Off the top of my head, I’m not sure. They’re still in storage as we haven’t even had a frost yet this year. I only wear them a few days a year.
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I’m a Red Wing guy. My employer has relationship with them, and we get a safety footwear allowance.
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Replying to the thread in general, as I am a boot guy, never pass a good deal… and wear them out hunting, as in holes in the leather, tread gone, stitching falling apart.
Waterproof rubbers - mucks are fine, but XtraTuff (the Alaskan sneaker) are far and away better.
Kick around winter boots - classic LL Bean Duck boot should be your first stop. Sorel has really fallen off, their old caribou boots were the bench mark, but just aren’t what they used to be.
Proper in the cold winter boots - as I noted before, the Baffin Impacts are easily the warmest boot out there, they offer some less warm but equally winter boots, but fashion is not their priority. I have a pair of Polaris snowmobile boots that are nice and warm, but super stiff like a ski boot so less nice for walking around in.
Classic laced moc toe boots - I am a fan of crepe soles on this front, must be full grain leather. The Irish Setter wing shooters are my favorite for just wearing and being in, I have a pair of 8" for pheasant hunting a 6" safety toe for work. My every day boot I wear to work (safety toe not required) are 509 Black Jacks 2.0. The 1.0 was more comfortable but didn’t have a vulcanized sole so they wore out fast. These are nice as they are not waterproof so they breathe well. I got the 1.0s with an employee discount and like them enough I paid full freight for the 2.0s.
Boots I want to try - Schnee’s, White’s and would like a nice pair of western boots, but can never find ones I actually like wearing around.
Boots that suck - knock off rubber/neoprene boots, just don’t buy them too heavy and poorly made, fine for letting the dogs out at night, but that is about it. Rubber boots that are supposed to be for cold weather. My feet sweat a lot, so without the ventilation my feet sweat then freeze without fail. Danner Pronghorns - at least the ones made in the last 10 years, lasted 1 season of pheasant hunting… junk. Sorel’s made in the last 10 years that are supposed to be proper pac boots, they just aren’t what they used to be. The Eddie Bauer knock off of the wing shooters, just something that didn’t work for me.
General note for folks that have cold feet in the winter. Never put on a boot that is warm, leave them in the cold, put a fresh dry pair of good wool socks on, then the cold boots. This keeps you from sweating right away, wet feet are cold feet.
For waterproofing, I use atsko snoseal, is it the best? no idea, but it works. Stick with a bees wax based sealer without animal fats, particularly mink oil. Animal fats are hard on the leather and stitching. With a bees wax sealer, focus on the seams, on a moc toe, that is where the sole is stitched to the upper and the toe seams.
Nothing beats putting on a good pair of boots in the morning and knowing you will be comfortable all day. Also, nothing beats taking your boots off at night after a long day.
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I’ve had my Schnees for 25ish years and they still are awesome. Resoled once and new liners for them. Used to wear them every day when I was just out of school building log homes in the winter. I use Obenaufs on them to keep them water proof. Use the same on any leather boot or product I want to protect.
I can swear by Whites boots out of Spokane as well. My experience is with their loggers which I wore while fighting fire in the 80s-90s. Bought my pair in 1989 and paid $270 for them back then. They measured your foot and mad the boot to your foot. I think you can get off the shelf as well. So I’ve had them for 35 years, used to wear them every summer day for 6 fire seasons as well as building log homes in the summers later. Had them rebuilt 1 time.
I can’t speak for their cold weather boots but their loggers are the best. It’s pretty rare that I wear them now but when I do it’s like putting on an old pair of slippers. I like to call them my 10lb tennis shoes.
Always grease them with bees wax sealer and keep them in good shape so they won’t dry out.
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Funny you bring up this topic. I have some Sorel’s JUST like the one’s in the OP link. I bought them late last winter when we got 10" of snow here in E. TN. I wore them for the first time last weekend when shoveling snow. I wore them with next to no break in and they worked like a charm. Yes the laces suck and will be replaced ASAP. I did not get any blisters what so ever. Waterproof worked.
