I've gotta get a new pair of boots...

Just switched over from estimating full time, to running the main office and estimating when I have time. And now, I'm on my feet all day. I've gotta find a new, comfy pair of steel toed boots that aren't going to kill my feet. Suggestions? I had a pair of Georgia boots with a great insole a few years ago, but they were destroyed inside of 6 months of shop use.
Who likes what?

I l personally like Chippewa and red wings I had a pair or chips for 5 years working commercial sheet metal but they are costly around 200$ they take a while to break in but they will last you I promise

Myself, I'm sold on Rocky boots. Not the ones with the waterproof membrane, but the ones with the gore-tex lining for waterproofing. This past fall, I bought a pair of Irish Setter Gunflint with their version of gore-tex. I am very pleased with them. Waterproofing is as much of a priority as insulation for me.

Currently I have a couple pairs of Red-wings, Everest, and a clunky pair of Carhartts (heavy, but well made). Tempted to try the Georgias again, or spring for a new pair of Wesco's. Sitting on my butt for years reading blueprints made me soft, and my feet are paying the price.

I worked on cement floors for decades, and my feet were killing me no matter what boots I wore. I finally discovered Smart Wool socks. It was like walking on air. They're quite thick and cushiony. Expensive! but worth every penny to me. They wear like iron, too.

I have these: http://www.amazon.com/Smartwool-Mens-Hiking-Medium-Large/dp/B000HZXY4W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361326562&sr=8-2&keywords=smartwool socks men

For comfort the best I have found are Timberland Pro. I had a pair for 5 years wearing them out on sites (about 25% of my work) and work around the house.
Deeply cushioned, but still tough enough for real work. Just recently replaced them with another pair of Timberlands: http://www.amazon.com/Timberland-Mens-52562-Endurance-Briar/dp/B001FY3WZA/ref=sr_1_1?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1361328567&sr=1-1&keywords=timberland pro 52562 endurance 6" pr work boot
Redwings don't fit me right, and others I've tried are either too heavy or don't last.

Gonna have to find the Chippewa and Timberland retailers around here, see if the boots feel right. Whats the break-in time, or are they good to go out of the gate?

+10, though they are pricey these days. I used to sell them retail back in the day, I had my own business and my cost was less than $4 a pair. Mid-90's

Ya know BB, I'm all good with spending money on a good pair of "cleats for ma feets". My old Wesco's went 20 yrs., best boots I've ever owned. Finding a local retailer has been a challenge though. I'll check the Matterhorns, see if someone close has them.

Break in time for chips are probably about a month or a little longer but they will last

2nd on the Chippewa, Made in USA too. Worth the extra money.

I use Wesco's at work, and Red Wings quite a bit too.

I guess my Google-Fu must be weak, trying to locate a retailer for Wesco or Matterhorn boots has been difficult. Chipps, Timberland, and my Georgias , I can find retailers for those brands. Headed down the hill to Denver tomorrow, I'll try those boots out but, I've gotta try the other two before I get serious.
Knowing me, I'll pick up a pair tomorrow, then another pair of either the Wesco's or Matterhorns, if available fairly close.
Thinking about all this, I don't know how women (chicks) actually shop for shoes?

The Timberland Pro series with the titanium alloy steel caps (called Titan I think) are the most conformable and lightweight safety shoes I've ever worn. The downside is that the leather is very very soft, so if like many, you use the shoes as an occasional hammer/fine adjustment tool, these are not the shoes for you. Available in Sears.

TE

I've got a pair of composite toe Justin Scrubland boots, never found a steel toe that I liked. They're comfortable enough to stand all day and they kept my foot from getting crushed by a 8 row bleacher so I'll but another pair.

My experience with Timberland Pro is no break-in time needed. I've never had Chippewa's

No dice on boot shopping this weekend. Weather did it's thing, so I had guests for the weekend, (cancelled flights, mechanical cancellations, etc)
I have another week before I can get down the hill, extra input is appreciated. Thanks, JB.

There is an active post in the Ash Can about inferior products, in this case chainsaws, being made in China and how we Americans encourage this with our buying practices.
Most of the boots recommended in this thread are made in China or elsewhere overseas, even most of the ones most folks associated with being "Made in USA" like Red Wing, Carhartt, Rocky..
There are American-made options available but you have to look to find them....and care enough to pay a little more for them.

Hmmm. My current two pairs of Red Wings say 'Made in USA'.

Almost as important, what do you all use for a preservative/conditioner/protectant? This is my personal favorite https://www.obenaufs.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=30. I really like that it is beeswax-based. I rub it in with my fingers, and it's easy to wash off. Plus it smells yummy.

I believe it. I visited our local shoe store locally twice in the last year looking for new steel-toed boots. I was amazed in that amount of time how many boot makers had switched over to foreign production.

I guess I'm just saying not to assume that some of the brands we've come to think of as "Made in America" are still that.

According to Red Wings website they still have 82 styles that are American-made.
http://www.redwingshoes.com/footwear/filter-usa

We get new boots every year at work, the past 4 I have gone with Wolverines. Timberland's are comfortable, but I've had the sole come off at the toe. Redwings were always a good boot.

Boot shopping sucks.
The Wesco's I want are $350+, and the Matterhorns are a 4 hour drive (round trip).
I may have to compromise between a in-shop pull on boot (Red Wing or Merrel), and a lace up field boot (??)
If nothing else, I'm getting an edjumacation in booties.