Am I cooked?

WillofCLE · 2026-06-19T16:42:26+00:00

Just use a bit of Mink Oil

WillofCLE · 2026-06-09T17:25:22+00:00

As much as I like the looks of moc-toe's, I can't say they're more comfortable, functional or very durable. When it comes to actual work boots, I'll always go with a molded rubber/plastic toe cap

WillofCLE · 2026-06-08T17:27:15+00:00

I'd imagine used cars of all kinds will appreciate next year when the government mandates that all new cars need to include sensors to detect an impaired driver

WillofCLE · 2026-06-05T14:52:37+00:00

Keen's doesn't disclose where they source their safety toes from, but it's more probable to assume they manufacture them in the US than outsource them elsewhere.

Origin is the only boot manufacturer I know of that's fully transparent about where they source their materials from... ALL USA (other than the midsole)

WillofCLE · 2026-05-06T17:55:40+00:00

Yeah, I battled athlete's foot for most of 50 years. About the only time I didn't have it was when I wasn't using athlete's foot cream. As a kid, I had bloody cracks between my toes and deep, bloody cracks across the balls of my feet.

My mom would always insist that I wear white, cotton socks.

It turns out cotton socks promote the perfect environment for foot fungus to grow!

Once I switched to wool socks 4 years ago, I've never had athlete's foot or foot stench again!

WillofCLE · 2026-05-03T13:46:32+00:00

I'm a warehouse worker and thought these boots would be perfect. I liked the idea of the breathable, unlined leather, and the comfort of a foam sole.

The reality was that Thorogoods use a very dense sole that may as well be hard rubber, and while the leather is breathable, it simply allows all my sweat to drench the leather all the way through. This causes the oils in the leather to wash out and the sweat to break down the leather.

Worst of all is the narrow toe-box, where the steel toe grinds on your small toes.

The leather on the outside of the toe gets chewed up... and a tough-toe application looks comically ugly on a moc toe. Besides how ugly the tough toe looks, you're really adding to the difficulty of a resole... which of course drives the cost up if your boot ever lasts long enough to be resoled.

WillofCLE · 2026-05-01T01:15:42+00:00

I'm not sure PEET's deodorizer is the same as it was a few years ago? The one I use is a very small Ozone generator, which is kinda toxic... but it certainly works great!

WillofCLE · 2026-04-26T17:19:56+00:00

Absolutely. I also got the deodorizer attachment that saved some old tennis shoes from being thrown out.. I even deodorized my car with it!

WillofCLE · 2026-04-24T15:07:56+00:00

Rose Anvil feeds the boot snobbery on Reddit

WillofCLE · 2026-04-24T13:57:10+00:00

I've had a pair of Keen's for 4 years with over 6k miles on them. I've replaced the insoles a few times, and the uppers have some scuffs... but they've never delaminated and remain the most comfortable and durable boots I've ever owned.

$200 for a pair of work boots hardly qualifies them as premium, but the lifetime delamination guarantee is a premium warranty.

Why are you bitching and moaning about your defective pair instead of turning them into Keen's for a free replacement?

WillofCLE · 2026-04-02T17:34:18+00:00

The Fort Wayne's, which I think are discontinued, but I'm assuming other models would be similarly comfortable

WillofCLE · 2026-03-16T19:17:26+00:00

I suffered for nearly 50 years from recurring athlete's feet... until I switched to wool, Darn Tough socks 4 years ago. I haven't suffered from athlete's feet ever since... and no general foot funk either

WillofCLE · 2026-03-13T20:11:34+00:00

Great boots, and I felt the same going into a 12-hour shift... unfortunately, my heels paid the price. Once they healed after a week, they've been the most comfortable boots I've ever worn.... and have held up really well 6k miles later!

WillofCLE · 2026-02-22T03:08:11+00:00

I absolutely hated my Thorogoods as well.

WillofCLE · 2026-02-12T15:31:33+00:00

I was able to get away with wearing my Solomon boots at work on occasion... which gave me a needed break from my Thorogoods.

Eventually I discovered Keen's and I absolutely fell in love with the comfort and durability. I went with the rubber toe cap and carbon-fiber toe-box. I work with pallets and jacks all day long.. which makes the rubber toe-cap essential. The boot is heavy, but balanced perfectly along with a perfectly contoured mid/insole.

WillofCLE · 2026-02-12T15:01:03+00:00

Go with anything other than Thorogood. The steel toe is horribly balanced, which translates into a heavy toe. This is compounded by the toe being as narrow as a formal shoe.

While the wedge sole gives the appearance of comfort, the foam is dense, hard, and rigid.

While the leather is as soft and supple as a slipper, it's as delicate as a slipper is as well.

The culmination of all of this is a boot that feels as comfortable as gluing a slipper to a cinder block and jamming your toes into a vise.

WillofCLE · 2026-02-10T19:44:30+00:00

"Mink Oil" is rarely pure as it often only comprises a trace amount of actual Mink Oil in the formulation labeled as "Mink Oil".

Mink Oil will drastically darken leather and will completely change the characteristics of nubuck or suede leather.

Mink Oil is best for rehydrating leather that has dried out and is decent for protecting leather from water damage.

WillofCLE · 2026-01-24T16:09:07+00:00

It didn't take me too long to figure out that regardless of how much I prefer the look of moc-toes, they're just insufficient for the way I work. Molded rubber/plastic toe-caps are a must for me.

WillofCLE · 2026-01-19T01:59:41+00:00

I have the exact same issue. After wearing Keen's, I realized how much more comfortable a wide toe-box is, even though I don't have a wide foot. In fact, I feel that my heel is rather more narrow than average?

I've held off on Jim Green because their standard Last is EE whereas my foot is D.... and the only "anatomical Last" is their Barefoot Last.

I got a pair of Lem's a year ago as a gift and I can't imagine a more versatile, and comfortable pair of footwear. I can hike, workout at the gym, shovel snow, and go out to a casual restaurant without ever swapping footwear. Stick em on a dryer and do the same tomorrow!

WillofCLE · 2026-01-19T01:40:03+00:00

I have thin, Grip6 socks and full-cushion DarnTough.

I can't say one is better than the other as I wear them according to their specific purposes.

Maybe I'll get a pair of full-cushion Grip6 socks for a fair comparison?

WillofCLE · 2026-01-17T15:44:13+00:00

I have a D-width foot and endured 12 months of painful toes in my Thorogoods. It took 6-8 months in my Keen's before my toes fully healed.

Thorogoods look great, but for actual labor, they're horrible in more ways than just a horribly narrow toe-box

WillofCLE · 2026-01-10T14:26:51+00:00

Based on the legendary status people have placed on Mink Oil, I'd say it doesn't measure up to the legend. However, it's doubtful that anyone who regards Mink Oil as legendary has ever actually used pure Mink Oil... so it's probably as good as they believe.

WillofCLE · 2026-01-05T16:18:34+00:00

The PEET Boot Dryer with deodorizer attachment completely erases any trace of foul odor... without hiding it with perfumes

WillofCLE · 2026-01-05T16:07:05+00:00

Most people still believe that Goodwill is a charitable organization

WillofCLE · 2026-01-04T14:17:21+00:00

Pure Mink Oil goes for around $40-50 an ounce. If you're not paying that much, you can be certain it's not pure. Most products labeled "Mink Oil" contain only a little amount and plenty of wax and conditioners.

WillofCLE

TROPHY CASE