Now onto boots in general. I have some opinions here. #1 this is an area that allows you to buy mostly American made if you want. Tons of options. I have had a pair of RW weekender chuckas for 3 years. I absolutley love them and they are/were worth the price of entry. They fit like a glove and I can wear them for hours with no foot fatigue. I swear by them. IMO, the ability to repair/resole/restore boots that cost $300+ are so worth it. You kill several birds with one stone. Nicks/White’s are on my list. Next pair will be some Iron Ranger RW. I have bad both my Danner Bull Run Moc Toes resoles and my RW Weekender chukka’s resoled. I like the Danners, but I LOVE the RW. So before you pay close to the same price for Blundstone’s or Sorel’s, check out MIUSA boots. BTW the cobblers love MIUSA, too. Plenty of available parts, you can upgrade midsole (make 'em look fancy), and for the most part - the designs have not changed.
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I had this site bookmarked awhile ago. (Maybe I felt I needed mens fashion help at the time). Find it’s still an interesting place to poke around about watches, belts, shoes, etc.
A quick search on boots has tons of articles. Including best dress boots, best work boots, best winter boots, and lots more about boots.
I will add this to the links : 20 Best American Made Boots to Buy in 2024 (Made in USA!) | Stridewise
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Interesting feedback on Sorrel’s
My teen daughter with sz 11 feet wore her dad’s old pair over the holidays and decided she wanted a pair (he wants his boots back). I think her feet have finally stopped growing - so willing to get her a nice pair to last for a while.
Who would have ever thunk that Spokane,WA would be the epicenter of American work boots? With Nick’s, Frank"s, JK and White’s Boots all in one town is amazing. I think there is a lot of crossover between them all.
My dad wore White’s Smokejumpers in size 12 since I was a kid. When I grew into a 12, I sort of borrowed his when I needed real boots.
Then much later I went in and got me a pair. Loved them for 15 years or so, but at 5lbs a side they are heavy mothers. I still wear them if it is an all day event but use their hikers and my Limmers more often. Those big boots aren’t for everyone, but for heavy pack on rough trail they are bees knees. I have a custom pair of the Whites semi dress on order. I lost a great toe and needed a 12 last with a size 10 front so we went custom. They will be my main travel /touring shoe. I wish the old Caribou was still made, but not so much about Sorel anymore. My advice is for everyone to have a good hikeboot and if in cold country a nice winter boot. Wear em and take care of em. They won’t let you down. A trip to Spokane might be worth it. I have seen all the Spokane and there is about a whiskers difference between them all. Buy the ones and you can bar talk the rest of your life how great they are
Great link, TY!
I’ll toss out a couple of my fav’s – for a dressier Chelsea I prefer the RM Williams over the Blundstone. Probably from my wine importing days as my base in Australia was Adelaide. I have a work pair as well – going strong 20 years on. I really like the winter Blundstone – very comfy & sole is lined with sheepskin – my goto boot when snowblowing. Last night while watching the Packers repeatedly shoot themselves I reconditioned using Huberds shoe grease – only have to do that about every 3 years but it makes them totally waterproof (though really darkens the leather). Another boot I’m a huge fan of is Allen Edmond’s chucka, in shell cordovan, though looking at their website it doesn’t look like they produce it anymore.
One point someone brought up earlier – with suede I would really NOT recommend any of the oils or beeswax type protectants – will destroy the nap & really darken the boot.
This was a timely topic as I was looking for a pair of “around town” boots that look nice enough to wear to casual functions but also work in the garage. Local farm supply store had the 7in Irish Setter Wingshooter boots for $70 off and they had my size so picked up a pair of those. My Dad and I have had good luck with their camo insulated boots so figured what they heck, especially with Sullies recommendation. Just need to pick up a water proofer/conditioner, what do y’all recommend?
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SnoSeal, it will darken the leather, but works really well. Extremely jelly you got a pair of those for that price.
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Yeah, I thought $119 before tax was a pretty good price. I will pick up the SnoSeal, these were the “redder” version, so I’ll be good with them being a little darker. If you want another pair DM me and I’ll send you a link to the website and you can see if they have your size.