Here's the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you! Skechers: no longer available with steel toe Keen: amzn.to/3dHPLNv Carhartt: amzn.to/3hfeATf OUXX: amzn.to/40QleVb Timberland: amzn.to/36bxuEa Irish Setter: amzn.to/3wkj5A6 Caterpillar: amzn.to/367Eoua Condor: amzn.to/3hA2TFp Wolverine: amzn.to/3hh9SEC Dickies: amzn.to/3ykZilz
There is a reason I keep seeing people mentioned "I want to see Project Farm test this." You have singlehandedly become the consumer reports all DIYers wanted. Great job as always.
I think CR sold themselves to companies paying them for better product placement of their brands. They have a few different results on some products presented here, but I have not seen any proof of their claims like we have here on PF.
I feel like PF does his best to have fair, unbiased testing and gives us accurate results. There has been more than once I have re-watched a video before making a product purchase
I'm surprised that Skechers did such a good job they probably raised their price after seeing this. I really appreciate being able to see your channel on RUclips.
good gear costs money. I've worked construction/carpentry in Keens... 1st pair lasted a good amount of time, 2nd and 3rd pair barely a year: holes in uppers, threads giving out and the soles lugs delaminating. Never again. I had to switch to an old pair of redwing work boots from the late 80's. Guess what. They're great. Finally resoled them at Redwing for $175. Worth it.
One of the coolest things about this guy? I subbed when he had only a few thousand, but he hasn't changed a bit. He did just as good a job then as he does now. This is the best "real-world" testing on youtube. Sure it's not scientific, as I was told once by someone, but who cares if the humidity level is 1% higher or the temp is 5° hotter throughout the testing. I'd rather see this than testing in some lab.
@@pamike4873 I'd contend it is scientific, in that he's changing only one variable at a time (the product), per test. I learned a lot about masking tape and paint from PF!
Been through Skechers, Wolverines, a half dozen more Skechers, Red Wings, Georgia Boots, and probably going back to Skechers next time. Glad to see your tests reflect what I've learned over the years. Great vid, thanks for putting it together.
Ive been a coal miner for nearly 20 yrs. I’ve tried Carhartt, RedWing, Danner, Wolverine, and Timberline. While none of them lasted more than 6 months underground Timberland Pro by far are the most Comfortable.
you must have went cheap with the Danners because my 400.00 quarry boots have lasted 4 yrs on construction sites ,and are so comfortable I wear them walking my dog (1400 miles in last 20 months) and they still have original laces .Danner by far the best.
Yeah Red Wings definitely don't make sense in a scenario like that. They take 6 months to a year to break in at least before they're comfortable. Once they're broken in they are very comfortable though.
When you wear boots all day, every day, cost isn't near as important as quality, protection and comfort. They're a tool and having a cheap wrench slip is no different from being sore from cheap boots. But more expensive isn't always better. Also from experience as a field service equipment mechanic, high ankle protection is important for working in rough terrain.
I put work boot to the test and won't consider boots that cost under $200 a poor buy. Also, they have to be made in the USA. Brands like Whites and Grizzly are among the best.
@@dennisgonzalez4562 They do make a great boot with almost no break in time, but I've noticed with mine that when working in winter conditions these boots get very cold. Not sure if they make an insulated boot.
Unfortunately they do not make boots in my size. I'm 12 EE or EEEE but I just about tried on every boot and shoe in the RW store that was near my size and none fit right. Only a few brands make shoes in my size, and Skechers is one of them.
For the next round, how about comparing high end boots? Carolina, Keen, Doc Martin, Ariat, Red Wing, etc. I'd definitely be interested in seeing that comparison test!
Doc Marten boots are priced for style, not quality. Especially in recent years the quality has taken a dive, but I wore them throughout my teens, going back a few decades and they were never tough boots. Comfortable for sure, and lightweight, so great if you're on your feet all day. But the uppers are thin, I've punched holes through the back of the heelcap just walking in the woods before now, and that's the thickest leather on the boot by far. The soles aren't terribly durable and a nail goes clean through them with very little pressure. Definitely fashion footwear rather than working footwear, especially the more recently made models. The Goodyear welt is about the only quality part of them now. I've never had a sole come away from the boot, in all fairness lol.
There mote like running shoes with a composit toe. I wear them at work. They hold up very well. and comfortable. Mine last over a year depending on how wet they get everyday. I walk about 8 to 10 miles each day at work on hard surfaces. Industial HVAC.
I have had a pair of sketchers for about seven months now, and they are holding up very well. They are composite toe but the places I visit say they're okay. I like the composite because I don't have to remove them at the airport security, though they probably aren't as strong as steel. I was always worried if steel got crushed, it may trap my toes in the shoe, but it looks like they bounce back which is nice. In my industry, though, they are only needed by me to walk through work areas until I get to a lab where there aren't many drop hazards of heavy items, so they seem a good compromise. I too have had pretty expensive work boots which fall apart after six months and that sucks since I don't work with harsh materials / environments. The boots I had prior to the sketchers made my feet hurt and I ended up having to go to a podiatrist and get an injection in my foot. Size matters a lot!
I would like to see some American made ones in there. Thorogood, Redwing, Justin's, Carolina's, etc... there are US made and China made of those boot brands that might be a good video
I bought a pair of Carolina's last year because they partnered with Diresta. I was under the impression that they were American made. The pair I got definitely says "Made in Vietnam". They are just okay compared to the Redwings that they replaced.
Been wearing Carolinas for 8 years now, Walmart brand lasts about 2 -3 weeks, the Carolinas have consistently lasted a year although the quality went down a little when went to overseas manufacturers
I got and ad for indestructible shoes watching this video lol... also I have seen so many people wear Crocs on everything from construction sites to the more popular setting, restaurant kitchens! That was a great pick and not very far fetched !! These are very clever and amazing tests! I check your channel every time I'm going to buy anything.
I had a trucker fellow, man that guy wore Crocs ALL the time. One time guy got out of the truck in Crocs in -7°C with 5cm snow and walked around like its completly normal
Seems like for me they last about 6 months b4 theres wear on the bottoms of my skechers, but for the price and comfort its worth it. Just gotta buy more every 6-9 months.
@@Leafmate79 That's because the really cheap brands use a cloth "sock" and simply glue the shoe together, even though it may appear to be stitched. Thus far (about a year out), I've had pretty good luck with my Merrell Vibram-soled trail shoes. But yeah, Carhartt ain't what it used to be--and neither is Pendleton. Both brands moved production offshore with the predictable decline in quality. Used to be that the standard wintertime hiking gear included a Pendelton wool shirt--made from US wool in the US. Now, Pendleton is just a name... Could be that both marketing outfits figured that the memory of quality would fade and the public would be content with something that approached trash. Daddy left me with this sage advice that hasn't steered me wrong in the decades since he's been gone: "Never buy cheap shoes--they're not worth the pain".
I don't buy the $50 Walmart ones; I get the boots off their website (more like $100). They are much more durable and look nicer as well - mine last 1.5 - 2 years before needing replaced. Something like this: www.skechers.com/men/shoes/work-argum-st-wp/200034.html
I wear keen boots. Found them years ago and fell in love with the asymmetrical toe box. If you have wide feet and big toes with huge calluses from years of wearing regular steel toe boots try keen they are twice as comfortable as the redwing or danner boots I used to wear.
I kept tearing my Keens up after 6 months (went through 5 pairs), finally switched to a Danner track welt and am still wearing them a year later! The toe box is huge and super roomy, but the sole is a bit firmer so takes some getting used to
I love how thorough you have always been and your content is evergreen. Please never take down any video unless it doesn't stand up to your standards or needs an update. Thanks for always being straight to the point, informative, and also entertaining.
I wish there wouldve been a durability test from repeated flexing simulating walking. Most of my boots come apart at the seams or the soles fall off. In conjunction with that test, a water proof test. Maybe submerge the boots in water after 5000 bends, 10000 bends, 20000 bends, etc. Great job as usual
This is what I was thinking. Most of my boots physically fall apart after 6-8 months. Occasionally I’ve tried brands that fell apart after just a couple of months so these days I generally spend the extra on more expensive boots and consistently get at least 6 months. Our brands here in Australia are different to American brands so I’m basically watching this video for curiosity reasons lol
I think you’d have to do a few more bends than that. I can easily walk 10000 steps in a single day, so just 6 months’ worth would be over a million bends.
I used to have an “argument” with my Brother about boots. He would buy cheap boots and go through a minimum of two pairs a year. I buy Danners and usually get 5-6 years out of each pair. Yes I paid around $300 per pair but he was paying $40 a pair. $80 a year. 5years at $80 equals $400. He seemed to always have foot pain with those cheap boots while my Danners were comfortable from the beginning. I was on concrete 8 hours a day. Retired now and I have Danners that I bought 10 years ago as the agency I was part of bought us boots every year. I wear my Danner Fort Lewis boots for dress and my regular Danners for every day wear. I refuse to wear cheap boots.
Though useless advice for construction sites, when it comes to "long standing" jobs, decent running shoes can also put up a good year or two with confort
I have to disagree about work boots being used up after a year. I still wear a pair of my Danners that I wore in my work that I bought in 2016. I worked in diesel and road oils during the summer and cutting brush and other jobs during the times we couldn’t work on the roads. I spent the last 10 years of my career as a oil distributor operator and was continually exposed to chemicals that deteriorated lesser boots.
Does work boots in the states have a steel plate in the soles.. Here in Canada, most have steel toe and plate. They are tagged with a green triangle. Steel toe only are blue triangle..
Thank you for you precision and “to the point “ reviews. I just subscribed a week ago and have used your reviews on ceramic auto coating and headlight restoration to purchase products. I use ConsumerReports, and equate your testing as good or probably better than theirs. Thanks!
I used to wear the caterpillars & they would wear out in 6 months, then I switched to Red Wings which last about 3 years or more. The replaceable insoles maintain the comfort level even longer. So in the big picture The more expensive boots are cheaper.
