How NOT to buy Work Boots. What Most People don't know. 4 k 

Oh I wasn't expecting a 17 minute keen commercial instead of an awnser to the question

You should go to different sites and ask actual workers. What boot they where. And do workers in different industries. Get the facts. Not what salespeople tell you.

" Robin can tell you better than me", but I'll keep talking.

I wear custom made Nicks boots. $400+ a pair, but they will last 10 years or longer and are the most comfortable boots I've ever had. $40 a year is a great deal.

Boots depend on your job. In truth you need multiple pairs different types. On concrete you need different souls than dirt. A logger needs different boots than an oil well driller.

Never heard of Keen until you did a vid on them a couple of years ago. Bought my first pair in June. So far, I could not be happier. I'd been having left ankle pain since last fall. A good pair of supportive, comfortable boots eliminated the pain and solved the problem. Sometimes I'm suspicious of how enthusiastic you are with some product lines, but on this topic, you're "on point" with your assessment. 👍👍👍

Ive had two pairs of keens. My first pair was fine for about a week. Then simply lacing, one of the lower of the 2 metal hooks for lacing pulled right out of the boot... it was attached with a little rivet... and the rivet wasnt much bigger than the hole in the material... it was bound to happen. And the tongue was one peice and connected to the side off the lacing area so I couldn't simply use the hole from the rivet/hook spot to lace them up, i would also have had to pop a hole in the tongue and the toungue would then bunch up in that spot and be fuckered up. It was a bad design and attachment. But they covered it by warranty. They gave me credit to buy a new set from their site. So I got a different model boot completely. And they were comfortable, i liked them for the first 3 weeks. But then the grey rubber nobby sections of the bottom sole started peeling off around the sides... they had the soles made from several different peices of rubber, glued together. Pebbles, dirt, sand, sawdust etc would build up in between the layers and id have to scrape the crap out and clean it all up several times just to try and repair it with shoe goo. It was only a hassle to deal with for like the month... i dealt with the peeling off bottom sections and glueing it back on, just a hassle. Until i was sheeting the roof and within a minute of getting on the sheeting (walking feet sideways as one does laying a sheet) the glued on peicemealed sole decided to fold up under the shoe rolling my ankle and making me lose the sheet as well as almost go down. Super unsafe bullshit. Im not kidding. They literally sent me a boot with glued on separate sole sections as a situation fixer by sending me a poorly designed boot... Nice job keens. I didn't bother contacting them about it. I dont think im interested in anything they could possibly offer as a product after those two boots... Waste of my money, literal pain and a hazzard. Thats what keen is to me

I work in a large machining shop as a repairman and the last three pairs of boots I've worn are redwing irishsetters, they hold up great in oils,coolants, metal chips. I get about 10 to 12 months out of them.

My 6year old keens still look brand new. Wore them 3x, hurt my feet so much I never put them on again.

My Keens wore out quick and the soles snapped in have from kneeling. My Carolinas are 6 years old and doing great.

Great info. Had my cousin recommend these and now that I see that you have recommended them I am sold. Thanks for the video keep up the great work

Another great video Stan. I really like the attention to detail, model name and industry it's targeted for. Price point was the only thing missing. Thanks for your time and effort to help us all Thanks for sharing your thoughts and prayers and videos, Rodney

Invest in a pair of quality custom boots such as Nick's Or Whites, don't mess around with theese ankle boots.

pro tip- I have my snowboard boot footbeds in my workboots. They are called shred soles. they help support the arch of your foot i love them

I work in a steel mill . Molten steel / hydraulic oil / you name it . Doesn’t matter who’s we buy . They get destroyed . Good thing the company supply’s them . 👍 good video and demo as always thanks 👍

