Superduty - Redwood

I’ve been wearing my JK boots every day for work and they’ve been solid as ****. Long days on concrete, gravel, dirt, ladders, bending, kneeling, and just being on my feet nonstop — these things hold up without falling apart or beating me up.

The leather is thick and tough, and you can tell they’re made to work for a living, not just look good. Stitching and build quality are top tier. Break-in wasn’t bad at all honestly — I only had one rough day and that was day 3, and after that they started forming to my feet and got comfortable fast.

I used to wear Red Wings for years. After the first day in these JK boots, I knew I wouldn’t be buying work boots from anywhere else again. That’s how big the difference was.

What really impressed me is the support. My feet, arches, and lower back feel way better at the end of the day compared to every other boot I’ve owned. I’m not finishing the day limping around or waking up stiff the next morning.

They aren’t cheap, but they’re worth it. These aren’t throw-away boots you replace every few months. They’re built to last and feel like they’re made for people who actually work.

If you need real boots for real work, JK is worth every dollar.

JK Boots already impressed me when I bought my Forefronts. Great quality craftsmanship, beautiful look, amazing communication, fast shipping. I was so pleased, that I had to get another pair.

Now, compared to my Forefronts (8", low arch, soft toe, wedge sole), I'd been told that the Superduty's 10" height would add weight, the 2" heel would create a more aggressive arch, the full midsole would make it harder to kneel and crouch, the safety toe would make the vamp stiffer, and the Red X lug sole would feel harder underfoot.

Somehow, SOMEHOW, all of those facts were true...and yet, made the boot more comfortable.

I don't even know the exact physics, but something about the 10" shaft sitting higher on my leg (I'm short, so 10" is about the midpoint on my calf) actually alleviated the feeling of heftiness and weight. Taking a step, I notice the boot LESS than when I wear my Forefronts, as the force keeping the boot "up" is distributed across my leg, as opposed to being concentrated around my ankle.

The higher heel indeed made the arch support more pronounced, but I didn't get the "standing of a roll of quarters" feeling that I'd gotten with my Forefronts before they were broken in. It sounds crazy, because I actually have quite flat arches.

Personally, I prefer the full midsole of the Superduty, compared to the feathered midsole of the Forefront. It feels stronger and more plank-like, yet, as it is still sufficiently flexible, it has not compromised my ability to squat,…

These are my first pair of JK boots. Did not disappoint.

I never had leather laces and officially hate them and will never use leather shoe laces again. Its a personal preference thing.

The lace guard that goes under the laces digs heavily into my ankles. I have next to no fat or cartilage there and it has to be smooth leather or lots of padding. No in between. So I threw those things into my scrap leather bin for other projects.

I used JKs sizing guide and the length was spot on. The width was a tad small, I'm a EE. I could have ordered a 3E for better fit.

But some bees wax, hair dryer and a boot tree to stretch them put on the side did the trick.

I now know what sizes to order for my next pair when my chippewa work boot finally are beyond repairable.