Steel toed walking boots

[eeyore]

For work I am required to have steel toed boots, but find that normal industrial toetectors which are meant for warehouse,factory, building site etc use don't stand up to the rigours of the outside life terribly well.

I go through about 1pr of toetectors every 10 months on average, while my faithful zamblans walking boots have been going strong for 8 years now. Even my cheaper brashers which I use for summer use have been going strong for nearly 4 years.

Does anyone know where I could get a pair of walking boots with steel toes, or a pair of tectors specifically designed for countryside use ?

[Tursiops]

Have you tried Dr Martens? I don't think they make safety walking boots, as such, but they do a good range, and they're well-made and comfortable
http://www.cloggs.co.uk/icat/brdftwrdrmtsteel

HTH
Tursiops

[eeyore]

Ive tried docs, (last pr lasted 6 months), timberland, prospecta, and loads of other brands (currently wearing a pair of dickies safty trainers - that despite the name and price have outlasted the three pairs of boots before them.

Maybe brasher or someone should look at cornering the markert in safety walking boots, as there are definitely enough wardens etc who need them out there.

[henrya]

Have a look at Fife Country (used to be Hoggs of Fife). www.fifecountry.co.uk

I've not tried their steel toed boots, but their shoes are excellent.

henrya

[DL]

I have found the approach shoe style saftey trainers on this page to be the best wearing I have tried so far - http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...31038&ts=63750

They may possibly be the same ones as the Dickies ones you have. I have seen the same shoes branded with different names.

There are now boots as well on the same page but I have no experience of them.

[merlinsboy]

Wonder what you do to burn a pair of "Docs" so quick? My last pair went for 7 years! Now wearing steel toe "Docs" for doing all sorts. I also wear Caterpillar boots that have gone beyond being tidy enough for "casual wear". These are 5 years old.

[Earth Hart]

Down here in Somerset, we have 'Mole Valley Farm Supplies', check out your local farm suppliers. Good for most out-door clothing & footwear. And you don't pay VAT on safety boots.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by merlinsboy

Wonder what you do to burn a pair of "Docs" so quick? My last pair went for 7 years! Now wearing steel toe "Docs" for doing all sorts. I also wear Caterpillar boots that have gone beyond being tidy enough for "casual wear". These are 5 years old.

its working in water and boggy environments alternated with being in centrally heated offices etc , if you go wet dry wet dry wet dry etc it ruins the leather and rots the stitching regardless of how much nikwax (Other brands are available ) you apply - on my last three pairs the seam between the toe and the side of the boot went , followed by the threads that hold the sole on , I'm still wearing the dickies but they are reaching the end of their useful life.

My chainsaw boots have stood up to such wear best, and so they should at 120 notes , but of course they are not worn everyday

[Earth Hart]

eeyore,have you tried good old dubbin, I use it all the time. It keeps boots dry & the leather supple. My gramp & dad swore by it & so do I. You may need to find an old cobblers as most shoe shops have never heard of it. Or a leather craft shop.

[nightshade]

My Daisy Roots are dubbined and still going strong

[Dan Salter]

This is uncanny i was just chatting in pm with Gill Catton the other night saying i need steel toe caps for my new uni course and cant find any walking/hiking types that are waterproof.
I totally agree with what eeyore is saying.....there is a huge amount of waterproof trekking/walking boots out there but no one has thought to slip steel toes in some? and there is a huge selection of steel toe cap boots out there that are oil proof, hazardous chemical proof steel toe, steel midsole etc but none i could find in the uk are waterproof or have goretex inner lining etc? There is a HUGE gap in the market for countryside workers/managers who want the brasher leather hiking tyle with the lace ring hooks instead of holes and a decent walking soul...water proof and with a steel toe.
I have ended up compromising....picked a buy one get one half price deal on some leather hiking/walking style ( but not perfect) "Groundwork" boots with steel toe but not officially waterproof so i bought a huge tube of dubbin ( which i never heard of till now) and in the deal for half price i got a pair of steel toe leather rigger boots for when we are doing building style work at Uni.
In the states there seems to be a bunch of walking waterproof handsome looking boots with steel toes but not here...its either ugly black builders type boots or doc martin/brown suede timberland style or dealer boots...none of which look like hiking books and none are waterpoof.

