Boots…
Really liked the ones Tractor Supply sold as a house brand for work boots, I was getting about 2 years of use doing construction with them. They were badly in need of new soles and a little repair at that point, the one stitch on the side liked to work apart after a year or so. Not entirely sure what I’m replacing my last pair with yet. Might just see if I can get them fixed because I haven’t really seen anything I liked yet. High top steel toe
Mostly use hiking/6” heel boots anymore. I have an old pair of wolverines that refuse to die, used them for winter ”dress” boots for a few years before they got promoted to regular use after I burned out two newer pairs of wolverine boots. Had a pair of Keens but in less than a year the leather uppers started coming apart. Contacted Keen because they claimed to offer a 2 year warranty at the time, but they refused to honor it, demanding the original receipt and UPC from the box and stuff. I had a picture of the receipt and their site claimed that that would be adequate along with a serial number that was barely legible on the tongue, but that wasn’t enough to actually get them to do anything. Probably will never buy another pair even though they were comfortable. Have a pair of Dr. Martins, they are my winter dress boots currently, but I’m sort of inclined to promote that pair to work use and buy another pair.
Combat boots, I had a pair of Altima years ago, grew out of them before I wore them out. Polished black and all that. They ended up getting replaced when a friend gave me a brand new set of Bates side zips, he ordered the wrong size and decided it wasn’t worth the trouble to ship them back, fortunately they fit me just fine. Loved them, still have them, but the tread is gone. The uppers are perfect. Replaced those with a pair of the “guide gear” side zips from Sportsman’s Guide. They were stiff and clunky and in about a year the leather uppers literally disintegrated. Tread still was almost perfect. Replaced those with Altima side zips and like them about as much as the Bates. Tread seems to be holding up longer too. My favorite “not going to work” boots since it takes about zero time to put them on or take them off, so nice for being in and out of the house a bunch.
Have sandals, but don’t get to wear them enough, I have some nice tan lines as a result. Maybe when I retire I’ll have time to wear them more than a few times a year.