I think that without testing the durability of the outsole of the boots that this test is not complete. Skechers shoes have by far the weakest outsoles of any shoes, sneakers, or boots that I've ever purchased. You'll be lucky if you get 3 months of us before the outsole cracks in half of wears off in some other way. The recommendation for Skecher work boots is not doing anyone want favors in the long run.
Not work boots but I have some Hanwag walking boots. Just having them resoled after 10 years. Expensive but very comfortable and long lasting. Expensive and high quality can be cheaper in the long run.
@@nieczerwony I've had many pair of working boots and sneakers outsoles either split it wear out in less than 3 months. I stopped buying them because it was like throwing money in the trash. They are a garbage product from my own personal experience. You may have had a different experience than me. That's why I was saying that without testing the outsoles in this video, he shouldn't be recommend any of the boots. Skechers is a garbage brand from my experience. My brother also had the same experience as me and he stopped buying that brand as well.
@@gt5228z not true, Irish setter is a sub brand that is owned by the same owners of redwing but they are not the same boot and certainly not the same quality. The majority of redwing boots are USA made Irish setter doesn’t manufacture a single USA made boot. Irish setter is a lower quality cheaper brand
I was surprised as well. I've always viewed them as a fashion/gimmick brand only about looks. I've only had one pair of shoes from them and they were awful.
@@donhappel9566 Acually Sketchers built its reputation on being comfortable/functional first (subjective I know). Then later they became fashionable in the 90s, similarly to Dr Martin's which used to make excellent quality, long lasting comfortable boots (one could include Dickies in there too. Pop culture got both brands and they shifted marketing for a while. They don't quit make the workwear like they used to.
I love project farm. Been watching for years now and really appreciate the honest and unbiased opinions as well as the creativity he uses in the tests. You can tell he is a true salt of the earth man and I consider him a kindred spirit. Keep up the great work and thanks for being here.
Great testing - thanks for the comparisons! Unfortunately, as far as comfort, which is super important, the boots would have to be worn and evaluated after a 12-hour shift of similar work, like walking or working on hard concrete surface such as in a factory, or work requiring lots of shoveling or similar constant impact. And of course, months of use would be needed to prove the longevity of comfort. Trying them on and walking around the room is not an adequate test for comfort.
Maybe in the future, project farm can find a way to automate testing long term. For example weighing them down and running them on a treadmill for days at a time and then wearing them on his feet at the end to see how comfortable they are . I don’t think it a reasonable for him to wear each one of them for a long time but there’s ways to test wear.
Personally speaking from experience, I feel the best boots for 9-hour factory shifts are Thoroughgood moc-toe wedge soles. They are fantastic boots for standing on flat concrete for hours on end - for outside work I prefer red wings or something else with more tread on the soles
I love that Keen is finally getting the recognition it deserves through your videos. I'd love to see Keen against other well regarded and similarly priced boots such as Danners and Thorogoods. Awesome video! Thanks for testing!
I had never heard of the Keen brand until I bought a pair of composite toe shoes on Amazon last week. One of the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. Working as a mechanic for a John Deere dealer and on my feet most of the day, comfort and the composite toe were the biggest deals for me.
@@guillermotejeda692 3 years on one pair with quite a bit of usage and 2 years on another pair with a bit less usage. I use one with a leather upper and carbon fiber toe for motorcycle riding and the other with an aluminum toe for work where I'll be stepping on hazardous & biological material and walking a lot. They both definitely have wear and look beat, but functionality remains unchanged. Still completely waterproof, protective, & comfortable.
I'm honestly surprised that a $51 pair of boots managed to hold up in almost every category. The Sketchers seem to do everything I need a pair of boots to do so I might end up getting them in the future.
@@timchamberlin9280 Sketchers for a few years did suck, but I think they have improved. I am shocked how they performed, so looks like they have actually done somethings to improve.
I bought some Sketchers about a year ago and I have to admit they are Very Comfortable. Unfortunately my job doesn't put them through rigorous testing so I can't speak to that, but they are still going strong from normal wear and tear.
as a field marine engineer, is really nice to come here and see that my preferred boots brand is actually the best performing by the best youtube tester... Keen boots are ridiculous expensive but if you want one that you can seriously rely on... pay for it and you won't regret! =)
I had keens and paid 225 for them, they lasted about 8 months before the bottom sole split in half towards the front of the boots, ive consistently gotten 18 months out of my timberland pro helix HD’s(180$), had 3 pairs of timberlands so far and decided to try the keens, big mistake, took a month before they even broke in, timberland are the most comfortable boot I’ve ever worn from day one. ✌️ I do seamless gutters so a lot of ladder climbing
@@kcin2der18 well... that's interesting... for me is exactly the opposite... my last two pairs of timberland (which i used to love) torn apart really fast... then I tried one caterpillar, which is decent but can't handle the severe condition of my work environment... then 4 months ago I decided to go for Keen again (I tried keen few years ago) and I'm loving it, ultra comfortable, nice temperature feeling (even during japan summer) and handles awesomely well on the heavy duty job of mine... perhaps you got a bad batch... or i'm lucky and got a good one...
I know it’s subjective, but a lot of the tradesmen I work with, including myself, go for thorogood boots. I would have liked to see those, red wings, Carolinas and maybe an Ariat.
In the new construction trades in Northern California the boots I see most often are Danner, Redwing, Thorogood, Ariat, and (sometimes) Keen. Typically anyone wearing a lower end boot is either a manager type who only puts on boots when they want to walk the site, or an apprentice.
I work in mining and my locker has three pairs of boots below it at work. Two are Keens, that's how much I trust them. They've got nice wide toe boxes and the composite toe caps are awesome. My last pair of Gore Tex lined Red Wings lasted about 6 months.
Keen, the USA made one's, are my everyday work boots. Comfortable as hell, durable, and already have 2yrs into them, only changing the insole every 4-6mo. I expect another year out of them, but I am very harsh and sometimes abusive to them, so the average user could easily get 10+ years if properly taken care of and routine insole changes. Cheap boots are uncomfortable and most won't even make it 6months with full time labor use. You spend less long term by spending more upfront in the case of boots. Redwings are also solid and comfortable.
Well that makes me glad I bought the same set of Sketchers earlier this year they do just fine for working in a mechanics shop on oily floors and do pretty well with water ingress. I was surprised as to the puncture resistance and toe compression tests. Definitely worth the affordable price
I knew the "indestructible" brand was going to totally fail. All of their shoes and boots don't meet the standard for boots that are supposed to protect your feet. When the nail penetrated the steel plate I knew that happened because the steel isn't thick enough to do the same protection the other brands that have steel foot beds.
The Indestructible brand shoes aren't really designed for great protection at work, they are more like sports shoes with extra bit of protection, they are comfortable to wear and cheap enough. Definitely not gotta wear them at work, but they are good enough for daily uses.
Todd, Love the test - if you do a 'round two' on the boots - please add Red Wing in the mix... and a chainsaw/axe head trying to split the toe open. Think y'a missed with the axe and you now have a cloven foot. Please keep up the great work!
I'll second the Red Wing request. Always heard glowing praise about them over the years. My first pair didn't last more than a year before coming apart. For various reasons I currently have a second pair that's been holding up much better.
Definitely wear red wing or Ariats and wear them out in about a month, I know Red Wing make Heritage but who the heck can afford 3 to $500 for boots ? And everything is foreign-made any more, and nobody's going to pay $1,000 for American made boots.. and you first get a job it's either going to be Walmart or your local shoe store with your slip from work that pays half... or they get them from Granger that's five times the price.... either way China wins
When I go back to watch a video before you put a summary table at the end, I really appreciate the table. The summary table is a great add. If RUclips let’s you update a video, adding summary tables would be a great add.
Thorogood are the best pair of footwear I've ever owned, bar none. 3 years in and I'm about at where I'll need them resoled. The wedge soles are king for long shifts on concrete.
Red Wings are the only thing that last in the railroad industry. Shredded keen, timberland, hytest and some plain Irish setters in 6 months or less but my $329 red wings been going 4 years strong on same sole
@@kenc2257 He is always so ingenious to think up appropriate tests, maybe some way to drag boots on a large rough surfaced wheel and a shoe bending device running for days
30yrs in construction. High end hiking boots at $300+ are much cheaper than $100 work boots. They stay comfortable for a couple years and highly protect. Vasques are my favorite, but I've had LaSportiva that performed well too.
This was a very interesting test. I'm wearing Sketchers boots. Mine are steel toed, puncture resistant, shock resistant and waterproof. They're fairly comfortable and work for me.
Thank you so much for doing this in-depth analysis! Because of the affordable price, I've been going with Sketchers work boots, love to see they're truly high quality! 🙏🏾
Emmanuel, Before buying those Skecher boots you might want to read the comments under Inferno Leviathan post. I was ready to buy them too. But the problem is the Skechers leather outer sole stitching does not hold up very well and they fall apart after just a few weeks or months. I've experienced that same problem with another pair of Skechers (Striders) shoes.
@@desertodavid Hmm thanks for the heads up, but I must say, I haven't heard that issue before. I've had 4 pairs of the Skechers Radford with the composite toe so far. It's super light, comfortable, and I've never had a liquid breach, even when getting liquid above the bottom lining and touching the leather. Even working with oil and oil derived chemicals, the outsole will be good for at least 1 year, which beats 1-2 months with the cheap steel toes IMO.
@@EmmanuelA1 👍Well that's good to hear. Personally I find Skechers to be very comfortable shoes at a decent price. I'm going to have to check out the Radford.
@@ProjectFarm Seconding this. As a Security Goon, I generally have to wear "tactical" boots or just plain shoes. Given that I've worked Industrial sites, I'd rather have boots. I own a pair of Danner's, and a pair of Rothco's. The Danner's are a win for comfort, but I have no idea how "protective" they are. So, yeah.. I don't expect you to get landmines and hand grenades, but I'd also love to see a Part 2 featuring some boots/boot-shoes for police/fire/ems/security work under similar testing standards (mainly puncture, impact, and slip resistance).
