Then I found these, vintage GT Hawkins before they sold to Japan's ABC mart, insanely comfortable, you guys are fortunate to have heritage brands like Redwing that didn't fail to adapt and fold to the competition. So glad I got these in my size. I also have a pair of high Fox's with all the plastic stripped off held together by shoelaces and straps and they are just amazing for blasting! Hawkins had a beautiful red brick factory in Northampton, not making shoes there anymore, but hey their boots are still going strong ! Oh and those "hard toes" are about as hard as a six year old with an ice cream on a hot day, lol