We love footwear, we love boots, and we’ve learned to love Brunt Work Boots. We were delighted when Brunt reached out to us to offer us out choice of one of their work boots. But to be honest, the choice won’t be that easy as they have a wide-variety. Some Brunt offerings could easily swap places with Doc Martens as a fashion choice, except that these are better built, with far better sizing options. And unlike Doc Martens, these are really meant for tough work environments like the trades.
Sizing shoes or clothing over the internet is admittedly a bit tough. For example, my first pair of Brunt Marin Comp Toes seemed a bit too large, but I wasn’t sure. So I visited a local shoe store, had my feet measured and even though I normally took a size 10 wide in my running and dress shoes, measurements showed I was actually a 9.5 wide. Brunt has no hassle exchange policy, and quickly sent out a new pair. I kind of screwed things up. I was traveling between coasts, and so one pair was on one coast, while the other on the other.
Finally the stars aligned and I ended up with two pairs of the same boots, different sizes, on the same coast. After comparing them side-by-side, the smaller 9.5 turned out to the proper size. If you really aren’t sure of your fit, and want to compare them at the same time, the best approach might to be order two different sizes at once and send back the one that isn’t right for you. Personally, trying it on, shipping it back, waiting for a new size, makes comparing it difficult. Just think of yourself in a shoe store, you wouldn’t leave without trying a different size or two.
Brunt has one of the smoothest, well-crafted, ad campaigns and branding I’ve ever seen, and I’m a veteran of Fashion Week. The boots are seriously well-made. They use American leather, sent over to Cambodia, where the boots are crafted. Having worked construction, scrambled under and on top of cars, made a mess in art studios and foundries, I’m pretty adept at trashing footwear and clothes, and the Marin’s are not only gorgeous to look at, they are plenty tough. I’ve dropped enough stuff on my toes that I chose the protection of the non-metallic Comp Toe. It might seem like metal is better, and in some ways it is, until it’s cold. A cold cement floor, or a wet and muddy field, just gets amplified by the more conventional steel-toed-boot implementation. Using a synthetic protector means that no heat or cold is passed on, making them much more comfortable. And some would argue composites are better at absorbing shock and returning to shape more easily.
The Marins came in two colors, brown or black, and I chose the black so when I wasn’t banging them around, they looked good with a pair of jeans in town. Since I have wide feet, I chose the Wide (EE) version, which was comfy but provided plenty of support. The specs match up to other, much more expensive boots. The specs on my Marin’s were: 6” Height, Nano Composite Safety Toe, Fully Waterproof Build. Electrical Hazard Rated, Slip + Oil Resistant, 572˚F Heat-Resistant Sole, and they meet ASTM F2413-18 Standards. They're available in either Men’s or Woman's sizes.
You might want to consider another model, The Sullivan. It’s similar to the Marin, with the main difference being that it has a defined heal. This means there is a notch just before the heel that makes it safer and easier if you are on ladders, which I tend to find myself clambering about on. It comes in Dark Brown, and the sole is black, compared to the white sole of the Marin. They are both heavy duty, well-made work boots, so the choice is mostly a matter of style and usage.
Brunt recently introduced a Made in the USA version of the Marin Welted, with a Goodyear Welt, meaning that in years to come, it’s easy to resole them. At around a hundred dollars more, they support jobs in the USA, as well as have that welted sole. Additionally they now have clothing, hats, and accessories, so they are quickly (the company is only two years old!) becoming a full-featured label. I'm hoping to review one of their Made in the USA models in the future. We are fans of welted boots, since soles wear out, so it's nice to be able to replace them without trashing the entire boot.
We think that a pair of Brunt Marin’s will make the man or woman in your life who wants a great looking, incredibly tough pair of boots, very happy this holiday season. We’re also thrilled to see a new American based footwear company succeed.
For more information on the Brunt THE MARIN (COMP TOE) work boot visit:https://bruntworkwear.com/products/the-marin?variant=43052122636446
