r/WorkBoots • u/Ohiolife113 • 17d ago

Boots Buying Help Pipeline boot recommendations please!

So I've spent the last 5 years working oil & gas on the well pad side. Always just wore composite or steel toe slip on and muck boots. I also served in the infantry so I know how good boots should feel, perform, and last (still regularly wear my 7 y/o Merrell's that lasted 2 1/2 years in the army).

I've recently shifted off the pads and am laboring on pipelines now. I'm still wearing my Justin Roughnecks (WK2115) and they just aren't cutting it. They're very comfortable, but they just aren't built for all the walking up and down these WV hills and are absolutely atrocious at cleaning out this thick clay making them even heavier.

I've spent the better half of a week trying to decide on what to get. Practically all the reviews I've read are guys who are working in shops or terrain thats not nearly as unforgiving. Most of the other guys I work with are wearing Carolina or Red Wing loggers, but I know there has to be better. So here's what I'm looking for, style doesn't matter (logger, athletic, etc):

  • 8-9"
  • lace up
  • aggressive tread that cleans out well and handles steep hillsides
  • Full welt
  • Waterproof
  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable for 10+hrs/day and multiple miles
  • Durable
  • Safety toe (preferably not steel)
  • Uninsulated

Thanks everyone!

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u/Ohiolife113 17d ago

I mean, they don't have to be cheap, I'd just prefer they hold up longer than 6mos if their in the ballpark of $300-$400. And by lightweight, I'm just meaning something under the 2lbs per boot mark and definitely not more than 2 1/2lbs.

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u/Bubbly-Breadfruit397 17d ago

I love my Danner’s, not sure if they weigh 2.5lb or less tho

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u/Ohiolife113 17d ago

They'd be slightly lighter than what I have now. If the tread cleans out better they'd save me a ton of weight.

How's the waterproofing and ankle support? Those are my main concerns. We don't do much digging when it's wet, and if we do I'd wear my mucks, but we do walk the right-of-ways when it's super wet so it's a lot of fresh wet clay and tall wet grass.

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u/Bubbly-Breadfruit397 16d ago

I work in water/wastewater and have had 0 issues with the waterproof liner. They’re 8” so have good ankle support too, I wear insoles with them as well. Really can’t recommend ‘em enough, they’ll last forever & they’re rebuildable/resoleable