I've had leather boots on my mind lately. I have a pair of Elk Woods leather boots from Sears that I love and 3 pairs of steel toe Red Wings. I may be in the market for a new pair here soon.

For activities where I need a steel toe, I love my Red Wings. Favored them for decades. However, a couple years ago I was given a pair of Georgia Boot steel-toes; they are very comfortable and "dressy" enough that I even wear them to my office job. For hiking, etc., I've had good luck with Danner boots.

Dave

i am wearing a pair from high tech. they are very comfy, reasonably priced and well made, my second pair, very happy with them. altitude lV

Danner

Not sure for what purpose you are asking but I love my Zamberlan hiking boots for backpacking. When I did a Philmont trek a few years ago, my feet were the only thing that didn't hurt from time to time.

Cheap boots in 70's and 80's never lasted well. Many years on a pair of Jung Boots Sheboygan WI, then a pair of Danners, finally Russell Moccasin CO. Now own 3 pairs!
Work boots were Red Wing's and Chippewa"s, with toecaps and solid shanks, preferred 8 inch high.

New Thula Thula Minimalist.


Cleaning a pair of Mohican Stalkers over 15 years old.

Mohicans and a pair of 10 year old insulated Hikers with AirClaw soles, drying after a saddle-soaping.
Take good care of well made boots and they will last many years!

butthead

Chippewa Brand boots. Solid workmanship and good arch support. I ordered my size (10M) in a 6" boot and there's enough wiggle room for a thin gel insert. Love 'em.

Just a suggestion for saftey cap boots, look for composite safety caps, if your workplace standards allow. Lighter weight, no where near as cold, the caps from both Red Wing and Chippewa are rated to ASTM F2413-11. My last pair of workboots, Redwing's, went 5 years.


butthead

I have been wearing Red Wing boots for 40 years. They are the best wearing comfortable boots for me. I'm very hard on them with chemicals,oil, welding and abrasive things. I'm lucky if I get 3 years out of a pair. They are not cheap at $260 a pair but it's want you want on at the end of the day. You can expect many years use out of a pair, like I said I'm very hard on boots.

I've pretty much returned to all leather boots a few years ago. My current everyday boots are Redwing Heritage Iron Rangers. They take a bit of breaking in but after awhile, they become one with your feet.

They have a Goodyear welt and replaceable heels, so they last for years. Just new heels and soles every few years.

Oh yeah, they're also made in Minnesota. Redwing has hundreds of different styles and several different lines. Not all are made in the USA.

Redwing Iron Rangers

quote awbrown: "I've pretty much returned to all leather boots a few years ago. My current everyday boots are Redwing Heritage Iron Rangers. They take a bit of breaking in but after awhile, they become one with your feet.

They have a Goodyear welt and replaceable heels, so they last for years. Just new heels and soles every few years.

Oh yeah, they're also made in Minnesota. Redwing has hundreds of different styles and several different lines. Not all are made in the USA.


Redwing Iron Rangers "

If you do a little research on "Munson Army Last" you will find they were first made for the US Army in 1918.

butthead

I've owned a pair of Wolverines that have been superb. Each fall I give them a good brushing, warm them in an oven at low heat so they are warm to the touch, and apply a good coating of Sno Seal that I rub in by hand. Can't remember exactly when I got them but they are 18+ years for sure. I don't work in them, just use them in the outdoors. I've also owned Red Wings and have liked them as well.

Danners, get the re-craftable models made in the USA.
CB

After wearing Red Wings for over 30 years I switched to a Keen steel toe for work . I never liked the feel of the Red Wing steel toe, but I love the Keens.

quote mr.barley: "After wearing Red Wings for over 30 years I switched to a Keen steel toe for work . I never liked the feel of the Red Wing steel toe, but I love the Keens."

+1, my work shoe, keen.

Had a pair of Russell Moccasin South 40 Bird Shooters made for me 15-18 years ago. No way have they lived even half their life yet. Best footwear investment I've ever made. A pair of Carl Dyer moccasins is #2 though.

Irish Setter Black Bear 10"

I put close to 1000 miles a year on through the woods chasing my birddogs. For years it was lucky for me to get a half year out of a pair of boots before the seams and soles started to go. I spent a lot of money and tried dozens of manufacturers. I found Meindel boots about 10 years ago and have stuck with them ever since. They are darn near indestructable and provide great ankle support. I like the Denali and Alaskan Hunter models the best. The rubber bathtub bottoms and seam placement makes them wear like iron. The interior boot will wear out before the exterior

I like my Asolo's for hiking:

Asolo leather boots.

