Factory Seconds Work Boots (All You Need To Know About Them)

If you’re new or even if you’re not new to boots you might have never heard about factory second boots.

Or maybe you did on some forums or subs on Reddit but you thought there was something fishy about this.

Well, in today’s post we’ll talk about factory second boots and we’ll answer some of the most common questions you might have such as what are factory second boots. Is this a scam of some sort, I’ll give you some examples and much more…

So let’s get into it.

Who’s working on this page

Adam Rich
Boots Tester & Reviewer

Victor Adrian
Researcher & Editor

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What are factory seconds boots?

Factory second boots are boots that have cosmetic imperfections or structural imperfections that don’t affect the wearability of the boot.

Most of the time when you hear factory seconds it’s referring to leather boots.

Boot makers will assign an A rating or B rating to their boots when they go through a quality control inspection.

Obviously, A-rated boots are sold by major stores and directly by the boot makers.

Boots that didn’t pass the test but can still be used with little to no issues receive a B rating and are sold as a factory second.

Are factory seconds boots a scam?

No! Factory seconds boots are definitely not a scam.

Though people may try to pass off fake boots as factory seconds.

Remember when brands that sell high-quality footwear offer factory seconds it still has their logo and they will not sell something that looks extremely bad or is falling apart. They have reputations to maintain.

I’m kinda interested now. Do you have examples of factory seconds?

Well of course we do!

Factory seconds boots examples

Below I’ll show you three examples of some of the factory seconds boots I bought lately.

1. Thorogood Emperor-Toe work boots

First, we have Thorogood Emperor Toe factory seconds. So what’s the deal with these?

Well, I’ll be honest they are flawless in every aspect except one.

The safety toe….. the composite safety toe cap that was put into these failed the impact test.

You can’t exactly sell a safety toe boot that isn’t exactly safe. So they were sold as factory seconds.

Seriously you would have no clue these are factory seconds. They look that good.

By the way, if you want to read more about this boot you can check out my Thorogood Emperor-Toe boot review here.

Also, check out the Pinterest account for more images of this boot.

2. Wolverine 1000-Mile Boots

The next pair are Wolverine 1000-mile boots. The “Rugged” version.

These boots are nearly flawless except for the fact they have some minor scuffs and scratches as shown in the image below.

Most people would think why aren’t these factory firsts? These boots are expensive so you have to keep a high standard when a boot normally sells for around $400 or more!

Also as you pay attention to other details of the boots you’ll realize that the stitches are misaligned in one of the boots and have a few extra needle holes.

I’ve worn them a few times but as far as anyone can tell when they are on my feet they look like normal Wolverine 1000s.

3. Red Wing Heritage

The next boot is going to be a Red Wing Heritage Moc Toe factory second. This will highlight the structural issues you can run into with factory seconds.

Notice how the upper around the toe box is crooked.

Who makes factory second boots?

Well, it’s not so much that they make them. They do but not intentionally.

They are products of human error in the manufacturing process. It happens.

Most of you reading this are probably in trade work and we have all had days where our work just isn’t the best and the boss man says we have to redo it or mauls over whether or not it’s acceptable.

Factory seconds are kinda similar.

So what companies sell their factory seconds?

On the more premium end, companies like Nick’s, Whites, Wesco, and Wolverine(1000 mile). On the more affordable side, we have companies such as Redwing, Thorogood, Danner, and Timberland.

Do they make good work boots? Pros and cons?

Of course, factory seconds make excellent work boots.

The downside is you can’t always find your size and configuration needed.

As mentioned previously factory seconds aren’t something that boot makers plan to make so you have to wait for the right deal to come along.

For instance, you might only see soft-toe work boots seconds when you need a steel toe for work.

Or you see a great deal on a soft toe factory second but it’s only available in two sizes that are not your size.

Pros: High-quality footwear for a great price

Cons: Limited availability. No warranty.

Pricing and where can you buy factory seconds

Pricing varies. For example, the premium boot makers such as Nick’s, who’s boots normally sell for $500-600+, will sell factory seconds for around $400ish.

My Wolverine 1000-mile boots normally retail between $350-400 but I picked them up for 79.99!!!

Redwings are usually in the $225 range and Thorogood around $150-200. However, I did get my Thorogood Emperor toe boots for $99.99.

You have two options when it comes to buying them.

You can do a blind buy online. Meaning, when you buy from an online factory seconds dealer you don’t always see the boot you’re getting before you get it. It’s oftentimes just a stock image.

The other option is to go to a factory outlet or a boot outlet warehouse. You can usually find a boot outlet in most average-sized cities.

1. Online retailers

Nick’s, White’s, and Wesco all sell directly to the public on their own websites.

