light, great support.?ÿ Since I wear them all the time they only last about two years.?ÿ I wore red wings for years, good VERY HEAVY boots.?ÿ You'd be surprised how much difference it makes hiking the hills.
We don't get much mud here, so I like a good lightweight hiker. My favorite is North Face pilots but they are hard to find. Right now Im running a set of Merrells. Very light and flexible. They really grip the rocks and bite into the sand and gravels. The downside is they slide like ice skates on thick layers of pine needles...
I often wear pull-ons for everyday wear (Ariat).?ÿ That's fine for a limited amount of walking in fields, dry(ish) conditions and moderate terrain.?ÿ But if working in mud, steep or rocky terrain, or any terrain that is beyond moderate, the boots have to be lace-ups and durable.?ÿ My current pair are Danners.?ÿ I like them.?ÿ They're plenty durable and very comfortable.?ÿ They also had a shorter break-in period than most other brands I've owned.?ÿ That's probably because they fit the shape of my foot as much as any particular workmanship or materials factor.
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Redwing 899 for me since 1979.?ÿ I don't work in the rain, snow or heavy mud, so protection from cold and wet isn't a priority.?ÿ Comfort, ankle support, traction and impact protection are.
My last pair of Red Wings was in 2003, the 9 inch logger style # 218.?ÿ They came with a twelve month warranty and cost me about $300.?ÿ On month 13 the right heel separated from scratching holes in the ground while searching for monuments.?ÿ The dealer sent them in and they were returned to me with a tag saying "unrepairable".
My last two pairs of boots are Carolina 8825 8" Loggers.?ÿ ?ÿThey look identical to the Red Wing Loggers I had.?ÿ At $140 I don't mind if they fall apart.?ÿ The funny thing is they don't fall apart, I used the first pair steady for about 4 1/2 years up and down rainy mountains in Humboldt, then ordered another set which I've had about nine months.?ÿ Bulletproof and comfortable, I never have to think about them.?ÿ I still wear the old ones sometimes and they feel pretty good, like an old friend.
I have a pair of Keen steel toes that I like for construction sites (which I don't get called to so much anymore) but they are too wide for climbing fences.?ÿ Now that I mention it I'm thankful that I haven't had to wear a hard hat for a while now either....
I have ran through two pairs of LL Bean Cresta Hikers, currently wearing third pair. Easily get three years out of them. Very comfortable, lightweight, and provide everything I need year round. Great boot for Land Surveyors!
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/14774?page=mens-gore-tex-cresta-hikers-leather
N10,000, E7,000, Z100.00
PLS - IL, MO, AR, KS, MN, KY
I have Redwing loggers, Lacrosse rubbers, Military jungles and my main wear is 3yr old pair of Rocky Original Ride Branson Ropers.
Real impressed with my new Rocky Original Ride Sadle Ropers.
The Rocky insoles LYFT and ENERGY BED are the most shock absorbing and comfortable I've worn.
Red Wings since 1991 or so. Not sure of the boot model number/name nowadays but they used to be "Irish Setters". Durable and comfortable.
I also buy the Red Wing Boot Oil by the gallon, it lasts me a few years that way.
The only superior evidence is that which you haven't yet found.
My survey/hunting boots: Danner for summer and an 800 gram light winter. Cabelas inferno 2000 gram pack boots for really cold days.
Danner RainForest. Not for everyday but for heavy country. The Danner Factory is here in Portland and I get factory seconds for about $100 less than the advertised price . I can't for the life of me find any flaw that makes them "seconds". For a long time I used Snoseal on them but for the last year I've been using Huberd's Shoe Oil.?ÿ
For everyday use I'll use whatever lightweight hikers are on sale. I've had a few pairs of these Hi-Tech Altitudes?ÿwhich have been comfortable and fairly rugged, for the price.
As several have stated, it depends. The standard surveyor answer. One boot I have always kept in my fleet has been the lace up LL Bean Bean boot for working in very wet and muddy conditions. I have both the insulated and uninsulated versions. Very lightweight and waterproof, at least the foot portion. Not good for any dry situations, but great in the muck.
As to other options, there are many. Depends on your budget, your foot, whether you want US made (for Danner, only the high end models are still made in the US) , how much protection you need, and how often you use them, among other factors. I guess that is why I have a closet full of boots. I haven't worn a pair of "tennis shoes" at any time, for any reason, in over 10 years. Wearing a pair of Hanwag Trapper boots today working in the yard, just because I can.
Keen, have 3 pair with composite toes, they hold on well, uber comfortable, waterproof and are light. The 8" LL Bean insulated for winter woods work.?ÿ
I??ll second the Danner Rainforest boots. They are not waterproof but other than that they are awesome. I wear mine daily, currently I??m on my second pair. My first pair was good for about 5 months then one of the boots stretched to much. Danner replaced them with no cost to me though.
Boots: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DVDY5X6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Laces:?ÿ https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L2KQYGQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Out of Spokane... custom sized, but pricey. Been making them for 150 years.
Swore by Redwings for decades, but have they been cutting corners of late?
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that is the style I chose, with the lighter tread so it wouldn't mark up tile in the office or the house, I'm glad I did spring for them, I changed them a bit got them to make an 8" model and you can change the heel so it's not so high, although I'm glad I left it like it is in the picture, kicked around lots or rocks with it, still it's going strong. They can be rebuilt when they wear out, I'm starting to get there, but not yet. You can order a "lessor" model in the Hawthorn brand for about $150 less, still a great boot.
Bates Military Boots....light weight and sturdy...
Muck Boots for the wet stuff...
Keen Targhee. They're like socks with soles.