Best boots/footwear for a regional driver?

Had Redwings in the past. In my opinion, they’re overrated and overpriced. They wear out just as quick as the others and cost a lot more. Plus, they’re a nightmare to break in.

 

I’m a big fan of Reebok boots myself. I like Converse better, but they’re hard to find. These are my summer boots:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009L53ZUC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

And my winter:
Workman Composite Toe

 

Ariat, Double H and Justin all make decent boots for a reasonable price. Ariat seem to last me the longest.

 

I am asking a similar question in a thread I just started for Flatbed drivers. I tried on quite a few steel-toe boots at a local shop but found most of them uncomfortable, and extremely big, and have concerns about getting up on top of freight and a flatbed climbing around in them because they seem so big and heavy. I am a big fan of Keen shoes in general and it's pretty much all I wear because of a couple of surgeries that I had on my foot, and Keen shoes seem to be the best for comfort for me and they are wider fit in general. I don't do well in narrow shoes and that reason and the souls of Keen's seem to be the best shoe I have ever owned. You can also get most of their shoes in "wide" if they already aren't wide enough in the regular, although I have never had to. I am going to try a couple of pairs on that are the "wide" in steel toe since there is no real give there in the toe box though. So I am thinking of getting a lighter pair (compared to other brands and models) of Keen's that are steel toe.

I have read that the main problems with steel toe boots in general are:

1) They aren't the most comfortable to drive in for big rigs in general for how much you drive.
2) They are colder on the toes in the winter time and my feet already run cold. I hate cold feet!

So I was thinking about getting composite, but what if I walk onto a job site where it is "mandatory" to have Steal Toe? Would anyone drill down to that level of detail between composite vs steel toe that I would be wearing to cause a problem and/or ask about my shoes? I don't like lying at all, so I don't want to be on a job site, have someone ask, and then feel trapped into being honest and not allowing me to use what I have if I have composite.

I was thinking of getting a pair just to wear when I am having to load freight and then slip back into my regular shoes when behind the wheel. I don't know how common it is for Flatbed drivers to wear steel-toe boots though. I would think it's more important for me to wear them since I am working with heavy chains and equipment in general more frequently than say a dry van operator. I might go my entire time with zero problems without having steel toes, but I am afraid of that one time where I do have something go wrong and wish to God that I had them on kind of thing.

 

Not as much as you think anymore. Last two pairs ive owned lasted a few months before falling apart. Ive switched to this brand. Home - HOSS Boot Company they arent as "fancy" but they sure as hell hold up a lot better and are nearly as comfortable. Of course im also a size 17EE or 18EE depending on brand so finding boots in my size that hold up has always been an issue.

 

Composite toe are much lighter than steel toe and don't freeze your foot in the winter.

 

What the heck is an 18ee?

 

18 double wide

 

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...ogv4wywyytplsw2ojkic63tmhw3lbthqaama1ealw_wcb

 

Crocs/s