Rigger boots...?

[Kayos]

I’ve never been a fan of rigger boots, I wear lace ups. Trainer style in summer and boots in winter.

Years ago I had a DeWalt pair that lasted a long while, replaced them with the same and they didn’t last 6 months

I have a pair of Scruffs at the minute, seem to be holding up well but I don’t abuse them like I used to

 

[Revs1972]

I agree ankle boots are better for support but in some industries you need knee length protection, farming for instance or laying concrete floors. The only choice you have there is rigger boots or wellies. Wellies offer no ankle support at all, a good fitting rigger boot gives you some support.

Riggers definitely the best option when you are surveying stood ankle deep in cow poo

 

[The Z'eer]

I've just been shopping for new rigger boots & all I can suggest is to try them for fit before you buy. That means a visit to an actual shop unless you find an online supplier offering free delivery & free returns!

I was looking for a pair with a proper rubber anti scuff cap on the toes. I am working on my knees a lot & I would wear the toes out very quickly. My last pair (stirling) were very comfortable but only had a thin piece if rubber glued over the toe & I was down to the steel toecap in a few months! I found it impossible to source the right boots locally! I did find a pair in one shop but the boots were so loose fitting they were impossible to walk in (Xpert branded).

There are no proper industrial workwear suppliers near me but I was on a weekend break on the coast & found 2 suppliers nearby. The first one had 2 that fitted the bill but both were very loose fitting as well. One pair (amblers) had a nubuck finish which would be impossible to keep on a work boot.
I found a pair in the second shop but I had to go down a shoe size to get a good fit. They are Apache AP305 & so far they seem very comfortable. I've been wearing them for a few hours every day & no sore feet!

One thing to look out for is ones with a padded ankle. They make the boot fit better on your foot & stop it slapping around plus give you some ankle support. That Dewalt has good padding on it & should fit well. My first pair were Dewalt, very comfortable & lasted me ages, had to dump them when I wore the sole out. Unfortunately the newer styles don't have a decent scuff cap otherwise I would buy them again.

Another thing is the finish on the leather. An oily leather is probably the easiest to keep, give them a good coat of dubbin before you wear them, warming the leather with a hair dryer so that it soaks in.

Excellent information there I will be sure to try before I buy. I have been wearing low top walking shoes so far, ankle support isn't really a serious concern as yet. I did have a a pair of low top CAT work shoes, mainly light work usage, gardening and DIY. I got 16 years out of them, though usage was sporadic at times.

I'm pleased to hear DeWalt get the thumbs up. I find the quality of their products varies from time to time, but here a good quality item from the sound of it.

 

[Turbo]

The Dewalt ones I posted at the top of the thread have a rubber scuff cap.

It is only a thin piece of rubber glued onto the toe. My last boots had that & they only lasted a few months until I could see steel! A proper scuff cap is moulded rubber & is part of the sole that comes up over the toe.

 

[Turbo]

I'm pleased to hear DeWalt get the thumbs up. I find the quality of their products varies from time to time, but here a good quality item from the sound of it.

The place that I bought my boots told me that Dewalt make a cheaper version of their boots for sale in the chain stores like screwfix.

 

[Liquid Metal]

Lace up boots all the way for me. Cant wear riggers on some of the sites the company i work for works on anyway, theyve had one or two broken ankles made worse by the fact that they cant simply cut laces and open them out to get them off, and i just dont like them find them uncomfortable.
Caterpillar Nitrogen boots, composite toecap, anti pierce sole plates, plenty of ankle support and as comfy as a pair of slippers.
Also for the winter, Cofra Bering cold weather boots. Similar but high leg boots lined with fleece, carbpn toecaps, thermal insoles and rated to keep feet warm down to -20degC.

 

[indy4x]

I used to wear riggers a lot around the boatyard, very comfy. Until one day working on my pick up i cut a nut off with a grinder, of course the hot bit fell into my boot. My mate thought it was hilarious as i danced about on one leg trying to get the boot off sharpish!

Which is why I dont fancy a pair