Red Wing is just so much more approachable. Seeing the quality they have, and knowing I can find a store front in most cities in the US, it's easy. Go into one of their many locations, and you can't mess up your boot size.
I'm always surprised by the praise for Redwings. I went to two stores (one didn't have my size) to get sized and ended up with some heritage boots that were just miserable. Stuck with trying to break them in for over a year but had to finally admit defeat. Most uncomfortable footwear I've ever had, and I am including rock climbing shoes.
Took me 4 months before my Iron Rangers stopped feeling like a torture device. Now they're fine, if 1/2 size too big. You have to wear them and suffer for a while. One year, a month, ... Depends how much you actually wear them.
@@0bzen22yeah I’ve wore mine all week at work and it’s not the worst break in I’ve experienced for a boot lol but I’ve been skating for a long time, so foot pain is kinda within the territory I guess. I don’t understand how someone could wear them a year and say they haven’t broken in unless they wore them out a few times every other week maybe
As a boot afficionado from the UK I'm pretty jealous of the variety of traditional heavy duty boots you have in the US. Importing US boots to the UK is incredibly expensive - we have to pay shipping, duty and VAT - so you can pretty much add around $200 to the price of a pair of top end boots like Nicks or Whites. We do have one traditional bootmaker, William Lennon and co, over here who still hand build traditional work boots. It would be really interesting for those of us who don;t have access to US boots to see you do a review on a pair of their boots. Maybe a comparison to a similar US boot?
Agreed. We just don't get the same range in work boots here. Thankfully I've managed to get Thursdays and Allen Edmond's Higgins Mill boots without having to pay any duty or vat. Would love a pair of Nicks, Whytes or similar but the additional costs are prohibitive.
Are you serious mate? I live near Northampton where some of the world's best boots are made. Tricker's and C&J for one, makes impeccable English boots. My indestructible Tricker's Stow will be my default boots in an apocalypse.
@@MaxxSeemov they're not work boots, nice as they are, unless of course you work on a nice country estate or something. I'm talking about proper bombproof work boots. I'm a timber frame carpenter, high ankle support and a steel toecap are a must.
@@fishbiscuit2000 do you still have to pay the import taxes if myself or a fellow American were to ship them to you?? As in we purchase it then "gift" them. I think every true tradesman should have the opportunity to wear a pair of RedWings, Nick's, Thorogoods, or Whites at least once in their life, without such a ridiculous import markup. I myself am somewhat of a work boot addict. Tuff Toe applications have changed the game on the durability aspect in my humble opinion. Without it I'd chew through nice 300-600 work boots in a few months. My work environment is as hostile as they come.
How about trying to get some more European or Australian boots for international viewers? It could also be interesting for Americans to see whats out there
Video Suggestion - I think a top 5 comparison of Hot Weather boots would be amazing. As a dedicated boot wearer, but also a hot running person I'm always looking for solid, supportive boots that allow for the best cooling for summer. Maybe have a set of jungle boots as the standard
I bought a pair of JK Forefront boots earlier this year. They are the highest quality boot that I have ever owned! I believe that they were under $500. I was skeptical about spending that kind of money, but I will never go back to store bought boots again! You truly get what you pay for. In my opinion even at $500, they exceeded my expectations.
If possible, I would like to see you add Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill and Chapman to the lineup. They're made in the USA, Goodyear welted and often cost under $400. Both can come with Horween Chromexcel. Thank you
JK boots will always be my #1 boot of choice. John Khadzi chased the American dream and greatly succeeded. As long as I live, I will support his family and their upstanding character for my footwear.
it would be nice to see a video on specifically your favorite heavy duty work boots, including the newly cut jk boot superduty, thank for always making great content!
I’m tempted toward the origin boot you show here…even have one on my cart on their website. Two things about them make me hesitant: 1.every review I’ve seen of them have a wrinkle or crease in the leather that make the quality look sloppy or possibly having a weak area, 2. I’ve heard complaints about month long waits to have them delivered. One unique thing about red wing over most of the under $400 models you’ve showcased here, is red wings always look very high quality control right out of the box, almost flawless. Great video once again.
Redwing 1907 i wore out the sole in 3mo. Im 6ft 300lb auto mechanic. The throgood im going on 2yrs and im sure ill get 3yrs out of the sythetic sole. My expirence and the thorogoods have to be the most comfortable for my 8-14hr days.
