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I had mentioned the idea of starting a work boots thread in the past, and here it is. Not high heels of course, but I think there are enough boot guys here that this subject will be a conversation starter. As many of you already know, I am an electrician by profession, and my jobsite conditions vary wildly. Right now, I'm working on concrete, but just a couple of months ago, I was in the mud doing underground utilities. Sometimes I walk miles and miles every day, and sometimes I am working out of an elevated work platform, and walk hardly at all. Over the years I have tried many different kinds of work boots. The one thing that remains fairly constant is that I have almost always owned two pairs simultaneously, and switched off every other day. I feel like this is better for both comfort and foot health. There may be nothing to it, but it's just what I've done for nearly 30 years, and I am now too old to change. I started off as a Red Wing guy, and I remained a loyal Red Wing guy for the better part of two decades. Red Wing boots are made (or used to be made) in Red Wing, Minnesota, not all that far from me. The reason why Red Wings were so cool is because they made almost every boot style in every size, not only by length, but by width. Therefore, I could get my 7 1/2 Bs which fit perfectly instead of having to put up with 7 1/2 D, which is "medium" width for men's shoes. Then, in what I can assume was a cost cutting measure, they quit making my size in most styles, which irritated me very much. In addition, during roughly this period of time, they also moved a lot of their production to China. Therefore, it was time to try something new. It was then that I went through my Doc Marten phase. By this time, I was wearing high heels in my non-work life, and I found some Dr. Marten boots with rather giant heels, and I had to give them a go. I rather liked getting away with wearing 2 1/4 inch heels to work, and the boots eventually broke in to where they were reasonably comfortable. It was at this point when I went from men's 7 1/2 to women's size 9B, which is still the size I wear fairly reliably. I gave up the Doc Martens for two reasons: 1) They were almost too squidgy. I don't like a lot of padding to begin with, and these boots were sort of like walking on pillows. Who the hell wants to walk on pillows? I think it takes a lot more effort to walk on pillows. I'd personally much rather just walk on the ground. Because they were squidgy, bending conduit with a hand bender took some getting used to. When using a hand bender, a lot of foot pressure is required to get it to come out right. In fact, in certain regions of the U.S., they call the exact same tool a "foot bender." 2) Later that following winter, I discovered that those squidgy soles do not like the extreme cold at all. Both pairs I had split clean across the balls of my feet when the temperature got down below about -15º C. I am deducing that it was the cold because both pairs failed within a week of each other, just from walking. I then went to Ariat boots, in a women's size 9, which is where I'm at today. I've tried several different models, and of course they have stopped making my favorite model. Pictured here are Ariat's "Scout" model, which are a step down from my preferred "Heritage Breeze" model. The differences are subtle, but noticeable. Both are marketed as a "paddock" boot, suitable for riding horses. There is even a spur rest built into the back of the boot. The reason I like them for work is that they are very light and flexible, and the tread pattern is minimal, meaning less mud collection. Despite having little in the way of tread pattern, they are quite grippy on low friction surfaces. For being very affordable (less than 150 USD, depending), they have proven to be durable and just plain different enough that I like them. I seriously doubt whether many of my colleagues in construction would like them. I feel as though they are too light and the soles are too thin for your average construction worker. The soles on my older pair (not pictured here) are now so worn as to be almost literally paper thin. If I am standing on gravel, I can count the number of stones beneath my feet by feel. I don't think most people would like that. Those are now relegated to lawn mowing and other soft surface work. I am considering the purchase of another similar pair in the near future. My newest pair of boots is the Thorogood Model 814-4200 (made in USA). This moccasin toe, wedge sole style of boot is extremely popular in my area at the moment. Every other worker, or at least every other electrician is sporting this style of boot in one brand or another. My company gave me a voucher for 250 USD to purchase a new pair of work boots at a particular retailer. I didn't really love any of the available selection, but 250 bucks is way too much to leave on the table, so I settled on these Thorogoods, which cost somewhere north of $250, so that I wound up paying about 40 bucks out of my pocket after sales tax. They were the only boots I tried on in 7 1/2 that I didn't feel was way too wide. In fact, even though they are labeled 7 1/2 D, they sure feel a lot more like a B width, and I'm really halfway between B and C width. I guess they're ok, but I'm not crazy about them. Certainly at first, and to some extent even now, they feel a bit like wearing hollowed out logs on my feet. They do not cause pain, but I just don't feel very graceful wearing them. Also, despite having fairly soft soles which show wear quickly, they're not all that grippy. I discovered this initially while riding my motorbike to work, and putting my foot down on some sand at a stoplight. Appearances can be deceiving. I kind of like the way they look, but there's no way I would have paid nearly 300 USD for them. I hope others will share stories and perhaps pictures of their favorite (or perhaps least favorite) work boots. Just in case there is any confusion (I'm sure there won't be), the black ones are the Ariats, my favorites, and the tan ones are the Thorogoods. And I obviously didn't clean either of them up for the photos. This is how they might actually appear on the job.

