My fiancee (M24) works as a welder for industrial pipes and hes a farmhand.

With winter coming, I want to get him new steel toe boots but I dont know what brand to get that would be sturdy and comfortable.

He has gone through multiple pairs of boots and they all fell apart completely after 1-2 months of hard labor, and with this last pair, he's getting blisters but tells me not to worry about it.

I want to get him something thats highly recommended, durable, and comfortable for wide feet, even if that means I have to spend a few more bucks on them, hes more than worth it.

Hes a good man and works very hard for us and it breaks my heart to see him in such a state at the end of the day.

Any advice or recommendations are appreciated, thank you.

TL:DR Need steel toe boot recommendations for a man on his feet 16 hours a day.


24 comments

  1. Id recommend posting in /r/welding for a more precise opinion from guys that do the same work as your fiancée

    Otherwise, I would recommend Redwing’s King Toe 8-inch water proof safety toe boot. That’s what I wear on sites but I’m a white collar guy that only occasionally goes in the field nowadays. He will still likely tear it apart, but Redwing’s offers repairs.

  2. I’ve had my best luck with a pair of steel toed Blundstones. Very comfortable and they’re very durable.

    They don’t have the highest amount of ankle support, so they aren’t for everyone, but I love mine.

  3. Ariat is my go to work shoe brand. I like the waterproof steel toe tread fast boots.

    Leather boots will last a pretty long ass time if you treat them right. Brush them off every single day after use. Once every couple months do a deep clean with leather cleaner then use leather conditioner. Especially when the leather is new you gotta take care of it or it degrades quickly.

  4. Red Wing Boots have a variety of models and also have a good process to size his feet for the most comfortable fit. Go to the store to buy them, it’s more complete than if you buy online.

  5. I keep looking at other brands but I always go back to keen. They are ugly, but they are comfortable and last.

    Something to remember is that boots are pretty disposable in blue-collar work.

  6. Could I boldly suggest that, instead of boots that he is just going to destroy that you buy him 10 pairs of Thorlo socks. They are made from a wicking fabric that carries moisture away from his feet, keeping them cooler and drier.

    They are also padded with extra cushioning in the heels and toes.

    I don’t work for them, but I spend my days in steel capped boots and they are necessary equipment, and tax deductible for me. I simply couldn’t survive without them. I buy batches of 15 pairs in a single colour and then buy 15 more in another colour a few years later. They are not “buy it for life” but his feet are

  8. Everyone is different and will give you different answers. I swear by Danners and hate redwings, other folks will tell you Danners ain’t it and you gotta have redwings or whatever brand.

    I’d suggest you actually just take him boot shopping, it’s a very personal decision and you gotta try a bunch on to get the best result.

    He’s going to be spending 40+ hours a week in these things, a bad pick can do some damage and a good pick can drastically improve his quality of life at work.

    I will say you get what you pay for, I would go with a good name brand and plan to spend ~$170+ to get something that will last.

  9. I’ve had good experiences, personally and by reputation, with RedWing steel-toed boots. They’re heavy, if you’re going to be doing a lot of walking (so, not ideal for a farrier or farmhand), but for mostly stationary dangerous jobs, they’re supportive and safe. I’ve heard of guys getting their toes run over by a 15-passenger van and being no worse for wear. I can’t recommend that, personally, but fortune favors the prepared.

  10. Not familiar with welding safety protocols, but steel gets really cold in the winter. I’d look into composite instead so his footsies don’t freeze.

  11. If he is a real man, square toe Justin’s with a tassle. They are stiff and uncomfortable, but if he is tough enough to wear em all day he’ll get some mad respect on the job site and soon be promoted to foreman. Bonus points if he has a skoal ring in his jeans. After about 6 months they break in and are actually kinda nice.

  12. I find that my footwear while important is only part of the solution, good insoles and the right socks also help.

  13. Carolina brand, Bruno model. Lasts me about 3 years walking on sharp metal fragments in a manufacturing environment. And that’s longer than any other boots I’ve tried.

  14. Not a man, but for a while my Amazon algorithm thought I was and kept trying to sell me ball deodorant (that’s what I get for shopping for tools!). I’ve done a fair bit of outdoor labour in winter conditions in Canada – I don’t know how cold it gets where you are, but switching to a composite safety toe instead of actual metal changed my life in terms of comfort. Composites are lighter, and keeping your feet warm is actually possible. Metal retains the cold and there is not much you can do about it. I will never go back.

  15. I love timberland boots, they have a wide toe box that doesn’t run against my big toe like a lot of other brands. I work manufacturing, so I’m standing and walking around on concrete all the time. I’ve tried different brands and I always go back to them for the comfort.

  16. Get composite instead of steel toe. Same protection as steel, but it doesn’t get cold like steel does in the winter

  18. Take him to the boot store and get the fancy inserts, they are worth their weight in gold! Redwings are the best ones I’ve tried but several of the top brands are very good.

  19. I’m a big fan of wolverines and they have been some of the most comfortable boots i’ve ever bought without using those insoles you can buy, idc what anybody says.

    I get them at dicks and use them until the soles are so worn out they aren’t water proof anymore.

    Most brands have the same specs, what really matters is if they are comfortable. And they won’t murder your bank either, somewhere around 130-150? It’s been a couple of years since I’ve needed new ones.

    Every other brand has made me miserable including overpriced red wings, some of the most uncomfortable boots I’ve ever worn yet people swear by them, genuinely don’t get it, could barely walk at the end of the day I was suffering.

  20. Get composite boots, not steel toes if he works outside in extreme weather. If you do not properly prepare, you will def have some issues when the temps get to 0! Get ones with metatarsal guards built in.

    If you can spend the money – These are it: Red Wing Irish Setters or BRNR XP

  21. Redwing is my first choice and Timberland Pro is my second choice.

    I put Kevlar laces in my boots as well, keeps them from getting eaten up by sparks and slag.

  23. Adding to lots of what has been said: redwings. And one nice thing about redwings is that they can be resoled so you’re not unassing for a whole new set when the heel wears out like a lot of cheaper boots. However, I don’t think they do E work boots. Ariat does, though and are also resoleable.

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