Best boots for work, Expert recommendations to choose

[papi]

I’m comparing a few boots for daily work use and would love to hear what others here are wearing. My priorities are comfort, durability, and good support for long hours. My priorities are:

Timberland PRO Work Boots

https://www.amazon.com/Timberland-PRO-Wedge-Industrial-Rust-2024/dp/B0CKTYZDXY/

Thorogood Crosstrex Boots

https://www.amazon.com/Thorogood-Mens-834-6385-Crosstrex-Polishable/dp/B08CFSKM2T/?th=1&psc=1

Which one would you personally pick, or is there another pair you think deserves a look? thanks

 

[Zoro]

What does that even mean? Are you going to be literally putting out fires? Are you going to be breaking rocks? Are you going to be in an oil platform in the middle of the ocean? Are you going to be sitting in an office for 8 hours?

 

[PeterHuang]

I’m looking for the best boots for work, something comfortable, durable, and reliable for long hours. What work boots have you personally found worth buying? Thanks

What does that even mean? Are you going to be literally putting out fires? Are you going to be breaking rocks? Are you going to be in an oil platform in the middle of the ocean? Are you going to be sitting in an office for 8 hours?

So normally if someone asked what the best pair of boots for work is, I assume they work in the office since no construction worker would ever ask that question lol. Construction workers clearly know what boots to wear as it is probably listed in their job requirement.

So gonna do the same here and assume that you are a white collar and want to get a well-built pair of boots that is semi-formal, not too chunky but still have the workwear spirit. IMO, the best pair for that purpose is George Boots by Clinch. However, I know Clinch is hard to buy and expensive, so second option is the Saint boots by Briselblack which I owned. That one is probably a knock-off of the George Boots, but it is really well built, the Maryam horsebutt they used on my boots is comparable to the one used in George. You can also customize the leather and they have options for Shinki and Horween shell cordovan, but the price cannot be justified so I don't think it's worth it.

 

[papi]

Fair point, I probably should have been more specific. I’m mainly talking about general daily work where I’m on my feet for several hours, rather than a specific trade with strict safety requirements.

I’ve narrowed it down to the Timberland PRO and Thorogood Crosstrex because both seem to offer the combination I’m after: decent support, comfort for longer days, and enough durability for regular use. I’m not really looking for a dress boot or anything overly heavy.

At the moment I’m leaning slightly toward the Timberland PRO, mostly because I like the more straightforward work-boot design. But I haven’t made up my mind yet, which is why I wanted to hear from people who have actually worn either pair.

If you’ve used the Crosstrex for full workdays, I’d especially like to know how they feel after 8–10 hours. That’s probably the biggest thing I’m trying to figure out.

 

[Zoro]

So normally if someone asked what the best pair of boots for work is, I assume they work in the office since no construction worker would ever ask that question

They used "boots for work" and also "work boots" in the same message. They are not the same and I think my question was completely fair.

Fair point, I probably should have been more specific. I’m mainly talking about general daily work where I’m on my feet for several hours, rather than a specific trade with strict safety requirements.

I’ve narrowed it down to the Timberland PRO and Thorogood Crosstrex because both seem to offer the combination I’m after: decent support, comfort for longer days, and enough durability for regular use. I’m not really looking for a dress boot or anything overly heavy.

At the moment I’m leaning slightly toward the Timberland PRO, mostly because I like the more straightforward work-boot design. But I haven’t made up my mind yet, which is why I wanted to hear from people who have actually worn either pair.

If you’ve used the Crosstrex for full workdays, I’d especially like to know how they feel after 8–10 hours. That’s probably the biggest thing I’m trying to figure out.

Honestly, if you're just on your feet with no safety requirements or anything... Anything would work. I would even turn towards what best are you looking for and, more importantly, what's your budget.

For example, what benefit do you get from Timberland Pro vs Timberland notPro? In your use case there may be none. I know very little about the Thorogoods you mention, but they look like modern hiking boots as you could get from Salomon, Hoka, Adidas Terrex, Arcteryx, La Sportiva and so on. That already tells me you don't have to dress formally, which also opens up options.

I've personally really liked Salomon XT6 shoes and I currently have La Sportiva Raptor, I would say they are both very good and comfortable for long, long walks and also just standing idle, so their boot versions might work and look similar to those Thorogoods. Having said this, I wouldn't call them The Best Boot™ from any general perspective, just for hiking/trekking.

 

[barnabus]

what benefit do you get from Timberland Pro vs Timberland notPro?

I don't need safety footwear for my job, but I am in a workshop and on my feet all day. Literally on my feet all day.

I wear a pair of lightly used Timberlands I got off eBay. They're comfy and supportive and robust enough and they were almost no money.

It sounds like the OP could wear something like that. Or anything they want, really.

 

[sonofmt]

I realize this is obvious, but the Boy Scouts taught me that best, most supportive, highest quality etc mean very little if the boot doesn’t fit.

 

[AeroFan_07]

This topic is well covered in this thread (I encourage folks to search before starting new threads).

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/feet-up-the-work-boot-thread.75773/

As have been stated, your requirements do not sound specifically rigorous, I personally would encourage you to consider fit and arch support, and perhaps sole properties (slip, oil resistant, etc) before much else.

 

[Adman256]

Buy the best pair you can afford. There is nothing worse than standing on a concrete floor for 8 hours. OH MY ACHING FEET! Redwing, a fantastic boot. Timberland you can’t go wrong with. It’s a very individualized choice.

 

[Adman256]

Plus I’m flat footed. OH MY ACHING FEET!!!

 

[Bfd70]

Tbh both boots listed in the OP are just basic garbage. They will certainly work fine in an office setting or the occasional loop around the warehouse but so will a regular pair of Nike. Op in order to get a thoughtful response you need to provide information such as what you will be using them for, what features you would like to have, and what your budget is. Also know that this forum typically tends towards well-made brands, which those timberlands you posted are not.

 

[TLW '90]

I'd avoid either of those, and wouldn't call them real boots anyways.

get a pair of Thorogood moc toes, I'm required black footwear so I go with the 6201.
here's my current pair after exactly 1 year in.


and brand new next to my previous pair after 3 years.