I didn’t see my Georgia boots either. I’ve had 3 pairs in 15 years. Each as comfortable the day I retired then as the day bought. I get them cheap though, I think retail is 370$. Or so they say. I just know they’re awesome.
I have a set of Keen boots now and though they are comfortable, I'm watching this video because they only lasted 4 months and now the sole is coming apart. The set of Keens I have is not the one in the video, so I intend on getting these next. Thanks for the video
This is the reviewer legend. Accurate, quick and knowledgeable. Had a pair of Cats last me 10 years. Should have changed the inside soles but they were always comfy for me, until I lost them in a move.
In April I switched to a Danner Quarry and could not be happier. They are the most comfortable I’ve found to wear every day. I wonder how a higher quality composite toe protection would perform in your crush tests, field tests for the Quarry’s show strong results 😂. Thanks for the comprehensive review as always, looking forward to the next round.
Keens needs to advertise it seems. I've been in aerospace machining, construction and several other fields for 30+ years and this video is the first I've ever heard of Keens. In my experience Redwing, Justin and Ariat are the kings of the factories.
@@johnbaron3070 I notice the ergonomics much more than the weight. Poor insoles absolutely wreck my back after 10 ish hours but I can go all day in my Keenes with custom insoles. Got a pair of cats on sale for 20$ at big 5 while I was buying ammo. Not bad, not bad at all for the price. I’d never buy them full price though. They weigh like 2.5 lbs less iirc but the comfort is no contest. Funny enough, Reax makes an amazing insulated motorcycle/work boot hybrid. Damn things weigh 6.8 ish lbs but have probably saved every bone in my feet and ankles twice over. Got my toes ran over by a van and I was fine. Keeps the tootsies warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Best 260$ I’ve ever spent.
Excellent review. For work boots I add one additional requirement. They must be waterproof. Through the years I have tried numerous boots that clained to be waterproof for various reasons. In the past I would only purchase boots that had a Gortex label. There are now alternatives to Gortex that were not available 20 years ago. I currently have a pair of Wolverine work boots with a composite toe and gortex lining. My walking boots are Danner Pronghorn without the safety toe but still with a Gortex lining. Advice for people who work on their feet. Get the best most comfortable boot you can afford. That will last you the longest time. Take care of your feet and wear good socks. Foot pain, blisters or discomfort from poor fitting or performing boots is not something to deal with while getting the job done.
I have a pair of Keen shoes that I've worn nearly every day for the last 2 years. They still look almost as good as when they were brand new. Best shoes I've ever owned.
My feet got saved from many logs by steel toes at a lumber mill. There were a few times where I got hit just behind the steel toe and I hated my life 😜
im using the skechers safty shose since 5 years one shose will hold up, very well for 1 year then its need new foam pad. The comfort and flexibility you will get is very good for long term work and hot area.i highly recommended it. thanks for good content you provide. also make shore to get the correct size of shose and widht like EE or EEE.
I bought 2 pairs of Keens. The glue they use to hold soles on came apart on both relatively quickly. Redwing has been the only boot I've owned that has both been comfortable and last longer than other brands.
I owned one pair and they stunk. Worst boot I've ever owned. Bought a pair of Timberland Endurance Pros (not the ones in this video) and have never looked back. Far superior in comfort and durability. I'm in masonry restoration, so my boots take a pounding. Extreme temperatures, water, chemicals, constantly getting hit with mortar and debris. etc. and the Endurances are the only boots that will last as long as the sole.
The sketchers are still available with steel toe contrary to the discription. But apreciate the effort in the discription to make it usefull unlike most channels.
If you ever redo this test project, it would be great to add a traction test with worn soles. Boots seem to always have tiny nubs or grooves that help with traction, similar to sipes on winter tires. The small features, obvs, disappear fairly quickly with wear. Thanks again for all the amazing tests!
Some get better as we wear them. The outer layer tends to be a bit hard and can slip a bit, but as we walk and grind that off, the softer rubber under can have even more grip.
Having taken a rusty 16 penny through the foot once, those boots with the bottom plate are looking pretty good now. I can still feel where that thing punctured me like an old phantom pain lol.
Try whites, been framing in my smoke jumpers for 6 years same pair Resoled once for $50 they're still like new. I am hard on boots too. Even the iron rangers by Redwing are good tough nail proof boots.
@@anonymousstout4759 In science, a "control" is a normal object/animal to compare to. For example, if you're testing 1000 mice to see how an all-sugar diet impacts their health, you always have a fair number of control mice that receive a normal diet so you can compare the health of the sugar diet mice to normal diet mice. The Buffalo is just a normal shoe (a control) to see how the boots stack up against normal footwear.
Ahh thank you. I thought the buffalo boat were meant to represent some kind of industrial level crocs slippers. My dumbasses thought the buffalo was a legit a safety boots lmao lmao
The carrot test is next level. I own a couple pairs of Keens because they have a wide toe box and are more comfy for me for cold weather work. Good to know there’s other reasons to own them! Thanks for this test!
I know Irish Setter is made by Red Wing Boots, but I'd still like to see this test done again with different brands, including Red Wing and possibly Ariat.
I changed from "the big red shoe" I had been wearing for 30 years to Skechers after being told hold comfortable they were. They were right. That's the reason why so many nurses wear Skechers. Plus, you can buy several pairs for the cost of one pair of the big reds.
I have been using keen workboots for years now and absolutely love them. They are super comfortable and just outlast every other work boot I've ever owned by far. Yes they are expensive but With cheaper boots I would end up spending the same amount of money or more On multiple pairs of cheaper ones. I haven't watched the video yet but I'm pretty confident that they will do well in the tests
I am on my first pair of Keens and can say that the comfort is top notch. The boot itself looks good and holding up after a year of use. My only gripe is the lace design. My laces did not last the 1 year mark where other laces on other brand boots would last longer. Minor gripe.
I have jk boots I got mine made in full rough out. Nearly a year and a half now of every day use logging as well as my go to hunting boots and they still srucb up like brand new! Abd I hardly feel them on my now feet once they broke in. They cost a bob but worth every cent when in extreme environments
I own a pair of Nick's and I'll never go back to mass produced footwear. When Todd said 225$ is a lot to spend I giggled a little. 550$ for my Nick's Hot Shots and worth every penny. All the tests were really good but I think the we would have gained some really good info from a test which involved dragging the toe or other outer portions of the boot across an abrasive to simulate wear.
Throw Dakota in there too. Dakota Quad Comforts, they may only last 2-3 years of intermediate hard use before replacing, but I'll never change. They're called Comforts for a reason. Saved me in my soil testing days for sure.
A note for the Irish Setters, they've got what's called a crepe-style wedge sole, which provides a lot of squish and comfort when wearing, thereby requiring less padding to clog up the airflow in the shoe.
I've tried most of these boots and they all wore out within a year apart from my Carhartts that are almost into their third year!!! (Although my Carhartts are a higher spec boot than the one you tested with rubber coated steel toe cap) The Keens were about the worst boot I have ever owned with the lace clasps failing within a month and I had to return them under warranty. The next pair of Keens didn't even last six months before the soles split in half! I will never buy another Keen product but won't think twice about buying the Carhartts again.
I just bought a couple of pairs of German military surplus boots - most comfortable pieces of footwear I have owned in ages. But I would like to see how they stack up against other boots. By contrast, UK Altbergs seem to never fit my feet quite right, and the soles wear out pretty quickly.
Civilians: "Wow, this says 'military quality'! These are probably so overbuilt and tough they can laugh off the harshest conditions possible while outperforming marathon runners!" People with actual experience with military quality: "Oh that means it's bare minimum viable performance from the lowest bidder possible."
Mine outlasted all other footwear i have tried over the last 10 years. Standard issue steel toes (was a bradley wrench) held up better and still had a sole.
Update. I bought the sketchers days after this video came out. I wear them every day for work. I'm an engineer so most of my use constitutes just walking around and not much heavy use. Here's my 6mo review: They are OK in the comfort department, but weak material allows the steel toe to bend on top of and dig into your foot if you're on one knee. The laces are almost worn through and will fail shortly. The material on the inside has ripped on both boots behind the heel. My verdict: if your work requires you wear boots only every so often then they are a great budget pick. If you see heavy use or daily use, spend up and get something better, as after 6 months I'm in the market for boots again. Meaning I'll be spending at least another $50 when I could have initially spent $100 and had way better boots for longer. Ultimately I should have followed the "buy once cry once" philosophy
Steal toes are always bad news . They tend to cut your toes off do to the steel bending and chopping. It sounds like you don't need boots at all and your choice is more of a fashion statement. So much for your philosophy, Ultimately!
longevity is a huge factor in boot buying and is why I never feel comfortable spending less than $200 on some boots. work experience: former fire medic, current hvac tech.
Just got my first pair of Skechers (Rebem or something...). They beat out the competition in comfort immediately (Wolverine, Dewalt and Timberland, if I recall), plus they were cheaper. They seem to be well made. Only been a week, so we'll see how things go.
It's been a while, and if you ever come back to look at this, I would love to see another work-boot/safety-shoe comparison. If you can find them I would love to see Airtox on the list. They are pretty expensive, but definitely some of the best and most comfortable shoes out there. Will especially recommend the TX3/TX33
@@ProjectFarm I'm also in favor of another work boot comparison and have a different expensive brand, that you could add to the challenge, which is Haix. Haix makes shoes for all first responder professions and forestry, along with regular safety work boots and casual shoes. I recently bought the Airpowered XR200 and they feel like a tanks on your feet. Still in the first week on breaking them in, but they've been steadily getting more comfortable. But the one boot on there, that I think would blow through all the challenges, is the Haix Fire Flash Xtreme. They're also both rated, by Haix, to last 10 long years of constant use, with general maintenance
I've owned Keen shoes of all types for years. You can still buy American made Keens which is awesome. Super comfortable and seem to last a long time. I currently have 2 pairs of hikers, one safety toe, one winter boot, and another pair of shoes i wear fishing all made by Keen. Sadly, only 2 are American made.
