Stupid Made In China Boots

[Raider Nation Fisher]

The week of thanksgiving I bought some new work boots. My us made Carolinas had the steel showing on the toes. Our safety man said they were not safe anymore, and I should buy some new ones. Well, those had been discontinued a few months prior to my new quest for footwear. Being strapped for cash because of the holidays, I took a family members advice. (He had been helping us get our finances straightened out) instead of getting some us made Thorogoods I saved 50 dollars and bought some Chinese ones instead. Three weeks ago the soles ripped off the bottom of the boots. The leather the soles were attached to disintegrated. Ain't that something? Thanks to my massive feet, 14ee or 15 depending on the boot. I am currently bootless. I have an old pair of Carolinas that are being held together with duct tape and gorilla glue. To tide me over until I can find/buy a suitable replacement. My current problem is hardly any manufactures sell boots in my size. The ones that due are expensive as all hell. At least for the US made boots. The question I have is. Should I wait til I can afford some quality boots? Or should I drop 100 plus on some Chinese garbage and hope for the best?

Moral of the story. Never compromise your foot wear in order to save 50 bucks.

[Teal]

Since I got out of police work, ive found that quality boots are a must. You can drop half of the price of good ones for cheap boots that last only 1/4 of the time. I like Gerogia Work Boots.

Raider, spend the extra money. They will last a little longer and your feet will thank you.

[slonezp]

Redwings come with a 1 year warranty. A good pair starts around a buck seventy five and the sky is the limit. Switched from Timberland to Redwing about 5 years ago. They cost a little more but to get 2-3 years of good wear from a boot is worth it. Can you get away with composite toes? They are lighter and more comfortable than steel and are OSHA approved.

[OkeechobeeAngler]

Yea I say save up and pay the money for nice boots. Good footwear can make or break ya, When I was in the military then L.E. I paid for Danners etc. my wife would chew me out. She finally saw the light when she spent the extra $ on shoes and her back and legs didn't hurt after spending 16 hours on her feet. 

[Teal]

Yea I say save up and pay the money for nice boots. Good footwear can make or break ya, When I was in the military then L.E. I paid for Danners etc. my wife would chew me out. She finally saw the light when she spent the extra $ on shoes and her back and legs didn't hurt after spending 16 hours on her feet.

As far as Law enforcement was concerned, i was actually comfortable in the cloro dress shoes, except when it was muddy or nasty out, I really liked the bates ultra light quarter boots. And they didnt cost no more than 75.00. But i spent more time sitting down or walking on pavement than now. I still have a pair!!

[Scorcher214]

I suggest dropping a couple bucks on a tube of shoo goo. My snowboarding boots sole completely came off and there was a hole in the boot from the way I hold my board on the chair lift. The hole is sealed and the sole is reattached and ain't going anywhere any time soon. It's pretty dang strong. I highly suggest trying it on your Carolinas to see if it will work. Try it on your Chinese boots as well. 

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I suggest dropping a couple bucks on a tube of shoo goo. My snowboarding boots sole completely came off and there was a hole in the boot from the way I hold my board on the chair lift. The hole is sealed and the sole is reattached and ain't going anywhere any time soon. It's pretty dang strong. I highly suggest trying it on your Carolinas to see if it will work. Try it on your Chinese boots as well.

The Chinese boots are in a trench with 6ft of concrete on top of them. They won't be hears from again anytime soon. I will try the too on my Carolinas though.

[38 Super Fan]

I say spend the extra coin and buy the best quality you can afford. I'm weird when it comes to boots though, I've spent as much as $700 on a pair.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I say spend the extra coin and buy the best quality you can afford. I'm weird when it comes to boots though, I've spent as much as $700 on a pair.

