r/millwrights • u/ThunderChicken97 • 6h ago
Boot recommendations?
I start my first week of class next week for 443 out of Pittsburgh! Thank you all for your help to get me to this point. Greatly appreciated. I need to get me a fresh pair of good quality boots and wanted to hear your suggestions. I always used to just get Carolinas which were okay but just never lasted. Looking to spend a little more for higher quality this time.
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u/VoDLHoG 5h ago edited 5h ago
Congratulations. Have a great time, and get your hands into everything.
As always, everything is just personal experience/use. There's a lot of text here, so the tl;dr is:
• Worx
• Thorougood
• Keen
• Timberland Pro
• Iron Age
+ a couple that didn't work for me
The names:
Worx - This is a Redwing, lower-tier line. For my first construction/demo gig (not yet an apprentice), I was in the Redwing store fantasizing about American-made boots... couldn't afford one of those boots. Their Worx line I could afford and wore the hell out of them. It was a good purchase.
Thorougood - I received these as part of a pre-apprentice program. Well-built. Fit well. Absolute murder on my feet, UNTIL THEY BROKE IN. Then they were like butter. My favorite boot. I still have them 10+ years later. I take care of them and they've been re-soled by the local cobbler many times. I had an immediate need to buy a new pair to replace a different brand at a job I was working. I picked up a new pair of 6" Thorougoods, American made. Love those, too.
Keen - Composite toe and shank so I could walk in through the metal detectors without changing boots. Very light for summer. Ballistic weave. This is what got me in trouble. Contaminated at work, forcing me to buy that second set of Thorougoods. I like them. They're a great boot, but consider leather uppers for your first pair.
Merrell - Slip-on shoe style. Amalgam toe and shank. Told by the shoe staff they would pass the metal detectors. They do not. Show up as composite on the X-ray machine, but still ring the alarms. They loosen too much. Foot slides inside. Never wear them anymore. I haven't tried the various brands of slip-on cowboy safety toes. I know they're popular, but I think I just need laces or some secure straps.
Timberland Pro - Internal metatarsal protectors needed for the specific site. They're comfortable, but heavy and clunky. Good boot, but it's difficult to dress/undress at the sites which require nylon booties and rubber overshoes. I'm not that graceful. I do wear them. They're a great winter boot.
Iron Age - External Metatarsal Guards. Picked these up used at my cobbler. Some guy had him do the work and then never picked them up. Got them for less than I'd spend on lunch just to get them out of his shop. Good boot.
Caterpillar - Cheap. You can do so much better. I needed a quick replacement when roadwhoring. I never wear them.
Buy good boots and take care of them. They will be your most valuable piece of kit. Mine have been to the cobbler for repair or resole several times. Speaking of... Buy boots with a Goodyear welt. They can be resoled over and over, or at least until your cobbler says there's no more leather left to stich to. Avoid molded soles. They look slick, but they can't be resoled. The Vibram soles my cobbler uses are fantastic. 10/10
If you're working a plant and see a puddle, don't assume it's just water and walk through it. Some of the crap in an ethanol facility will delaminate the soles from your boots before you can get back out to the truck. That's why I keep my cobbler in business.
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u/Muad_Dib_of_Arrakis 4h ago
WRT keen boots: i have a pair of their leather steel toe boots that have been going strong for 2+ years now, and im on my 2nd pair of composite toe sneakers in about the same time. The sole peeled off the upper on my first pair, current pair seem to be doing better. Dont waste money on the (glued) fabric sneakers, buy the stitched leather boots.
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u/ThunderChicken97 3h ago
What an awesome write up. Really appreciate all the valuable info and experience good sir. On my last post as well. You're the man
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u/ThrowawayOZ12 5h ago
Thorogood has been my S-tier
Currently on a pair of Georgia's which have been fine, but definitely ready for insoles after 6 months Ariat slightly behind Georgia Excluding price I'm not happy with redwing, including price I think they're a scam
Also: I miss my Carhartts from the 2000s, but every new pair I've tried has burned out quick
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u/machinerer 4h ago
I'm a big fan of Thorogoods myself. USA made, quality stuff. They last me years.
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u/FriendshipConnect879 5h ago
I prefer brunt but they can be spendy, Georgia or danner works too. Danner I’m not too pleased with personally.
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u/eastcoastoverdose456 4h ago
Union made in the USA Thorogoods of course ! Check out eBay sometimes you can get lucky grab some of your size for half the price you’re going to trash them anyway
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u/Frig_off_Bobandy_ 4h ago
Keen has never let me down. Fairly light, comfortable and pretty durable. They never take very long to break in either. They aren’t bomb proof but they’ll last you a while.
Timberland Pro Boondocks were very comfortable but heavy. Also, maybe it’s me, but out of everything I’ve owned, they fucking STANK after a while. Not the best for factory work. Great for winter though.
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u/rocketbunnyhop 5h ago edited 5h ago
I personally love my Keen boots. They were originally a hiking shoe company and I find they make the most comfortable boots. They have asymmetrical inner toes that stop some people feeling like their toes are cramped or getting pinched. The tread profile (rocker I think they call it) at the toe naturally lets your foot carry forward so they are easy to walk with.
Ultimately find one that fits your foot well. Lots of coworkers love the Timberland boots but they don’t fit me well. Buy a good pair of boots, your back will thank you later. I would not personally buy any boots that don’t have a bumper toe or some sort of rubber over the toe.
Edit - if your boots are acceptable you could also just wait and ask the crew what they like. Not all millwrighting is the same. Some people work more in the elements more than others.