Sierra.com

Sierra trading is probably one of the best options for finding Redwing and Wolverine 1000-mile seconds.

The Wolverines are usually around $79.99 and the Redwings are usually $150-225 depending on the boot model. The price might differ since prices change all the time.

The downside is you are blind buying the boots but you can always return them.

eBay

eBay is an excellent place to find Thorogood, Redwing, and Wolverine seconds. Don’t worry, if you do your due diligence you won’t get scammed.

Another good thing about eBay is you don’t have to buy blind.

Tips for buying from eBay are looking at the seller ratings and reviews.

If they have been around for a while and have sold lots of seconds and have a 98% or better feedback rating then you probably aren’t getting scammed.

Many times sellers will post actual pictures of the boots you are getting. If you feel like they are stock pics or there is something on the boot you want a better picture of, feel free to message the seller and ask.

Other online sources

Moosejaw.com and 6pm.com are known to carry Redwing factory seconds.

Workworld.com is known to carry Thorogood factory seconds. That’s who I got my Emperor toe boots from.

2. Brick-and-mortar stores that sell factory seconds boots

If you live within driving distance of Thorogood, Redwing, or Danner’s factories jump for joy!

They all have factory outlet stores that you can visit and check out and try on their factory seconds in person! Timberland also has factory outlet stores across the US and UK!

Sierra trading post, Work World and Moose Jaw also have some brick-and-mortar stores in the US.

Finding a local boot outlet warehouse is also a great place to check out. Most major cities in the US will have at least one. Nordstrom Rack is also an option, though, the boots you find may be a little nice for work.

Other things to know before purchasing factory seconds

Often times boot makers will alter or remove the model number to protect themselves or prevent a second from being resold as a factory first.

They also ship them in a generic box or in a box that has the model number marked out or removed.

For instance, my above-mentioned Emperor Toe boots have a defective safety toe.

So to prevent them from being confused or sold as a safety toe boot and opening Thorogood up to liability, Thorogood removed the original sticker and replaced it with one that had a generic model number.

So when you get your boots in and see the model number altered, don’t freak out and automatically assume you were scammed. It’s totally normal.

Here’s one more example of my Wolverine’s 1000-mile boot model number being marked out.

Final thought and conclusion

Ultimately whether or not factory seconds will work for you comes down to, well, you.

If you’re willing to put in the effort to check around and look for deals you will definitely find them. It does take patience especially when it comes to a well-known seller like Sierra Trading post, they sell out fast.

If you’re interested in high-quality leather boots for work or play, factory seconds remain a good option to try something new at a great price and I encourage you to start looking.

Hopefully, you’ve found this article helpful and are now armed with enough info to score some great deals!
Happy boot hunting and remember the golden rule of buying anything:

If something looks too good to be true, it probably is!

If you have questions please leave your comment below and we’ll do our best to answer them. Also, you can join us on the work boots sub on Reddit to chat and discuss more.

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Team Members Working On This Page

Adam Rich – Boots Tester & Reviewer

Hey, I’m Adam. I’m a welder and metal fabricator. Primarily doing aluminum tig a sheet metal fabrication. Spend most of the day on my feet on concrete floors in the shop with the occasional job site visit.

Victor Adrian – Editor And Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!

source https://bestformyfeet.com/factory-seconds-work-boots-all-you-need-to-know-about-them/

Can You Wear Steel-Toe Work Boots On A Plane? (Here’s What TSA says)

Some of us have to work away. Sometimes over long distances. So traveling by car might be a problem.

For instance, my younger brother, who lives in Sydney Australia, is working in Melbourne at the moment. That’s at least a nine-hour drive on a good day. So he chooses to fly.

If you’re in a profession that requires that you wear steel-toe-capped boots, you might be wondering if you are allowed to fly with the boots. More specifically, if you can wear them on a plane.

The answer to that is yes. This article is going to explain the legalities and any problems that might arise.

Why would you want to wear steel-toed boots on a plane?

Steel toe-capped boots give the most protection to our toes compared to other alternatives. So they’re the preferred boot for a lot of people.

You might find that workers in the groundworks, oil rigs, steel works, or logger industries, among others, would find steel toe-capped boots the most practical. Some companies might even insist on their staff wearing them as part of the worker’s PPE.

You might not think so, but even airport staff would wear steel-toed boots. From transport staff to fuel workers, cleaners, airport security, and many more.

It doesn’t even have to be workers that wear these boots. Some people just like wearing them.

They might like them for outdoor activities, such as hiking or field trips. Or even something domestic like moving house.