Ill try to find a link to the groundworks hiking style ones i opted for ( Have searched and searched ? although the groundwork safety footware brand seems to be available in shops all over my area i cant find a single thing about them online?) which are very comfortable which is another point...nearly all the builder style ones i tried on had no inner contouring just a hard flat insole and a painful toe cap that always could be felt...these ones i got are no way like a brasher inside or outside but ARE comfortable so far. Thery were only £30 so dont expect them to last too long...

also the MAKITA EXPLORER is a nice looking steel toe but again its not waterproof.


ok seems i have found one...no tthe best looking but waterproof
Safety Footwear - Safetoes

make that 2 !! why couldnt i find all these last week? sods law.
LH Safety Footwear - CAPPS - LH828

[Uncle_Filthster]

Have a look in ARCO at their element 2 range. They are a hiking/army style goretex safety boot that are around 55 pounds. I can destroy any boots no matter what brand within 6 months but these seem quite up to the job and are cheap enough to replace if need be.

Doc martens are complete rubbish now, nothing like they used to be. The sole wears out in a few months. Caterpillar aren't much better now either since they went all mainstream fashion brand years ago. I split the sole right across teh tread on mine.

[natterjack]

I find much the same as eeyore, and haven't found a pair of steelies that last much more that a year yet - except the first pair that I ever got, which were dead cheap and really light and comfortable even for extended hiking let along working, and lasted for several years. I didn't realise that they were that exceptional at the time and had long since forgotten the brand name by the time I did realise...

The supposed problem with Dubbin is that it gradually rots the stitching - that is why nikwax is usually preferred nowadays.

That said, I don't think that I have ever had a pair that failed at the stitching first, Dubbined or otherwise: typically the first thing that happens is that the uppers crack in the alternating wet/dry, or the soles split.

I'm not too sure that comparing them with hiking boots is very useful however. I wouldn't expect that any of my hiking boots would have lasted any longer if they were used as much, and mistreated so badly as my work boots.

[eeyore]

I've actually started wearing my zamberlands for work in the winter - only going to toe tectors for working parties and events and the zambies seem to be standing up to the wear quite well.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by henrya

Have a look at Fife Country (used to be Hoggs of Fife). Fife Country Homepage - Women's Clothing,Men's Footwear,Men's Clothing

I've not tried their steel toed boots, but their shoes are excellent.

henrya

Oooph

There is some really nice shoes on this site. I love Loake and Trickers but I also really like these Royal Hunter,Hunter Rubber Boots,Men's Waterproof Boots,Hunter Wellington Boots

[eeyore]

ahh but you see I find all rubber boots rub , adjustable or not If am out allday on a work task I get rubbed raw on the shin - Hence I only wear work or walking boots

[Dan Salter]

these looks the nuts too
Oak from Demon,Long Leather Boots,Men's Leather Boots,Men's Leisure Footwear

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Uncle_Filthster

Have a look in ARCO at their element 2 range. They are a hiking/army style goretex safety boot that are around 55 pounds. I can destroy any boots no matter what brand within 6 months but these seem quite up to the job and are cheap enough to replace if need be.

Thanks for the tip , they look decent - but what a rubbish website they have - why they have all product info in PDFs you have to download rather than online beats me

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Thanks for the tip , they look decent - but what a rubbish website they have - why they have all product info in PDFs you have to download rather than online beats me

No I dont like them. Just because you are out in the dirt does not mean you have to dress like a homeless

[Boddie]

I recently bought some Scarpa. Not cheap but a different standard as far as quality goes. They will last for time and a half and are very comfy. A different calibre

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

No I dont like them. Just because you are out in the dirt does not mean you have to dress like a homeless

these are my best clothes I'll have you know

[Dan Salter]

I agree didnt like anything on that arco site and the elements look like special needs shoes?

[Uncle_Filthster]

I have the 6H2500 element 2 and they don't look like an orthopaedic shoe or owt similar! They just look like hiking boots and are damn comfortable. I'm on my third pair now but that is purely from wearing them everyday in rough terrain for the past 5 years and wearing the soles out as I really am heavy going on footwear. They are waterproof too and take very little looking after. I've trudged up streams and all sorts in mine.

[Dan Salter]

Thats fair enough...if they work for you then thats great , Just personal taste i guess...

And i appologise because i did one search and these are what i saw but i think they do other element models but these are horrid !

Shoe Shop.com - Element II H28 GORE-TEX Black Safety Shoe

[Dennis1234567]

Greenhams is the place, i get all my clobber from them.

Footwear from Greenham [www.greenham.com]