I'd love to see you cut apart a pair of Frank's boots, specifically the Patriot. They've marked them at under $400 even though they appear just as well made as their regular $600+ line of boots.
Love to see how Chippewa Arador’s stack up. The insulated steel toes are an extremely popular boot in New England. They are American made and under $400
This channel made me appreciate Red Wing as a company. I always saw them on shelves, but assumed they were just a generic boot like Ariat. I genuinely had no idea their history and quality was as good as it is.
I really enjoyed all your videos, but today, I had to leave the comment. I love how you didn't just give away a free pen but have him work for it. That's the hard-working spirit of America which we are slowly losing. Love your work and got my first Iron ranger after watching your video! Keep up the high quality job!
I'm a MITSU, steel-toed, boot buyer. The foam thing is not even a shoe, let alone a boot. Right now I am wearing $250 worth of Red Wing, made extra stinky with both HFO/IFO fuel oil and DREWCLEAN3000 degreaser. The Red Wings are heavy, and take a long time to break in, even in abusive environments of saltwater and petroleum. BUT years later, they are still boots, and by that I mean they protect your foot in the course of WORK. I have an expensive pair of Red Wing hipsterboots c.2014, that I like, and on par with what you are looking at, but they're not steeltoed. I like that pen. I'm wearing pants, shirt, socks, all USA-made, so I gotta get that pen. Red Wings are rated high, because they are good and because their loyal following, but I am looking for a QUALITY steel-toe, MITUSA, boot, that is light, because I am pushing 50, and work in boots. THANKS
Have always tried to buy American products. But just about everything in the US is not made here. Bought 2 pairs of Red Wing steel toe lineman boots in '86. Wore 1 pair for years. Couldn't remember where I had put the other pair. Yesterday, I opened a box with a brand new pair of boots. These Redwings are built like a Tiger tank. Impressive throughout. No imported parts. Will enjoy them into the next life.
We need a Carolina Gold Moc Toe boot review. They look slick and they’re $300. I’m definitely curious since I was always really happy with my Carolina work boots. Edit: I know it’s off topic since they’re made in Mexico but I’d still like to see how nice they are once they’re cut in half.
@@handsmcneil the 28 series 8 inch waterproof are GREAT! I’m sure the other models are fine too. That’s just my sample size so far. I had insulated waterproof loggers from Carolina when I was doing electrical work and I loved those too. They make some good boots for the price you pay, especially when you can find a sale.
Carolina boots are highly underrated by the RU-vid boot community. Their AMP old folklore Moc toe boots are the most comfy pair of shoes I have ever put my messed up feet in.
@@thegreenman2030 oh man, they certainly look comfy. I’ll have to check those out when I go to try on the Gold Moc Toe. Thanks brotherman, I appreciate the heads up.
I Work in the snow rain, and on Ice. My work georgia boot Chelsea's are the best thing I have ever worn in snow. Would have never found them without your videos.
@RoseAnvil why no Allen Edmonds boots? Lots of boot options and styles, made in USA, and they offer re-crafting services. Would love to see how Allen Edmonds stacks up against some of your mainstays. As always, great content!
After watching a lot of your videos and reading around, I finally spent some money and got a pair of Thorogoods for primarily work. It helped my body as a whole tremendously and the price was really justifiable in my mind. And knowing how they are made I know they can be rebuilt to a degree. That seems like a tremendous value to me. I hope to get quite a few years out of them.
I am currently breaking in a pair of jk 300 boots. They are breaking in fast. It has been a week and I can wear them for a full work day. The company was awesome to work with also.
If you listened you would have heard he recorded again and adjusted rankings. Also jk was above redwing on quality, however a bunch of idiots ranked redwing over jk in value. The 300 is their bottom line boot not even near the super duty or even OT.
I used to wear Danner Rain Forest and Danner Acadia boots at work. They were the best boots in 20+ years of being a cableman. My preference was the Acadia due to it being lighter than the all-leather boot Rain Forest (even if it could have used a little more shank).
@@whereRbearsTeethwhat would you recommend over their 600 line? They look good for all purpose including getting wet. I’d hate to get my redwings wet out in the rain. Thanks.
@@CuriousGeorge13 I’m currently breaking in my first pair from them, natural veg tan horse butt. Really excited to see the patina develop. I think they are built better than the iron ranger.