Great topic! Although my interest in feminine boots stemmed from a liking of go-go boots, I’ve always been partial to boots over shoes and with the exception of my cycling or running shoes, I only ever wear boots - and gave done since adolescence, growing up in the mountains. I lived in hiking boots through university, where I studied geology and archaeology, and my choice of career has allowed me to continue in the same vein. I’ve no neckties but plenty of pairs of boots. My oldest pair, and still much in use, is a pair of Scarpa mountaineering boots, made of a very tough suede with heavy Vibram soles. Been to Antarctica many times - warm and sturdy and although now 25 years old are still going strong with plenty of use left in them. I still wear them occasionally on the towpath. I’ve a pair of De Walt steel capped work boots as sometimes I land assignments where safety footwear is mandatory.they are all right, not uncomfortable if worn with thick socks, and pass muster when I need to get access to industrial sites. I e several pair of knee-high biker or engineering boots from Jean Gaborit which I absolutely love. My present go-to boot is their Kansas patrol boot in heavy black leather which has seen much service over the past year (and looks it - I need to buff them up) I’ve a pair of their chocolate brown knee high Vezin engineering boots which I also love. They are the most comfortable boots I’ve ever owned and would wear them more except they are so hard to get off. Getting them on is easy - a bit if a push - but removing them is hard. While they are on they are wonderful comfortable. I had an assignment once where I was pretty much in my feet for 36 hours and wore these the entire time without the least discomfort. Since I often wear heels while writing or editing, I suppose I could call those work boots too, but I shall stick with these! ,

Great topic indeed. Have always worn timberlands with taller shafts. I have always wanted a nice pair of "riding boots" also. My ultimate in "work boots" dream would be a pair of Wesco boss/big boss harness boots. Recently, I bought a pair of those gloss black "Hunter refined rain boots". Nice tall shafts, much simpler lines/design that the usual Hunter boots. Love how they fit nicely over my levis, I got three compliments while out doing chores yesterday. Sure, I realize these are not actual "work boots", but I will find any excuse to wear them, especially when dealing with the snow.

I’m have bounced around over the years but never in redwings but was told to try them. Timberland pros I did not like as the soles were so slippery in cold weather 2 falls and I took them back. I have been pretty happy with Wolverines or there Caterpillar branded. Always steel toes since I was 10 years old. Even my office boots are at least composite toes. Boots last me less then a year as they get beat up from the jobsite and the earthwork I get into.

My favorite work boots are from Red Wing #202 which I have been wearing them for the last 25-30 years or so. Before that it was Knapp work shoes for 25-30, after which that company went out of business. I really like the style and comfort of the Red Wing #202. The Laredo , slip on boots are also fair. I did have a pair of them over the years but those gave me very little support for my feet but they were easy to get on and off. I don't wear steel toe work shoes as I do not need them, as I'm the owner of my business. I have enclosed a link to the Red Wing # 202. But my real liking is to wear heeled knee boots and or heeled booties. Happy Heeling. bluejay https://www.redwingshoes.com/work/mens/soft-toe/supersole-00202.html

Yes, I have felt heel withdrawal every year when I've gone to Vietnam. Not that I would be jailed there, but would probably face a worse fate from my wife.

The only way that you would be able to get away with wearing heeled shoes or boots in the Middle East is to go full blown Texan, with heeled men's cowboy boots, jeans, a fancy shirt with a bolo tie, and a 10-gallon hat. Pretending that you are an oilman.

You’re definitely better off without them in the Middle East. Think of dark mediaeval prisons and the sorts of things that happen there and embrace the flat-heeled life. I have a heavy Barbour oilskin coat that I wear all the time in winter and like quite a bit - I’ve had it 25 years - but I don’t miss it in the summer. That’s just not the season for it. Ditto my Panama hats. I’ve some very fine weave Ines, but I don’t miss wearing them in the winter. To everything it’s season …