I am a third generation shoe retailer and repairer. When I was young in the mid-seventies we got the first PU (that I know of) soled boot. It was slow but as time went on there were more and more PU soled boots. As we see here it evolved with a wear layer (the bottom) to a mid-sole often made of EVA, PU, or as here a proprietary blend of both. It was stated here that PU is very durable and this is where I have found mileage varies widely. For instance the other day I had a customer return a pair of Spenco PolySorb Walker/Runner insoles. They have a primary layer of yellow PU material. That PU material had done what has been termed "de-naturing". Simply put the material had changed in consistency as it was really sticky and was also coming apart in small chunks. Over 38-years of actually running the store I've seen outsoles of PU do this too. I can't tell you how many PU boots were sold and stored for a year and unlike rubber soles when the owner did finally begin to wear the boot the soles promptly fell apart. In the defense of Keen I have only had one outsole ever to do this, but yet it was familiar. So my question to the Keen designers here is why does some PU never fail (Justin Double Comfort Made In USA boots seem to never "de-nature" and some others fall apart at some point? BTW I do have a repairers mindset so keep this in mind. That said I love Keen products because they are truly made well for whatever construction process is used. They are at the top of the cement and injection molded segment in work footwear for long-term durability. The Sparta model shown here was our most sold non-boot safety toe product in our store for the past year and I've not had any returns save to exchange sizes for the best possible fit. The Sparta is Keen's lightest (that I know of) model and for indoor production work is real winner.

I've been wearing beta welder boots for bricklaying / concreting / plastering. They are cheap around £30 . Steel toe but my favourite feature is the leather flap that covers over the laces. This gives extra protection from falling bricks and the laces are covered over from wet cement and so the flap is easily wiped off.

Timberland pros for the win. I have used many different boots over the years and by far the timberlands have lasted the longest. They are most comfortable and are in awesome shape after over a year with the same pair. I use these boots 6-7 days a week and they have held up like no other. I'm not opposed to different boots but have had many bad experiences in the past.

This is very helpful. The range of your content is outstanding. Dig it.

That's what I'm looking for. Great explanation of different uses, construction, mobility, traction, etc. Awesome video.

I tried Keen about a 2 years ago and I absolutely love them! I also where some Timberland boots too.

Tried Wolverine, Timberland, Keen, CAT. I work at Ethanol plants. Walking in corn, corn dust, water, mud, slurry, burnt slurry and haven't had a pair last a year yet.

Such a great video/interview. Thank you so much! Answered lots of questions. Just bought the Pittsburgh for both me and my husband.

I've enjoyed Keen sandals for 20 years, but when it comes to work boots the Timberland Pro in full leather with carbon fiber toe have won me over. Going on 5 years so far wearing them full time. Very comfortable. Good tread. Soft leather for comfort but thick leather over the toe for durability. Maybe a little warm for the southern states in summer but very nice for northerners.

My belief is that once a boot company becomes popular, like Justins, Rocky's boots. They start making them cheaper or having them made over seas. I have been looking for a better made boot, and I think I've found it in the Keen. Great video and the way you went thru each and every boot was amazing. Have you thought about a slip on?

I do landscaping mostly mowing and walking.... I always get a pair of non insulated Carolinas. Comfortable... light.... lasts me a year or two if I swap insoles and laces.

I work in a machine shop and a lot of guys switched to Keens me included. They are light weight and hold up. I'm on my 3rd pair Braddock steel toes and love them

I love KEEN shoes and boots. Awesome warranty, outstanding customer service. Well worth the price. I work outside in all kinds of weather, rain snow 110 degrees summer and lots of mud. I really enjoyed this. Thank you.

Thorogood American made , very comfortable

I’ve had 2 pair of the Pittsburg, they are excellent boots overall. Comfortable from day one, good sole, easy to put on and stable in a variety of surfaces. The only ding I have is they are NOT waterproof…an inch of water for either pair I had meant wet feet.

My new Keens work boots at just 8 months of light use are coming apart. Plus they are the most uncomfortable boot I've ever worn. Just saying not everything is as it seems.

Excellent job! Clear, informative and useful video, well done!

I’ve worked in the oil business for 35 years and I always went through one pair of boots a year no matter what I bought warm out fell apart stitches pulled out glue and glued in the last five years of my career I bought king boots and I buy nothing but keen boots now I don’t look at the price because I know what I want and now NUTHINBUTKEENE!!

Never had good luck with Glued on soles , the heat in AZ makes them come apart . Miss the time when soles were sewn on and replaceable .

