Brunt Work Boots Long Term Review: What I’ve Learned After 3 Years and a Dozen Pairs!
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I’ve been wearing Brunt work boots since early 2023. At this point, I’ve tested somewhere around a dozen pairs, worn quite a few different models, watched Brunt make some pretty major changes to its boots, and criticized them pretty heavily when I thought they got something wrong.
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Brunt has also sent me all of these boots over the years. I’ve worked with basically the same rep there since I started covering the company, and they’ve always been great to work with. More importantly, they’ve never asked me to change anything I’ve said. I’ve made videos specifically criticizing their boots, and I’ve never gotten an email saying, “Hey, can you tone that down a little?” They’ve pretty much always had the attitude of, “Here are the boots, say whatever you want.” And I have and no I never will tone it down a little, that’s not my style.
When I first started reviewing Brunt, I thought some of their marketing was honestly ahead of the boots. They were extremely aggressive with advertising, and they still are, but there were some legitimate weaknesses with those early boots. The biggest problem by far was the soles.
Three years later, though, Brunt has changed a lot. The boots have gotten better, the soles have gotten dramatically better, they’ve added USA-made options, and after roughly a dozen pairs, I really haven’t had any major durability failures. At this point, I’m actually running out of things to complain about.
I Started Wearing Brunt Boots in 2023
My first Brunt video went live in early 2023 when I got a pair of their Marin boots. I really didn’t know what to expect from them at the time. Brunt was already marketing the hell out of its boots, and whenever a company is that aggressive with marketing, I tend to get a little skeptical. But the Marins were actually pretty good.
They were comfortable, they didn’t require some horrible break-in period, and overall they held up well. Durability really wasn’t the problem I had with those early Brunt boots, which is kind of funny because that was one of the things I was expecting to be a problem. The soles were the problem.
Those Early Brunt Soles Were Not Good
This was easily my biggest complaint with Brunt when I first started reviewing their boots. The soles were just way too slippery for a work boot. I almost fell once on wet concrete wearing them while loading a trailer. That got my attention pretty quickly.
For me, that wasn’t something I was going to overlook. These are work boots. I’m wearing them around trucks, trailers, equipment, concrete, dirt, grass and whatever else I’m working around that day. If I’m worried about falling because I walked across some wet concrete, we have a problem. So I talked about it in my videos.
The early soles also weren’t really up to where I thought they should be in some other areas. They didn’t have the kind of grease resistance and electrical ratings I wanted to see from a serious work boot. For a company marketing itself as aggressively as Brunt was, I thought the actual product needed to catch up a little.
And to Brunt’s credit, they fixed it.
Brunt Has Quietly Made Some Huge Changes
This is one of the stranger things about Brunt. They really don’t advertise the different generations of their boots very well. I almost look at them as Gen 1, Gen 2 and Gen 3 boots because I’ve had enough of them over the years to see the changes. Brunt doesn’t necessarily call them that, but there have absolutely been some major revisions.
The soles are probably the biggest one. The newer boots have much better traction, better oil and slip resistance, and the newer models have the kinds of work-related ratings and certifications I wanted to see in the first place. That original problem I had with Brunt is basically gone now.
That’s a big reason my opinion of Brunt today is different from what it was in 2023. I didn’t suddenly decide the old boots were better than I thought they were. Brunt made better boots.
Brunt made better boots. Let me say that again, BRUNT MADE BETTER BOOTS! They actually listened!
I don’t know if my videos had anything to do with that. I’d love to take credit for Brunt changing the soles because I complained about them, but obviously I have no idea. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person giving them that feedback. What I do know is that I complained about the soles, and eventually Brunt fixed the soles.
That’s what I care about.
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After About a Dozen Pairs, I Haven’t Had a Major Durability Failure
This is probably one of the most surprising things about my experience with Brunt. I’ve got somewhere around a dozen pairs at this point, and I really haven’t had any major failure points with them. I haven’t had soles randomly separating, stitching completely coming apart or boots basically destroying themselves after moderate use. Now, I need to put my use into perspective here.
I’m not standing on concrete in the same pair of boots for 10 or 12 hours a day, six days a week. That’s not what I do. I’m generally wearing work boots for a couple of hours at a time. They get used for AV work, junk removal, property work, working around trucks and trailers and all the other random crap I get into, but I’m not a full-time ironworker putting 60 hours a week into one pair of boots.
That matters. But I’m also not babying them. They get dirty. They get wet. They get knocked around. They’re actually being used as work boots. And so far, the Brunts have held up surprisingly well.
