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Put a little more simply, the welt is a layer of material - usually leather, rubber or nylon - that gets attached the part of the boot that your foot goes inside but also gets attached to the outsole that contacts the ground. Let us take a closer look...

Do you work on hard surfaces? Do you need the utmost of traction but don't need to worry about the self-cleaning, hard-grabbing properties of a lug sole? Do you spend most of your time on solid ground rather than mixed terrain?

A good sturdy pair of boots is great for general wear, on and off the job site. However, are leather work boots good for general outdoor use as well, such as being used as hunting boots or hiking boots? A good pair of boots, after all, can handle a lot more than typical footwear in terms of overall wear and tear.

The short answer is that they'll work...but the truth is that they are not the best tool for the task. Custom work boots, especially those of a wildland firefighting boot or logger boot design, are designed and constructed to work well in the outdoors, but modern hunting boots have design elements that make them better-suited to those applications.

How so? Well, let's dig into that a bit more.

What Features Leather Work Boots Have

One of the most critical aspects of footwear - though there are others - is arch support. Without proper arch support, your feet will not be happy, you will not be happy, and you can even wind up with damage to your feet, ankles, knees and more.

Boot soles are a tool, and it just so happens that Vibram makes some of the best for the various tasks that your work boots are called upon to do.

Leather boots can be waterproofed. Perhaps not to the same degree as rubber boots but certainly well enough for any conditions imaginable from typical North American climate to use in sub-arctic environments.

The rough out leather is THE SAME as grain leather in many cases; it's just that it's turned around! Therefore, a pair of roughout leather work boots actually is just as tough, just as durable, as a pair made with grain leather.

Custom work boots may require a little more investment, but you're also investing in yourself and your well-being. How much is not having foot, ankle, knee and lower back problems due to bad boots worth to you?

Don't settle for an alright fit when you can get a good fit right off the bat. Your feet are how you make your living and how you function as a human being. It's of vital importance to make sure they are cared for, especially for the man who works hard on his feet day in and day out. A good pair of work boots will cut down on fatigue as well as foot, knee, hip and lower back pain.

Whether composite toe boots or steel toe boots will be right for you...depends on your occupation and circumstances. Let's take a look when to consider composite or steel toe boots for work.