I'm picky about what I put on my feet
I've worked for the RailRoad for the last 32 years, retiring this past August.
For years, I bought what I thought were "good boots"... I'd go through 3-4 pair a year, walking 8-10 miles a night, inspecting trains in any and all kinds of weather. The ballast (2-3 inch crushed stone) would eat them up!!
One day my son Tyler and I stopped at a local Sports Store where they had a clearance "tent sale"... They had a pair of Carolina "Logger Boots" for $95! I called a friend who wears them to get his opinion? His reply was "If they're $95, I'd buy every pair they have! I pay $180 online" I got 3 years out of those boots!!! They were "retired" because there was NO tread left on the soles.
After that pair I bought 2 more pairs averaging about 3 years on each. 3 pair of EVERY DAY boots, in almost 10 years is quite impressive to me! Work Boots, are just that, boots made to work hard every day. Good boots are NOT cheap!! But, they are an investment that will last for years...
Today we went and bought a pair of Red Wing Loggers, for Tyler's new hunting boots. I'm sure he will be wearing them for many years!!!