BRUNT vs. Thorogood:  Which Work Boot Is Worth Your Money?

If you’re in construction like me or work any other job that requires heavy outdoor work, you know just how important it is to have a solid work boot on the job site. 

I’d worn through my previous pair and got sick of buying cheap, low-quality boots every few months. I finally broke down once my latest pair fell apart on me and began looking for an upgrade to invest in. I came across two stand-out options, BRUNT’s The Marin Comp Toe and Thorogood’s American Heritage boot, and I decided to test them out.  

Want to know which boot can stand a hard day’s work? Keep reading.

If you’re looking for extreme, instant comfort…BRUNT

When I’m on my feet all day, my work boots are the most important equipment I have. The problem is that most work boots have a painful break-in period that sometimes takes weeks.  

After trying both boots out, there was a significant difference in comfort between the two, since BRUNT’s Marin Comp Toe was comfortable straight out of the box.  Even after long, gruelling days, the upgraded polyurethane midsole and lightweight nylon shanks don’t hurt my feet; they actually noticeably alleviate the strain on my feet and knees. 

For comfort and eliminating the break-in period, this win goes to BRUNT.

If you need weatherproofing…BRUNT

Over my 20+ year career, I’ve had to work in some very wet conditions and around other chemicals. So a boot that can withstand any condition is absolutely essential. 

The Thorogood American Heritage boot is water resistant; however, BRUNT’s Marin Comp Toe takes it one step further by incorporating a 100% waterproof membrane and waterproof leather (sourced from Texas steer, I might add). The outsole on the Marin Comp Toe is also heat resistant up to 300°C with all the standard oil and slip resistance you’d expect from a work boot. 

And for being completely waterproof, I was surprised by the breathablity of the Marin Comp Toe. My feet don’t feel pinched or smothered anymore. 

On my job sites, water resistance simply isn’t enough. So this one goes to BRUNT. 

If you like variety…Thorogood

When I was browsing around, I wanted to see all my options. I looked through Thorogood and BRUNT’s websites and found Thorogood had more variety in their boots with many different styles and colors. 

So if you like to have a wide variety of options when you shop, Thorogood wins this round. Let’s face it though, we’re in the trades, chances are we’re buying brown or black anyway. 

If you’re trying to keep the cost low…BRUNT

Listen, high-quality gear isn’t cheap. With my work, I needed to invest in a work boot that can last me years, but that doesn’t mean I can break the bank on a new set. 

Brunt’s Marin Comp Toe keeps the costs affordable at $145 on their website – shipped right to my door. Thorogood’s American Heritage is sold through a variety of retailers and varies from $240-260. 

So for keeping this working man’s costs low, BRUNT gets the win. 

If you want to buy from an established company…Thorogood

I get it: if you’re going to invest in a great boot, you probably don’t want to risk buying from a startup. After all, you have no reason to trust their claims of how long they’ll last or even how well they’re made. 

So, in this case, Thorogood, a company that’s been around for over a century, gets the win. 

But just because BRUNT is a startup doesn’t mean it’s not high-quality. Their boots are specially designed to fix common issues of traditional boots. 

We’ve built ourselves a winner…BRUNT

After putting both of these boots to the test, I’ll be wearing BRUNT’s Marin Comp Toe all day, every day. It ticks all my boxes for the right work boot: comfortable, durable, safe, and affordable.

You can order the Marin Comp Toe boot right from their website (available online only) with free shipping, BRUNT even offers a risk-free policy! So give it a try on the job site, and if it doesn’t work for you, just send it back. 

Alright, there’s work to be done – let’s get after it in style.