Boots for Work & Other Occasions - List of Brands and Stores

Lstenchlord on 04/03/2023 - 02:42
Last edited 04/03/2023 - 02:44

I thought this might help/assist others who might be in a similar position so thought I'd post the information I gathered during my experience.

I was looking to purchase some boots for work but I also wanted to be able to use them outside of work as well so I wanted something that could be worn in a casual setting as well as for slightly more formal occasions.

First brand that came to mind for me was R.M. Williams for obvious reasons and while they are pricey (least for me when they aren't on special) I understand the $500-$700 you spend on them is money well spent. On top of that if you're willing to do the small amount of maintenance required on them you'll likely end up with a pair of boots that will last a lifetime BUT I'm lazy and rough on my possessions so I was looking for something a little more expendable while still being at least a little durable but more importantly, cheaper.

So I decided to look up a bunch of brands to see what they had on offer and this is the list I came up with. There are likely thousands more but this is where I started and I ended up with something that suited my requirements.

Ariat
Baxter
Blundstone
Dr Martins
Hush Puppies
Julius Marlow
Mongrel
R.M. Williams
Redback
Redwing
Rossi
Steel Blue
Thomas Cook
Thursday Boot Company
Windsor Smith

These are the Aussie companies from above since it seems to matter to some people: Baxter, Blundstone, Mongrel, R.M. Williams, Redback, Rossi, Steel Blue, Windsor Smith.
Keep in mind though that sadly not all of these companies manufacture some or all of their products in Australia.

Next up some sites and stores to purchase the above products from.

https://www.allingtons.com.au/workwear/boots/
https://baxterfootwear.com.au/
https://www.blundstone.com.au/
https://cheapworkboots.com.au/shop/category/boots/non-safety…
https://everythingaustralian.com.au/boots-shoes.html
https://www.mongrelboots.com.au/
https://www.rmwilliams.com.au/
https://rossiboots.com.au/
https://www.rsea.com.au/work-boots
https://www.totallyworkwear.com.au/footwear
https://workscene.com.au/footwear/boots/
https://www.workwearhub.com.au/collections/work-boots-shoes

Not all of the brands are available at the listed stores but the majority will be.

Hopefully the above gives people a decent starting point to find the pair of boots that suits their needs.
I know if I'd had it when I started it would have saved me a bit of time searching.

As for what I got, I ended up with some Blundstone boots. The #663 ( https://www.blundstone.com.au/men-s-or-women-s-style-663 ) and #659 ( https://www.blundstone.com.au/men-s-or-women-s-style-659 ) models in particular. They're the same style just one in black and one in brown so that I can swap depending on what else I'm wearing and it cost me under $300 shipped for the two. While it's a shame they're not a good year welt design so that I could get the soles replaced in future, they are "full grain premium leather" unlike a lot of the Blundstone range which list their material as "premium leather" so hopefully they last me a few years at least. After the week and a half I've had them, I've been happy with how they look and feel.

Fashion & Apparel Boots Footwear

Comments

  • Chadlington on 04/03/2023 - 10:28
    +1

    This is helpful, thanks!

  • HardQuiz on 04/03/2023 - 10:33
    +1

    Thanks for sharing the results of your searching and data collection. Footwear is always subjective, some value the looks others comfort.

    so hopefully they last me a few years at least. After the week and a half I've had them, I've been happy with how they look and feel.

    I’d be interested in hearing your opinion after few months.

    • stenchlord on 04/03/2023 - 15:03

      Yeah and people will have different requirements, some will need a steel cap, some won't, some will prefer laces, others like me want minimal effort in the morning to get dressed so will prefer a Chelsea lol.

      As for durability I'm interested too. I've already lightly scuffed them a bit, stepped in some gum and walked through some flooded street gutters. Like I said, I'm not particularly careful with my gear lol

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 04/03/2023 - 11:38
    +1

    659 looks pretty good actually - shame it does not have steel cap which I need for work

    • stenchlord on 04/03/2023 - 15:05

      It's a pretty comfy boot but yeah, while it's a "work boot" it's designed more as a dress boot which is why the sole is so thin so I wouldn't personally get one to use as a proper work boot.

  • Hybroid on 04/03/2023 - 12:05
    +2

    Bought the Rossi Biga half-price deal which was recommended here a while ago and quite happy with it. Great quality and fit. Very comfortable sole as well, worth a try.

    • stenchlord on 04/03/2023 - 15:06

      I saw the deal at Allingtons too but they didn't have my size otherwise I'd have likely bought a set for myself as well.

  • cashless on 04/03/2023 - 18:41
    +1

    Love my Mongrel high-sided zippers. Most comfy work boot I’ve ever owned

  • Nillionaire on 05/03/2023 - 00:18

    Sorry for hijacking with something different but I'm looking a leather sneaker in all black that is suitable for semi-formal occasions. Preferably under $300 but willing to pay more if it's worth it.

  • baileyj on 06/03/2023 - 12:01

    I bought boots last year for similar use case, office + casual. Went with Thursday Boots 'Captain'.
    https://thursdayboots.com/products/mens-brown-captain

    I'm happy with them. Goodyear welt construction, so should last, but cheaper than RMs. I went with lace up but they have other styles.

    They have some of their range on Amazon AU, which was more expensive than buying from US site, but gives you fast delivery and free returns with Prime so you can order a few sizes to get the fit right.

    • gummibears on 08/03/2023 - 00:33

      Can I ask what size you usually wear in other boot brands (e.g. rm or tinberlands) vs the size you ended up getting for the captains? Ive been looking to get captain and explorers direct from Thursday Boot Company but concerned about sizing. I've been reading the general rule if thumb is to buy 1 size down from sneaker size for these boots but customer feedback has been somewhat variable.

      • baileyj on 08/03/2023 - 14:55
        +1

        My experience also variable. I ordered US11.5 wide, but returned for 10.5 regular width.

        Here's some of my other shoes for a guide: Stan Smiths: US12, Mizuno runners: US11 Wide, Florsheim dress boots: US11.5

        Seems to align with buying a size down 🤷‍♂️

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join