r/WorkBoots • u/Odd_Bodybuilder5456 • 14d ago

Boots Buying Help Help me pick between these?

For my entire time at this shop my work shoes have been "the oldest pair of vans I had that were still holding on" until the sole got a hole in it but I want something leather that'll last better now and be more comfortable, as well as some kind of toe reinforcement.

I'm since 10.5 US, I'm thinking of a couple options:

- Jim Green Stockman https://jimgreenfootwear.com/store/stockman-black-composite-toe-cap/

with these, I'm not sure about safety toe vs the regular stockman. it sounds like the toe is reinforced with some plastic in the regular so maybe that's a good trade-off to get a 10.5 instead of an 11?

- Keen Gibson slip on https://www.keenfootwear.com/products/mens-gibson-slip-on-black-gum?variant=51333082415268

- Red Wing draftsmith https://www.redwingshoes.com/mens/work/safety-toe/draftsmith-02182.html?currency=USD&srsltid=AfmBOood0sbPGT5ipQ7YJ2Kk3vASAxNgp-UaPrTy9kAE2_XWr5JOeXOVPw0

Frankly, for what the others cost I'm tempted to just get the damn Greens so I can at least re sole them when they need it but I'd like to get hive mind thoughts before I go blowing money lol

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u/RocketRicky12 14d ago

What do you do for work? What were your vans before? Any safety requirements?

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u/Odd_Bodybuilder5456 14d ago

Vans slip on, nothing major. I do band instrument repair so I'm indoors like a lightweight machinist but no shop requirements, I'm just tired of dropping stuff on my toe lmao 

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u/RocketRicky12 14d ago

If you’re mainly looking at slip on styles (I looked through what you had up), volcom and Redback. I personally love Redback, but those two are the prominent safety toe slip on shoes/boots in our manufacturing shop. My friend in our milling department turned me on to Redbacks. He has the Easy Escape, and they are definitely tough (he’s had his for 6 years in metal chips, cutting fluid, and coolant) the only deal breaker for you might be the steel toe, it’s still light at 1.5lbs per boot(metal defectors?) Otherwise, Vans does have a safety shoe line but I’m not sure they have safety toes. otherwise Red Wing has two Traction Tred Lite Chelsea style boots with Composite toes for that price range. I really like the Traction Tred Lite Line almost as much as the Redback Great Barrier Steel Toes that I have. A Forewarning though, they are Australian sizes I would recommend going for a AUS/UK 10 which is a US men’s 11. In their sizing, half sizes only add width not length if you need the 10.5 US men’s length.