I purchased a pair of your kilties to be used with my Iron Rangers for about $25 (I believe that included shipping). They were so thin as to be useless to protect the tongue from abrasion by the back of the speed hooks. I purchased another pair of kilties from Nicks that were 2-3 times thicker for half the cost. Forgive me if I have no confidence in your insoles. Let’s see if you have enough integrity not to delete this comment.
There are 2 videos I'd love to see from you: 1) which sole type is most comfortable (Air sole, foam, Leather...etc) 2) If you lived in the Rocky Mountains and could only wear 1 boot for 5 years and had to walk/hike the mountains everyday for miles (4 to 10), which would you pick? AKA...what would be your doomsday boot?
Carhartt loggers were the first composite toe I saved up for, and they were so comfortable after years of only being able to afford Walmart and Amazon boots I thought I finally found something that could save me money and make my feet feel better, then 2 months later the sole started peeling off, one of the speed hooks ripped off and as I was gluing pieces of the boot together the heel started to come apart during a rainy day. I'll never get another Carhartt shoe or boot for the rest of my life.
Have you tried Georgia boots? I've had good experiences with a couple of pairs over the years. They don't claim to be anything high-end, but for around $150-200 they're tough,,comfortable and will last at least a good year of hard use.
They could make a better boot, but it’s just like anything else. It’s like quality food brands they get bought out by investment firms and gradually they just reduce the quality step-by-step over the years. And they’re not doing it just because they think lower quality food is more desirable, it’s because they’re saving money that they don’t spend in quality ingredients anymore. Basic, bog standard capitalism.
I feel like Carhartt doesn't actually make the boots. And that's why they are how they are. It would cost too much for Carhartt to invest in manufacturing their own boots but consumers still want Carhartt boots so this is what we get. Boots that are no better or worse than all the other trash boots in the price range.
He will do exactly what he is paid for. There are quality shoes and boots made in bangladesh or whatever. Design, materials and all quality details are given by the carhart, in that paticular case. Negotiations, you know
It's unsurprising to how many you can apply that phrase to. Many could, even for some minor changes, have a big impact on quality, but don't because they want to minimise costs to maximise profits by sellng you shit. Outdoor gear has been going the same way. Turning very rugged outdoor walking boots and turning them in to fashion-oriented generic stuff. They can still make them be fashionable but without compromising purpose.
The issue with cheapening construction on a brand that was built on quality, once you lose that and you're known for making cheap shit, it's harder to shake that reputation than it is to gain it
Thank China for that. Companies moved manufacturing to China to make cheap knockouts of their own quality products. It’s stupid and dangerous for the customers.
The bean counters run the business now. That often happens to companies that start trading on the stock market, when the entire business model turns to one focal point.... make the shareholders happy. Very surprising that Carhartt is still a privately owned company. They certainly don't act like one.
@@julianshepherd2038 but over what time frame? Sacrificing a long term asset like brand reputation to goose quarterly earnings isn't in the shareholders' interest.
I bought a pair of carhartt boots from tractor supply last year, they lasted me 3 months before the back of both boots blew out. I paid $200 for them and could have spent $50 more dollars and got a pair of Thorogoods. The place on the boots that ripped appeared to have triple stitching, upon further inspection it wasn’t stitching at all. Just glue in part of the boot that get a lot of pulling stress. I’ll never buy another paid of carhartt boots. And probably any other product
Been a railroad conductor for 19yrs in North Dakota. Every piece of Carhartt gear I have ever bought besides the heavy coats are trash. They used to be great 20+ years ago, now they just lean on their name while lowering the quality.
Use to be a garbage man and found a pair like that in the trash.they were my size and still in decent shape.took em home to rotate with my redwing 2414 to give the wings a break.i was actually impressed with them.i just wore em full time I pounded the piss out of until the sole split in the cold northern Illinois winter.
I’ve been wearing these boots for 5 years and I love them. I manufacture epoxy flooring so it’s a rough environment and I get 1 full year before they start to break down. These are probably my favorite boot for the job
You don't need heat. Avoid it in fact. Remove innersoles if present, fill the boots to ankle level with water and let them soak at least until all the seams leak. Wear them dry with thick wool socks. Repeat if necessary (I've only had to do this twice on one pair). Works best with all leather boots but can be used on composite construction as well (the pair I had to do twice were Rothco jungle boots)
I bought a pair of those boots and yes I work at a railroad. So far they have held up very well with diesel fuel, cleaner detergents and have not shown any sign of premature failure. The only problem is yes they are narrow.
As a house framer I have been buying Carrhart since the 80's. I've bought thousands of dollars worth of their gear. Unfortunately they just don't hold up like they used to so I quit buying them as much. The last sraw for me was when they forced all their employees to take the jab. Its a damn shame what they did to this brand.
I think the reality is that they looked at the market and saw what price points were selling. They called up a white label manufacturer and said we want boots in these price ranges and viola they got boots made and stayed within the margins they wanted. Just like anything, the 80% of the market drives it. Most people buying work boots have no clue what any of this means. They look at the price, then they touch the boots and as long as they look nice and they’re within the right price people will buy them. Obviously the people watching this channel know better but until we get the majority of boot buyers subscribing they’re going to keep buying this junk and they’ll keep selling it because it’s profitable.
