Good starter boot?
Long story short, I had to get some Red Wing boots for work about a year and a half ago, and now they're all I wear. I think I've become a boot guy.
The problem is that these working boots aren't super good looking, so I'd like some recommendation for a good "starter" boot. I quite like the look of Wolverine's 1000 Mile plain-toe classic boot, and am willing to spend around that price point if necessary ($400).
The question is, are there any options around this price point that I should be looking at as well? Is the 1000 Mile actually any good? Also, there is currently at 25% discount for Wolverine, does anyone know if this is the best time to buy?
32 Replies
Hi @HawkEye! The best way to get a good answer is to ask a great question.
Please consider including:
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if you like the 1k mile, why not that one? Im not a boot guy so my impression is a shoe with that reputation has to be "good enough" what does good even mean to you? Personally im like 80% looks 20% build quality
but im sure others are knowledgable about actual brand recs so thats just my 2 cents
For sure, I'm about ready to pull the trigger, I'm mostly just looking for a sanity check. I'm not really aware of this industry, so just wanted to check if there wasn't some hidden gem out there, or that Wolverine isn't secretly the worst company ever.
i’ve got thursday captains and despite them being unpopular I love them - while it’s good to seek educated voices, if you really really like the shoe, get it.
Reddit
From the goodyearwelt community on Reddit: Wolverine 1000 Mile Orig...
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this thread may of use to you
That's an excellent resource, thank you very much.
What about the Red Wing Beckmans?
I’ve had the 1000 Miles for 13 years. They’ve gotten a ton of use and were my first good shoe of any kind. I’d definitely recommend them. Some thoughts on how to improve their life:
- put a topy on the soles
- use a cream on them not infrequently
- be mindful of the speedhooks getting bent out of shape
They’re pretty non-fussy though. And a decent boot to get resoled. I don’t think you can go wrong with them to start.
Absolutely not
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From the malefashionadvice community on Reddit: Co-Founder Of Thurs...
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Unpopular is an understatement. You've been confronted over this several times and you refuse to stop recommending Thursday boots
Stop recommending boots from a horrible company
Get Beckett Simmons, Blkbrd, Unmarked.mx, Chippewa, Grant Stone, or a million others that don't have the morality issues
thursdays suck for the price which should disqualify them alone but more importantly they suck AND they’re run by dorks
OP check out the samples and factory second listings for unmarked and Grant Stone. You can also order from Beckett or Blkbrd if you're willing to wait, or can message them to see if they have any ready to ship
Sierra.com also often has boot deals and red wing has slimmer boots, some with unstructured toes similar to vibergs
shut down the server every thursday 🗣️
did not know this about thursday, jesus that’s horrid
shan’t be recommending them again. had assumed it was a quality thing and i’d had no issues personally with quality. absolutely not something i stand for - had been planning on buying another pair of captains but definitely won’t be buying from them again. sorry for any offence i may have caused
I got some captains cheap secondhand and had a similar experience to you thinking the quality was much better than what the internet said. Only found out about the shitty company after joining this server :( I still plan to take care of mine and wear them for their lifespan, especially considering the visible branding is quiet, but it sucks to have a piece in my wardrobe I would otherwise like carrying some icky vibes now
Just taking a step back on the current conversation. What do you currently dress like or aim to do? Wonder if we're skipping out potential options and just focusing on workwear / Americana by accident
You got them secondhand and the best thing you can do is wear what you already have vs more consumption. They get ragged on, rightfully so, but they're solid boots and it's good to enjoy what you already own
Yeah likewise got them second hand. Gutted that what I thought was a decent brand turns out to be founded by an awful person
at any rate thanks for informing me of this awz
Honestly my style right now is still very basic. Typically just jeans and a t-shirt, or chinos and a button-up. Expectations for what I wear at work/otherwise is very flexible, since I'm basically a software engineer working in a factory setting (hence the work boots).
I do like the look of workwear, but I also find that I idealize a more "preppy" aesthetic that isn't very practical for my current situation (both in terms of work and due to living in a place that is arguably actively hostile to layering).
I'm not sure if those two things are even slightly compatible, so perhaps I just made things more difficult 😅 .
Thank you everyone for the recommendations and conversation, I didn't expect such a response and I'm very grateful. I'm still going through all the brands and ideas mentioned here, and am quite thankful I'm not in a rush to get new shoes.
prescribing you a course of “use discord search function for
in:waywt from:@artvandelayexporting has:image and see what he’s doing that you like”These are compatible. I probably would lean toward ‘ivy’ rather than ‘preppy’ to describe where that’s possible, but it’s just semantics.
Just one example
Here’s some good stuff from 70s Japan.
But yes do this
https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1390361447678345236
tapping various signs
for a general wardrobe overhaul the starting advice is typically the below + a new thread:
Go to #waywt #waywt-highlights and #inspiration and social media, pinterest, lookbooks, ads, and styling on websites or other resources you have access to - save a ton of photos you like. Then, post them in a new thread & provide answers to the questions in the standard @Clark'sDesertBot thread prompt. Pictures of you in clothes you own/fits you like or want feedback on are immensely helpful.but for 90% of people just look at what art is doing or find someone else whose style you like and want to learn from and start there
Wolverine has done some shitty things too: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/07/wolverine-worldwide-pfas-drinking-water-contamination-michigan.html
CNBC
The maker of Hush Puppies shoes is haunted by a water contamination...
Wolverine Worldwide is a $2.4 billion global corporation home to brands like Chaco, Sperry, Merrell and Hush Puppies – and a point of contention in its hometown. Decades-old tannery waste leached toxic chemicals in the ground, contaminating some drinking water sources.