Here's an aspect of shoes for me: Construction! I've recently bought two pairs from the same manufacturer, at the same price point. I'd worn out a similar pair after about two years in a warehouse. The identical pair was out of stock everywhere, so I bought a different model. They were literally falling apart in about four weeks. I found the old model again, and bought them as a direct replacement. The difference which mattered the most? The sole is glued on the second pair, and the sole is stitched on the other two. That was the point of failure.
@@roccit lol Who knows what's best? I also fully admit that I'm hard on shoes, and it's why I an shocked by the people who buy cheap ones and they last. Some time back I purchased a pair of sneakers from a big box store, and took a walk in the park. They didn't last three miles before stitches were bursting on the upper. That's just my kind of luck with shoes, though. And I won't mention any brands here because I know there are people who have, and love, the model boot that fell apart on me after a few weeks, for example.
I love your videos!!! I can't even tell you how many times I've had occasion to say "Buy these brands of wipers/engine additive/duct tape because it holds up better in these ways" because of your videos. They are SO incredibly helpful and I send them to people every chance I get!! Can we do hammer drills next? I have a project coming up this winter. 😂
Coming back to this video after owning a pair of timberlands, they do perform incredibly well in oil. I've had to ask coworkers to tell me if the floor was still slick after cleaning up oil on numerous occasions 🤣
Would have been cool to see how they hold up to being hit with a running lawn mower blade. If you figured out a way to safely push them toe first in to the path of the lawn mower blade.
Have you seen what he does to lawn mowers??? They roll like the wind the minute they hear he is up and about! It probably takes him weeks to track one down and drag it into the workshop.
I'm always impressed with the ideas you have for test methods. Another test I would love to see is extended heat exposure at the Temps of a hot metal roof. I had similar Dickies I really liked for comfort that I melted the soles off of. The glue failed in the heat not enough to melt the rubber but it melted the glue.
Here's the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you!
Skechers: no longer available with steel toe
Keen: amzn.to/3dHPLNv
Carhartt: amzn.to/3hfeATf
OUXX: amzn.to/40QleVb
Timberland: amzn.to/36bxuEa
Irish Setter: amzn.to/3wkj5A6
Caterpillar: amzn.to/367Eoua
Condor: amzn.to/3hA2TFp
Wolverine: amzn.to/3hh9SEC
Dickies: amzn.to/3ykZilz
There is a reason I keep seeing people mentioned "I want to see Project Farm test this." You have singlehandedly become the consumer reports all DIYers wanted. Great job as always.
I think CR sold themselves to companies paying them for better product placement of their brands. They have a few different results on some products presented here, but I have not seen any proof of their claims like we have here on PF.
Thank you!
I feel like PF does his best to have fair, unbiased testing and gives us accurate results. There has been more than once I have re-watched a video before making a product purchase
Wow, the rr track portion is impressive.
I regret that I can only vote this up once
Imagine making a work boot that had less traction than a $20 pair of crock knockoffs.
Thanks for the feedback.
Lmaooo! 🤦🏻♂️ Talk about embarrassing lol
@@Joe-nq6hy Bottoms are rubber / silicone so they probably are. Timberland had good traction but the bottoms fall apart pretty easily.
Wife: "I love you!"
Todd: "We're gonna test that."
😄
LOL! Dude, you made me spill my drink. Hilarious!
He'll make that a fair test anyway so the lady should not be offended or anything.
Ouch lol
She passed the test, great family 👍
I'm surprised that Skechers did such a good job they probably raised their price after seeing this. I really appreciate being able to see your channel on RUclips.
Thanks!
The leather does not hold up on the Skechers
I paid $110 for mine last July and it's already wearing out lol
@elmirmisir-zada8470 that's almost a year thats really impressive.
good gear costs money. I've worked construction/carpentry in Keens... 1st pair lasted a good amount of time, 2nd and 3rd pair barely a year: holes in uppers, threads giving out and the soles lugs delaminating. Never again. I had to switch to an old pair of redwing work boots from the late 80's. Guess what. They're great. Finally resoled them at Redwing for $175. Worth it.
Project Farm: "I'd like to return these boots."
Store: "Reason for return?"
Project Farm: "They did not meet my expectations."
:()
🤣😂
He uses a different email and PO box for every order.
No need to return them they’re tax deductible as a business expense
Project Farm : " I suddenly realized that I'm not a caterpillar thus do have so many legs that need so many shoes "
Me talking to a sketchers store worker: Yes could I buy some light up sketchers boots
I'm 40 years old and I have never had light up shoes... but I've always wanted some.
@@Oddman1980 I'm 49 and I got Heelys bruh
@@MrTaxiRob lol
''Merica may just be a little too diverse, here in 2021.😱
That would actually help in dark areas.
This guy seems so nice. He’s just a regular guy doing stuff on the internet, but makes it so interesting to watch. Keep it up PF, love the content :)
One of the coolest things about this guy? I subbed when he had only a few thousand, but he hasn't changed a bit. He did just as good a job then as he does now. This is the best "real-world" testing on youtube. Sure it's not scientific, as I was told once by someone, but who cares if the humidity level is 1% higher or the temp is 5° hotter throughout the testing. I'd rather see this than testing in some lab.
@@pamike4873 man that’s so wholesome. this guy 100% deserves more subs, definitely one of the better youtubers out there
@@pamike4873 I'd contend it is scientific, in that he's changing only one variable at a time (the product), per test. I learned a lot about masking tape and paint from PF!
Thanks, will do!
"Some random manufacturer claim"
Project Farm: "We're going to test that!"
Random comment gets a lot of likes.
Random RUclipsr: "I'm going to copy that!"
The ____ is made in China!!!
"Manufacturers that tested poorly" hope nobody sees this!
Background noise you hear is "Indestructible"Shoes going out of business...
Check out Rose Anvil on RUclips. You won't be disappointed with there boot reviews.
Wish you would have done a pair of Red Wings in there!
That was literally the brand I was most curious about. Love my Redwings but I wanted to see them compared.
I have a pair, paid like 300$ and the things broke leather from kicking a tire. Absolute waste of money
Or danner, chippewa, and rockies
@@DarkLinkAD Which pair did you get? Made in USA or elsewhere?
That was my first thought when looking at the title of the video. Red wings are like the snap-on of work boots.
Been through Skechers, Wolverines, a half dozen more Skechers, Red Wings, Georgia Boots, and probably going back to Skechers next time. Glad to see your tests reflect what I've learned over the years. Great vid, thanks for putting it together.
Thanks and you are welcome!
My favorites are thorogoods, great workboot. Ive tried all of thee above in comment above. Thorogoods
Man! There’s nothing you can’t test!
I’d really enjoy seeing him test different alcoholic beverages.
How about testing different brands of condoms
P
Agreed
Firearms related stuff apparently can't be tested lol.
Ive been a coal miner for nearly 20 yrs. I’ve tried Carhartt, RedWing, Danner, Wolverine, and Timberline. While none of them lasted more than 6 months underground Timberland Pro by far are the most Comfortable.
Thanks for the feedback.
Try keens. Timberland pros are great but keens are more comfortable and outlast them by far.
you must have went cheap with the Danners because my 400.00 quarry boots have lasted 4 yrs on construction sites ,and are so comfortable I wear them walking my dog (1400 miles in last 20 months) and they still have original laces .Danner by far the best.
Yeah Red Wings definitely don't make sense in a scenario like that. They take 6 months to a year to break in at least before they're comfortable. Once they're broken in they are very comfortable though.
@@waltercurl2398 I've had the bull run moc toe and cristy by Danner, very comfortable boot but the only downside is the soles wear out very quickly
When you wear boots all day, every day, cost isn't near as important as quality, protection and comfort. They're a tool and having a cheap wrench slip is no different from being sore from cheap boots. But more expensive isn't always better. Also from experience as a field service equipment mechanic, high ankle protection is important for working in rough terrain.
I put work boot to the test and won't consider boots that cost under $200 a poor buy. Also, they have to be made in the USA. Brands like Whites and Grizzly are among the best.
Thanks for the feedback.
I personally love thorogood American heritage 8” best boots hands down but being a ironworker I’m bias
@@dennisgonzalez4562 They do make a great boot with almost no break in time, but I've noticed with mine that when working in winter conditions these boots get very cold. Not sure if they make an insulated boot.
I've worn Keens for work boots everyday for the past decade. Hands down the most comfortable and durable brand I've ever worn, and worth every penny.
I went with Redwing 2 years ago and am still happy with my purchase. There were expensive but absolutely worth every penny.
Great brand! Thank you
Just bought a pair today actually lol
Unfortunately they do not make boots in my size. I'm 12 EE or EEEE but I just about tried on every boot and shoe in the RW store that was near my size and none fit right. Only a few brands make shoes in my size, and Skechers is one of them.
I had a pair of redwing boots stayed water proof for 4 years wore them 6 days a week construction and farming. Lasted for almost 5 years.
@@barrythomas529 Same here. I tell people I wear mine 24 hours a day.
For the next round, how about comparing high end boots? Carolina, Keen, Doc Martin, Ariat, Red Wing, etc. I'd definitely be interested in seeing that comparison test!
Watch Rose Anvil and you can see right now. He's done videos on most of those brands and more.
Don't forget to include Chippewas. They are my favorite high end boots for comfort and durability.
@@boskobear Agree the Keen Detroit lasts good about 9 months for me.👍
Kamik. Made in Canada.