I was gifted a pair of Carhartt 6" composite toe work boots a few years ago. The toe leather easily gouged in the cold getting in and out of UTVs and tractors, the laces shredded within 3 months, and the injection molding meeting the upper started to separate after about a year. At the two year mark, the synthetic heel material started cracking along the sole (the spot where I'd kick off my boots with the other foot, yes I know I shouldn't take off boots that way). I just went back and looked at them after watching this video, and the fabric lining has holes above the heel counter inside them as well. The 8" Heritage boots in this video are more expensive than the pair I had, and the Goodyear welt seems like an improvement, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra 60 or 70 dollars. I still don't trust the synthetic heel even if the welt keeps it from separating, and the fabric lining is just.... swampy after a while. Within the first year of ownership I told anyone that noticed my Carhartt boots to never buy footwear from them. They're basically tennis shoes dressed up to look like serious work boots. I'm now a month into switching to a pair of RedWing Supersole 2.0 (#606) and I'm hoping they last a lot longer for only about $100 more than the Carhartts. The first 3 weeks of the break in were tedious (kenesiotape to keep the blisters at bay helped), but they feel incredibly comfortable now.
Carhartt makes throw away boots for people that don't care about quality made boots. Carhartt is no different than Irish Setter and Red Wing and Timberland. They all have cut corners and use cheap materials while still charging high prices. Irish Setter's and Red Wing are now made overseas except Red Wing Heritage still made in MN. Carhartt is making their coats and shirts cheaper as well. Thanks for another good video.
I still like their Duck Canvass jackets and pants and have worn one of the jackets for 7 or 8winters straight now. It is a bit tattered but I love it and actually love how it feels and looks
Have 2 of their jackets. Beat the snot out of my arctic wear chore coat and my Detroit jacket. Years later both are worn but holding up and still see regular use. Employer equipped me with 2 FR versions of my Arctic jacket both holding up. You gotta buy the right material and be ready to pay for it. Any of the non traditional carhartt stuff? Yeah Yuppie work costumes
I just replaced a pair of Carhardt romeos...they lasted well, and were really comfortable...and fit my EEE feet. I replaced them with a pair of Georgia Boot Romeos, which are also quite comfortable, and well made...FOR THE PRICE! That's the thing...if you want a pair of White's, you will have to pay for them.By the way, White is making a very nice lower priced work boot...the Hillyard . I bought a pair on sale for $299, I think. By far the most comfortable work boot I have ever had...and I have had quite a few in 75years, working in agriculture, forestry, construction.
Now that the Yeezy combat boots are out in both colors I really hope you guys grab a pair and do a video on them. They're modeled after modern style military tactical boots and actually seem pretty decent at first glance. Name of them is: Yeezy 500 High Tactical Boot
My rule of thumb for work wear is to add a half size for boots and a half size for steel toe. For steel toe boots, I add a full size. Manufacturing overseas adds the complexity of sizes. From Amazon, I bought one pair that was a full size smaller than what was advertised. It cost me money to return for a partial reimbursement. Now I try on work shoes on before buying but there are fewer stores. However I have been lucky with some discount stores in the mall but they won’t last much longer. It’s a shame.
Many non-heritage Red Wing work boots use this construction as well. Red Wing provides a fairly cost effective resole service for them using their special equipment, although normal cobblers cannot. So that’s the value prop.
ive been construction worker more than 20 years. carhart went to shit around 2015 to me. quality went out the window as far as the work clothes. i bet they had shareholders to think about instead of the customers. not a carhart fan but thank you for the great video!!!!
So i work for a lumber/ hardware store. Menards if you're from the Midwest. I am a manager in the lumber yard part. Majority of my department wears carharrt boots. My boss also wears them. I am the only one that wears ariat boots to work. They seem to last somewhat in our work but my ariats last longer.
I truly enjoy your videos, great stuff. I’m a retired telecommunications field technician. My feet spent 33 years in boots. I spent most of the time in Red Wing, mainly because I could get a narrow boot. But my question is about a pair of boots I saw in a movie. Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet." He wore a pair of riding boots, I think they were riding boots, but these boots looked great! Could you talk about that style of boot?
I think this is not true of all of their products. If you look at their best sellers like jackets, dungarees or work pants they are still of the same if not higher quality as the ones sold in the past. The problem is they will gladly slap their name and logo on a bunch of crappy products to just be in the market, like accessories, boots, etc. All of their classic products will still last you years, just stay clear of this type of crap, it gives them a bad reputation by putting out things like this
I had a pair of Carhartt boots in my closet that I probably had worn less than a month because most of my work was writing programs until it was time to check out and start up oil and gas facilities. The Hirricane last month brought down a lot of trees, so I grab these boots, my chainsaws and proceed to go do some clean up work. I spent about 3 hours climbing around tree branches and next thing I no I'm walking without soles. The soles were disintegrating. I thought well I'll just get new soles because I had barely broke in the boots. That's when I found out they were not repairable. Never again will I buy a pair of boots or shoes for work that cannot be resoled.
The redwing supersole 2.0 is a similar construction. Ive been a wearer of the 606 for over a decade. Hands down the moat comfortable boots Ive owned. I typically get about 4 years out of a pair. I think the gyw offers strength/durability. Ive never had an issue woth the sole falling off. The only reason i replace is i wear the sole down so much and the upper is beat so much after 4 years of daily work, there wouldnt be any point to even trying a resole. Id love to see the 606 taken apart too...
Yep, bought a couple pair of Carhartt jeans, B17-DST, and two months later the material in the front just fell apart! A line about 8" long opened up diagonally from near the top of the zipper down and out at about 30*. Looked like the material just failed! Their work shirts used to fit nicely, tall size, and then someone decided to shorten them 3". Too short to stay tucked in. Dickies did the same. So after decades of Carhartt and Dickies now I have to find clothes that are worth owning. Not happy at all. The country's gone to hell.
