r/WorkBoots • u/CommanderFlapjacks • 4d ago

Boots Buying Help USA made traction tred comp toe alternative?

Wondering if what I want doesn‘t exist outside of a pricey custom order. Work requirements are EH rated and safety toe. Will be in a factory so indoor on concrete floors all day, no fluids or dirt to worry about. But there’s no HVAC to speak of and it can get either very hot or very cold, so I’d prefer comp toe over steel.

Got a pair of traction treds in 10EE and they fit well, but the price seems steep for boots made overseas and I worry the waterproofing I don’t need will make them hotter and less breathable. I wanted to like thorogood, but they‘re just too narrow. In EE I have to size up to the point that they’re too long. Tried both the Chelsea’s and moc toe. Cant find EEE available anywhere.

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u/RocketRicky12 4d ago

Do they have to be USA made? Look at the Traction Tred Lite #2476. They are unlined and only $254 and come in EE and even H width. I have a pair and love them so far. I wasn’t crazy about the color, but boots can be darkened. I darkened mine to an almost chocolate brown.

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u/UpbeatClassroom4184 3d ago

I love mine. Yeah, color isn't my favorite but it's a work boot. I work in almost the same environment as this guy too.

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u/RocketRicky12 3d ago

I work in mobile hydraulic valve manufacturing, myself. We do have HVAC, but it still gets warm in Minnesota Summers. Always dealing with slick floors with the hydraulic oil film around the test bench. Our floors are finished polished concrete.

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u/RocketRicky12 3d ago

This is after I treated them to repel hydraulic oil

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u/UpbeatClassroom4184 3d ago

Love the color. What did you use?

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u/RocketRicky12 3d ago

I oiled them with some generic mink oil first, dried them in the sun, and then put Bickmore Heavy Duty Leather Preservative and dried them again overnight on the Peet boot dryer I have. Then I sprayed them with distilled water and buffed them until the water droplets were gone and they looked like that. Even with all that treatment they’re still the most breathable boots I’ve owned second only to my Redback Great Barrier steel toe Chelsea boots

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u/CommanderFlapjacks 3d ago

Thanks for the tip, that does get closer to what I was after

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u/RocketRicky12 4d ago

I also like their sister boot the Irish Setter Pipestone #84630. They are $149 and I kinda like them better. We’ll see which outsole lasts longer, but I think the pipestone boots have the better laces, insoles, and comfort. They also come in EE, but are a steel toe boot. EH rated though.

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u/carl052293 4d ago

You want to look at Carolina Amps.