All,

I'm looking for a new pair of steel toe work boots, with a defined heel. Any recomendations? I prefer American made, as my experience with foreign-made footwear has been less than positive. I want something that will last.

Any recomendations?

My motorcyclist friends (well, the ones whose shoe buying I paid attention to) swore by Red Wing Shoes. American-made, pricey as hell ($100-300, and the only ones I see that look like they'd pass a "heritage re-enactor" inspection start at $200), but well-recommended.

Red Wings are good, but you will pay for them. I've gravitated towards Wolverine boots as of late. They are decent quality, and you can usually find them for a decent price (chain stores like Rack Room, Shoe Carnival, etc, carry them).

I had one pair with a steel toe that is "broken in" but isn't presentable for train crew service (where the paying passengers are around). I keep them handy for doing the dirtiest of the dirty jobs. I have another pair of black steel toe Wolverines I use for most work, and train crew service. Its actually a replacement pair - the soles on the originals were junk, and right around the Streamliners event, the rubber started literally melting just being outside on concrete. To Wolverine's credit, I contacted them and emailed photos of the boots, mailed them back, and very quickly received a replacement pair at no charge.

-Eric Shock

Thanks, for the recomendations.

Does anyone have any experience with Danner boots?

I like Chippewa boots. I have found as long as I keep the leather oiled I will wear the soles down before anything else goes.

I've been wearing Red Wings boots for the last ten years, and I've been pretty happy with them. One pair has been so comfortable I've had them re-soled a few times rather than replace them. Note that only one of those sole replacements have been wear-related... The other was from a nap I took on a standard cab EMD with my feet on the sidewall heater.

Look carefully at what you buy from Red Wing. The last pair I bought was made in China. Still pricey, durable so far, but the fit was less than ideal. As a result I only wear them when absolutely necessary.

The Red Wing 4406 6-inch boot is pretty common in the commuter railroad industry as it meets most agencies safety requirements including being EH rated and waterproof. This particular model of boot was still US made the last time I checked. I have gotten six years service out of one pair of these boots in daily use, but also important is that they are soft on the feet, nearly impervious to oil and grease, good on concrete floors, and very comfortable. They are, however, quite expensive now, typically $180 a pair.

PC

Being Canadian, the last pair I bought was Terra, made in Canada. I work full-time on streetcar repair and maintenance plus museum volunteer work. Mine have lasted two years, still going strong, lots of walking on ballast, gravel, oil and grease in pits. Great tread and heel.

Gord M
Halton County Radial Ry.

I have been using Red Wing boots for 6 years so far. I usually can get 2 years with one pair working in the MoW department and also train service when needed. They can be pricey depending on what you want, but I think it is worth it. One think I will say about the boots, make sure you get ones that have the bottom stitched on. They will last longer and you can get them resoled if you need them.

I'll add my praise for Red Wing boots. I've got two pair that have lasted many years. The newest pair are about 3 years old which I use for routine work and I've got an old pair for doing really nasty work such as working in mud or around septic tanks or going to political meetings.

The only boots that I've been disappointed in were a pair of Justin boots that were bought on sale for about half the price of Red Wings. The soles disintegrated in a very short period of time. If there's one thing I've learned, you get what you pay for.

Carolina Shoe makes steel-toe boots. Their website allows you to filter by "steel toe" and "made in USA". http://www.carolinashoe.com/Category?searchTerm=&page=1&category=Made+in+the+USA&gender=&height=&features=Made+in+USA&features=Steel+Toe They sell on-line and through local stores. I buy mine

I wear their non-steel-toe 6" lace-up work boots. They're well made, sturdy, and union-made in USA. I buy mine at "Workingman's Emporium", which is a family-owned independent store in downtown San Jose, CA. A lot of S.P. enginemen from Lenzen Avenue roundhouse used to buy their work clothes and boots there. Highly recommended!

- Doug Debs

http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/produc ... boots.html

Love these. At this price, I throw them away when they are done - usually every two years.

Ditto on the Red Wings.

Check the label though, some are made in Thailand & the speed lace eyelets are a little small so you have to be a little careful in lacing up. Other than that, I've had Red Wings for the last 25 years or so & were quite happy with them so much so that the 1st pair without steel toes (learned the hard way one day) is now relegated to mowing the lawn only - still comfortable, but very little tread left.

If you are in Thomaston CT, check out the Connecticut Boot store at
91 E Main St. Nice selection, locally owned.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Conne ... 26!6m1!1e1

I have wide n short feet and have great luck with rocky boots. I can order my size off their website and they always fit fine. not all US made but it looks like everyone is using overseas stuff.