Thanks for the video. I am thinking of another boot but much shorter for summer to kick around the yard. in wet grass. I am a retired steamfitter and love your videos on work boots and military boots(though I never served). I have had numerous Carhartt clothing items and will not be buying these boots. Peace
I had a pair they were ok pretty heavy, but yes your are 100% on yhe toe box it is super tight in there. The fabric inside covering the steel toe ripped off pretty quick and I decided it was time to throw them away
The company MUST turn a profit each quarter. Losses are not permitted, only growth. To counter that, quality and materials will drop to compensate for expansion. I'd love to have a quality work boot, but I can't drop $799 on a pair of Nicks and I can't make a $200 boot last last 4 years to compensate. 'Buy once, cry once' is valid, yes, but this is what a majority of ill-informed blue collar folks are gonna invest in because they still trust the brand.
I know you've done combat boots before, but I'd like to see Reebok rapid response side zip boots done. Mine are 5 years old. Wore them for work every day for two years. I've hiked in them and walked in then. Wore them as everyday shoes. After 5 years, the sole is not worn at all. Only issue is my cats decided to use the softer mid sole as a scratching pad. So The midsole is chewed up. They've got spray foam stuck to them. I have relaxed the insoles several times. That's it. The sole looks brand new. Would love to see your thoughts on them.
Outside of Spokane, are there any true heritage safety toe boots? Like no fabric lining, with leather insoles and leather uppers. I've looked over redwing, thorogood, Ariat, double H, Justin, among others and haven't found anything. PNW boots are great, but I don't need to lug around 10 lbs of boots for my manufacturing job, and I really enjoy wearing my cowboy boots to work until I get in trouble for not wearing safety toes.
we used to love Carhart for logging and the mills back in the 80s and 90s but when it became a fad we started getting away from them, durability definitely dropped off then they started firing their employees here in Oregon for not getting injected with a newer substance and tat was the last straw, ill burn through goodwill clothing before going against my beliefs
Maybe you can get your hands on a pair of Carhartts carter rugged flex s3 chelsea safty boots. I wore many work boots, and these seem very well made and of high quality. I wonder if some of their models are better built than others
I had a pair of Carhartt work boots a couple years ago. They were supposed to be waterproof but they leaked bad. Carhartt took them back and refunded my money. Bought a pair of Danner Quarry boots instead.
I have a few Carharrt pieces for yard work and such but if I did heavier work I’d invest in better quality. I did get some overalls over a decade ago so they were probably made in USA. But I got bored with them d gave them away! Wish I’d of kept them now. They were almost bulletproof. Edit: there’s a Kurosawa movie called High and Low about a shoe company exec who refuses to cheapen his company’s shoe quality. That’s the sub plot but I still recommend it.
I was at my local Redwing store. They told me they used to make the boots for Carhart. They said redwing quit making Carhart boots because they wanted to cut the quality so they could make more money and they quit making Carhartt boot. I have no idea who’s making them now.
Really want to see you check out Iron Age Groundbreaker 8" met guard boots. Or really any smelting boots (I LOVE the Redbacks, but they're a chunk of change AND I'd have to import them)
They're basic acrylic hats. You can get them for next to nothing, everywhere. Upgrade your hat game, get some merino wool beanies. Temp regulating, they don't get cold when wet, more breathable.
I saw a TikTok of a young pretty boy in Carhartts advertising for a GF to cook, clean his room, etc and said he offered good looks and could change oil. 😂 I wouldn’t trust him to change the oil in my salad dressing!
Had a pair of these and the rubber heel gaurd started peeling off after three months of work. Carhartt wanted me to mail the boots to them for the warranty replacement. So I had to buy another pair of work boots to wear so I could mail off the defective pair at my expense, just to see if Carhartt would warranty them. Needless to say I purchased a different brand and trashed the Carhartts!
Carhartt boots look nice on the outside, but I highly doubt many buy a 2nd pair. I had one pair, and it was the worst $150+ boots I have ever owned. I eventually tossed them, because it was painful to wear them. I picked up a pair of slightly discounted Red Wing 10875 for $211.50 yesterday, & I am already loving them. 10875 is a more affordable version of the 875, & I feel they are great value. I don't usually buy moc toe wedge sole boots, but I wanted something a little more comfortable this time around. My feet & legs just feel better when wearing Red Wings (made in America styles).
Why would someone wear a boot or shoe where there is significant heel slippage. But yeah a thin work boot that is even thin for a thin foot makes no sense. Work boots are some of the only shoes I can wear my true length size in which is around 27.0 cm or size 9. When I wear Nike I would often have to wear a size that comes in over 27.5 or even over 28 cm in length just to because of width issues. But I love my extra wide all stars and am really happy they released them
On those boot breakers. Could I buy 4 pairs and glue them together to make a super thick insole like the super awesome great ones that Rock rooster makes. I mean rockrooster insoles are like the best I have tried.