If people want to fly to different work destinations, just like everyone else, they would have to pay a luggage charge. With the amount being determined by the weight of the luggage.

Having the work boots in their suitcases would add more weight. Therefore, incurring extra costs.

Work boots can often be quite heavy, especially the premium heavy-duty ones. Also, the steel toes are heavier than the composite toe or soft toe.

This is why people might choose to wear the boots on the plane, rather than having them in their luggage.

But some people have also been known to do it to break in new boots.

It’s quite practical, because there isn’t a massive amount of walking to do, and sitting on a plane is a relatively pain-free way of getting used to the new boots before using them properly at the destination.

It might not be as comfortable as wearing regular footwear. Particularly on long flights. But it would save money and luggage space.

You could always take the boots off during the flight, but other passengers might not appreciate that. Especially if you have smelly feet.

The main problem that would occur is that the metal in the boots would set off alarms while going through airport security.

What can be done about this?

TSA regulations on steel-toe boots

The TSA (Transport Security Administration) used to not allow steel-toed boots on flights. This was because the boots were deemed possible to use as a weapon.

You can imagine a hefty kick to vital areas of the body from one of these boots would be very painful.

This was especially strict when terrorism was at its peak. Quite rightly, anything that could have been used as a weapon was thoroughly screened and not permitted.

Luckily, now that the screening process and airport security have improved, this rule has been softened, meaning steel-toed boots can be worn on flights.

However, this doesn’t mean you’ll be able to waltz through check-in without being flagged up.

The metal in the boots will set off the metal detector scanners as you walk through, so advice from TSA is that you take them off before you walk through.

While in the queue, place them in the conveyor belt tray with other items that might need to go in there, like watches, belts, or handheld luggage.

You might see taking the boots off in the queue as time-consuming, and a bit of a nuisance, but you will have to take them off anyway once you’ve been flagged up.

Some travelers pay for a TSA PreCheck. This can improve the travel experience by getting you through checks quicker, because it is a screening program that makes risk assessments about passengers before they arrive at the airport.

The PreCheck gives benefits, like allowing passengers to not remove certain parts of metallic clothing during checks.

However, this does not mean you won’t have to remove your boots while being screened.

Regardless of if you have a first-class, business class, or economy class ticket, or are TSA Pre service approved, you will most likely have to take the steel-toed boots off when being scanned.

At the end of the day, the discretion will be held by the officer doing the checks. You might get lucky and catch one in a good mood.

Whatever region or country you’re traveling to, it would be worth researching the regulations for that area, so that you’re fully prepared.

Alternatives to wearing steel-toed boots on flights

If you don’t want the hassle of taking your steel-toed boots off through screening, there are other options.

First, it is permitted to pack those boots in your suitcase. This will however add a little more weight, therefore increasing the charge, but your suitcase won’t be ripped apart by airport security for having them in there.

If wearing steel-toed boots at your destination is not crucial, you could choose to wear composite-toe work boots.

Although tough, they won’t give quite as much protection as the steel, but they are lighter and won’t set off any metal detectors.

Another option is to go for soft-toe work boots. These won’t protect your toes from falling objects, but there are plenty of rugged soft-toe boots that people wear for heavy-duty stuff.

Pros and cons of wearing steel-toe boots on flights

Pros

• Saves luggage space
• Saves on luggage charge
• A way to break new boots in

Cons

• Will set off metal detectors
• Might get uncomfortable during the flight
• Might slow down check-in time

Last words on wearing your steel-toe boot on a plain

That wraps up this article. We hope you’ve found it useful and informative. 

Remember to check the regulations of the area you’re going to before you travel. And if you do travel with steel-toe boots, try not to kick other passengers. It’s very frowned upon. You don’t want to end up like Mike Tyson’s recent flight episode.

Also, you will probably want to give yourself plenty of time before check-in.

Running to catch the plane with steel-toed boots on might not be the quickest or most comfortable thing to do. As well as having to take them off through screening.

If you would like to ask any questions about the topic or to discuss any of your own experiences with this subject, you can do so either by leaving a comment below or joining the Work Boots sub on Reddit.

For now, happy traveling.

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Team Members Working On This Page

Jimmy Webb – Writer And Researcher

Hey, Jimmy here. I’m one of the researchers and writers here at BestForMyFeet.com.  I’ve been wearing work boots all my life working as a forklift driver, landscaper, groundworker, and now as a tower crane operator so I know a few things about footwear and footcare in general. I’m also working on my first novel. So writing IS my passion. When I’m not writing I love to spend time with my wife, two children, and furball.

Victor Adrian – Editor And Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!

source https://bestformyfeet.com/are-steel-toe-work-boots-allowed-on-a-plane/