Doc Marten boots are priced for style, not quality. Especially in recent years the quality has taken a dive, but I wore them throughout my teens, going back a few decades and they were never tough boots. Comfortable for sure, and lightweight, so great if you're on your feet all day. But the uppers are thin, I've punched holes through the back of the heelcap just walking in the woods before now, and that's the thickest leather on the boot by far. The soles aren't terribly durable and a nail goes clean through them with very little pressure. Definitely fashion footwear rather than working footwear, especially the more recently made models. The Goodyear welt is about the only quality part of them now. I've never had a sole come away from the boot, in all fairness lol.
I'm surprised that Sketchers even made boots, nevermind boots that can hold their own
They made the best value ones of all in fact
There mote like running shoes with a composit toe. I wear them at work. They hold up very well. and comfortable. Mine last over a year depending on how wet they get everyday. I walk about 8 to 10 miles each day at work on hard surfaces. Industial HVAC.
I do hvacR and I just went through my sketchers boots after almost 2 years and I live in the desert
@@johnd4348 Good to know. Thanks!
I have had a pair of sketchers for about seven months now, and they are holding up very well. They are composite toe but the places I visit say they're okay. I like the composite because I don't have to remove them at the airport security, though they probably aren't as strong as steel. I was always worried if steel got crushed, it may trap my toes in the shoe, but it looks like they bounce back which is nice. In my industry, though, they are only needed by me to walk through work areas until I get to a lab where there aren't many drop hazards of heavy items, so they seem a good compromise. I too have had pretty expensive work boots which fall apart after six months and that sucks since I don't work with harsh materials / environments. The boots I had prior to the sketchers made my feet hurt and I ended up having to go to a podiatrist and get an injection in my foot. Size matters a lot!
my wife: what are you doing?
Me: watching the farm god,
My wife: and what is he doing?
Me: showing us the right path.
Thanks!
This is the way!
@@jonadam5392 dis is da wai!
@@ProjectFarm I'm still waiting for a degreaser or carpet cleaner test..
@@MrHarbinged im sure he's figuring a solid method out.
Your reviews are very thorough and informative. There’s no unnecessary dialogue. Thank you for providing a wealth of useful information.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I would like to see some American made ones in there. Thorogood, Redwing, Justin's, Carolina's, etc... there are US made and China made of those boot brands that might be a good video
and maybe add danner on there. most people on my jobsites wear danner, thorogood or justin's boots. would be nice to see those tested
I bought a pair of Carolina's last year because they partnered with Diresta. I was under the impression that they were American made. The pair I got definitely says "Made in Vietnam". They are just okay compared to the Redwings that they replaced.
I agree. I've had great experience with Thorogood (both USA and China made) and was surprised they weren't included.
I'd like to have seen De Walt Boots included as they are popular in the UK ...
Been wearing Carolinas for 8 years now, Walmart brand lasts about 2 -3 weeks, the Carolinas have consistently lasted a year although the quality went down a little when went to overseas manufacturers
The Mrs would like to see Camping Coolers tested.
Seconded
yup
3rd ed
Second that one. *Esky for us Aussies....
Nice idea. Would like to see the Otterbox Venture cooler if you end up doing a video on premium camping coolers
Oh thank goodness. I was worried we wouldn’t get a 4th of July video
Thank you very much! My goal is to always come through for everyone.
I got and ad for indestructible shoes watching this video lol... also I have seen so many people wear Crocs on everything from construction sites to the more popular setting, restaurant kitchens! That was a great pick and not very far fetched !! These are very clever and amazing tests! I check your channel every time I'm going to buy anything.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
@@ProjectFarm Can you test "Unior" hand tools against its competitors one day? They say Unior has the best tools in Europe, which I think it is true
I do the same
I had a trucker fellow, man that guy wore Crocs ALL the time. One time guy got out of the truck in Crocs in -7°C with 5cm snow and walked around like its completly normal
Until something Heavy falls on their foot
The Sketchers seems like a good allround package, specially for 50 $.
Seems like for me they last about 6 months b4 theres wear on the bottoms of my skechers, but for the price and comfort its worth it. Just gotta buy more every 6-9 months.
Not so good if you have flat feet the seams blow out in a month for me
Unfortunately I hear the tread doesn't last long.
Not to mention they're just kind of ugly.
@@Leafmate79 That's because the really cheap brands use a cloth "sock" and simply glue the shoe together, even though it may appear to be stitched. Thus far (about a year out), I've had pretty good luck with my Merrell Vibram-soled trail shoes.
But yeah, Carhartt ain't what it used to be--and neither is Pendleton. Both brands moved production offshore with the predictable decline in quality. Used to be that the standard wintertime hiking gear included a Pendelton wool shirt--made from US wool in the US. Now, Pendleton is just a name...
Could be that both marketing outfits figured that the memory of quality would fade and the public would be content with something that approached trash.
Daddy left me with this sage advice that hasn't steered me wrong in the decades since he's been gone: "Never buy cheap shoes--they're not worth the pain".
I don't buy the $50 Walmart ones; I get the boots off their website (more like $100). They are much more durable and look nicer as well - mine last 1.5 - 2 years before needing replaced. Something like this: www.skechers.com/men/shoes/work-argum-st-wp/200034.html
I wear keen boots. Found them years ago and fell in love with the asymmetrical toe box. If you have wide feet and big toes with huge calluses from years of wearing regular steel toe boots try keen they are twice as comfortable as the redwing or danner boots I used to wear.
I second this, keen boots are great for wide feet.
I kept tearing my Keens up after 6 months (went through 5 pairs), finally switched to a Danner track welt and am still wearing them a year later! The toe box is huge and super roomy, but the sole is a bit firmer so takes some getting used to
I used to love keens. But then they got rid of my size and yet again left me with either sub par options or custom orders
Agree 100%
I'll have to keep Keen in mind, I just made the switch to Danner from always having cheap boots and love them so far.
I love how thorough you have always been and your content is evergreen. Please never take down any video unless it doesn't stand up to your standards or needs an update. Thanks for always being straight to the point, informative, and also entertaining.
I wish there wouldve been a durability test from repeated flexing simulating walking. Most of my boots come apart at the seams or the soles fall off.
In conjunction with that test, a water proof test. Maybe submerge the boots in water after 5000 bends, 10000 bends, 20000 bends, etc.
Great job as usual
This is what I was thinking. Most of my boots physically fall apart after 6-8 months. Occasionally I’ve tried brands that fell apart after just a couple of months so these days I generally spend the extra on more expensive boots and consistently get at least 6 months. Our brands here in Australia are different to American brands so I’m basically watching this video for curiosity reasons lol
I think you’d have to do a few more bends than that. I can easily walk 10000 steps in a single day, so just 6 months’ worth would be over a million bends.
Redback seem to be very durable. And they're made in Australia. Only boot I'll wear
I like the comfort of Skechers shoes and boots but, I've found that the seams wear out sooner than others in my experiences.
@@jonathang6920 yes exactly. Some of those boots look so cheap that the seam would come loose in 5000 steps 😁
I used to have an “argument” with my Brother about boots. He would buy cheap boots and go through a minimum of two pairs a year. I buy Danners and usually get 5-6 years out of each pair. Yes I paid around $300 per pair but he was paying $40 a pair. $80 a year. 5years at $80 equals $400. He seemed to always have foot pain with those cheap boots while my Danners were comfortable from the beginning. I was on concrete 8 hours a day.
Retired now and I have Danners that I bought 10 years ago as the agency I was part of bought us boots every year. I wear my Danner Fort Lewis boots for dress and my regular Danners for every day wear. I refuse to wear cheap boots.
work boots are done after 1 year. no matter the price
Though useless advice for construction sites, when it comes to "long standing" jobs, decent running shoes can also put up a good year or two with confort
I have to disagree about work boots being used up after a year. I still wear a pair of my Danners that I wore in my work that I bought in 2016. I worked in diesel and road oils during the summer and cutting brush and other jobs during the times we couldn’t work on the roads. I spent the last 10 years of my career as a oil distributor operator and was continually exposed to chemicals that deteriorated lesser boots.
Does work boots in the states have a steel plate in the soles.. Here in Canada, most have steel toe and plate. They are tagged with a green triangle. Steel toe only are blue triangle..
@@V77710 😂 sure, they will give alot of support after 1 year 😂
Thank you for you precision and “to the point “ reviews. I just subscribed a week ago and have used your reviews on ceramic auto coating and headlight restoration to purchase products. I use ConsumerReports, and equate your testing as good or probably better than theirs. Thanks!
My pleasure!
I used to wear the caterpillars & they would wear out in 6 months, then I switched to Red Wings which last about 3 years or more. The replaceable insoles maintain the comfort level even longer. So in the big picture The more expensive boots are cheaper.
Thanks for the feedback.
I think that without testing the durability of the outsole of the boots that this test is not complete. Skechers shoes have by far the weakest outsoles of any shoes, sneakers, or boots that I've ever purchased. You'll be lucky if you get 3 months of us before the outsole cracks in half of wears off in some other way. The recommendation for Skecher work boots is not doing anyone want favors in the long run.
Not work boots but I have some Hanwag walking boots. Just having them resoled after 10 years. Expensive but very comfortable and long lasting. Expensive and high quality can be cheaper in the long run.
@@SS-cc3km I have Sketchers for the gym for over 5 years and nothing wrong with the outsole at all.
@@nieczerwony I've had many pair of working boots and sneakers outsoles either split it wear out in less than 3 months. I stopped buying them because it was like throwing money in the trash. They are a garbage product from my own personal experience. You may have had a different experience than me. That's why I was saying that without testing the outsoles in this video, he shouldn't be recommend any of the boots. Skechers is a garbage brand from my experience. My brother also had the same experience as me and he stopped buying that brand as well.
I would have liked to see Ariat and Redwing work boots in this one
Irish setter is redwing.
@@gt5228z really? Redwing is way more comfortable than Irish setter.