My Wolverines Were Much Worse
I’ve owned two pairs of Wolverine work boots in the past, and I wasn’t impressed with either pair. Both started falling apart with what I would consider pretty moderate use after around a year. The biggest issue I remember was the soles starting to fail.
Maybe I got unlucky twice. I’m not saying every Wolverine boot is garbage because I’ve obviously only owned a couple of pairs. But both of mine disappointed me. That makes my experience with Brunt pretty interesting because I’ve now had far more Brunt boots and haven’t seen the same pattern of failures.
Somehow My Old DeWalt Boots Are Still Going
I also have an old pair of DeWalt work boots that I bought used on eBay for a really good price. I wore those things quite a bit, and somehow I still own them. They’ve held up really well.
I don’t even know why I still have them at this point, but they’re a good example of why I don’t like saying one entire brand is automatically better than another. Sometimes a random pair of inexpensive boots turns out to be fantastic, and sometimes a pair from a big established brand falls apart. I care more about what actually happened to the boots I wore.
The Brunt Ohman Is Easily My Favorite
Out of all the Brunt boots I’ve tried, the Ohman is still my favorite by far. It’s their Chelsea-style work boot, and that style just works perfectly for me. I love being able to pull them on and go. There are no laces to mess with, and if I’m going outside to work for a couple of hours, I don’t need to sit there screwing around with my boots before I can get started.
They’re also just insanely comfortable. I normally go with the composite-toe versions because that’s what I prefer in a work boot. I get the toe protection I want without dealing with a super-heavy boot, and the Ohmans still feel substantial enough that I’m comfortable actually working in them. That’s really the biggest compliment I can give the Ohman: I’ve got a stupid number of work boots sitting around, and I keep putting on the Ohmans.
When you’ve got a dozen pairs to choose from and you keep grabbing the same ones, that tells you something.
Why I Like Chelsea Work Boots So Much
I didn’t necessarily expect Chelsea-style work boots to become my favorite, but they make a ton of sense for the kind of work I do. Most days, I don’t need some giant, heavily laced boot that takes five minutes to get on and off. I might be doing a junk-removal job, working around the property, moving something with the truck or trailer, doing an AV service call or screwing around with equipment.
I want to pull my boots on, do whatever I need to do and kick them off when I’m finished. The Ohman does that without feeling like a casual Chelsea boot pretending to be a work boot. It’s still heavy-duty enough for what I need. If I were spending my entire day on a brutal construction site, maybe my priorities would be different. For what I do, though, the Ohman is near perfect.
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The Vastbinder Is Really Comfortable Too
I’ve also got Brunt’s Vastbinder, which is their cowboy-style work boot. It’s actually really comfortable. The problem for me is that cowboy boots just aren’t really my style. There’s nothing particularly wrong with the boot; I just don’t find myself wearing it very often because I’m always going to reach for the Ohman first.
If you like that style, though, I can absolutely see the appeal.
I’ve Also Had the Bolduc and Distasio
I’ve had the Bolduc as well, and that’s another pretty nice boot. I’ve also had the Distasio, which has more of that ironworker-style work-boot design. That’s another thing that has changed quite a bit since I first started working with Brunt. Their lineup is huge now. They’re not just selling the Marin and a couple of variations anymore. You’ve got Chelsea boots, cowboy-style boots, moc toes, more traditional work boots, different toe options and now the USA-made stuff. There’s actually a pretty serious lineup to choose from.
The USA-Made Brunt Boots Are Fantastic
This was another criticism Brunt had to deal with early on: the boots weren’t made in the USA. Well, they fixed that too. They now have USA-made versions of the Ohman and Marin, and those boots are seriously nice. What’s interesting is that I don’t necessarily think you pull one out of the box and immediately go, “Wow, this is completely different.” You need to wear them and wear them for awhile.
Once you start breaking those boots in, that’s when they really start getting good. They feel more substantial, and the quality starts making a lot more sense after you’ve actually spent some time in them.
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That’s another thing I respect about what Brunt has done over the last few years. People complained that they weren’t making boots in America, and instead of spending the next decade explaining why that shouldn’t matter, Brunt basically said, “Fine. Here you go.” Now they make them.
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Brunt Has Basically Addressed Every Major Complaint I Had
This is probably the biggest thing I’ve noticed after watching the company for three years. The soles sucked. They fixed them. The boots didn’t have some of the ratings I wanted to see. They addressed that.
People complained about them not being USA-made. Now they make USA boots. They’ve continued changing the products instead of just dumping more money into advertising the exact same boots. I respect that.