Im wearing timberland pro steel toe that i bought for 170? a year ago. So far still holding up, but id like to see em cut in half. Glue hasnt come up yet n i beat em to hell, so suprisingly decent for a random purchase. Also, these are quite warm, good for winter. 8.5M 52562 A5601 made in bengladesh
Idk about yall, but I've had the same pair of carpenter boots for 16 years, and other than the leather drying and cracking, they still pretty study. Theyve needed about 40 new pairs of laces over the years though lol
Steel nose work boot with no wide toe box but fashionable one? Never. At the end of a working day, the steel nose feels like a 'boiled egg slicer' with my wide feet. Never mind the shoddy sole construction. Bought a Carharrt winter jacket decades ago, the cat used it as a scratching pole once. Used a simple razor to remove loose fibers, hardly anything visible. Tough as nails, still looks decent. Too bad about taking the 'profit before quality' route instead of the previous 'profit after quality' route. Can't resist asking once more for your opinion on my 'Meindl Dovre Extreme gtx' hiking/hunting boots...🤙
Have pair of there slip on style for years and they not bad. I used and abused them. But there like 10yrs old and still holding up. But there products have gone down hill past few years. Sweet shirts are not have havey as the older ones. There pants are get cut smaller and made in 4 deferent places. It just become a name brand.
Yea I bought a pair of carhartt boots for work and they was horrible they lasted about 5 months and started falling apart and not comfortable at all. The shirts and jackets are pretty good though
One of the best shoes I ever had was a Carhartt Moc Toe shoe. I have been looking for another pair for over 10 years. How come nobody makes a shoe moc toe???
Never tried any Carhart boots but have worn the clothing for work as a pipefitter for the last 20+ years seems to be getting harder and harder to find the made in USA double front pants I've always purchased all I keep seeing is the made in Bangladesh stretchy junk selling for the same price that is more about comfort vs durability. Thankfully here in Winnipeg I can purchase locally made Canada West Boots and Tough Duck clothing.
I used to really love Carhartt as a brand. The problem now is so much of their line of goods is made overseas with cheap labor. The problem is that their prices are as high as if they're goods were made here in the United States. If you're going to make something overseas at a lower cost then pass that saving on to your customer.
Problem is Carhartt wants to be a North Face or Under Armour so they can charge $50 for a cheap t-shirt with the name on the front. I've watched their usually cheaper stuff go up in price to ridiculous amounts over the last few years.
Hey, I´d really like to see some clipless bike shoes in a test. Adidas has just launched their new Velo Stan lineup and while they look cool, they will probably not even last a year. In that regard, maybe also tear apart an old Pair of FiveTens (pre-Adidas) and compare them to a new pair. Would love to see a trustworthy third party taking a look in this kind of footwear.
what's crazy is Carhartt is known for their Duck canvas pants and jackets, so why not use that same duck canvas fabric to line the boots. It's going to be very durable, won't fall apart. The only con might be with it absorbing sweat, will it eventually start to stink?
How about don’t line them at all unless they’re going to be waterproof? I think that cotton duck would grab onto your socks like Velcro and give the worst blisters ever.
Made in Bangladesh should be anuff said to whether its a quality work boot or not lol if i want a long lasting quality work boot im not buying 1 from a Usa company made in Asia with under paid under skilled labour
Get the Rose Anvil Boot Breaker insole to help with that tough break in here - bit.ly/46dfjvR
Could you cut in half the redwing 2415 moc toe wedge sole
I purchased a pair of your kilties to be used with my Iron Rangers for about $25 (I believe that included shipping). They were so thin as to be useless to protect the tongue from abrasion by the back of the speed hooks. I purchased another pair of kilties from Nicks that were 2-3 times thicker for half the cost. Forgive me if I have no confidence in your insoles. Let’s see if you have enough integrity not to delete this comment.
There are 2 videos I'd love to see from you: 1) which sole type is most comfortable (Air sole, foam, Leather...etc) 2) If you lived in the Rocky Mountains and could only wear 1 boot for 5 years and had to walk/hike the mountains everyday for miles (4 to 10), which would you pick? AKA...what would be your doomsday boot?
Carhartt loggers were the first composite toe I saved up for, and they were so comfortable after years of only being able to afford Walmart and Amazon boots I thought I finally found something that could save me money and make my feet feel better, then 2 months later the sole started peeling off, one of the speed hooks ripped off and as I was gluing pieces of the boot together the heel started to come apart during a rainy day. I'll never get another Carhartt shoe or boot for the rest of my life.
Have you tried Georgia boots? I've had good experiences with a couple of pairs over the years. They don't claim to be anything high-end, but for around $150-200 they're tough,,comfortable and will last at least a good year of hard use.
Get something resole-able. Even relatively expensive boots often can’t be resoled.
Just get timbs and dont worry about anything for years after
if you like loggers the redwing loggermax is the way to go i got two pairs on sale when they were doing a model refresh $95 a pair
I feel like Carhartt has the ability to make great boots. They just choose not to.
They could make a better boot, but it’s just like anything else. It’s like quality food brands they get bought out by investment firms and gradually they just reduce the quality step-by-step over the years. And they’re not doing it just because they think lower quality food is more desirable, it’s because they’re saving money that they don’t spend in quality ingredients anymore.
Basic, bog standard capitalism.
Just email the manufacturers in Bangladesh.
I feel like Carhartt doesn't actually make the boots. And that's why they are how they are. It would cost too much for Carhartt to invest in manufacturing their own boots but consumers still want Carhartt boots so this is what we get. Boots that are no better or worse than all the other trash boots in the price range.
He will do exactly what he is paid for. There are quality shoes and boots made in bangladesh or whatever. Design, materials and all quality details are given by the carhart, in that paticular case. Negotiations, you know
It's unsurprising to how many you can apply that phrase to. Many could, even for some minor changes, have a big impact on quality, but don't because they want to minimise costs to maximise profits by sellng you shit. Outdoor gear has been going the same way. Turning very rugged outdoor walking boots and turning them in to fashion-oriented generic stuff. They can still make them be fashionable but without compromising purpose.