@@gt5228z not true, Irish setter is a sub brand that is owned by the same owners of redwing but they are not the same boot and certainly not the same quality. The majority of redwing boots are USA made Irish setter doesn’t manufacture a single USA made boot. Irish setter is a lower quality cheaper brand
Doc Marten's too.
Irish setter and redwing are like kfc and pizza hut. They are two completely different companies but owned by the same people.
Surprised to see a brand like sketchers preform so well, I'd have never thought of them for work boots.
The drop test on the Irish setters was shocking, and considering the look I would get those probably.
Thanks for sharing.
M 19:15
Sketchers kicked Butt that’s not a result I was expecting.
I was surprised as well. I've always viewed them as a fashion/gimmick brand only about looks. I've only had one pair of shoes from them and they were awful.
It's the S.
@@donhappel9566 Acually Sketchers built its reputation on being comfortable/functional first (subjective I know). Then later they became fashionable in the 90s, similarly to Dr Martin's which used to make excellent quality, long lasting comfortable boots (one could include Dickies in there too. Pop culture got both brands and they shifted marketing for a while. They don't quit make the workwear like they used to.
@@carbonstar9091 same here.... I had some that lasted YEARS and were only retired because they were "ugly and dirty".
sketchers do make some fantastic work boots!
I love project farm. Been watching for years now and really appreciate the honest and unbiased opinions as well as the creativity he uses in the tests. You can tell he is a true salt of the earth man and I consider him a kindred spirit. Keep up the great work and thanks for being here.
Awesome! Thank you!
That test with the carrot was reminisce when the Mythbusters tested if steel toe boots could cut your toes off.
Great testing - thanks for the comparisons! Unfortunately, as far as comfort, which is super important, the boots would have to be worn and evaluated after a 12-hour shift of similar work, like walking or working on hard concrete surface such as in a factory, or work requiring lots of shoveling or similar constant impact. And of course, months of use would be needed to prove the longevity of comfort. Trying them on and walking around the room is not an adequate test for comfort.
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.
Maybe in the future, project farm can find a way to automate testing long term. For example weighing them down and running them on a treadmill for days at a time and then wearing them on his feet at the end to see how comfortable they are . I don’t think it a reasonable for him to wear each one of them for a long time but there’s ways to test wear.
Personally speaking from experience, I feel the best boots for 9-hour factory shifts are Thoroughgood moc-toe wedge soles. They are fantastic boots for standing on flat concrete for hours on end - for outside work I prefer red wings or something else with more tread on the soles
I love that Keen is finally getting the recognition it deserves through your videos. I'd love to see Keen against other well regarded and similarly priced boots such as Danners and Thorogoods. Awesome video! Thanks for testing!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I'd love to see some boots made in america, honestly is anything made here anymore? Pathetic
I had never heard of the Keen brand until I bought a pair of composite toe shoes on Amazon last week. One of the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. Working as a mechanic for a John Deere dealer and on my feet most of the day, comfort and the composite toe were the biggest deals for me.
How long do they last you on average?
What do you use them for?
@@guillermotejeda692 3 years on one pair with quite a bit of usage and 2 years on another pair with a bit less usage. I use one with a leather upper and carbon fiber toe for motorcycle riding and the other with an aluminum toe for work where I'll be stepping on hazardous & biological material and walking a lot. They both definitely have wear and look beat, but functionality remains unchanged. Still completely waterproof, protective, & comfortable.
Wife: "Honey you need new boots."
Husband: 💡 "Let's test that!"
Only the man decides when to get new manly boots.. so who or what are we testing exactly?
Guido!
I'm honestly surprised that a $51 pair of boots managed to hold up in almost every category. The Sketchers seem to do everything I need a pair of boots to do so I might end up getting them in the future.
Thanks for sharing.
Don't do it. I have them and they are stuff as heck and uncomfortable.
@@timchamberlin9280 Sketchers for a few years did suck, but I think they have improved. I am shocked how they performed, so looks like they have actually done somethings to improve.
I have a pair of sketchers slip on leather steel toes, they have held up really well for 2 years at a machine shop.
I bought some Sketchers about a year ago and I have to admit they are Very Comfortable. Unfortunately my job doesn't put them through rigorous testing so I can't speak to that, but they are still going strong from normal wear and tear.
as a field marine engineer, is really nice to come here and see that my preferred boots brand is actually the best performing by the best youtube tester... Keen boots are ridiculous expensive but if you want one that you can seriously rely on... pay for it and you won't regret! =)
I had keens and paid 225 for them, they lasted about 8 months before the bottom sole split in half towards the front of the boots, ive consistently gotten 18 months out of my timberland pro helix HD’s(180$), had 3 pairs of timberlands so far and decided to try the keens, big mistake, took a month before they even broke in, timberland are the most comfortable boot I’ve ever worn from day one. ✌️ I do seamless gutters so a lot of ladder climbing
Thanks for the feedback.
@@kcin2der18 well... that's interesting... for me is exactly the opposite... my last two pairs of timberland (which i used to love) torn apart really fast... then I tried one caterpillar, which is decent but can't handle the severe condition of my work environment... then 4 months ago I decided to go for Keen again (I tried keen few years ago) and I'm loving it, ultra comfortable, nice temperature feeling (even during japan summer) and handles awesomely well on the heavy duty job of mine... perhaps you got a bad batch... or i'm lucky and got a good one...
@@ProjectFarm always nice to compliment such a good job as you always do sir! best youtube channel ever
I know it’s subjective, but a lot of the tradesmen I work with, including myself, go for thorogood boots. I would have liked to see those, red wings, Carolinas and maybe an Ariat.
Sounds like we might have a part two one day! I agree, would love to see these brands as well.
In the new construction trades in Northern California the boots I see most often are Danner, Redwing, Thorogood, Ariat, and (sometimes) Keen. Typically anyone wearing a lower end boot is either a manager type who only puts on boots when they want to walk the site, or an apprentice.
I like Haix and Carolina (Matterhorn/Corcoran/etc.).
The reason is Thorogood is one of the few affordable boots that you can still buy unlined. Gore Tex in the heat is a killer.
That's almost a grand for 4 pairs of boots, throw in a pair of Danners, Nick's, and White's, and your upwards of 2 grand.
Being in the military for 14 years, I’ve learned to wear quality shoes, and I love KEEN! Glad to see how well they did!
Thanks for the feedback.
I'm not military, but if my house was on fire, I would grab my Keen boots on the way out.
I work in mining and my locker has three pairs of boots below it at work. Two are Keens, that's how much I trust them. They've got nice wide toe boxes and the composite toe caps are awesome. My last pair of Gore Tex lined Red Wings lasted about 6 months.
But these shoes are so heavy! Wouldn't it be tiring to drag that on your feet all day long?
Keen, the USA made one's, are my everyday work boots. Comfortable as hell, durable, and already have 2yrs into them, only changing the insole every 4-6mo. I expect another year out of them, but I am very harsh and sometimes abusive to them, so the average user could easily get 10+ years if properly taken care of and routine insole changes.
Cheap boots are uncomfortable and most won't even make it 6months with full time labor use. You spend less long term by spending more upfront in the case of boots. Redwings are also solid and comfortable.
There goes the sketcher boot price of $50 bucks on amazon.
Thanks for sharing.
I know Red Wing makes Irish Setter, but I was surprised that a flagship redwing boot was not included in the test.
Thanks for the feedback.
I love how you just get straight into it no messing about and no background music👍
And still ~20 min, this guy is amazing!
Thanks!
Well that makes me glad I bought the same set of Sketchers earlier this year they do just fine for working in a mechanics shop on oily floors and do pretty well with water ingress. I was surprised as to the puncture resistance and toe compression tests. Definitely worth the affordable price
Thanks for the feedback.
I knew the "indestructible" brand was going to totally fail. All of their shoes and boots don't meet the standard for boots that are supposed to protect your feet. When the nail penetrated the steel plate I knew that happened because the steel isn't thick enough to do the same protection the other brands that have steel foot beds.
Thanks for the feedback.
The Indestructible brand shoes aren't really designed for great protection at work, they are more like sports shoes with extra bit of protection, they are comfortable to wear and cheap enough. Definitely not gotta wear them at work, but they are good enough for daily uses.
Todd,
Love the test - if you do a 'round two' on the boots - please add Red Wing in the mix... and a chainsaw/axe head trying to split the toe open. Think y'a missed with the axe and you now have a cloven foot.
Please keep up the great work!
I'll second the Red Wing request. Always heard glowing praise about them over the years. My first pair didn't last more than a year before coming apart. For various reasons I currently have a second pair that's been holding up much better.
I’m a little disappointed Red Wings weren’t included in this test.
Thanks for the constructive feedback.
Irish setter is made by Red Wing
@@ProjectFarm It would be interesting to see how they compare to more affordable brands.
Redwings Classic moc is an American made boot if youre interested in a fantastic product.
And Redbrick and Uvex
Oh man, no Red Wings? I absolutely love my pair of Red Wing boots.
I have been wearing the same style red wings for 22 years, doing industrial HVAC. I’ve tried other boot but never to happen with anything else.
Irish settlers are actually by redwing… different style of boot than most of their though. I swear by my redwings
Leaving Redwings out was a serious mistake. I'd also like to see Ariat tested as it's one of the most popular around the oilfields where I live now.
Definitely wear red wing or Ariats and wear them out in about a month, I know Red Wing make Heritage but who the heck can afford 3 to $500 for boots ? And everything is foreign-made any more, and nobody's going to pay $1,000 for American made boots.. and you first get a job it's either going to be Walmart or your local shoe store with your slip from work that pays half... or they get them from Granger that's five times the price.... either way China wins
He left out Danner too.
Keen makes an awesome boot I'm a welder and the Keen Vernon boots are great and have proper foot protection
I've been using Keens for years primarily because they were the most comfortable work boots
Great feedback on the Keens. Thank you
"INDESTRUCTIBLE" BOOT: ....
