Put on your Shit Kickers

[Termite]

I've been wearing steel toed boots 12-15hrs per day, 6 months per year, for over 21 yrs. It's a job requirement. And there are some very comfortable steel toed boots. However, no steel toed boot is as comfortable as the same boot without steel toes, IMHO.
As for wearing them while riding, the MSF generally recommends against it, due to problems specific to motorcycles and motorcycle accidents. I don't know if those issues would occur during ATV riding or not.
I have also discovered that steel toed boots are NOT the best for hiking, ESPECIALLY when going downhill.

[Jericho941]

And there are some very comfortable steel toed boots.

Do they make them in sage green suede?

[rightisright]

no steel toed boot is as comfortable as the same boot without steel toes

That's the reason I don't wear them while on the job site. But my work is residential/light commercial (2 story strip malls, etc). If I were building skyscrapers....

[Darrell]

I've always liked my Sorel Caribou's:

The original and best. Since 1972, the Sorel Caribou has earned its reputation for warmth, durability and comfort the hard way: by protecting the feet of millions of Sorel customers through deep snow, harsh storms and the biting cold of long winters.

Rated to -40° below zero, the Caribou is the timeless choice for cold-weather work and recreation. The nubuck leather upper and handcrafted vulcanized rubber shell are seam-sealed for complete waterproofness and lined with a removable 9mm ThermoPlus™ felt InnerBoot that traps heat next to your foot, where it belongs. Underfoot, a thick rubber midsole insulates the boot from cold ground, while the Sorel AeroTrac™ non-loading outsole provides sure footing.

FEATURES:

* Seam-sealed waterproof construction with waterproof nubuck leather upper
* Removable 9mm ThermoPlus™ felt InnerBoot
* Sherpa Pile™ snow cuff
* 2.5mm bonded felt frost plug
* Handcrafted waterproof vulcanized rubber shell with Sorel AeroTrac non-loading outsole
* Imported

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$110

My first pair of Sorels lasted 20 years. My present pair of Caribous are about ten years old, and still going strong.

[308Mike]

My first pair of Sorels lasted 20 years. My present pair of Caribous are about ten years old, and still going strong.

Granted, I haven't HAD to put mine to too much use other than when we voluntarily head out into the snow, but I've had mine now for more than 20 years and they're still going strong - I see NO reason to replace them for quite a few more years. I bought them while TENT snow camping up in Yosemite, and the boots I had just weren't cutting it. Once we were in the four-season tent, it was fine, but every time I needed to put my old boots on, I would eventually lose the feeling in my toes and my feet were freezing. I splurged and spent the money to buy quality (at that time) and haven't regretted the decision. Hell, if they had battery-heated socks at the Yosemite store, I would have bought them too, along with a mega-pack of D-Cell batteries to go with them!

[Denis]

Hell, if they had battery-heated socks at the Yosemite store, I would have bought them too, along with a mega-pack of D-Cell batteries to go with them!

A subject close to my heart (well... my feet). Starting a new topic on heated socks and gloves.

[ButchS1066]

I don't believe in steelcaps anynmore; having seen more than one unintentional amputation because of them. Composite reinforcement is the best compromise as far as I'm concerned.

Can anyone explain that? I don't doubt it, I just can't imagine any scenarios where that would happen.

Scissor lifts are common on the types of construction sites I've worked on, and I've seen more than one person get careless and put their toes in a pinch point when climbing down off of a lift that hadn't quite bottomed out. In a regular boot, the pressure's off as soon as the lift can be raised off of their foot, add a steel toe to the mix and they'll have to wait till the paramedics get there and can cut the boot off.

Sorels get my vote for cold weather boots.

[Ben Rumson]

I've got an older pair of these.. http://www.sorel.com/mens-boots/men,def ... 1&start=10

Got them on sale in Montana while I was out there snowmobiling. Very warm with lots of air circulation but not much for hiking in. Great for snowmobiling and shoveling snow.

[Denis]

Here's my new pair of serious boots: Meindl Dovre Extreme GTX Wide.

Meindl_boots.JPG

Not cheap by any means, but I tested them extensively last week, and I am most satisfied - comfortable, warm, dry and grippy. I got them a half size larger than my normal shoes, to leave room for two pairs of socks - thin silk and thick wool ones.

Prior to use, I treated them, as directed on the box, with an aerosol waterproofing spray for leather, followed by a good wax-based leather dressing (I used Pecards). They never got too hot or cold, and didn't let in a drop of water.

Highly recommended.

[Netpackrat]

I've got an older pair of these.. http://www.sorel.com/mens-boots/men,def ... 1&start=10

Got them on sale in Montana while I was out there snowmobiling. Very warm with lots of air circulation but not much for hiking in. Great for snowmobiling and shoveling snow.

Those are cute. If you go someplace where you need to get serious about keeping your feet warm, get a pair of Glaciers. Hiked about 6 miles in them once (3 in, 3 out), and my feet stayed toasty despite the subzero temps. Biggest issue with them is getting snowshoes strapped on securely; they are almost too big for my Sherpas.