Thorogood boots

[skee]

First time poster here, but I've lingered as a non member a few times and finally joined.  Great forum you have going here.

I'm in the market for some new boots and would like to know if anyone has any experience with Thorogood boots? I'm specifically looking at style 834-6371, the 10" wildland fire boot.  I found a pair at my local hardware store for $209 which seems like a pretty good deal (I see them online for about $245). 

I am also open to any recommendations on boots.  I'm currently still in college studying forestry so I will be using the boots almost every day in my classes hiking around on steep slopes, and for work after graduation. I have never owned logger or fire style boots with the larger heel, but i've heard lots of good things about them from friends who have similar style boots(although most of them wear white's). I'm not necessarily going into fire as my career  but I thought it might be a good idea to get boots that I could use if I work on a crew in the future.

Thanks ahead of time for any reviews or recommendations you guys might have.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Skee.....Welcome!

I heard some guys talking about boots the other day. One guy said a boot made by "BOGS" was his choice.
I may be wrong but I think he said these boots had a life time warranty.

I am not familiar with the boot you mentioned.....I'm mainly a Wal-mart boot guy. :D :D :D

Again, welcome and have a Great Christmas!

[DDDfarmer]

Never heard of those boots before, I buy mine from Mark's.  Dakota Quad comfort  Not sure how they would hold up out in the woods tho, but they are good work boots.  Never liked the looks of the walmart boots they looked like very poor quality IMO.  Buy the best boots you can, you are on your feet all day.  Bought some cheap boots once and did something to my ankle could hardly walk.  Was working construction, no walk no work no money learned that real fast.

Fill out your profile, let us know where ya from.  Us guys from Canada might be sending you to a Canadian store but you could be in Denmark?  Or a Brit helping an Aussie  :D

[thecfarm]

skee,welcome to the forum. I'm not a boot guy,but $200 is about right for a good pair of boots. I guess time will tell for ya. What some love,some hate.  :D

[skee]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome, and the boot suggestions so far, I will look up those brands.
For those that aren't familiar with the Thorogoods, here is a link to the ones I'm talking about  http://workingperson.com/thorogood-boots-men-s-fire-resistant-work-boots-834-6371-121733.html
The thing I like is that they are made in the USA and seem to have all the features I'm looking for, but I thought I would see if anyone has any input before I pull the trigger on my first *real* pair of boots.  :P

[RPF2509]

As a forester, I too use my boots every day.  I've been wearing WESCO boots for 20 years now and they are the best shoe or boot I've ever worn.  The other popular brand is Whites but some people (like me) don't like the extra high heel.  Both brands are expensive (somewhere north of $400 these days depending on the version) but worth every penny.  In addition they are rebuildable for about 1/2 price.  Most of my boots have gone for 2 rebuilds before I regulate them to in the shop boots.  Cheaper boots may do the trick for a season or two but they will not last in the woods and most are not rebuildable.  I usually can get 3 - 4 years wearing them every day out of them before a rebuild.  Both brands are available as caulks and I usually buy them as caulks to start and have them rebuilt with vibram soles.  I have switched to the lace to toe version as the fit is better on the front portion of my foot.  As a college student, money is probably tight but in the long run either of these boots will save you money and your feet and legs will thank you.  As a bonus both are made in the USA.  You can look at Hoffman too but I only have tried their Pac boots.

[turnkey]

Thorogoods are pretty much the standard footwear from 'oxfords' to work boots in law enforcement.  I wore out a couple pair of the lowquarters in my years as a jailer.  Very good quality.

Harry K

[skee]

Thanks rpf2509 and turnkey! You are right about money being pretty tight right now but I will look into wescos, definitely!

[acrosteve]

A while back, I researched a new pair of boots with the desire to get a quality, waterproof, rebuild-able pair with safety toes.

From my post on a different site from back in April...

Well, Might as well give my review of the Thorogood 804-4366 boots I have been wearing for a week and a half.

Fit and finish would be a 9 out of 10. Comfort, about a 5 on a good day.

I went with the easy fit option and chose the EE width boots over the standard D.

Build quality and materials is very nice. I was very optimistic. However, the sole material is rather hard and not very comfortable. But as previously stated, the uppers where soft and felt broken in.

Over the week, the heel box has become rather uncomfortable and is actually close to wearing a blister on the side of my heel. I actually went back to my Chinese Rocky's for a day to heal up. And I used to think they where uncomfortable, now they are a relief.

So overall, I am not very pleased.

If I had it to do over, I might try the 804-4203, but I went with the other one due to the composite toe, rather than steel. But will likely go back to what is available in local stores, so i can try them on.

I have 3 pairs of work boots that I rotate through the week - usually 6 days.  But I started out wearing them all week, in hopes that they would satisfy my needs.

Now, since the time of that post, the boots have broken in, but I definitely could not wear them every day.  I only wear them a day or two at a time, max.  But I just can't justify wasting the $$$ by stopping all together.

The problems I initially described pretty much went away with the break-in, but they cause a rather uncomfortable callous to develop on my left big toe if I wear them daily.  Maybe I should have went with the "D" width, but i was between the sizes based on the chart they provide for you to print out.

Strange thing is that it feels like there is plenty of room by that toe, but not excessive.

My next pair will be something different.