Feet Up! The Work Boot Thread

[Fading Fast]

... But since I’m kinda sissy I’d have my wife take them back and raise hell, she’s tougher than me.

Love it, respect your honesty and would like to hire your wife now and again to handle returns for me.

 

[bluesmandan]

Love it, respect your honesty and would like to hire your wife now and again to handle returns for me.

When i was in my early 20’s I bought a Compaq or HP laptop from Computer City and it crashed during startup. I took it back for a refund or replacement, and they refused to help.

I came back with my mother.
I got the refund (and bought a Mac.)


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[Fading Fast]

When i was in my early 20’s I bought a Compaq or HP laptop from Computer City and it crashed during startup. I took it back for a refund or replacement, and they refused to help.

I came back with my mother.
I got the refund (and bought a Mac.)


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All I can say is I hope she gets a card, flower and a call or visit on Mother's Day as that is one heck of a mother you got.

 

[andy b.]

Red Wing repair update. Heres the after photos. A little over 2 weeks turnaround on these. They put a different kind of sole on them than they started out with. The new one has a layer of crepe material similar to the old ones, with a stiffer rubber layer on bottom. If these hold up longer than the old ones, it will justify the cost, $120, over the price of a local resole, which probably would've been about half that. I decided to send them back to the factory and pony up the extra $$ in hopes that they would do a better job than one of the local shops. Not sure that was the best call. The boots were pretty beat up, being used for actual work and all, but they showed up with the tops in rougher shape than they left in. They're still mighty comfortable boots, probably the most so that I own, but there are some pretty deep gouges in the leather to the point that by the time these soles are done, the boots will be totally shot. You can see these in the last couple of pictures. Nobody but me will ever notice, but I honestly expected better work for the price. I guess I'll chalk it up to the cost of experience.

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I hate to say it, but if those were mine, and I was picking them up at the local Red Wing store, I would have left with either no charge for the "repair", or a new pair of boots.

 

[Yamahana]

USA made Justin J-Max...for me the most comfortable work boot I’ve found. Tough, soft shock absorbing sole but the leather uppers not durable enough in my opinion. My sixth or so pair after 18 months of daily wear they’re about to the end of the line. They’re getting so expensive I’m going to go back to RedWings.

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[karlito]

Carolina loggers. I had to cut the heel down as I could not stand the high heel. It was about twice as thick as it is now. I had never done any sort of cobblery before, but took a chance. I'm happy how they turned out.

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[Yamahana]

Went to amazon and ordered a brand new pair of Ariat "Stonewall" boots in Fiddler Brown.
They arrive next week...tired of playing around with auctions and peoples false advertising.

How do you like these Ariat Stonewall boots now that you’ve had a chance to wear them.

 

[Bushman]

Carolina loggers. I had to cut the heel down as I could not stand the high heel. It was about twice as thick as it is now. I had never done any sort of cobblery before, but took a chance. I'm happy how they turned out.

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Carolina is a great brand. I've had the same pair for about 7 years now, and they're barely worn down. They're my go-to winter boot, and for hiking, and for general wet weather. My feet have never been wet or cold in these boots. I swear by them. I got this pair dirt cheap over eBay brand new.

 

[Dm101]

How do you like these Ariat Stonewall boots now that you’ve had a chance to wear them.

They're actually pretty great!!
I don't wear any of my other recently purchased boots anymore. I guess I should sell them...
These Ariat Stonewalls are the best!
The only negative things I can say about them is that I wish the heel was shorter and that they're not hiking boots...but that's on me, these were never designed to be hiked in.
That's it.
The fit is perfect with thick insoles added, They don't bunch my toes, the heel cup is like a suction when I put my foot in, they're comfortable to stand up in.

 

[Yamahana]

They're actually pretty great!!
I don't wear any of my other recently purchased boots anymore. I guess I should sell them...
These Ariat Stonewalls are the best!
The only negative things I can say about them is that I wish the heel was shorter and that they're not hiking boots...but that's on me, these were never designed to be hiked in.
That's it.
The fit is perfect with thick insoles added, They don't bunch my toes, the heel cup is like a suction when I put my foot in, they're comfortable to stand up in.

Thanks, that’s good to hear. I found a pair on Amazon that was too good of a price to pass on so they’re on the way to me now.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

Does Carolina make Caterpillar? Or the other way around? Or does Carolina make for other brands or are made by another brand or brands? So many of their designs look familiar, and even the leather looks familiar, but I'm relatively certain I've never seen a Carolina boot in person.

 

[dh66]

Does Carolina make Caterpillar? Or the other way around? Or does Carolina make for other brands or are made by another brand or brands? So many of their designs look familiar, and even the leather looks familiar, but I'm relatively certain I've never seen a Carolina boot in person.

