Best Work Boots I’ve Ever Purchased and Used!
I bought these boots on here 6 months ago and really wanted to wait to give these boots the real test to see how they stood up to give a real world evaluation beyond the new boot honeymoon and break in blues phase. I work for the LA County Sanitaton Districts and work directly in raw sewage daily, climb endless stair cases, ladders, exposed to and walk through sand, grit, oil, dirt, concrete, asphalt, wastewater, regular water, bleach, chemicals, jump in and out of trucks all day long. 10,000 to to 15,000 steps a day on this job 10 to 16 hour days wearing these boots tracked by my smart watch. 1.2 million steps and going in 6 months on these FD Series Thorogoods!Originally I was very hesitant at buying them because they were “imported” and was concerned about the unknown workmanship on imported boots and the fact they were not 8” high in all black and a relatively new boot to the market with this FD Series. Im skeptical about it all especially with claims and work boots. I’m glad I took the chance on these boots. These boots are really amazing, all day comfortable, dry, rugged and I am completely satisfied.Break in Phase, first month. The FD series is for their Flex Drive. That Flex drive is a flex plate in the bottom of the boot that gives your foot and foot arch and walking motion momentum with each step. I thought it was BS marketing before I bought. The boot and the FD system really works. The leather on the boot is perfect and needs no break in at all. The Flex Drive under the arch support needs to be broken in by you and getting use to. There’s a beginning stiffness to the flex drive shank. It’s not a painful process, It just needs to be done like washing new jeans. I wore them consistently daily to get the Flex Drive going in combination with my normal stride and work routine. Once they broke in I was shocked at how my feet and back didn’t hurt anymore during the work day from regular work boot comparison. I normally have always worn their “Heritage Series” boots where the leather is where the break in process has to happen and the sole is like a walking shoe. But the “Heritage Series” in this line of work wear out in 6 months or less at best. The Heritage boot is a great work boot for regular construction work, just not for the waste water treatment and sewage business, the FD Series is a perfect fit foe my work.These Thorogood FD Series boots fit perfect and perform perfect in every way. I wear a size 9.5 in Vans and size 9.5 in Nike but my work boots call for a size 9 to fit right. These are waterproof and composite toe. Exactly what I needed for this job. I wish they made them in 8” in all black. I love them as they are though. I don’t feel I lost anything with ankle support with the 6” high boot. The bootlace needs to be double knotted to not come undone during the shift. The bootlace material is nice and rugged but wants to come undone if not double done at the top. My biggest fear is not having a place to properly re-sole the bottoms when I finally wear these boots to the ground because I can’t imagine having any other boot now that I’ve owned these and really put them through their challenges with this job. I will be buying another pair or two as spares because when i finally find something I truly love and appreciate companies typically discontinue or change them up. I hope that Thorogood continues making this particular boot. I can’t imagine wearing anything other than these boots while I work! Best work boots ever. Period!
✔ Verified Purchase
Comfortable and Durable
These are my husband’s favorite work boots! They last a long time and are excellent quality. Every time they wear out, he replaces them with this same exact style. He works a very busy and physical job, and is on his feet all day. He says they’re very comfortable.
✔ Verified Purchase
C
cannotlogon
February 21, 2025
So far, so good...
Received these boots a couple weeks ago. My first time trying Thorougood. Like all work boots, your feet and ankles have to acclimate, so I only wore them around the house the first few days. Then, I took them off a road trip that involved around 25 work site visits.Whenever you switch brands of boots, either the tongue or the laces or the top of the boot are just different enough, that you end up with some abrasions where they rub in a place your last pair didn't. These were no exception, rubbing the skin off on my right ankle at the point where the laces and the tongue met. I expected it, and do not mark down the boots for this inevitably. So, I picked up some moleskin, placed it right where the problem was, and after a couple days, removed the moleskin to happily find a callous had formed, and I could wear the boots normally. (I'm sure the fault was mine as I didn't lace them up tightly enough, causing the boots to shift )Now, the break in time was quick, and the boots are comfortable. My only concern -- and it's too early to know definitely -- is the boots seem less durable than I had imagined, given I paid about twice what I normally do. I have worn Wolverines, Timberland Pro, Red Wings, Caterpillar, and Keens in the past, with varied experiences. Of those, Keens were the best, and Timberland Pros the worst.Based on the reviews I've read on Amazon and elsewhere, I have come to think that it isn't necessarily the brand, but it is the actual pair you end up with. I've read such wildly different opinions of the same brand, it just seems as if one pair of Timberland Pros may be radically better or worse then the next pair.. As convenient as ordering things is on Amazon or any website, it might be best to actually go to a shoe store to purchase them on the spot. That way you can assess not the brand, but the actual pair of shoes you're taking with you.Be that as it may, I'm hoping this pair proves more rugged than they feel like out of the box, and give me $200 worth of work boot wear and tear!
✔ Verified Purchase
K
Kevin M Elwood
January 31, 2022
Best shoes I’ve ever had!
These boots just replaced Navy issue Bates boots that I received in 2002. I didn’t beat them up too badly and they lasted. Needless to say, it was time to replace them as the bottom rubber was cracking and allowing water to get in. I was very hesitant buying shoes online not being able to try them on. I am very impressed with these boots. My first day wearing them, I walked several miles and my feet felt fine. They are very comfortable and the fit is perfect. It snowed several days later and the boots were warm and kept the moisture out. Overall great value in my opinion
✔ Verified Purchase
J
Jason Burton
September 18, 2025
Soles easily shred, take a long time to break in, lose waterproofness quickly.
Edit: I had to give up on these boots. They are absolutely tearing up my feet and ankles now. Down to one star.The rubber on the soles shreds very quickly. They lose their waterproof abilities on the front end at the seams fairly quickly. I am a field service technician and put quite a few miles on my boots in a given year and these are the least favorite ones I I have bought.I bought a second pair as a back up. When the first pair of shredded, I switched to the second pair. I have them on my feet right now. There is something seriously wrong. Unfortunately, due to the recommendation that they are the best boots ever, I had these in storage for a few months and so I cannot return them. I will be switching back to my old brand. Not impressed at all. I make a living with my feet and these do not do the job.
✔ Verified Purchase
