Carolina boots vs. Duradero boots|work tested

[@bradburke8363]

great video as always. You and rose anvil make the best boot videos on youtube.i appreciate your reviews because you actually kick the tires with them.keep up the great content.

[@doublebase6509]

I appreciate that!

[@dmanzo811]

Carpenter here. My Carolina boots fell apart 3 months in. Toes were worn through and the sewing(threading) had broken loose. Shame cause they were way more comfortable and less bulky than the Marin by Brunt that I tried previously. Sad to spend $245 and get 4 months out of them. I do a lot of kneeling and moving so I wear the toes out pretty fast but I did not expect the damn things to fall apart.

[@doublebase6509]

Yeah, carpenters are tough on their toes. $245 is a lot for these Carolinas, I think I paid $164 for them at the time. Celastic toe, dented them in and the heel counter cracked but overall they were solid for me. Not great, not the best, but better than Brunts. Sorry to hear they didn’t hold up for you.

[@michaelchristolear4182]

I own both of those boots in steel toe. To me, the Carolinas are a bit more comfortable, but not by much. If Duradero would line the top of that sole like Carolina (and Thorogood), I think they'd be unbeatable. When you consider the quality of Duradero boots, the awesome and unmatched customer service, the free resole, you cannot beat them! I'm a machinist and we are old school manual so my boots get to deal with oil of all types and scrapes and cuts from metal parts and shavings... They get hit from everything! I've got almost three months on my Duraderos so I think at that time, I'll do a review and clean up on those bad boys. Thanks for posting this video!

[@doublebase6509]

Nice review, and I probably can agree, if they could maybe put just a bit of something on top (in between) the insole and fiber board? Home run. Great boots, great company. Been wearing them everyday for almost a year now. Still holding up fantastic. I have a pair of Duradero’s steel toes on deck next. Very comfortable around the house, lots of room in the toe box.

[@doublebase6509]

Probably should have mentioned that BOTH boots are 6 inch Moc toe work boots. And I probably should have been more clear...the Duradero’s have 10 months of daily work use. The Carolina’s have roughly a month and a half.

[@jesseadams7654]

I know that you are a fan of the Red Wing Traction Tred Lite. You’ve said that they are the most comfortable boots you’ve worn. Have you given up on them? Have you ever tried the Red Wing 405? They are similar, but wear longer. I have both boots in this video. The Carolina doesn’t hold up nearly as well as the Duradero. Not even close to the Red Wing. I enjoy your informative videos.

[@doublebase6509]

The Traction Tred Lites are probably the most comfortable, right out of the box boots I’ve ever owned. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a pair now, but if I remember they have an amazing amount of arch support…your foot kind of just locks right in. Instant comfort, support, and light weight. All while being super durable and tough. I just hated the way they looked. I know that is subjective, but I didn’t like the look of the nubuck they use and the soles looked like they belonged on moon boots, but man those things are high performance boots. I couldn’t kill those things! My buddy loves them, it’s his go to boot in the winter, but he switches out of them in the summer/spring/fall, and goes with the Duradero. But I’d say the traction tred lites are the best performing, most comfortable boot I’ve ever worn. I just can’t stand the look of them. Never tried the 405, I see them everywhere on people’s feet…they look a lot like the Irish Setter Ashby. I’d try a pair. And I agree on the Carolina, I have had a few issues, but they’re light years better than a Brunt Marin.

[@fredseekingbibleturth]

well you just sold me on the duradero by showing how wide they are. That is great. I have a carolina and they are a bit on the narrow side so you just sold me on the duadero. Good review.

[@doublebase6509]

Their customer service is really good, call them with sizing questions because they do run large. I think this code will get you a few bucks off…JPB50…or it may be JPB50 2

[@Modern_day_primitive]

Are carolina going to make a pair comparable to the amp because they are the most durable and comfortable boots I've ever worn been wearing Carolina for alot of years not wanting to switch brands

[@doublebase6509]

Yes, they currently make their newer version of their amp. I bought a pair last year and returned them within a day. I didn’t like the way the welt looked - the color of it looked light tan, and it just looked too plasticky for me.

[@christiandavidruedafloresp7480]

Hi Double base, Im interestin in purchasing these boots....question, Im size 12 in New Balance, What size you recomend 12 or 11.5??