PROJECT FARM: "We're going to test that."
"INDESTRUCTIBLE" BOOT: [nervous sweating]
Those shoes don't carry any of the certifications, a lot of safety guys will have you leave the job site if they catch you wearing them.
lol
I ordered a pair 2 years ago... i. Still waiting for the delivery 😅 they flat out stole for me
When I go back to watch a video before you put a summary table at the end, I really appreciate the table. The summary table is a great add. If RUclips let’s you update a video, adding summary tables would be a great add.
Thanks for the feedback.
We need to add thorogood and Red wings to this
Thorogood are the best pair of footwear I've ever owned, bar none. 3 years in and I'm about at where I'll need them resoled. The wedge soles are king for long shifts on concrete.
Irish Setters are Red Wings.
Red Wings are the only thing that last in the railroad industry. Shredded keen, timberland, hytest and some plain Irish setters in 6 months or less but my $329 red wings been going 4 years strong on same sole
And Georgia and Carolina
@@darththomas7791 they are but they're the discount redwing brand
One big factor left out which I always looked for was how long the boot wears, souls last and stitches stay together
Thank you for the feedback!
He'd have to wear each pair of boots for several months in order to test for durability [and that test would be specific to the work environment].
@@kenc2257 He is always so ingenious to think up appropriate tests, maybe some way to drag boots on a large rough surfaced wheel and a shoe bending device running for days
30yrs in construction. High end hiking boots at $300+ are much cheaper than $100 work boots. They stay comfortable for a couple years and highly protect. Vasques are my favorite, but I've had LaSportiva that performed well too.
It's funny how the indestructible boot was so terrible 😂😂😂😂😂
Thanks for watching!
Well, with a name bragging like that (and the fact it's a shoe, not a boot....), are you surprised?
You know, famous last words and all that.
This was a very interesting test. I'm wearing Sketchers boots. Mine are steel toed, puncture resistant, shock resistant and waterproof. They're fairly comfortable and work for me.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for doing this in-depth analysis! Because of the affordable price, I've been going with Sketchers work boots, love to see they're truly high quality! 🙏🏾
Thanks for sharing!
Emmanuel, Before buying those Skecher boots you might want to read the comments under Inferno Leviathan post. I was ready to buy them too. But the problem is the Skechers leather outer sole stitching does not hold up very well and they fall apart after just a few weeks or months. I've experienced that same problem with another pair of Skechers (Striders) shoes.
@@desertodavid Hmm thanks for the heads up, but I must say, I haven't heard that issue before.
I've had 4 pairs of the Skechers Radford with the composite toe so far. It's super light, comfortable, and I've never had a liquid breach, even when getting liquid above the bottom lining and touching the leather. Even working with oil and oil derived chemicals, the outsole will be good for at least 1 year, which beats 1-2 months with the cheap steel toes IMO.
@@EmmanuelA1
👍Well that's good to hear. Personally I find Skechers to be very comfortable shoes at a decent price. I'm going to have to check out the Radford.
If a round two happens I’d love to see some USA made danner’s tested.
yeah, can't believe none of these were USA made
Thanks for the suggestion.
@@ProjectFarm Seconding this. As a Security Goon, I generally have to wear "tactical" boots or just plain shoes. Given that I've worked Industrial sites, I'd rather have boots. I own a pair of Danner's, and a pair of Rothco's. The Danner's are a win for comfort, but I have no idea how "protective" they are.
So, yeah.. I don't expect you to get landmines and hand grenades, but I'd also love to see a Part 2 featuring some boots/boot-shoes for police/fire/ems/security work under similar testing standards (mainly puncture, impact, and slip resistance).
I didn’t see my Georgia boots either. I’ve had 3 pairs in 15 years. Each as comfortable the day I retired then as the day bought. I get them cheap though, I think retail is 370$. Or so they say. I just know they’re awesome.
@@ProjectFarm Thorogood and Chippewa are my favorites but Danner and Red Wing also make some boots here. $300+ typically.
I have a set of Keen boots now and though they are comfortable, I'm watching this video because they only lasted 4 months and now the sole is coming apart. The set of Keens I have is not the one in the video, so I intend on getting these next. Thanks for the video
You are welcome! Thanks for watching!
I love it when he says "We're gonna test that"
Thanks!
I'm hoping you'll do a winter edition of this with ice traction cleats!
Very few boots do well on ice. The ones with cleats really are the only ones that work and not every one.
This is the reviewer legend. Accurate, quick and knowledgeable.
Had a pair of Cats last me 10 years. Should have changed the inside soles but they were always comfy for me, until I lost them in a move.
I work in a plant where there’s a lot of water and acid I would love to see a waterproof and acid resistance test 🙏
Thanks for the video idea.
In April I switched to a Danner Quarry and could not be happier. They are the most comfortable I’ve found to wear every day.
I wonder how a higher quality composite toe protection would perform in your crush tests, field tests for the Quarry’s show strong results 😂.
Thanks for the comprehensive review as always, looking forward to the next round.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
When you're on your feet for 12-14 hours a day, those Keens are worth every penny, trust me.
This video sold me. I have extra wide feet
for me it is 4f Carolinas high tops with the composite toe cap and shank. yes i have been told i have flippers not feet.
Really? The weight doesn't bother you?
Keens needs to advertise it seems. I've been in aerospace machining, construction and several other fields for 30+ years and this video is the first I've ever heard of Keens. In my experience Redwing, Justin and Ariat are the kings of the factories.
@@johnbaron3070 I notice the ergonomics much more than the weight. Poor insoles absolutely wreck my back after 10 ish hours but I can go all day in my Keenes with custom insoles.
Got a pair of cats on sale for 20$ at big 5 while I was buying ammo. Not bad, not bad at all for the price. I’d never buy them full price though. They weigh like 2.5 lbs less iirc but the comfort is no contest.
Funny enough, Reax makes an amazing insulated motorcycle/work boot hybrid. Damn things weigh 6.8 ish lbs but have probably saved every bone in my feet and ankles twice over. Got my toes ran over by a van and I was fine. Keeps the tootsies warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Best 260$ I’ve ever spent.
Excellent review.
For work boots I add one additional requirement.
They must be waterproof.
Through the years I have tried numerous boots that clained to be waterproof for various reasons.
In the past I would only purchase boots that had a Gortex label.
There are now alternatives to Gortex that were not available 20 years ago.
I currently have a pair of Wolverine work boots with a composite toe and gortex lining.
My walking boots are Danner Pronghorn without the safety toe but still with a Gortex lining.
Advice for people who work on their feet.
Get the best most comfortable boot you can afford.
That will last you the longest time.
Take care of your feet and wear good socks.
Foot pain, blisters or discomfort from poor fitting or performing boots is not something to deal with while getting the job done.
Thanks for the feedback.
@@ProjectFarm you are most welcome.
I love my wolverines, and... Unlike the ones in this vid I am pretty sure they were made in the usa
I have a pair of Keen shoes that I've worn nearly every day for the last 2 years. They still look almost as good as when they were brand new. Best shoes I've ever owned.
Thanks for sharing.
Agree! Keens are my everyday boot, and I have the steel-toe Keens in the truck for when I need them.
I was literally looking at the Keen website earlier and wondering if I should drop the hammer on a pair.
Ouxx was always near the top or mid-range. I like the zipper on the side.
Thanks for sharing!
That zipper is a big plus. I’ve resorted to wearing mostly western style safety boots, just for the ease and speed of donning and doffing.
Let’s be real, nothing falls on the cap, it always hits behind it.
A guy I work with has metatarsal protectors on his boots, for that very reason. I might buy them for my next boots
I got ran over once by a helicopter. Steel toe drove straight through the shoe but held up and saved my toes.
I used to think that too, until I tried boots without the steel toe. I never had any idea how often I dropped things on my toes!
My Lehigh’s have that covered
My feet got saved from many logs by steel toes at a lumber mill. There were a few times where I got hit just behind the steel toe and I hated my life 😜
im using the skechers safty shose since 5 years one shose will hold up, very well for 1 year then its need new foam pad.
The comfort and flexibility you will get is very good for long term work and hot area.i highly recommended it. thanks for good content you provide. also make shore to get the correct size of shose and widht like EE or EEE.
Thanks for the feedback.
oh no. you’ve open the “boots brand” pandora’s box.
*laughs in Rose Anvil*
I bought 2 pairs of Keens. The glue they use to hold soles on came apart on both relatively quickly. Redwing has been the only boot I've owned that has both been comfortable and last longer than other brands.
Thanks for sharing.
I owned one pair and they stunk. Worst boot I've ever owned. Bought a pair of Timberland Endurance Pros (not the ones in this video) and have never looked back. Far superior in comfort and durability. I'm in masonry restoration, so my boots take a pounding. Extreme temperatures, water, chemicals, constantly getting hit with mortar and debris. etc. and the Endurances are the only boots that will last as long as the sole.
The sketchers are still available with steel toe contrary to the discription. But apreciate the effort in the discription to make it usefull unlike most channels.
Thanks!
Excellent editing! Very informative, no bs, straight to the point. Very solid content. We need more people like you making videos!! Awesome job!
If you ever redo this test project, it would be great to add a traction test with worn soles. Boots seem to always have tiny nubs or grooves that help with traction, similar to sipes on winter tires. The small features, obvs, disappear fairly quickly with wear. Thanks again for all the amazing tests!
You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
Some get better as we wear them. The outer layer tends to be a bit hard and can slip a bit, but as we walk and grind that off, the softer rubber under can have even more grip.
Having taken a rusty 16 penny through the foot once, those boots with the bottom plate are looking pretty good now. I can still feel where that thing punctured me like an old phantom pain lol.
youch maybe you still have particle, like the pencil tips in people doctors dont remove because it might cause more damage than actually removing it
Try whites, been framing in my smoke jumpers for 6 years same pair Resoled once for $50 they're still like new. I am hard on boots too. Even the iron rangers by Redwing are good tough nail proof boots.
