Author Topic: Who makes the most comfortable, steel toed work boots? (Read 40687 times)

scsmith42 · « **Reply #40 on:** January 03, 2007, 10:55:43 pm »

Tom - thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to check these out along with the others.

Scott

Phorester · « **Reply #41 on:** January 04, 2007, 07:39:32 am »

RECARBO, I haven't been on the huge western fires with those 200-300 foot tall flames. But I have been on fires standing on the fireline within 50 feet of 50-75 foot flame fronts. No problem with my steel toed boots. The metal toe might conduct heat, but I would also think it would reflect heat, at least when the boot first starts heating up.

I've read dozens of fire accident reports where the firefighter sufferd horrible burns on hands, face, airway, etc. None of them ever mention burns on their feet. This leads me to believe that the all-leather boot is a good heat insulator. I would think that by the time a leather boot heated up to be uncomfortable, steel-toed or not, the firefighter would have long been in deep do-do and hot feet would be the least of his/her problems.

I've heard other explanations of this regulation and they just don't sound logical. I've pressed a couple of FS fellows on it. After they look it up, they say, well, it doesn't explain why, just that we should not wear them. I'm just wondering if some USFS burearcrat years ago decided on a whim to make this regulation, with no real thought put into it.

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #42 on:** January 04, 2007, 10:05:16 am »

Do the firefighters have to wear kevlar or some other sort of toe protection?

you could be right, someone hated to wear steel toes, so they made it a rule you couldn't wear steel toe.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #43 on:** January 04, 2007, 11:01:44 am »

I hate'm and not afraid to admit it.

Dan_Shade · « **Reply #44 on:** January 04, 2007, 11:25:05 am »

what's bad about them? I honestly don't mind wearing steel toed shoes at all. almost everybody I know hates to wear them.

OneWithWood · « **Reply #45 on:** January 04, 2007, 11:34:51 am »

The most comfortable boots I have ever worn were Wolverine durashox. Unfortunately I wore them out in about two months $:-\$ The soft soles just could not stand up to the rough concrete floor in the barn and the rocky steep slopes in the woods. Wolverine replaced the boots at no charge but the replacement boots are a cheaper model, do not fit my arch and have caused some nasty knee pain.

My logging boots have steel toes but I am inclined to replace them with non steel toed boots. I have a odd sized feet, 8 1/2 EEE and I can never get a steel toe that is wide enough to be comfortable. Everything is made now on lathes that are undersized. If I move up to a size 9 the arch is in the wrong place

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #46 on:** January 04, 2007, 04:05:05 pm »

Top 3 complaints:

makes my toes sore
toe of the boot wears faster
cold on my feet

amberwood · « **Reply #47 on:** January 04, 2007, 05:44:10 pm »

It is an interesting topic.. While I was in Canada/US I spent alot of time trying to find insulated safety toe boots..SOREL type, and ended up with 2 pairs. Dakodas and Sorels. It appeared that the use of safety(steel or other) toed boots is alot less prevalent over there. This thread seems to back that up. I dont own any work boots that are not steel/safety toed.
DTR

Ron Scott · « **Reply #48 on:** January 04, 2007, 08:08:41 pm »

I've fought a lot of fire around the country for long hours on varied terrain during my 38 years with the USDA Forest Service from flat to steep and always wore Red Wing steel toed boots without any problems. I'm not aware of any policy against them other than personal perferences. Steel toes were required on some job assignments or highly recommended so I found it best to wear them as one never knew where they might end up on a fireighting assignment.

A key is to be sure that you have a "good leather" boot and "good fit" as a poor boot and fit in a steel toe will surely kill your feet.

A excerpt from some documentation on there use:

Safety Toe Footwear on the Fireline.

Some firefighters believe the safety toe is uncomfortable and can be a source of
blisters. Organizations operating in wildland conditions, and not using safety toe footwear, can not provide research documentation to support their policies.
However, they do provide comments on the issue.

The USDA Forest Service (USFS) employed over 25,000 firefighters during the 2000 fire season. The organization does not require toe protection. Federal firefighters are required to wear footwear meeting the NFPA standard. According to George Jackson, a recognized authority on protective clothing and equipment in the U.S., the incidence of impact and cut injuries to the foot are infrequent on the fireline. The USFS does not specifically collect foot injury data, but the organization provides training on the choice, care, and maintenance of boots, and on techniques for walking in the woods.

rebocardo · « **Reply #49 on:** January 05, 2007, 08:13:16 pm »

> Just how do you feed your wood stove

With a long pair of tongs

> I'm just wondering if some USFS burearcrat years ago decided on a whim to make this
> regulation, with no real thought put into it.

I could agree with that and maybe ONE person suffered an accident attributed to a steel toe boot, rightly or wrongly, and it became recommended.

Reddog · « **Reply #50 on:** January 05, 2007, 08:17:02 pm »

I have been wearing Hoffman's and Danners. Both seem to be built much better than the newer redwings.

