Comfortable steel toe and WATERPROOF work boot recommendation

Redwing"s 2491 Men's 8-inch Boot fits like a lace up but with the ease of a slip on.

I wear Schmidt slip on's. Every day for the past two years and standing on concrete all day. Now that they are starting to wear out my lower back has been hurting a bit by the end of the day. We did just buy a new mattress though. So it might be that. Not sure yet.

One thing to check/be aware with Keen's, at least with the hiking boots is the larger toe box. I was looking for a pair of waterproof mid-height hiking boots that I could wear on a daily basis and went to the local non-chain sporting goods store (Bill Jackson's). I was very interested in the Keen's, especially since some are actually made in the USA. I tried a pair on, but on the suggestion of the sales guy tried out walking on their in-store rock incline. One thing that was immediately noticeable was that with the Keen's and the larger toe box my feet wanted to slide forwards on a downhill climb, pushing my toes into the front of the toe box. I ended up with a pair of Oboz Sawtooth's which fit my foot a lot better and did not have the same problem.

The steel toe models may not have that issue, and the larger toe box may not be an issue, but just wanted to bring it up as it was something that I wouldn't have normally thought about and is a good thing to check before you put out good money for a new pair of boots.

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I'm a firefighter who wears slip on boots all day long at the station. They have to be quick off for me and steel toe and black. I wear red wings cause they were issued but hate them. Im thinking about trying thorogood wellingtons...about the only other steel toe slip on ive seen. Id try the keens but need size 11.5

offroadr1 said:

I havent worn keen workboots but their other outdoor shoes are nice. I like redbacks. Got some off the matco truck and they are amazing. I work 5am-10pm most days on concrete all day. My feet have hurt in everything. I would wear out new balances every month. These redbacks have been the most comfortable and longest lasting work shoe I have ever used

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I had the toes kicked out of my redbacks before they were anywhere near comfortable, probably 9 months 5 days a week for 10 hours a day to get them broke in. I'm still wearing them even though they look like hell. I was looking at the Keens the other day and they may be my next boots. I used to like redwings, the last two pair were made in china and split across the bottom. Good boots are about as hard to find as good women are.

I wear Keens for hiking and like them, waterproof as advertised. Can't comment on their steel toes, cause I haven't worn any.

I wear Ariat steel toe slip ons to work every day and love them. I'm on my second pair in 3 years and the first pair just got beat up enough that they are relegated to shop boots at home, but they still are comfy.

1 year of work and a whole lot of time worn outside of work. The soles are so good the damn writing ain't even wore off.....you rarely see that lol.

Haven't tried the Keen before, but I sure do like my Thorogoods. I've owned several pair from, steel toes, composite toes, water proof and insulated. Haven't had any bad luck with them sofar.

nissanheathen said:

tried most of all mentioned, on my second set of danner quarrys and they are great boots with awesome customer service, i farm for a living so im extremely hard on boots, i have a pair of keen low top shoes which are very comfortable but never tried there boots might have to after this thread

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^^This^^

I've owned 2 Made in the USA Danner lace up boots and love them. I've been in every kind of weather and rain with them and never had a single problem. The soles on my current ones are starting to finally get a little slick after 2-3 years of hard use but I'm going to get them resoled and use as a backup pair. Like one other guy said GOOD SOCKS my feet sweat horribly especially in summer. I bought several pair of the brand Darn Tough socks and they are the best things ever. Made in America socks that have a lifetime warranty..no ****...a sock gets a hole in it ship it to them and theyll send you a new pair for FREE :****:

I wear a pair of Durango Rebel waterproof steel toes every day. They are very comfortable and I have had them around a year. Only issue is one sole came unstitched/unglued but that was likely from the manner in which I remove them. I glued it back up and they are good to go now. Hopefully I will be replacing them for a non-steel toe soon in a career change.

I have these in the non steel toe. They feel like a pair of tennis shoes from the day you put them on. I'm partial to square toe boots but didn't want a pair with a cowboy style leather sole and ridiculous 3" heel. These fit the bill. I love mine.

http://www.rockyboots.com/rocky-mens-boots/rocky-long-range-steel-toe-waterproof-pull-on-boot/FQ0006654.html

Nothing like the feeling of a brand new pair of Keen steel toes.



Had others 1 year and 7 months, one nylon shoe string loop ripped, so I bought a new different pair. These have leather loops and should last me every bit of 3 yrs. The others were still badass comfortable and in good shape overall, just broke the loop. $105 shipped for these. Keen Flint Low Steel Toe.

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I need to find a local dealer to try a pair on and see how I like those.

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TacomaJD said:

Nothing like the feeling of a brand new pair of Keen steel toes.

Had others 1 year and 7 months, one nylon shoe string loop ripped, so I bought a new different pair. These have leather loops and should last me every bit of 3 yrs. The others were still badass comfortable and in good shape overall, just broke the loop. $105 shipped for these. Keen Flint Low Steel Toe.

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I've got a pair of those that I wear everyday. Very comfortable for a steel toe. Mine seem to be holding up well.

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onepieceatatime said:

I need to find a local dealer to try a pair on and see how I like those.

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Order some from somewhere with a good return policy. They run true to size, maybe a fuzz big, I wear 11 in New Balance tennis shes and wear 11 in Keen. Fits great. Order some, if ya dont like em, send em back and get a refund. I think Bass pro has full refund return policy.

4th pair of Keen just got here. Cant beat the out of box comfort.

Re: Re: Comfortable steel toe and WATERPROOF work boot recommendation

kmcminn said:

4th pair of Keen just got here. Cant beat the out of box comfort.

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Which ones you get? I won't buy Atlanta Cools anymore until they fix the design of the lace loops. The Flint Lows I have now, are cheaper than the Atlanta Cools and a better shoe all around imo. Still as comfortable as the day I bought them.

Re: Re: Comfortable steel toe and WATERPROOF work boot recommendation

TacomaJD said:

Which ones you get? I won't buy Atlanta Cools anymore until they fix the design of the lace loops. The Flint Lows I have now, are cheaper than the Atlanta Cools and a better shoe all around imo. Still as comfortable as the day I bought them.

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I have had flint mids. Last was Detriots. These are Cleveland.

I tend to wear my steel toes for several years. Got 6 years out of My Dr. Martens, 5 years out of my Wolverines. Tried Keen about 8 weeks ago and so far the most comfortable steel toe I have owned. Wider toe box but I prefer that for my foot.

I've got some Timberland Pro boots now, had them for a few months and they are extremely comfortable. I just ordered a pair of the Keen Milwaukee and I'm excited to try them out.

I only wear these boots in the garage while working but I have terrible feel so switching out day to day will be nice. Luckily my dad told me to use his work points to buy boots from Cintas so they are free to me ( he is a RedWIng fan and they don't have them on Cintas).