I just bought my second pair of these boots: Scarpa SL

My first pair lasted a solid 10 years with heavy use on trail and off trail (not too much concrete use on these). I kept them clean and waxed so they were virtually waterproof but still breathed very well. I was relieved to see they're still making the same model in Italy and I even found them for 30% off. After several city days and three full days walking off-trail in the woods, I can say "I'm back in baby's arms."

I will second the Asolo post. I used to be a hard core Merrell fan (to the point that I would go to REI to get replacements for the famous blue shoelaces. My first pair of Merrells was the most comfortable shoe I've ever had, before or since. I'm hard on the toe of a boot, I tend to scuff them up quite a bit and I wore through the leather on that pair, so I got another pair that was stiffer leather. It also wasn't as comfortable, but all leather.

The time came several years ago for a new hiking boot and I wondered what I could do better... and remembered that I've lost a couple toenails and wondered if I could find a shoe that had a wider toe box. An internet search pointed me toward Asolo as having a wider toe box than other hiking shoes. I had to call several different places in Dallas to find a store that carried the model I wanted in my size... but once I did, I knew right away that I had found my new boot.

It has great arch support, a wide toe box, solid but not restrictive ankle support, and the cherry on top was that it had a rubber toe guard to protect against the dreaded toe-scrape.

I also have a pair of Red Wings that I quite like - with orthotic inserts that are quite comfortable. I don't wear "boots" much even though I live in Texas. I don't care for the lack of foot feature support that most cowboy boots have. But sometimes I have no choice but to wear boots to some event I'm attending and these Red Wings look like well-cared for old oiled work boots but are nice enough that I can pass them off as "western wear."

If I want a fashionable look and don't care about ruggedness or toe protection or what-not, it's hard to beat a good pair of Doc Martens.

I used to love the Red Wings logger boots. But when it was time to get new ones I couldn't find a pair that were comfortable, the arch support was in the wrong place.

I now just have the 8" steel toe work boot. By far Red Wings have been the best I've had.

For hiking/canoeing I've always gone let her/synthetic mix for breathability weight concerns.

Meindl, followed by a couple of the USA made Danner models

I have worn Whites for most of my working career. I'm sure you are familiar with the company as it is in Spokane Washington. They are very good leather boots. They are costly and takes awhile to break in, but when you have them broke in they are very comfortable.

I've had my Lowa Trevisos since 2007 and they're as amazing as they were the day I got them. Not the kind of footwear I'd take canoe camping but for most all other outdoor endeavors they are on my feet. Sadly they have been discontinued

quote mr.barley: "After wearing Red Wings for over 30 years I switched to a Keen steel toe for work . I never liked the feel of the Red Wing steel toe, but I love the Keens."

Same with me. Red Wings for the last 25years. Bought a pair of Keens last year as a town boot and love them.

I'm extra proud of my hometown today! Marc

quote SaganagaJoe: "I've had leather boots on my mind lately. I have a pair of Elk Woods leather boots from Sears that I love and 3 pairs of steel toe Red Wings. I may be in the market for a new pair here soon."

For walking in the woods and mountains Crispi Bessegen is the best I ever had.
Just do not use silicone on them! I know several who has ruined their leather shoes with goretex that way.

When I bought these, I came in to the shop on a Friday and told them I need a pair for walking in the mountains this weekend. I got the offer: They are expensive, but take this use them the weekend, and if you not are satisfied com back Monday and get your money back, even when they are roughly used!

I did not come back! They will probably need replacement this year, and guess what I will be looking for?

dsk

"Just do not use silicone on them!"

Yes sir, need to learn about the type of leather and how it's tanned as used in your boots. Silicone waterproofing can work or ruin depending on the method of leather tanning. I have 2 pair of "chrome tanned" silicone tanned boots that need silicone treatment. Other boots I have are oil tanned and get a natural oil based preservative like Obenauf’s.
Of the 2 styles I own the "chrome tanned" or "Waterproofed Chrome-Tanned Cowhide" are the most water resistant and use Pecard Silicone for treatment.

butthead