I like my Keen work boots...very comfortable. One issue I've had is the soles splitting. My last two Keen boots lasted just over a year before the soles split. I did ask the sales clerk when I purchased my last pair and was told the sole has a one year warranty.

I’m a pipe welder, I bought my first pair of keen 5 years ago. I’m on second pair but only because I switched from laces to slip on Wellington. Have not had a failure yet. I used to be die hard redwing and Carolina fan .

Ive worn them all... Keens fall apart. Literally the sole falls off. Remember the lady saying the sole is ‘cemeted’ or guy.... whatever. But that means the sole is glued on the shoe. The glue breaks down very quickly and the sole separates from the shoe. Non of these boots last. Ive had the Pittsburghers and they are junk! All my real leather boots with stitched construction have outlast these by years.

Bought keen boots they only lasted a month and then they fell apart will never buy this brand again

Thanks for the info! 😃👍🏻🥾🥾👊🏻

I wore work boots for over 36 years . Didn't have to pay for them . Company did . I worked in a steel mill where the actual steel was made . Work boots lasted for about a year . The tops were good but the soles wore out . Walking on hot floors and embers didn't help . I did wear some trail boots at times and they were great but when going back for another pair those where garbage . Companies make excellent trial boots when once they get the contract they start making junk . Hated wearing new boots . Don't care what anyone says . I didn't get new boots until I had to and don't forget we didn't pay for them . I have wide feet and it was hard to get good fitting boots . I think boot companies have no idea how to make boots . They don't understand that many guys don't all have narrow feet . Sometimes I had to get a size 13 just to get the width but the boots were too long . I take a 10 -1/2 4E shoe . Not a size 13 for crying out loud . I don't care what any company rep says . I'll tell you if the boots are good or not

I bought a pair of keen boots and they didn't last 4 months, the sole came right off as I was walking my dog. I would never buy any of keen products again.

I love keens. But..... they only last one year tops if I’m lucky. The sole always falls apart. Laces only last one summer. But, since work pays for boots every year I keep rocking them.

Hi, Great video about different types of boots and their uses.

Great video! I love my keens baby! I'm a technician, I am on my 2nd set of Pittsburgh style. I will say tho, I think my first set was slightly more comfortable. First set is from 4 years ago, newer ones are about 2 years old. But I love them, always a conversation starter when I see someone else with keens on

I don't care how well a boot is made, if you get your boots soaked and wet regularly you will ruin them.

I’m a delivery driver , in all my years of doing this type of work I’ve haven’t found the best boot ..

What a Great video. Thanks I will be trying Keen Boots

Duluth Trading Company never disappoints. Not cheap but excellent quality. I only where there Dry On the Fly pants in the summer. It's like working naked....well almost. Switched to there boots too. That's just my input. Appreciate the videos as always Stan!

No one working anywhere near a drilling rig or workover rig would be caught dead in those black keens lol. No one wears laced boots. Slip ons only. Zero oil can get in and laced boots could get you killed.

I do tree work and I can only get three months out of these. I've had probably six pairs, including the paracord casual shoes, but The work boots just don't cut it after 3 months. But the extra you're space works wonders for the bunion.

I do sheet metal buildings. Big warehouses 60-foot to 100 ft tall buildings. And I have those Keen tennis shoes. I wear them everyday now!. Greatest construction shoe I've ever worn in my entire life!

Everybody has different foot configurations......so you have to try different ones until you find the right comfort for you.

Wish someone would build shoes for heavy guys. They seem to think everyone is 150lb. And smaller than a 13. They forget as the shoe gets bigger.. the person gets heavier.

100 dollar Wolverines will last for a good while. had a pair last 2 years and the pair I'm about to retire before winter is 3 years old

I just got the st paul a couple of months cause you have ben recommending keen thanks I love them

Just watching this, but I came to Keens a while back from hiking and found they make great work boots. I wear the toes out al the time and the one piece rubber toe holds up best for me.