The issue with cheapening construction on a brand that was built on quality, once you lose that and you're known for making cheap shit, it's harder to shake that reputation than it is to gain it
I've noticed that with a lot of car parts recently. A lot of formerly popular brands have permanently lost customers.
Thank China for that. Companies moved manufacturing to China to make cheap knockouts of their own quality products. It’s stupid and dangerous for the customers.
The only pair of work boots I threw away before they wore out.
Did that with a pair of Keen.
The bean counters run the business now. That often happens to companies that start trading on the stock market, when the entire business model turns to one focal point.... make the shareholders happy. Very surprising that Carhartt is still a privately owned company. They certainly don't act like one.
Their primary customer now isn't the worker. Its the work fashion customer now
Legally, maximising return to shareholders is what the company is about.
@@julianshepherd2038 but over what time frame? Sacrificing a long term asset like brand reputation to goose quarterly earnings isn't in the shareholders' interest.
@@dirtyblueshirt it is, it's all about seeing the line go up
@@steveweast475 It is until it isn't... You destroy the reputation, sales will eventually decline, possibly plummet.
I bought a pair of carhartt boots from tractor supply last year, they lasted me 3 months before the back of both boots blew out. I paid $200 for them and could have spent $50 more dollars and got a pair of Thorogoods. The place on the boots that ripped appeared to have triple stitching, upon further inspection it wasn’t stitching at all. Just glue in part of the boot that get a lot of pulling stress.
I’ll never buy another paid of carhartt boots. And probably any other product
damn dawg, shoulda gotchu a pair a 8in. Carolina's. What trade are you in, in construction?
Been a railroad conductor for 19yrs in North Dakota. Every piece of Carhartt gear I have ever bought besides the heavy coats are trash. They used to be great 20+ years ago, now they just lean on their name while lowering the quality.
Fashion brand these days. Same happened with Timberland back in the day.
Everyone company is doing that sadly
The heavy coats are the only things I buy from them anymore. I have one that is 12 years old and it’s still holding up strong.
Use to be a garbage man and found a pair like that in the trash.they were my size and still in decent shape.took em home to rotate with my redwing 2414 to give the wings a break.i was actually impressed with them.i just wore em full time I pounded the piss out of until the sole split in the cold northern Illinois winter.
I’ve been wearing these boots for 5 years and I love them. I manufacture epoxy flooring so it’s a rough environment and I get 1 full year before they start to break down. These are probably my favorite boot for the job
These are a money grab. Thar's why they put a banner down the side.
I’d love to see a video on whether it’s possible to shrink a boot that’s too big with water and heat!
You don't need heat. Avoid it in fact. Remove innersoles if present, fill the boots to ankle level with water and let them soak at least until all the seams leak. Wear them dry with thick wool socks. Repeat if necessary (I've only had to do this twice on one pair). Works best with all leather boots but can be used on composite construction as well (the pair I had to do twice were Rothco jungle boots)
I bought a pair of those boots and yes I work at a railroad. So far they have held up very well with diesel fuel, cleaner detergents and have not shown any sign of premature failure. The only problem is yes they are narrow.
As a house framer I have been buying Carrhart since the 80's. I've bought thousands of dollars worth of their gear. Unfortunately they just don't hold up like they used to so I quit buying them as much. The last sraw for me was when they forced all their employees to take the jab. Its a damn shame what they did to this brand.
I think the reality is that they looked at the market and saw what price points were selling. They called up a white label manufacturer and said we want boots in these price ranges and viola they got boots made and stayed within the margins they wanted.
Just like anything, the 80% of the market drives it. Most people buying work boots have no clue what any of this means. They look at the price, then they touch the boots and as long as they look nice and they’re within the right price people will buy them.
Obviously the people watching this channel know better but until we get the majority of boot buyers subscribing they’re going to keep buying this junk and they’ll keep selling it because it’s profitable.
Bingo. That was my first thought, this is white-label, not Carhartt-designed.
I was gifted a pair of Carhartt 6" composite toe work boots a few years ago. The toe leather easily gouged in the cold getting in and out of UTVs and tractors, the laces shredded within 3 months, and the injection molding meeting the upper started to separate after about a year. At the two year mark, the synthetic heel material started cracking along the sole (the spot where I'd kick off my boots with the other foot, yes I know I shouldn't take off boots that way). I just went back and looked at them after watching this video, and the fabric lining has holes above the heel counter inside them as well.
The 8" Heritage boots in this video are more expensive than the pair I had, and the Goodyear welt seems like an improvement, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra 60 or 70 dollars. I still don't trust the synthetic heel even if the welt keeps it from separating, and the fabric lining is just.... swampy after a while.
Within the first year of ownership I told anyone that noticed my Carhartt boots to never buy footwear from them. They're basically tennis shoes dressed up to look like serious work boots.
I'm now a month into switching to a pair of RedWing Supersole 2.0 (#606) and I'm hoping they last a lot longer for only about $100 more than the Carhartts. The first 3 weeks of the break in were tedious (kenesiotape to keep the blisters at bay helped), but they feel incredibly comfortable now.
Carhartt makes throw away boots for people that don't care about quality made boots. Carhartt is no different than Irish Setter and Red Wing and Timberland. They all have cut corners and use cheap materials while still charging high prices. Irish Setter's and Red Wing are now made overseas except Red Wing Heritage still made in MN. Carhartt is making their coats and shirts cheaper as well. Thanks for another good video.
Love that Charley Crockett t-shirt my man!
