What boots to get?

[FutureFirefighter44]

Hi i am thinking about getting a pair of duty boots but i dont know which ones to get. I want ones with a zipper. I was thinking about getting these. Does anyone know if they are a good pair to get? http://militarygear.com/mens-convers...2037/0,0,653/1

[Bones42]

Make sure to get a left and a right.

[DeputyMarshal]

Get whatever the department issues to you. If it isn't issued, you don't need it.

[fire49]

I like 511 brand shoes

http://www.511tactical.com/

[snowball]

My department approved Red Back slip on boots. They are super fast to take off and put on. You can have my zippers, I'm through with them.

[FireInTheShire]

Back when i was new to the fire service my favorite pair of boots came from walmart....$35.00 black steal toe, went through all my training with em and lasted me longer then I thought they would...so my advice is get something cheap yet comfortable until you are outta fire school that way if they do get messed up, it was only a "throw away pair" anyway. I do love my new station issued boots, they have the side zipper...I'll post the brand and stuff later.

[legos.8ty7]

i think the most important questions are

futurefirefighter44, how old are you? why do you need duty boots (ie academy, career/volly/reserve, junior/explorer)?

ask those two and youll get the correct answer.

[dfwfirefighter]

Back when i was new to the fire service my favorite pair of boots came from walmart....$35.00 black steal toe, went through all my training with em and lasted me longer then I thought they would...so my advice is get something cheap yet comfortable until you are outta fire school that way if they do get messed up, it was only a "throw away pair" anyway.

You can get a inexpensive, yet comfortable uniform shoe or boot at Wally World. The nice thing about that is that if they are defective, almost every town has a Wal-Mart so you can get them replaced easily. Also, the first time you get a bloodborne pathogen soaked into your "high-dollar" expensive footwear, you'll wish you could throw them in the trash can and go back to Wal-Mart and buy a new $30 pair of whatever tickles your fancy.

Having spent many years in a busy, urban fire & EMS system, I'm all about comfort, saving a few $, and NOT wearing someone else's blood, germs, and Hepatitis all over my feet every day I am at work.

[FutureFirefighter44]

I am a junior firefighter. I want boots because most of my training and what not is hands on. So i dont want to ruin a pair of good school shoes. I want a pair of boots that are comfortable and with a zipper.

[legos.8ty7]

so im guessing 14-17, maybe.

i would say dont get a boot with a zipper just yet, wait until you're actually on running calls (not a junior). its just not practical at this stage. yes its nice to have, but it has really no advantage. i have both a zipper and a speed lace and i wear my laces more.

im not saying buy the walmart/cheap brand (if thats your choice, thats cool), but dont drop +$100 for some boots that "look cool". go find something thats comfortable and has a steel/composite toe, dont worry about the zipper. then in a few years, get some cool looking zipper boots. you can easily find something b/t $50-75 that'll last you a while.

[snowball]

You can get a inexpensive, yet comfortable uniform shoe or boot at Wally World. The nice thing about that is that if they are defective, almost every town has a Wal-Mart so you can get them replaced easily. Also, the first time you get a bloodborne pathogen soaked into your "high-dollar" expensive footwear, you'll wish you could throw them in the trash can and go back to Wal-Mart and buy a new $30 pair of whatever tickles your fancy.

Having spent many years in a busy, urban fire & EMS system, I'm all about comfort, saving a few $, and NOT wearing someone else's blood, germs, and Hepatitis all over my feet every day I am at work.

Food for thought.
Do you wash your hands after reading the menu at any restaurant? Because I'm pretty sure I've never seen anybody cleaning those nasty menus before.

I keep my class b shoes clean and decon them after any shooting, code, stabbing, or any place I may come in contact with bodily fluids. Do you toss your bunker boots after a particularly gnarly grinder? After working a fire in a roach infested crack house?
I'll pay over $150 for a pair that I can get three or four years out of, rather than $30 to $40 for a pair that might make two months. Just my opinion.

[IronValor]

I wear Haix duty boots. They are made two places, Germany and Lexington Kentucky and I am all about supporting Local jobs. They are pricey but when it comes to boots you really do get what you pay for. I have had mine for 2 years now and they have endured heavy use both on the buggy and elsewhere. They are just as comfortable now as they were when I first zipped em up.

Food for thought though kid... If you are a junior and not responding to calls but want to maintain a professional image simply get a pair of black wolverines that you can polish, learn to spitshine and be the envy of all

[IronValor]

http://www.haix-bootstore.com/rescue...ts/airpower-r1
These are the ones I wear. They do have factory seconds at the store and that is probably what I am going to get next time around.

[fswson]

http://www.haix-bootstore.com/rescue...ts/airpower-r1
These are the ones I wear. They do have factory seconds at the store and that is probably what I am going to get next time around.

I just tried on my first pair of Haix & they are wonderful. A bit heavy versus the 511 brand but comfy, sturdy and I know my feet are protected. Love the lace/zip fronts.

[firefighter8054]

Has anyone had a pair of the pro warrington 6006's?

[DFD1994]

I understand where you are coming from, I just joined up with explorers and happen to be a bit of a gear snob about certain things. My reasoning was that when I have to change into bunkers I need to be as fast as anybody else on a rig I will eventually ride out on. I split the difference between stlye and price and grabbed some cheaper Bates Brand at a local surplus store, thick anti-puncture sole, toe cap, and you still get your zipper. ran me about $70.

[JayDudley]

The best there is in my opinion...is the Thorogood boot...8" Thorogood Power EMS/Wildland.