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Obviously, you don't want to go broke buying new pairs of work boots more often than you should. If you find a pair you really like, you want them to last as long as possible. 

So which work boots last the longest? Well...that's very hard to say. 

You see, you can read reviews until the cows come home and you'll get all sorts of stores from all sorts of folks. Those people may have had those experiences, but it's no guarantee your pair of those boots will. 

However, the brands and designs that are known for lasting a long time tend to have a number of attributes in common, and <i>those</i> are the things you want to look for. Bootmakers that care about the build of their product will do certain things right, and that's what you need for work boots to last. 

So...what makes a work boot last? Here are a few of those things…<!

Why are moc toe boots so popular these days? There are a few reasons - and a few influencers on various channels that helped - but mostly it's because moc toe boots are a near-perfect blend of style and substance. 

Moc toe boots are made tough enough for work, supple enough to be comfortable, and usually with leather that makes a great appearance with minimal care. 

So what made them popular?

Work boots that can be resoled are a better purchase than work boots that cannot. You can keep them longer, you'll spend less in the long run, it's better for everyone involved if you do. 

It usually means you get a better quality pair of boots as well. While price doesn't always have everything to do with quality, it's also true that there aren't many cheap work boots that are very good.

So why worry about whether a boot can be resoled? Why pay more or go out of your way to get a pair that is? Here's why…<!

The holidays are right around the corner, and if you are like me you haven't even begun thinking about gift ideas for family and friends. Luckily handmade leather goods are a great gift idea for just about anyone. Let's go ahead and break down our top picks for Nicks holiday gift ideas!

A lot of people wonder if there is a particular type of work boots to keep feet cool. While hot weather footwear is a thing (we'll talk about that) the answer is really to get better socks. 

That sounds kind of convoluted, doesn't it? Don't worry; we're going to go over that a bit more. 

The truth is your feet are going to get warm if you're wearing work boots in warm weather. They're going to also be warm if you're wearing work boots in cold weather and doing actual labor. 

So why are socks the key to keeping your feet from getting too hot?

If you've looked at our different boot models, you've probably noticed some boots are made in roughout leather - if you don't know what it is, it looks a little fuzzy - or smooth. Some even have both. 

Is there a difference? Which should you get on your work boots? 

It depends on what you want in your work boots. Roughout leather is literally the same leather as smooth, so you aren't losing a thing by having a boot made entirely or in part with roughout. So what's the difference between roughout and smooth leather and why does it matter?

Roughout leather is literally the same as smooth leather. It just hasn't been split and is turned fluffy side out. 

Leather is made from

Resoling and rebuilding a pair of leather work boots are related, but are different. The former is a simple procedure that doesn't take too much time; the latter is much more involved. As you can guess...that also affects the expense. 

What's the difference? Which do you need? When should I have my boots resoled, and when should I have them rebuilt? Could I end up needing both?

You will most likely need your work boots resoled long before you need them rebuilt, but it depends a lot on what you do for work. Some people need a rebuild more often than others - we'll talk about that - and some will need their boots resoled more often than others. 

So...let's talk about rebuilds and resoles. 

What's used to tan leather? Generally, there's vegetable-based and mineral-based compounds for tanning. The tanning method does affect the end product, so that's why "chrome-tanned" and "vegetable-tanned" leathers can be very different in appearance and feel.

Tanning is just one step in the process of making leather, as the process in and of itself is just a chemical treatment of skin to preserve it.

But...what does this have to do you with you and the pair of leather work boots or heritage boots you want to buy? How the leather is made impacts how your boots look, feel and what you need to do to keep them in top condition.

If you're going to invest in a seriously great pair of boots, you should get leather that looks how you want, feels how you want, and that you'll be able to keep for a very long time. So let's learn a little more about tanning.

"Quality" is a funny thing to talk about, because everybody has different aspects of quality in mind for different things, including leather goods. What's the best leather for shoes or boots?

It really depends on what kind of boots or shoes you're making with them. If you took the absolute best leather for making work boots and made a pair of dress shoes, a lot of people would think they were hideous.

If you took the best leather you could possibly get to make dress shoes and made a pair of work boots out of them...they wouldn't work all that well and no one would buy them.

That said, there are certain things that anyone in the leather goods industry agrees on as far as the best quality leather for making footwear or anything else.

A moc toe boot is an excellent work boot if it's a quality work boot. A poor quality boot is not a good work boot, whether it has a moc toe or not. 

The question really is whether the moc toe boot you're looking at is a good work boot or not. And it might be! Or it might not be, depending on who makes it. 

And some moc toe boots make incredible work boots; in fact, some of the most popular work boots nationwide have moc toes. It's not really the toe design that makes them so good, though. Let's talk about why moccasin toes are so associated with work boots and why so many people love them.