Boots?

[avgeek]

I've been pondering the idea of mixing up my footwear a little with a pair of boots (For going out and working in, I do alot of walking and outdoor work).

I've seen some boots by Frye that I like the looks of, namely:

Frye Boots

and

Frye Boots

But...I'm pretty much a boot newb and have no clue which brands are considered good or not so good, or even what to look for in a good pair of boots (what kind of soles, stitching, that sort of thing).

Your input is appreciated!

[Rune]

These are my boots:

Red Wing Shoes

They are a lot better looking in person, more of a darker oiled texture to them. I have worn them for hundreds of miles both in the city and in the country, in all types of weather and terrain and they look brand new. They were not comfortable at first, like all real boots, but they have broken in nicely. As far as I can tell they are waterproof, and comfort-wise I prefer them to the ergonomic Danskos I'm required to wear at work.

I'm not sure where you are from but those are some pretty hipsterlicious boots and judging from their website the company is similar. Since you mentioned work, I don't feel like those are a good choice as they don't look comfortable, or durable. If you are looking to make a fashion statement to go with your $500 jeans, then congratulations on your excellent choice. Perhaps I am wrong and this Fryes company is a bastion of excellent boot manufacture. I've never heard of them.

Red Wing is definitely a company that stands behind their products (work boots) and I've had boots replaced by them, free of charge before for minor issues in stitching. They are preferred by a lot of guys working in the oil industry and similar shitty, messy jobs. If you are serious about buying boots you should go to a place that specializes in selling boots, typically an outlet store. Do not go to a western wear company that also sells jeans and ponchos. They should be able to help you with your questions and the finer points, like how to correctly get the right size, which for most people is smaller than they would get for normal shoes. Buying good boots is a process worth spending some time on, because good leather needs to be broken in, and good boots generally cost a few hundred dollars. Good luck.

[avgeek]

The two that I linked were just ones I saw while out looking at shoes yesterday and thought...those look alright and I've never really even considered boots before, but I guess our tastes change as we get older. I guess those were more of an example of: "I kinda like this style, now somebody point me in the right direction" Probably the most important thing is...I want something I can wear at work (not messy, just outdoorsy) and walk in all day, but is also going to be "dressy" enough to go out to dinner or whatever in.

Thanks for the link and for your input, I have no clue if we have any boot places around here, but I'm sure there are.

[ToeMissile]

So basically you're looking more for a semi-casual boot than a work boot, at least that's what I'm getting.

[avgeek]

More or less, I'd like to be able to wear them for work though and know I'm not going to tear them up. I do a lot of work on residential construction sites, but usually the houses are at least 50-60% complete by the time I get on site and we are typically inside. I hate the idea of having a pair of just work shoes or just casual shoes, the things are way to expensive to not multitask!

[Dinthug]

Friend said he was looking around for a new pair of tims the other day and went to a few outlet stores. Guess Timberland doesn't discount their boots at their outlet stores so he went into Polo and got a real nice pair for $30-50. Basically Timberland boots with Polo logos, with some crazy material that's like a cross between rubber and suede. Yeah sounds gay, but I really can't see this shit getting scuffed the way normal suede boots do. The shank in the bottom on my Tims is all bent from being on ladders all the time, think I might go get a pair of these too.

[ToeMissile]

Originally Posted by avgeek

More or less, I'd like to be able to wear them for work though and know I'm not going to tear them up. I do a lot of work on residential construction sites, but usually the houses are at least 50-60% complete by the time I get on site and we are typically inside. I hate the idea of having a pair of just work shoes or just casual shoes, the things are way to expensive to not multitask!

Obviously it can be a pretty tough line to... walk... I can understand like/wanting to get the most use out of a product. The dual use will work for a while, but i imagine after not too long wear from usage at job sites will take its toll and the boots won't really be in the sort of shape you want to use them in a more formal/non-job site work environment. Here's the thing, a solid pair of work boots will last for years. In many quality brands the upper will outlast the soul and you'll be able to get a new one thrown on there for much less than the cost of a new pair. Also, you don't want to walk into a meeting or some situation with dirty and/or worn footwear, it sets a bad impression.

That said, you know the usage, situations, workplace norms, etc that you're a part of, so just go with whatever solution feels right. Just make sure to keep a boot brush and a little polish with you so you can clean up a bit when making the job site-office transition.

[tjac]

Originally Posted by avgeek

I've been pondering the idea of mixing up my footwear a little with a pair of boots...

But...I'm pretty much a boot newb and have no clue which brands are considered good or not so good, or even what to look for in a good pair of boots (what kind of soles, stitching, that sort of thing).

Your input is appreciated!

I bought a casual pair like this: Frye Boots, only tan-colored. Frye is a great quality way to go for any western style, but you want something with a reinforced toe for a work boot, like for shoveling. Vibram soles are pretty big, too (not sure if Frye uses Vibram).