There are plenty of companies that get defensive when customers complain about something. Brunt seems much more willing to go back and change the product. That doesn’t mean the early criticism suddenly disappears. Those early soles still weren’t good. But the current boots are a different story.
So How Heavy-Duty Are Brunt Boots?
This is where I think people need to be realistic about what they’re buying. Brunt makes good work boots. I don’t think they make the most insanely heavy-duty work boots money can buy. There are definitely levels above Brunt.
If you’re working 10 or 12 hours a day, standing on concrete constantly, beating the absolute crap out of your boots and expecting one pair to last for years, I’d probably look farther upmarket. There are boots built specifically for that kind of life.
But not everybody needs that. I sure as biscuits don’t. For someone like me who needs legitimate work boots, uses them for real work, beats them up but generally only wears them for a few hours at a time, I think Brunt is right in the sweet spot. That’s where I think some work-boot reviews get stupid. Everyone wants to declare one boot the best. Best for who?
The guy standing on concrete 60 hours a week has completely different needs from somebody doing service calls, property work, landscaping, hauling or weekend projects.
Who I Think Brunt Is Really Good For
I think Brunt makes the most sense for somebody who needs a real work boot but doesn’t necessarily need the most overbuilt boot on Earth. That’s basically me. I’m doing junk removal. I’m working around trucks and trailers. I’m doing AV work. I’m working around my property. I’m moving equipment. I’m walking through dirt, grass and mud. I’m on concrete.
I need something more serious than a sneaker. But I also don’t need to strap two giant tanks to my feet every morning. Brunt fits that middle ground really well.
Comfort Is Probably Brunt’s Biggest Strength
Even when I was complaining about the original soles, I never really had a problem with the comfort. Brunt boots have always been pretty dang comfortable. And the newer ones are even better. That’s probably a big reason I keep reaching for the Ohmans. I can wear them for a few hours, work in them and basically forget about my feet.
That’s what I want. I don’t want a boot that needs a month of suffering before it becomes comfortable. I don’t want hot spots or something digging into my ankle. I don’t want to spend the entire day thinking about how badly I want to take my boots off. The USA-made boots need a little more break-in, but once they start settling in, they’re fantastic.
The New Soles Fixed My Biggest Problem
I want to make this really clear because some people might find one of my old Brunt videos where I’m talking smack about the soles and then find this article where I’m recommending the boots. Both things are true. The old soles were not good enough. The new ones are much better.
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That’s it. I almost fell on wet concrete wearing one of the early pairs. That’s something I absolutely considered a serious problem. I haven't had that same concern with the newer boots. So if you tried Brunt several years ago and hated the sole, I wouldn’t automatically assume the current boot is the same thing you wore back then. They changed it.
Brunt’s Most Underrated Products Might Not Even Be Boots
This is something I don't think Brunt talks about enough. Their workwear is really good. Actually, some of the best stuff I’ve gotten from Brunt has nothing to do with boots. The problem is that it can be expensive. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. Some of the workwear is definitely pricey for what it is.
But the quality has been excellent.
The Tora Pants Are Seriously Heavy-Duty
The Tora pants have surprised me quite a bit. These things are heavy-duty. They don’t feel like some normal pair of pants where somebody slapped a workwear logo on them and doubled the price. They actually feel like something made to get abused. Again, they’re not cheap. But this is one of those products where I can at least see where the money went.
I actually think Brunt should advertise its workwear more. The boots get most of the attention, but some of the clothing is better than I expected.
The McKenna Long Sleeves Are Another Favorite
I’ve also got the McKenna long-sleeve shirts, and those things are phenomenal. The easiest comparison I can make is to a long-sleeve fishing shirt, except these feel much more heavy-duty. That’s a great combination for me because I’m in Florida. I want something that gives me coverage from the sun but doesn't make me feel like I'm dying when it's hot outside. The McKennas do that surprisingly well. They keep me cool, they're comfortable and they feel like they'll actually survive being used for work. I'm really happy with those.
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Brunt Makes the Best Socks I Own
This is probably going to sound ridiculous, but the Brunt socks might legitimately be the best socks I own. They're fantastic. The compression is really well done, especially around the pressure points in my feet and ankles. They're comfortable, they stay where they're supposed to, and they're one of those products I didn't really expect to care about until I started wearing them.
Now I notice when I'm not wearing them. I don't think people pay enough attention to socks when they're talking about work boots. You can have a fantastic pair of boots and then put some thin as paper socks inside them and wonder why your feet hurt. Brunt did a really good job with these.