[@doublebase6509]

Hard to say, probably the 11.5, but check their website, they have a fit guide system that’s pretty accurate

[@gregmaffei4820]

Nice comparison

[@BurritoSupreme_]

Great video I’ve had the Carolina amp usa boots and I am considering the duradero. The Carolina amp usa is still being produced you can find it i on their website under the domestic section. They do make some less expensive moc toe boots called amp mx that are made in Mexico

[@doublebase6509]

Great information on the Carolina AMP USA boots, didn’t realize that! I’ll be doing a video on Duradero’s exclusively soon, about to order a new pair…thinking of trying one of their new offerings (they’ve added 3-4 new boots since I wore the ones in this video).

[@Byronwi]

so if you resole them, do you send them to mexico where they're made

[@doublebase6509]

put them in the box they came in and they go to where Thorogoods are resoled. California. I never had these resoled.

[@myhomiealex6]

Do you still have your duraderos. And if so are they still holding up? After watching the Rose Anvil video I was kinda shocked and as well kinda upset to see with how these were built. I used to wear my duraderos to work. But have now purchased two pairs of thorogoods. This was way before the RA video. I purchased both for 300$ (I lucked out). But it's weird as on the boot subreddit we have recommended and others have held onto their pair for 1-2yrs. Have you sent your boot out for resole? Edit: even with the video I wasn't deterred from buying them. I just decided to buy a pair of the buckhannon as it's going on clearance. And I got them for 150$. These are going to be my casual wear boot. And I already have them oiled and greased up for the fall season.

[@doublebase6509]

I had no idea that Rose Anvil did a video on them, I will have to check that out! I don’t wear the pair of Duradero’s in this video as a primary boot anymore. And I have not sent them in for the free resole, the reason being…I stretched out the leather too much on these particular boots. I tortured these things. I honestly have NEVER put a boot through the daily punishment I put these things through and at around ten months I started rotating them with another brand (may have been Thorogoods, can’t remember). At 12 months I retired them. I usually get 10 months out of a boot and then they’re DONE. The longest I’ve ever gone on an everyday no rotation was a year and a few months (Red Wings). But I own a few of Duradero’s newer offering between my son and I, and I have no complaints. A pair of Brunt’s by comparison only lasted me 3 months. I’d put Duradero a notch bellow Thorogood (although I have some issues with their latest lineup), and I’d put BOTH Thorogood and Duradero bellow Red Wing. Just my opinion. Edit - Just watched the video. I have ZERO issues with the inside of these boots, just looked, nothing cracked. However I HATED the insole these boots came with, threw them in the garbage as soon as I saw them. The outsoles were great for me. The heel counter I did not like, it got too flexy and soft at the end of the ten months, but the counter cover was great and never wore through. I’d call these a solid work boot. Like I said, I’d put them bellow Thorogood and Red Wing, but above Carolina and Brunt. I can’t even wear these Carolina’s anymore, all the plastic inside (heel counter and toes, cracked). And the tongue tore. Yet I’d place the Carolina over the Brunt’s.

[@deman8580]

I just cant give any other boot a try after carolinas. Been buying them for 10 years

[@doublebase6509]

Yeah I get that. I didn’t mind the boots but I ran into three problems with them…the tongues, the heel counter and water intrusion. One tongue bent so badly in one direction that I had to cut the gusset. Didn’t help. The heel counter is plastic and it cracked in half one day, then it cut into my heel (which I actually got used to). And I know these aren’t waterproof but I have 8 pairs of non waterproof boots and these for some reason instantly allowed water right in no matter what I did to try to waterproof them. Yet, these were still a pretty high quality work boot and I would suggest them to someone looking for a moc toe work boot.

[@wyattbreymeyer4033]

ive been getting bombarded with duradero ads which made me suspicious

[@doublebase6509]

On Facebook?

[@Byronwi]

well, for me, id say the last 20 yrs , its hard to find good cobbler

[@doublebase6509]

I don’t use cobblers often, actually I’ve never used one. I have a couple local ones around me that I may give a try for a speed hook and heel cap replacement on a pair of loggers I’m working right now. Otherwise by the time I usually wear through a sole the boot is done, I’ve used it so much that it’s not worth resoling.