PB Logging · « **Reply #51 on:** January 05, 2007, 11:24:22 pm »

Do you mean to tell me that there is a any other boot manufacturer besides Redwing out there?

Recently I stopped by my Redwing store to ask if there was anything that could be done to repair my 5 month old boots that had lining problems. We reviewed the problem, he examined the boots. I wasn't complaining, simply inquiring if the lining situation that I found annoying when I took them off and put them on could be rectified. Ya know its a real pain having to spend an extra ten seconds a boot straightening out the lining. Really, that was all that was wrong. toe intact, stitching intact a few, nothing speacial scrapes and cuts to the leather.

I did not have the reciept. I provided my phone # when asked. Apparantly, Redwing stores keep good records.

I handed the salesman my old boots and he provided me with a replacment pair, no charge. The best I had hoped for was to be able to send the boots for some sort of repair and I dreaded that becasue then I would have had to put on my "back-up" boots for a week or whatever.

I have always enjoyed the quality of the boots but serive such as I was provided with in the Redwing store in Fairview Heights, Illinois far exceeded my meager expectations. I must further comment that I walked away with the feeling that this is just how they do business - I didn't just win the boot lottery or get luck.

I'm not sure how to reference the boot I wear except to describe them as steel toe, insulated, water proof, 10" loggers that cost about $250. Not only do I work with trees but at home I've got a few hogs, cattle and horses. These boots put up with all...

She does make me rinse 'em off before I come in the house or we go out somewhere though.

Make it a safe day!!!

Brad_S. · « **Reply #52 on:** January 05, 2007, 11:42:22 pm »

I'm disappointed to not see Chippewa mentioned anywhere. I just bought a pair from an ebay seller for less than half the retail price around here. I'll see how they feel and wear.

solodan · « **Reply #53 on:** January 06, 2007, 12:53:45 am »

I am suprised that so many have mentioned Redwing.

Out west it is not even in the same class as White's or Wesco. However, there is a big price difference, the Wesco and White's will set you back twice as much as the Redwings, but make it up in the life of the boot. I really like White's, and I will probably try Wesco in the future. I think that dollar for dollar, the Red Dawgs from Bailey's (which are made by Canada West) are a better deal than Redwings. IMHO $:-\$

Phorester · « **Reply #54 on:** January 07, 2007, 12:13:15 pm »

RON, I guess this is where the FS guys in our area are coming from. We have also been told that any of our part-time or full-time people who want to go on western fire detail can't wear steel-toed boots. The 1999 USFS health and Safety Code handbook, Section 25.12 has the requirements for boots. It states: "Boots. Wear heavy-duty, leather, laced boots with nonskid soles and tops at least 8 incnes high. Steel-toed (metal cup) footwear is not recommended for fire suppression."

www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/6709.11/FSH6709.pdf.

It's about page 150 in this pdf file. But I haven't found anybody who can say why this directive was implemented.

Phorester · « **Reply #55 on:** January 07, 2007, 12:53:37 pm »

I've never had any problem with steeltoed boots either. I've never noticed them being uncomfortable or too cold or too hot. Never any problems with blisters on my toes, etc. Since I can't afford more than a couple pairs of boots and I need them mainly for work, I've worn steel-toed for hunting also, where I was out in the woods all day. Granted we don't get those 0 F degree days here, but I've hunted all day in plenty of 20 to 30 degree weather, mostly sitting or standing, some walking. In other words I wasn't constantly walking and being warmed up by that movement. Lots of sitting and just standing. I never thought the steel toed boots were any colder than non-steel toed ones.

Maybe it's just you fat-footed fellers that have problems with them.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #56 on:** January 07, 2007, 03:50:08 pm »

My feet won't get cold in 20 degree weather either. Try them steel toes in 0 or colder all day.

Phorester · « **Reply #57 on:** January 08, 2007, 08:45:25 am »

SWAMP, how about the plastic toed boots? Still gives good toe protection, and I'd think they'd be warmer than steel toed. Anybody up there wear those?

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #58 on:** January 08, 2007, 09:42:30 am »

The cutters here are pretty much required to wear a Viking or Nokia type safety boot with steel toe and that steel wool type stuff embedded in the rubber. They line them with felt in winter. But, I don't think spacing saw operators have to. But, I make them wear them. And I prefer they have spikes on them. Wet slash is slipperier than snot. They sure are terrible on the feet though. I don't know anyone wearing plastic toe boots, but some folks may be using them.

I use these boot socks inside my safety boots for more comfort, as well and place an insole for extra comfort. I buy a larger sized boot to fit all this comfort inside.

beenthere · « **Reply #59 on:** January 08, 2007, 10:44:28 am »

SD
Something very "uncomfortable-looking" about that boot sock pictured. Does it have a seam that runs back and under the heal and under the foot up to the toe?

News:

Author Topic: Who makes the most comfortable, steel toed work boots? (Read 40687 times)