Can you do a video on shoe and boot laces? And what laces last longest? I've read reviews on Amazon so many boot laces that are supposed to be good but end up failing so fast. Kayne is not in trouble for good reasons. He's 100% correct.
Been really enjoying my Thursday Loggers. Been wearing them now for a few weeks and they just get more comfortable each day. I stand on my feet for about 8 hours at work and they have given me good support as well as lots of compliments. I love my Redback boots too as far as comfort goes, but they NEVER got any compliments lol. Redback boots aren't exactly stylish but are certainly like walking on clouds all day long.
i would love to see some "project farm" style tests, like grip tests on dry wet and oily surfaces or puncture and wear test. great reviews. i hope to someday have a solovair boots. but truth be told, i would love to see of review of the brandit phantom boot.
I love my Corcoran boots but mine are made in Massachusetts which it’s made with a good amount of different materials it has a veg tan leather insole. The outer leather doesn’t have that plastic feel to them as they feel more like they had less but more of a wax to make it still shine but not like the boot you have is more dull. And my out sole was black with the upper being brown and it was more oil/ slip resistant so it’s weird to see just how different they are. I but boot wax and bees wax on mine for water proofing and so motor oil slides off them. Mine still have that cool strap which I wish ever boot had because when you are climbing ladder’s putting tires away or jumping 3 feet off a car lift they help my feet a lot
@@gilbertramirez3173if Truman could use a leather heel counter and possibly leather shank just like the JK boots that would be my DREAM COME TRUE and also if an optional leather sole could be possible that would be PERFECT ! I love Truman tho and they are my favorite casual/travel/adventure boots with all their variety of leather options and colors ! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I purchased a pair of 1907s yesterday. I chose them over the Iron Rangers because they fit my orthotics better. I currently own a pair of Thorogood boots that I am not to happy with. They seem to tear my heels up, could be I bought the wrong size, so I will carry half the blame there, as it always seems to be caused by rubbing against the stitching that runs around the heel. My biggest complaint is that the lace hooks are pulling out of the leather, the leather is stretching/yielding. I have one hook that fell out, and others that are just hanging on. I will have them resoled, and when I do, I will get the cobbler to install eyelets or better lace hooks.
Yes, the LLBean Cascade hiking boots are still made in Austria or Romania IIRC. There are different sources for the other boots. These have a steel shank, removeable insole liners, optional GoreTex version, Vibram soles. I'd like to see how they compare.
I just started watching a show on RU-vid. I had no idea. I was so interested in boots. I have learned a lot by watching your program. I live on the Olympic peninsula in Washington state, and I can definitely use some high-quality. After watching many of the reviews, I’ve decided to start with Origins. I think they will be lighter , versatile, and more comfortable for everyday use.
Carolina boots are excellent. Most also have been American made. Lasts forever, well compared to your regular hiking shoe. They also come in EEEE (4w) width which is a requirement for me.
I know you can't put all boots on the list, but curious about why they White's Perry were left off? Are they not MITUSA? I mean White's has a number of boots under $400(Millwood, Chore, Perry).
I got very lucky on my non-vibram 1000 miles. They were in the clearance section of a DSW for $150. After coupons I was able to walk out with them for just under $100.
Love this series. Just ordered a set of boots from Truman. They have a handful of boots at $399 (and thus they technically qualify for the mitusa series). Would love to see a set of Truman’s cut in half.
I only own two (kinda) of these: Iron Rangers and Thorogood 8" steel toe moc. Value? Thorogood. One resole per boots, that's about four years. No boot will last longer than four years in a metal shop. Mad comfortable. Good looking. If you work in the trades: Thorogood. I ain't anybody, but trust me. Of all my heritage boots, the IRs are hands-down the 'heritagiest'. Probably the best looking (IMO). Super comfy. Just all around the best. Best quality MITUSA boot in this price range(again, IMO)? Whites Perry Select. I don't have a pair of 300s, but I can't really imagine a better boot at this price. And the Perrys are better looking. Just my 2 cents.
The Corcoran boots are meant to be made as they were for the paras in WW2, so not shocked. I have a pair of theses and they are very comfy once broken in. They look great too
It's funny, thorogood boots always seem to come in low on these rankings, so I bought a lightly used pair to avoid maybe wasting money on new ones. I love them.