I still like their Duck Canvass jackets and pants and have worn one of the jackets for 7 or 8winters straight now. It is a bit tattered but I love it and actually love how it feels and looks
Carhartt products are nothing like they used to be. Yuppie costumes instead of work gear.
They have two or three different levels of goods. Their USA made products are still great. The overseas ones are more in the fashion category.
cheap junk made overseas for maximum profit. I'll never buy another Carhartt product.
Exactly
4 wks and my overalls are falling apart. On a positive note they fit perfectly, hugging all my curves.
Have 2 of their jackets. Beat the snot out of my arctic wear chore coat and my Detroit jacket. Years later both are worn but holding up and still see regular use. Employer equipped me with 2 FR versions of my Arctic jacket both holding up. You gotta buy the right material and be ready to pay for it. Any of the non traditional carhartt stuff? Yeah Yuppie work costumes
Good video, great catch on the toe box. I wouldn't even want to try them on, I know it would be painful on my wide toes!
I just replaced a pair of Carhardt romeos...they lasted well, and were really comfortable...and fit my EEE feet. I replaced them with a pair of Georgia Boot Romeos, which are also quite comfortable, and well made...FOR THE PRICE! That's the thing...if you want a pair of White's, you will have to pay for them.By the way, White is making a very nice lower priced work boot...the Hillyard . I bought a pair on sale for $299, I think. By far the most comfortable work boot I have ever had...and I have had quite a few in 75years, working in agriculture, forestry, construction.
Now that the Yeezy combat boots are out in both colors I really hope you guys grab a pair and do a video on them. They're modeled after modern style military tactical boots and actually seem pretty decent at first glance.
Name of them is: Yeezy 500 High Tactical Boot
Would be funny if the best value boot came from…Kanye West…
My rule of thumb for work wear is to add a half size for boots and a half size for steel toe. For steel toe boots, I add a full size.
Manufacturing overseas adds the complexity of sizes. From Amazon, I bought one pair that was a full size smaller than what was advertised. It cost me money to return for a partial reimbursement.
Now I try on work shoes on before buying but there are fewer stores. However I have been lucky with some discount stores in the mall but they won’t last much longer. It’s a shame.
Many non-heritage Red Wing work boots use this construction as well. Red Wing provides a fairly cost effective resole service for them using their special equipment, although normal cobblers cannot. So that’s the value prop.
ive been construction worker more than 20 years. carhart went to shit around 2015 to me. quality went out the window as far as the work clothes. i bet they had shareholders to think about instead of the customers. not a carhart fan but thank you for the great video!!!!
So i work for a lumber/ hardware store. Menards if you're from the Midwest. I am a manager in the lumber yard part. Majority of my department wears carharrt boots. My boss also wears them. I am the only one that wears ariat boots to work. They seem to last somewhat in our work but my ariats last longer.
I truly enjoy your videos, great stuff. I’m a retired telecommunications field technician. My feet spent 33 years in boots. I spent most of the time in Red Wing, mainly because I could get a narrow boot. But my question is about a pair of boots I saw in a movie. Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet." He wore a pair of riding boots, I think they were riding boots, but these boots looked great! Could you talk about that style of boot?
I think this is not true of all of their products. If you look at their best sellers like jackets, dungarees or work pants they are still of the same if not higher quality as the ones sold in the past. The problem is they will gladly slap their name and logo on a bunch of crappy products to just be in the market, like accessories, boots, etc. All of their classic products will still last you years, just stay clear of this type of crap, it gives them a bad reputation by putting out things like this
I'm still fascinated on how sharp that knife is
Ah good to know about the toe box, those are a no go for me then. Much apreciated.
Thanks for another excellent and informative episode.
I had a pair of Carhartt boots in my closet that I probably had worn less than a month because most of my work was writing programs until it was time to check out and start up oil and gas facilities. The Hirricane last month brought down a lot of trees, so I grab these boots, my chainsaws and proceed to go do some clean up work. I spent about 3 hours climbing around tree branches and next thing I no I'm walking without soles. The soles were disintegrating. I thought well I'll just get new soles because I had barely broke in the boots. That's when I found out they were not repairable. Never again will I buy a pair of boots or shoes for work that cannot be resoled.
I'm pretty sold on Jim Green they are pretty impressive
The redwing supersole 2.0 is a similar construction. Ive been a wearer of the 606 for over a decade. Hands down the moat comfortable boots Ive owned. I typically get about 4 years out of a pair. I think the gyw offers strength/durability. Ive never had an issue woth the sole falling off. The only reason i replace is i wear the sole down so much and the upper is beat so much after 4 years of daily work, there wouldnt be any point to even trying a resole. Id love to see the 606 taken apart too...
Yep, bought a couple pair of Carhartt jeans, B17-DST, and two months later the material in the front just fell apart! A line about 8" long opened up diagonally from near the top of the zipper down and out at about 30*. Looked like the material just failed! Their work shirts used to fit nicely, tall size, and then someone decided to shorten them 3". Too short to stay tucked in. Dickies did the same.
So after decades of Carhartt and Dickies now I have to find clothes that are worth owning.
Not happy at all. The country's gone to hell.
Wall’s and Duluth Trading Co.
Thanks for the video. I am thinking of another boot but much shorter for summer to kick around the yard. in wet grass. I am a retired steamfitter and love your videos on work boots and military boots(though I never served). I have had numerous Carhartt clothing items and will not be buying these boots. Peace
I remeber saving up for the carhartt work jacket and pants. They were so durable and warm.