I wore Red Wing boots for years. After foot pain in the last two pairs of Red Wings after 8 months I switched to the Mount Vernon Keen work boot. There is zero break in time and I have gotten just about 2 years out of each set. I tried These Boots because they were made in the USA and since I work in manufacturing that was important to me. I'm very happy

Ive been buying the best work boots i could find over the last 25 years, the best boot lasting 13months (im a groundworker) then i found the timberland commercial boots and my pair are 4yrs 8 months old so far! Still look great, no longer water proof... utterly brilliant boot despite twice the cost

I own a pair of Keen Men's Braddock Low (Soft Toe) shoes. I have had them for about six months, and I wear them every day to my warehouse job. I am not a huge fan of the design, and I would not be caught dead with them outside of my work, but they are comfortable as hell. The sole has held up very well, as has all of the outside material. And I like that these particular ones were made in America. The problem is the inside lining started falling apart about a month and half ago (about 4.5 months into owning them), which is not good. Regardless of how and where you are using your shoes/boots, the inside lining and cushioning material should not be coming apart and having parts fall off. I have worn slip on Vans to work that lasted longer than these. The other thing is that they kind of make a squeaking noise when I walk, not like the rubber against the concrete squeak, but something inside is making that noise as the shoe bends, and I thought that that would go away as they were breaking in, but it did not, and I really do not like it. I do not know if anyone else notices, but I certainly do, and that is unacceptable for footwear. No matter how comfortable these are, and they are really comfortable. The downsides of the interior not lasting that long and them making noise when I walk, are big enough to wear I would never buy these again. I wasn't expecting to have to buy another pair of work shoes/boots again this fast after buying these, but I am going to have to. And they will not be Keen's, as not only did these ones screw me over, but nothing else in their American Built category looks substantially better, and I am not going to buy an outsourced pair.

It great for Nirmal feet. Here is a challenge for keen. Make a hiking boot that can be re-soled and have an additional 1 in lift installed for fused ankles. Then you will wow me. How many people suffering with fused ankles and what is available? Not a single boot for fused ankles and those who enjoy hiking.

I've been wearing Redwings on jobsites for many years. Keep them oiled and they last a looong time.

I'm on my second pair of Keen Pittsburgh boots. Love them for heavy construction, drywall, framing, scaffold or ladder work etc. I switch to my Sketchers for indoor easier stuff like kitchen or bath install and tile work.

I went through , 5 pairs of various styles. At the time I was doing pond maintenance with a little construction. I couldn't get not than 3 months it off the boot. I finally watched to their heavy dirty waterproof construction boot and literally had them fall apart after two months. The upper popped off from the soles.

Keen this a public announcement please.. y'all need to come here in Trinidad and Tobago with y'all safety boots 😍 I'm loving what I'm seeing 😍😍

The feeling is that interviewer is knowing subject much better than keen employees....

I work in construction I wear a size 20 my redwing boots I had finally came apart. I have been without boot's for 4 year's because I can't find any in my size.

Love the fit of my Keen boots. The roomy width and toe box are great

I have used many different Redwing boots over the years and liked them, but ne er could I get them to last more than a year. Tried Keen and love them. I usually get 2 years a d could probably get more if they would change 1 thing and that's the lace loops. The fabric type material wears through from tightening the laces when tying. If they fix that I will be much happier. A key to any leather boot is to keep the leather conditioned.

I've wore red wings, Carolinas, and chippewas. Love my chips

Redwing is great for construction and wearhouse work. But for automotive work I have found redback works the best I average 5 years of professional use out of a pair.

Yeah I made the mistake of buying roofing boots for landscaping once. I have some cat boots that are nice.They were like $170. been almost a year with them they are still really good. probably get another year i'll have to look into some keens

Very informative. Great video!

There are millions and millions of things to save money on, FOOTWEAR is not one of them. Being in the infantry in the military, I can tell you, take care of your feet and they will take care of you. No matter what you do, if your feet aren't right, you are going to be miserable

No boot last 1 year on my feet! Masonry*Cement*Mud*Excavating mother trucker... Thanks

good information .. i will watch for that philidelphia boot

I was a Carolina logger boot guy for 20 years till about 5 years ago when I switch the Keens. And my feet have been loving me ever scence.

I'm industrial tech I'm in all types of oil weld slag you name it I'm covered in it. I use a timberland pro with black toe. It's comfortable from 1st min wearing them. I kill them in 6 months but I work. 7 days 12+hrs The guys who use Keens here they fall apart but I tribute that to type of oils we have. Also my contractor today was wearing Pittsburgh version an they were falling apart after 3 months. An he only does gutter an vinyl work.