Caterpillar boots are made by Wolverine.
Carolina boots are their own company. They still make loggers, linesman, and engineer boots in the States, but the bulk of their offering is made overseas, much like Wolverine's, and many others. That's probably why they look so similar. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the same factory was turning out a dozen different brands.

Back in the 1980s, I had a pair of Carolina engineer boots that lasted me all through high school, college, and several more years after. I can't speak to the quality of their products these days, but I imagine they're decent.

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[bluesmandan]

USA made Justin J-Max...for me the most comfortable work boot I’ve found. Tough, soft shock absorbing sole but the leather uppers not durable enough in my opinion. My sixth or so pair after 18 months of daily wear they’re about to the end of the line. They’re getting so expensive I’m going to go back to RedWings.

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Regular brushing/cleaning and conditioning will do wonders to prevent cracking. Every leather boot/shoe I own gets brushed, cleaned, and conditioned as needed after every wear.

That having been said, my cobbler warned me about boots made in mexico or using mexican sourced leather: he says they use to much urea/uric acid in their tanning process, and the leather won’t hold up over time. (For context I was buying a pair of meximade Dan Post boots from him at the time and he was discouraging the sale. Bad salesman but nice guy.)


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[Yamahana]

Regular brushing/cleaning and conditioning will do wonders to prevent cracking. Every leather boot/shoe I own gets brushed, cleaned, and conditioned as needed after every wear.

That having been said, my cobbler warned me about boots made in mexico or using mexican sourced leather: he says they use to much urea/uric acid in their tanning process, and the leather won’t hold up over time. (For context I was buying a pair of meximade Dan Post boots from him at the time and he was discouraging the sale. Bad salesman but nice guy.)


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Justin J-max 4440 is made of Gaucho leather almost like a nubuck leather. Even with very regular care with red wing boot oil and Obenaufs the leather just won’t hold up. But they have a very comfortable footbed with a tough, spongy shock absorbing sole that help prevent my knees from hurting jumping ditches all day. I’m a vintage dude..need all the help I can get.


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[Imuricecreamman]

Red Wing repair update. Heres the after photos. A little over 2 weeks turnaround on these. They put a different kind of sole on them than they started out with. The new one has a layer of crepe material similar to the old ones, with a stiffer rubber layer on bottom. If these hold up longer than the old ones, it will justify the cost, $120, over the price of a local resole, which probably would've been about half that. I decided to send them back to the factory and pony up the extra $$ in hopes that they would do a better job than one of the local shops. Not sure that was the best call. The boots were pretty beat up, being used for actual work and all, but they showed up with the tops in rougher shape than they left in. They're still mighty comfortable boots, probably the most so that I own, but there are some pretty deep gouges in the leather to the point that by the time these soles are done, the boots will be totally shot. You can see these in the last couple of pictures. Nobody but me will ever notice, but I honestly expected better work for the price. I guess I'll chalk it up to the cost of experience.

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Wow! Seems like they weren't looking when they sanded down the soles. Rookie mistake that. Always annoying when people don't own up to their mistakes.

 

[bluesmandan]

Justin J-max 4440 is made of Gaucho leather almost like a nubuck leather. Even with very regular care with red wing boot oil and Obenaufs the leather just won’t hold up. But they have a very comfortable footbed with a tough, spongy shock absorbing sole that help prevent my knees from hurting jumping ditches all day. I’m a vintage dude..need all the help I can get.


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You could try the 4794. It’s very similar style with the same “double comfort” insole. The outsole looks similar too. But it is not a distressed leather, so it should last longer. https://www.justinoriginalworkboots.com/footwear/men/double-comfort/4794


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[Bfd70]

I agree if those gouges were inflicted by Red Wing factory thats unacceptable. They are professional craftsmen, not mom and pop local service, that’s the one thing/service they provide, it’s should be top notch. But since I’m kind of a sissy I’d have my wife take them back and raise hell, she’s tougher than me.

In the shoe repair business “mom and pop”shops are professional craftsmen. I have 2 locals with the operators each having 40+ years of experience.

 

[Yamahana]

In the shoe repair business “mom and pop”shops are professional craftsmen. I have 2 locals with the operators each having 40+ years of experience.

You’re right, that was a poor choice of words on my part. Hard working “mom and pop” are the back bone of America and are usually accomplished craftsman who have developed and honed the skills of their chosen profession.

 

[Imuricecreamman]

Repro m-43 service shoes. Extremely comfortable.

 

[Yamahana]

You could try the 4794. It’s very similar style with the same “double comfort” insole. The outsole looks similar too. But it is not a distressed leather, so it should last longer. https://www.justinoriginalworkboots.com/footwear/men/double-comfort/4794


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Thanks, I’ll check them out