Now i see Carhartt and think "junk".
Just another fashion brand, nothing blue collar about it
I had a pair they were ok pretty heavy, but yes your are 100% on yhe toe box it is super tight in there. The fabric inside covering the steel toe ripped off pretty quick and I decided it was time to throw them away
The company MUST turn a profit each quarter. Losses are not permitted, only growth. To counter that, quality and materials will drop to compensate for expansion. I'd love to have a quality work boot, but I can't drop $799 on a pair of Nicks and I can't make a $200 boot last last 4 years to compensate. 'Buy once, cry once' is valid, yes, but this is what a majority of ill-informed blue collar folks are gonna invest in because they still trust the brand.
Drew's, nearly half the price.
I know you've done combat boots before, but I'd like to see Reebok rapid response side zip boots done. Mine are 5 years old. Wore them for work every day for two years. I've hiked in them and walked in then. Wore them as everyday shoes. After 5 years, the sole is not worn at all. Only issue is my cats decided to use the softer mid sole as a scratching pad. So The midsole is chewed up. They've got spray foam stuck to them. I have relaxed the insoles several times. That's it. The sole looks brand new. Would love to see your thoughts on them.
I have the CARHARTT WYLIE RUGGED FLEX
Working boots. By far the best, most comfortable I have owned.
Outside of Spokane, are there any true heritage safety toe boots? Like no fabric lining, with leather insoles and leather uppers. I've looked over redwing, thorogood, Ariat, double H, Justin, among others and haven't found anything. PNW boots are great, but I don't need to lug around 10 lbs of boots for my manufacturing job, and I really enjoy wearing my cowboy boots to work until I get in trouble for not wearing safety toes.
we used to love Carhart for logging and the mills back in the 80s and 90s but when it became a fad we started getting away from them, durability definitely dropped off then they started firing their employees here in Oregon for not getting injected with a newer substance and tat was the last straw, ill burn through goodwill clothing before going against my beliefs
Maybe you can get your hands on a pair of Carhartts carter rugged flex s3 chelsea safty boots. I wore many work boots, and these seem very well made and of high quality. I wonder if some of their models are better built than others
I have this exact boot. Stopped wearing it due to the front being too narrow and the boot too heavy for me.
I had a pair of Carhartt work boots a couple years ago. They were supposed to be waterproof but they leaked bad. Carhartt took them back and refunded my money. Bought a pair of Danner Quarry boots instead.
Try looking into Diadora shoes. They have full grain leather on Heritage line.
Great content Weston could you cut in half the redwing 2415 moc toe wedge sole
I have a few Carharrt pieces for yard work and such but if I did heavier work I’d invest in better quality. I did get some overalls over a decade ago so they were probably made in USA. But I got bored with them d gave them away! Wish I’d of kept them now. They were almost bulletproof.
Edit: there’s a Kurosawa movie called High and Low about a shoe company exec who refuses to cheapen his company’s shoe quality. That’s the sub plot but I still recommend it.
You should test the tactical sketchers workboot. Also any recommendations for an aftermarket insole that are actually comfortable?
Carhartt brand all together went to hell. The bibs are junk
I was at my local Redwing store. They told me they used to make the boots for Carhart. They said redwing quit making Carhart boots because they wanted to cut the quality so they could make more money and they quit making Carhartt boot. I have no idea who’s making them now.
I think the guy running Carhartt is following the same path that Sears did and we all know how that ended.
Could you review the Carolina 7011 boot. Haven’t seen much Carolina moc toe reviews
Or the CA8628 unlined.
Really want to see you check out Iron Age Groundbreaker 8" met guard boots. Or really any smelting boots (I LOVE the Redbacks, but they're a chunk of change AND I'd have to import them)
I own 2 carhartt beanie hats. They are warm in the winter and they are cheap, under $15.
I would never spend $190 on their boots.
They're basic acrylic hats. You can get them for next to nothing, everywhere. Upgrade your hat game, get some merino wool beanies. Temp regulating, they don't get cold when wet, more breathable.
Carharrt is now for people that don't work or get dirty
Like the meme says “everybody wants to wear Carhartt, until it’s time to do Carhartt shit.”
I saw a TikTok of a young pretty boy in Carhartts advertising for a GF to cook, clean his room, etc and said he offered good looks and could change oil. 😂 I wouldn’t trust him to change the oil in my salad dressing!
Had a pair of these and the rubber heel gaurd started peeling off after three months of work. Carhartt wanted me to mail the boots to them for the warranty replacement. So I had to buy another pair of work boots to wear so I could mail off the defective pair at my expense, just to see if Carhartt would warranty them. Needless to say I purchased a different brand and trashed the Carhartts!
I haven’t watched video yet but let me guess answer to question posed is “Private Equity”
you can get timberlands for the same price and they perform as good or better and are a lot more comfier and wider
Carhartt boots look nice on the outside, but I highly doubt many buy a 2nd pair. I had one pair, and it was the worst $150+ boots I have ever owned. I eventually tossed them, because it was painful to wear them. I picked up a pair of slightly discounted Red Wing 10875 for $211.50 yesterday, & I am already loving them. 10875 is a more affordable version of the 875, & I feel they are great value. I don't usually buy moc toe wedge sole boots, but I wanted something a little more comfortable this time around. My feet & legs just feel better when wearing Red Wings (made in America styles).
I don't even think they look nice on the outside.