... been there... done that... also it's such gut wrenching feeling pulling the nail out through the boot... ugh
Bought a pair of Carhartts a month ago, so I was pulling for them. Upset MY boots didn't win, but pleased they didn't fail.
Great feedback. Thank you
I love that you're using the control (buffalo) shoe to compare! It's interesting that the control outperformed some of the work boots!
Thanks for sharing.
What do you mean by control shoe?
@@anonymousstout4759 In science, a "control" is a normal object/animal to compare to. For example, if you're testing 1000 mice to see how an all-sugar diet impacts their health, you always have a fair number of control mice that receive a normal diet so you can compare the health of the sugar diet mice to normal diet mice.
The Buffalo is just a normal shoe (a control) to see how the boots stack up against normal footwear.
Ahh thank you. I thought the buffalo boat were meant to represent some kind of industrial level crocs slippers. My dumbasses thought the buffalo was a legit a safety boots lmao lmao
The carrot test is next level. I own a couple pairs of Keens because they have a wide toe box and are more comfy for me for cold weather work. Good to know there’s other reasons to own them! Thanks for this test!
You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.
I know Irish Setter is made by Red Wing Boots, but I'd still like to see this test done again with different brands, including Red Wing and possibly Ariat.
Great recommendation! Thank you
And add a bending test to simulate durability.
I changed from "the big red shoe" I had been wearing for 30 years to Skechers after being told hold comfortable they were. They were right. That's the reason why so many nurses wear Skechers. Plus, you can buy several pairs for the cost of one pair of the big reds.
Thanks for sharing.
I have been using keen workboots for years now and absolutely love them. They are super comfortable and just outlast every other work boot I've ever owned by far. Yes they are expensive but With cheaper boots I would end up spending the same amount of money or more On multiple pairs of cheaper ones. I haven't watched the video yet but I'm pretty confident that they will do well in the tests
Thanks for the feedback.
I am on my first pair of Keens and can say that the comfort is top notch. The boot itself looks good and holding up after a year of use. My only gripe is the lace design. My laces did not last the 1 year mark where other laces on other brand boots would last longer. Minor gripe.
I'd love to see some boots known for durability tested like White's, Franks, or Nick's.
I have jk boots I got mine made in full rough out. Nearly a year and a half now of every day use logging as well as my go to hunting boots and they still srucb up like brand new! Abd I hardly feel them on my now feet once they broke in. They cost a bob but worth every cent when in extreme environments
I own a pair of Nick's and I'll never go back to mass produced footwear. When Todd said 225$ is a lot to spend I giggled a little. 550$ for my Nick's Hot Shots and worth every penny. All the tests were really good but I think the we would have gained some really good info from a test which involved dragging the toe or other outer portions of the boot across an abrasive to simulate wear.
Thanks for the video idea.
Throw Dakota in there too. Dakota Quad Comforts, they may only last 2-3 years of intermediate hard use before replacing, but I'll never change. They're called Comforts for a reason. Saved me in my soil testing days for sure.
@@mountainman9024 nobody cares go outside
A note for the Irish Setters, they've got what's called a crepe-style wedge sole, which provides a lot of squish and comfort when wearing, thereby requiring less padding to clog up the airflow in the shoe.
That sole is also why it protected the carrot so well in the fall test.
Thanks for sharing.
Thorogood’s, redwing’s, danner’s and Nike’s would have been nice to test but non the less awesome test session!
Lol Redwings are so coomfy
Nicks and Whites too
Irish Setter IS RW.
@@sairevok only difference is Irish setters aren't made in America
@@theghost7277 go redwings!
Protection be damned, $30 boots are what the expression "these dogs are barking" was invented for.
I've tried most of these boots and they all wore out within a year apart from my Carhartts that are almost into their third year!!! (Although my Carhartts are a higher spec boot than the one you tested with rubber coated steel toe cap) The Keens were about the worst boot I have ever owned with the lace clasps failing within a month and I had to return them under warranty. The next pair of Keens didn't even last six months before the soles split in half! I will never buy another Keen product but won't think twice about buying the Carhartts again.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Please try military issued boots so everyone can see just how shit they are
My UK issue Altbergs are so slippery in the wet it's like walking on ice. You hit the deck so fast you don't even know what happened.
I just bought a couple of pairs of German military surplus boots - most comfortable pieces of footwear I have owned in ages. But I would like to see how they stack up against other boots.
By contrast, UK Altbergs seem to never fit my feet quite right, and the soles wear out pretty quickly.
Civilians: "Wow, this says 'military quality'! These are probably so overbuilt and tough they can laugh off the harshest conditions possible while outperforming marathon runners!"
People with actual experience with military quality: "Oh that means it's bare minimum viable performance from the lowest bidder possible."
Mine outlasted all other footwear i have tried over the last 10 years. Standard issue steel toes (was a bradley wrench) held up better and still had a sole.
@@daveirwin6903 to be fair my issue cs95s lasted the best part of a decade. Right through training and beyond. I
Update. I bought the sketchers days after this video came out. I wear them every day for work. I'm an engineer so most of my use constitutes just walking around and not much heavy use. Here's my 6mo review:
They are OK in the comfort department, but weak material allows the steel toe to bend on top of and dig into your foot if you're on one knee.
The laces are almost worn through and will fail shortly.
The material on the inside has ripped on both boots behind the heel.
My verdict: if your work requires you wear boots only every so often then they are a great budget pick. If you see heavy use or daily use, spend up and get something better, as after 6 months I'm in the market for boots again. Meaning I'll be spending at least another $50 when I could have initially spent $100 and had way better boots for longer. Ultimately I should have followed the "buy once cry once" philosophy
Thanks for sharing.
Steal toes are always bad news . They tend to cut your toes off do to the steel bending and chopping. It sounds like you don't need boots at all and your choice is more of a fashion statement. So much for your philosophy, Ultimately!
@@Number6_ Your toe statement has been tested and proven false many times. Also it's required at my work. So you're wrong twice
longevity is a huge factor in boot buying and is why I never feel comfortable spending less than $200 on some boots.
work experience: former fire medic, current hvac tech.
Just got my first pair of Skechers (Rebem or something...). They beat out the competition in comfort immediately (Wolverine, Dewalt and Timberland, if I recall), plus they were cheaper. They seem to be well made. Only been a week, so we'll see how things go.
It's been a while, and if you ever come back to look at this, I would love to see another work-boot/safety-shoe comparison. If you can find them I would love to see Airtox on the list. They are pretty expensive, but definitely some of the best and most comfortable shoes out there. Will especially recommend the TX3/TX33
Thank you for the video idea!
@@ProjectFarm I'm also in favor of another work boot comparison and have a different expensive brand, that you could add to the challenge, which is Haix. Haix makes shoes for all first responder professions and forestry, along with regular safety work boots and casual shoes. I recently bought the Airpowered XR200 and they feel like a tanks on your feet. Still in the first week on breaking them in, but they've been steadily getting more comfortable. But the one boot on there, that I think would blow through all the challenges, is the Haix Fire Flash Xtreme. They're also both rated, by Haix, to last 10 long years of constant use, with general maintenance
I've owned Keen shoes of all types for years. You can still buy American made Keens which is awesome. Super comfortable and seem to last a long time. I currently have 2 pairs of hikers, one safety toe, one winter boot, and another pair of shoes i wear fishing all made by Keen. Sadly, only 2 are American made.
Made in Oregon!
Thanks for the feedback.
Here's an aspect of shoes for me: Construction! I've recently bought two pairs from the same manufacturer, at the same price point. I'd worn out a similar pair after about two years in a warehouse. The identical pair was out of stock everywhere, so I bought a different model. They were literally falling apart in about four weeks. I found the old model again, and bought them as a direct replacement.
The difference which mattered the most? The sole is glued on the second pair, and the sole is stitched on the other two. That was the point of failure.
Agreed. Now how to test that. Maybe some machine that flaps around a circle hitting the ground and let it run for a week? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@roccit lol Who knows what's best?
I also fully admit that I'm hard on shoes, and it's why I an shocked by the people who buy cheap ones and they last. Some time back I purchased a pair of sneakers from a big box store, and took a walk in the park. They didn't last three miles before stitches were bursting on the upper. That's just my kind of luck with shoes, though.
And I won't mention any brands here because I know there are people who have, and love, the model boot that fell apart on me after a few weeks, for example.
Thanks for the feedback.
Watch Rose Anvil on yt. He opens up each pair and shows how it was constructed in detail.
@@tacticalcenter8658 I've watched a few of their videos. It makes me hate having a limited budget for quality shoes lol
I love your videos!!! I can't even tell you how many times I've had occasion to say "Buy these brands of wipers/engine additive/duct tape because it holds up better in these ways" because of your videos. They are SO incredibly helpful and I send them to people every chance I get!! Can we do hammer drills next? I have a project coming up this winter. 😂
Thank you very much!
never underestimate this guy's ability to test anything, ever.
Thanks!
Coming back to this video after owning a pair of timberlands, they do perform incredibly well in oil. I've had to ask coworkers to tell me if the floor was still slick after cleaning up oil on numerous occasions 🤣
Thanks for sharing.
Would have been cool to see how they hold up to being hit with a running lawn mower blade. If you figured out a way to safely push them toe first in to the path of the lawn mower blade.
Have you seen what he does to lawn mowers??? They roll like the wind the minute they hear he is up and about! It probably takes him weeks to track one down and drag it into the workshop.
@@markschultz2304 😂😂
Thanks for the suggestion.
lol
I'm always impressed with the ideas you have for test methods. Another test I would love to see is extended heat exposure at the Temps of a hot metal roof. I had similar Dickies I really liked for comfort that I melted the soles off of. The glue failed in the heat not enough to melt the rubber but it melted the glue.
Thanks! Thanks for the video idea.