I have a pair of 1907 and jk 300s. Both are incredible and I’m actually looking at getting another pair of 300s and I really want some rough out iron ranges…My only complaint about JK is their shipping cost. $40 minimum
As always - just amazing work. I usually prefer to watch the videos a few times to really intake all the info. Have you heard of Comunity Made? I know you did a sneaker video and one for Opie Way. Comunity Made has some cool stuff I’d be curious to see what you think.
Lol, guess it wasn't just me. Thursday boots are toe crushers. 🤣 only when I looked at their boots more carefully, I noticed that the tips of their boots are all tapered to a point. I gave them to goodwill.
I have mainly Red Wings... I have tried some other brands, but they end up not living up to their hype, like Thorogoods, didn't last, never found them to be comfortable either. My favorite are the Iron Ranger and the 1907... both American made... now keep in mind, not are Red Wings are equal, they used to all be American made. If you go to a store look at the new Irish Setters vs the Heritage lines... you can tell the difference in the China Irish Setters and the American made ones right away. Now funny enough, growing up I had lots of the Irish Setters for going out hunting, but they were made in America then. My Grandpa took my Dad each year growing up to get a new pair and so my Dad took me each year... sounds extravagant, but its not when you do farm work... no boot last through that. Well, it might today, but growing up I remember following behind the combine all day picking ears it missed, now they don't miss anything, LOL!
Please add New Balance made in USA to the MITUSA series! Will see how the usa made sneakers compare to the other sneakers youve dealt with in the past!
There was a time when Corcoran jump boots were made well. That was a lifetime ago and I will never own another pair of jump boots for a multitude of reasons. I like the Thorogood in 8" without the liner. I wear them all the time. They work for my flat as a board feet and are comfortable. I have a pair I have 4 resoles on! It will be a sad day to see that pair go away. If I were younger, I might wear a logger boot, but those days are gone along with my arches. I am more aligned to the fan rankings on this test. I am thinking of getting some of the Jim Green boots for casual use.
Thorogoods really made me fall in love with moc toes, I bought a pair of 1957s and after two years they truly developed a "second sock" feel. I recommend them to any trades I work alongside with. I've seen three new pairs around the guys I work with so my sales pitch must be effective.
i understand most people dont use boots these days for their intended purpose and only for fashion, but maybe one day you can give some love to the construction boots by red wing and etc. and not just the vintage iron ranger type stuff
Rancourt uses a Rapid Blake construction and they use a fiberboard footbed. They do use natural leather for their midsoles at least. Truman uses a Goodyear Welted construction, but they use foam to fill the void that is created using this type of construction. The gold standard is to use cork to fill the void, which you will find in many of the videos on this channel. Also, Truman uses a fiberglass shank rather than a steel shank. Some people prefer fiberglass, but many consider steel as the gold standard. White's and Nick's fans probably prefer the leather shank though.
I’d love to see a boot for people that have plantar fasciitis. I walk about 6-8 miles a day and would appreciate having a well made pair of boots would stand up to that mileage.
I have like 8 pairs of redwings and had to switch to Origin. The redwings destroyed my feet, I thought I had a chronic issue with plantar fasciitis and I got all of the fancy insoles and everything. Turns out it was just the way redwings are setup. They are durable but mostly heavy and not comfortable.
Please do best boots made in china, italy, germany, vietnam, india, and etc! This could be a sick series! And at the end you can rank the number 1 boots from series and rank those to see which country makes the best comerical boot lol.
Pls do one without any price restrictions. 400 is an arbitrary amount. Some of us want to know the best regardless of price. And yes, let’s include European brands too please, Italian made in particular. Thanks
I’ve really been wanting a pair of Origins for years now but can’t justify spending that kind of money on myself when I’ve got 3 young children to feed, and here you are slicing some in twine 😅
You should review Austrian combat boots, the Feldschuh Schwer is a pretty good heavy boot for work or hiking, the Feldschuh Leicht is probably the best alternative to Docs or other fashion boots (although they are still pretty tough and can be used as work or hiking boots as well, absolutely not just for casual wear.)
I had three pairs of those for over twenty years. Two I put hiker soles on, and one I left original. I was always wearing them. My wife hated them, so finally I gave them to my son, and now he wears them everywhere.
Hey, you should take a look at Drew's 10in loggers. They're made in Mexico so they don't qualify for this category, but they're 350 bucks right now and I prefer them to my JK superduties. Only difference is a tiiiiny layer of cork near the front toe area and a slightly wider toe box, and the price of course