Can you get a pair of double h boots to cut in half? Im curious to see the construction since they are made in Pennsylvania
Why would someone wear a boot or shoe where there is significant heel slippage. But yeah a thin work boot that is even thin for a thin foot makes no sense. Work boots are some of the only shoes I can wear my true length size in which is around 27.0 cm or size 9. When I wear Nike I would often have to wear a size that comes in over 27.5 or even over 28 cm in length just to because of width issues. But I love my extra wide all stars and am really happy they released them
On those boot breakers. Could I buy 4 pairs and glue them together to make a super thick insole like the super awesome great ones that Rock rooster makes. I mean rockrooster insoles are like the best I have tried.
I never had an issue with carhartts flannel shirts they're tough for work and keep me warm
but their boots I choose thorogoods I don't trust carhartts
Please do a video on Carolina 10" linesman boots...
Could you please do a review on my favorite hot weather Boots.
Rocky S2V Enhanced Jungle boots.
Im wearing timberland pro steel toe that i bought for 170? a year ago. So far still holding up, but id like to see em cut in half. Glue hasnt come up yet n i beat em to hell, so suprisingly decent for a random purchase. Also, these are quite warm, good for winter.
8.5M 52562 A5601 made in bengladesh
Idk about yall, but I've had the same pair of carpenter boots for 16 years, and other than the leather drying and cracking, they still pretty study. Theyve needed about 40 new pairs of laces over the years though lol
Steel nose work boot with no wide toe box but fashionable one?
Never. At the end of a working day, the steel nose feels like a 'boiled egg slicer' with my wide feet.
Never mind the shoddy sole construction.
Bought a Carharrt winter jacket decades ago, the cat used it as a scratching pole once.
Used a simple razor to remove loose fibers, hardly anything visible.
Tough as nails, still looks decent.
Too bad about taking the 'profit before quality' route instead of the previous 'profit after quality' route.
Can't resist asking once more for your opinion on my 'Meindl Dovre Extreme gtx' hiking/hunting boots...🤙
I only them for cold weather gear which are high quality.
Have pair of there slip on style for years and they not bad. I used and abused them. But there like 10yrs old and still holding up. But there products have gone down hill past few years. Sweet shirts are not have havey as the older ones. There pants are get cut smaller and made in 4 deferent places. It just become a name brand.
Chinahartt
hey, nice video. I was wondering, will you test the new air max dn?
Yea I bought a pair of carhartt boots for work and they was horrible they lasted about 5 months and started falling apart and not comfortable at all. The shirts and jackets are pretty good though
One of the best shoes I ever had was a Carhartt Moc Toe shoe. I have been looking for another pair for over 10 years. How come nobody makes a shoe moc toe???
I WANT to like the Carhartt brand but the prices keep rising and the quality falls.
Review the Keen Cincinnatis next!
Never tried any Carhart boots but have worn the clothing for work as a pipefitter for the last 20+ years seems to be getting harder and harder to find the made in USA double front pants I've always purchased all I keep seeing is the made in Bangladesh stretchy junk selling for the same price that is more about comfort vs durability. Thankfully here in Winnipeg I can purchase locally made Canada West Boots and Tough Duck clothing.
I used to really love Carhartt as a brand. The problem now is so much of their line of goods is made overseas with cheap labor. The problem is that their prices are as high as if they're goods were made here in the United States. If you're going to make something overseas at a lower cost then pass that saving on to your customer.
Could you kindly do the Mizuno Wave Rider Beta next please? ☀️
A name built over century milked dry in no time.
Did anyone else see Toaster? @7:40 Mr Toast said 'peace out'!
Problem is Carhartt wants to be a North Face or Under Armour so they can charge $50 for a cheap t-shirt with the name on the front. I've watched their usually cheaper stuff go up in price to ridiculous amounts over the last few years.
Fortunately their tshirts are still awesome.
Nd4 is next week and we don't even have a final version yet. Let us seeee
Wow i was about to try and make a super thin comfy insole for my shoe but you got one right there hmmm lets see the pricing 3:06
Hey, I´d really like to see some clipless bike shoes in a test. Adidas has just launched their new Velo Stan lineup and while they look cool, they will probably not even last a year. In that regard, maybe also tear apart an old Pair of FiveTens (pre-Adidas) and compare them to a new pair. Would love to see a trustworthy third party taking a look in this kind of footwear.
Honest to God my feet are shaped liked that. I never understood why some people cant stand steel toes. They fit me perfect 😂
Do I have to remove the original insole or just lay it on top or under?
Had them, literally the most uncomfortable boots I've ever worn.
Can you review the TM89628 MEN'S TIMBERLAND PRO BOONDOCK SAFETY TOE?
Money over quality the motto of most companies in the 21st century.
Drews boots......PLEASE!!!!!
Isn’t this construction similar to the Red Wing Supersole?
Can you please do a series on ad tec boots?
That toe box is horrible 🤣 Have they tried to wear these for 12 hrs for a few weeks at a time? It kills your feet man.
what's crazy is Carhartt is known for their Duck canvas pants and jackets, so why not use that same duck canvas fabric to line the boots. It's going to be very durable, won't fall apart. The only con might be with it absorbing sweat, will it eventually start to stink?
Because they aren't making the boots or even working closely with any manufacturer.
How about don’t line them at all unless they’re going to be waterproof?
I think that cotton duck would grab onto your socks like Velcro and give the worst blisters ever.
Made in Bangladesh should be anuff said to whether its a quality work boot or not lol if i want a long lasting quality work boot im not buying 1 from a Usa company made in Asia with under paid under skilled labour
I never owned a pair of their boots but I had a book bag from them shit started slowly falling apart especially around the zippers