I usually drop around 250 to 300 on a pair. With the exception of the last two years. I want some Whites boots. Only draw back is it takes 9 weeks to make them, and is gonna cost me around 600 for them. Those are what I've been trying to save up for. I've done red wings, thorogoods, Carolina, danner, and all the cheaper boots. The red wings were my favorites. However the US made ones are next to impossible to find in my size. The Whites are custom tailored to my feet. And have the one of the best warrantys I have ever heard of. I'm EXTREMELY picky about where my boots are made. I just can't bring myself to drop 200 plus on Chinese boots. I feel like I'm being cheated. I do KNOW I'm NEVER buying Chinese boots again though. Im thinking I'm gonna have to cope with my holey Carolinas for another month plus the 9 week build time for the Whites.

[Bankbeater]

You might try the ones that Cabela's sells.  I bought mine back in 2008 and they are still going strong.  They took a while to break in, but I have not had any issues with them.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

You might try the ones that Cabela's sells.  I bought mine back in 2008 and they are still going strong.  They took a while to break in, but I have not had any issues with them.

What brand and style?

[Quitlimpin]

I've had hell with work boots of late. My favorites are probably the Justin's, but even they aren't great. I've been wearing my Simms wading boots for a few weeks, and they are fantastic. I had to give up the steel toe, which is probably not an option for you, but I'm really digging them.

At some point, ima have to try the Westco's, but they are super pricey. Pretty sure the OP recommended them on another post.

[mark nowak]

I work in the concrete industry and cements dust kills my boots, I have tried them all Red Wings/Irish Setters, Danners....Believe it or not the best boots for the price that I have found are actually Dr Martens, they are extremely comfortable and seem to hold up very well. I have been wearing the same pair for 4 years now. It is pretty nice because my company gives us a boot allowance every year and I have just been banking that. I have a pair that has steel toe, steel shank, slip resistant...not sure if they come in you size or not but might be worth while to check them out.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I work in the concrete industry and cements dust kills my boots, I have tried them all Red Wings/Irish Setters, Danners....Believe it or not the best boots for the price that I have found are actually Dr Martens, they are extremely comfortable and seem to hold up very well. I have been wearing the same pair for 4 years now. It is pretty nice because my company gives us a boot allowance every year and I have just been banking that. I have a pair that has steel toe, steel shank, slip resistant...not sure if they come in you size or not but might be worth while to check them out.

I've got two pairs both of which are 15 years old now. 1 pair is 8 eyelets ox blood. The other is 20 eyelet steel toed in black. Both are were made in England. However I can't bring myself to wear those to work.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I've had hell with work boots of late. My favorites are probably the Justin's, but even they aren't great. I've been wearing my Simms wading boots for a few weeks, and they are fantastic. I had to give up the steel toe, which is probably not an option for you, but I'm really digging them.

At some point, ima have to try the Westco's, but they are super pricey. Pretty sure the OP recommended them on another post.

Whites Boots are supposed to be as good as the Wesco boots. Plus they cost less for custom boots and are made quicker. Also I have discussed the WESCO boots before. I'm just loving what Whites has to offer right now.

[roadwarrior]

Danner  http://www.danner.com/boots/?features=79&gclid=CPbY8bSR47YCFfBxOgodfmMA9w

[SuskyDude]

When you buy cheap boots, your feet pay the difference.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

When you buy cheap boots, your feet pay the difference.

You ain't kidding.

I just dropped 200 on some Hathorn fire boots. They are made by Whites. Yet are one of their cheaper offerings. I figure I might as well test em out before I drop 500 on their higher end custom made boots. More so for qualities sake. The leather is the same and the soles are the same as their high end offerings. Best part is they are American made!

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Danner  http://www.danner.com/boots/?features=79&gclid=CPbY8bSR47YCFfBxOgodfmMA9w

I considered them for a while. Trouble is the 10in boots they offer that are US made are 300 plus dollars. I like having lineman shanks and logger/lineman heels on my boots. The extra inch or two afforded by the heels makes a huge difference in working steel and running pipe. Once money permits I may invest in some of their US made soft toe boots.

[guitarkid]

I would recommend Georgia boots. I think the model name is the Georgia giant, but they run about $80. I'm still on my first pair after about 5 or 6 years.

 

 

 

 

-gk