3 years on my red wings, working like they did since day 1

My plumber had those Pittsburgh boots. After 3 months he quit wearing them. Since he's on concrete floors a lot. His feet were getting sore from them.

I like the information gives me the details to choose a boot that works best for me

Red wings hands down I’ve owned two different pairs that lasted 7 years

Sadly I had my Keens fall apart after 6 months. Two of the lace hooks on my left boot just broke.

Forest service checking in, I have keens, Coburg and something that's discontinued I think. Both sets are just around a year old, the coburgs have a small split right where the leather meets the sole over the arch (I think it's my feet shape because I had redwings that did the exact same thing), but the discontinued set are just fine.

Carolina Boots have always treated me well. The one pair of Keen I had wore thought the soles in 4 months, the rubber was too soft.

I didn't last two day wearing Keens. They were easily the most uncomfortable shoe I had ever worn.

Went through years and years of Keen and Danner, each pair becoming more and more disappointing. Finally ponied up for custom fitted/made Wesco boots. Never going back to mediocre boots again, period.

I really like the behind scene look at keen factory and the interviews of there employees, would love to see more about the development and design of the new Philadelphia work boot

Thanks DirtMonkey!!! Wish you could run a ported Farmertec g660 chainsaw...OEM parts too in the saw... you’d love it!!!

You should have titled this video, "Boot Camp!" Once again another relevant great video.

RedWing 406 going on 6 years now, just needed gel insoles.

I bought a pair $250 pair of Dakota work boots when I first started working right out of highschool, 7 years ago now. I am only just having minor issues as in a hole in the heel of the leather and by the big toe of the same boot. I would definitely be buying another pair of them when they finally kick the bucket. You should consider going to different types of work sites and see what other people are wearing.

To each there own on boots. yes you need the right boot for the job but everyone is different. I am a big fan of Rocky Alpha Force composite toe side zippers. They give me the traction and support. I have never worried about my feet. I used to work security before landscaping and I was in a foot pursuit and my partner saw me running after the guy and watched as I ran up the fence, put my boot on the fence and cleared the fence without effort. After the call he asked me house I did that. I showed him my tread and he showed me his tread. The Rocky Alpha Force was designed for this and his boots had just a piece of rubber on the bottom. So each there own and you can get into a never ending debate over boots but you need the right boot for the job and for you.

Have tried Keen for my "indoor" footwear, they suck. Danner Quarry, Vibram soles, welt construction. Have a break in, but then they just last. Indoor, Danner Run Time.

But do these guys make a fiberglass toe instead of a steel toe? When steel gets cold out in snow and ice it stays cold and your toes go numb.

I have the Reebok work shoe. Went from a wolverine boot damn night and day difference. Kinda like in the army when I went from issued boots to Rockies

I have a pair of keen San Jose boots #2 demo in the video and I use them for casual and around the house wear and a pair of danner crafter boots for work. I do feel like the keens are a cheaper shoe that’s would be good for an indoor wear house or grocery setting than anything industrial or oily.

10 years and still on the same pair of red wings. I'm in either mud or rocks all day

I've used keen the past 2 years, one pair each season in lawn and landscaping. By late summer to early fall they start falling apart. Dirt gets into the toes as well and packs in where it's impossible to get out. At that point shoes hurt my feet so much and because they are falling apart at the soul, it's time to throw them out. Trying Merrell this year

I wanted to support Keen after watching your video. I ordered a pair of the exact boots that they had on the table at the front of the video. They were super comfortable and I was excited that I might have finally found a comfortable work boot that would last. One week later the sole had degraded so badly and had so many “washboards” in it that I couldn’t stand to walk in them. While looking at the boot to see if I could identify what the problem was, I also noticed on the tag that these particular boots weren’t even manufactured in America. What a let down

Had a pair of leather DeWalt made pretty much of one piece which lasted 2 years, the sole wore down too much in the end. Then DeWalt oxygen trainer boot which I got a few of months out of... super comfortable though. Now on a pair of buckler leather boots, which are great.