The Workwear Is Expensive, But It’s Good
That's basically my conclusion with Brunt's clothing. It's not cheap. But so far, the stuff I've used has been really good. The Tora pants are heavy-duty, the McKenna shirts are excellent in the heat, and the socks are probably my favorite socks. If Brunt ever decides to push the workwear side of the company as hard as it pushes the boots, I think people might be surprised by it.
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Brunt’s Marketing Is Still Kind of Ridiculous
Brunt still markets the biscuits out of itself. That hasn't changed. If you watch construction, tool or trades content online, you've probably seen them everywhere. And I still understand why that rubs some people the wrong way.
It rubbed me the wrong way a little in the beginning too because I thought, okay, you're telling everyone how amazing these boots are, but I'm over here nearly busting my butt on wet concrete because the sole isn't good enough. That was a fair criticism. Three years later, I think the products have caught up to the marketing a lot more. That's the difference. Brunt didn't convince me to stop complaining. They fixed what I was complaining about.
Brunt Has Never Asked Me to Tone Down My Reviews
I also have to give them credit for this. I've worked with basically the same person at Brunt for years now. They've always answered my questions and been easy to deal with. And even when I've been pretty harsh on something, they've never asked me to change it. I've dealt with brands before where you criticize something and suddenly they're emailing you saying, “Hey, can you maybe word that differently?” Brunt has never done that to me.
I've criticized their soles. I've talked about weaknesses. I've said when I thought something wasn't good enough. They kept sending me boots. That's how I want this relationship to work. You send me the product. I use it. I tell people what I think. Simple.
Did Brunt Actually Listen?
From where I'm sitting, it sure looks like it. I'm not going to claim they changed something specifically because Indiana Lang made a YouTube video complaining about it. I have no way of knowing that. But look at what happened. People didn't like the soles. Brunt improved them. People wanted better work-related features and ratings. Brunt added them. People wanted USA-made boots. Brunt made USA boots.
And they've continued tweaking and updating the products. That's exactly what I want to see from a relatively young company. They didn't get everything right on the first try. They just kept fixing things.
What Brunt Still Isn’t
Brunt isn't the answer for everybody. If you're looking for the absolute toughest boot you can possibly buy and price barely matters, there are heavier-duty options. If you're expecting one pair to survive years of brutal 60-hour workweeks, I'd probably look at some of the more expensive traditional work-boot brands too.
And if you're buying Brunt workwear, be prepared for some of it to be expensive. I'm not trying to sell Brunt as something it isn't. What I think they've become is a really good middle-ground work-boot company.
The boots are comfortable. The durability has been good in my experience. The current soles are dramatically better than the originals. There's a huge lineup now. And if you want something more traditional and USA-made, they have that too. That's a pretty complete offering.
Would I Actually Spend My Own Money on Brunt Boots?
Yep. I'd buy another pair of Ohmans, in fact I have like 5 pairs now, they are awesome! That's probably the easiest way for me to answer the entire review. I've got around a dozen Brunt boots. I've worn Wolverines. I've got those weird old DeWalts that refuse to die. I've tested multiple styles and multiple generations of Brunts.
And I keep wearing the Ohmans, everyday. If my current pair disappeared tomorrow and Brunt told me they weren't sending me another pair, that's what I'd buy.
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So, Are Brunt Work Boots Actually Good?
After three years, yeah, I think they are. I couldn't have given them that clean of an answer when I started reviewing them. In 2023, I liked some things about Brunt but thought they had some catching up to do. The boots were comfortable and seemed reasonably durable, but those soles were a legitimate problem for me. Now?
I don't really have that complaint anymore. They fixed the soles. They expanded the lineup. They addressed the USA-made criticism. They've continued improving the boots, and I've now had roughly a dozen pairs without seeing any major pattern of durability failures. Are they the most heavy-duty work boots money can buy?
No. Do they need to be? Also no. For the kind of work I do, I think they're right in the sweet spot.
My 3-Year Brunt Verdict
The funny thing about this review is that I started working with Brunt when I thought their marketing was probably better than their boots. Three years later, I don't really think that's true anymore. The company has made mistakes. I've talked about them plenty.
But they've also fixed most of the stuff I complained about. And I respect the hell out of that. My original Brunt boots had soles I didn't trust on wet concrete. Today, I've got roughly a dozen pairs from the company, basically no major durability failures, several pieces of Brunt workwear I love, USA-made boots that are legitimately impressive and a pair of Ohmans that I keep choosing over everything else sitting around.
That's a pretty massive change from where I started in 2023. Brunt didn't win me over because they sent me free boots or because they market the hell out of themselves. They won me over because the boots got better. And after three years of wearing them, criticizing them and watching them change, that's probably the best thing I can say about the company.
