When buying work boots what should you look for? This is always a point we discuss with our customers at length. Many people seem to thinks it's more complicated that it actually is. All you need to know is what you want the work boots for and how much you want to spend.Work boots tend to be designed for specific a job which is why there is a vast array of ranges and brands like Timberland Boots out there in the market place. With this wide selection of boots comes the variance in prices that you can pay for them. There is the really cheap end of the spectrum, the middle ground and then the premium brands and ranges such as Timberland Boots which can offer great performance but will cost more upfront.
The cheap boots tend to be just passable of the ISO numbers and regulations, nothing sparkling but a functional boot. An example of cheap functional boots would be Chukka boots. Chukka boots typically sell for around £16.00 and are just as you would expect a cheap boot, by no means special. They tend to be bought by companies and employers in large numbers for their staff to use. Chukka boots are typically throw away boots, not many wearers treat then well or with respect and as such are usually replaced several times a year.
The middle ground of brands and ranges are vast, the market has been determined by consumers who typically spend around £25.00-£40.00 on their work boots.Brands like Cofra has capitalised by producing world class work boots at reasonable prices. Relatively new to the UK market they have used their accumulated expertise from over 50 years producing footwear in Italy to good effect, Cofra work boots are built with the wearers comfort in mind. Many firms are realising that actually buying superior work boots like Timberland Boots as opposed to the cheap ones is the way forward and those firms can actually slash costs by reducing replacement purchases and also increase productivity of the staff.
Of course if regulations dictate that you need boots with sufficient protection and specific qualities then you will already be looking at brands like Cofra, Dr Marten's, Tomcat, Grafter and many others.The Premium brands tend to be limited in number, Cofra does produce ranges that fit into the £80 plus bracket but only a few work boots tip into that category. Premium brand such as Cat boots, Dewalt and Timberland Boots Pro tend to control that arena.
Cat produces great boots that work just as well on the street as they do on the building site. Timberland boots Pro are Cat's big competitor and as such they drive each other's ranges to be better than each other's which results in the best work boots available on the market. The healthy competition benefits the consumer more so as the results a clear for all to see through design and innovation.Cat and Timberland boots can be seen on the High Street as well as in the trades industry, if you are willing to pay up to and surpassing £100 for a pair of premium work boots like Cat and Timberland boots you won't be sorry, you really do get what you pay for. Both brands spend large amounts of money on R&D to produce new fabrics, technologies and innovations that everyone else then tries to copy. Timberland boots have a mantra that if the technology doesn't exist to produce the best boots they will just have to invent it. Cat have for years sought to take on Timberland Boots and beat them even going as far as mission statements "to kill the tree" which is the Timberland boots brand symbol.
So far Timberland boots are not under any threat but Cat are always their lurking and ready to pounce if Timberland Boots ease up or fail in their mission. Which ever boots you do choose just be clear on what you want them for and be prepared to pay a little extra if needed because as far as work boots are concerned, you do get what you pay for. Timberland Boots should always be at the top of your shopping list or wish list based purely on performance. We would recommend brands like Cofra work boots and of course Timberland boots because the savings in the long run will more than justify their initial expense.
