Earlier this week, we told you about a deal that Brunt Workwear was running on their waterproof boots. In that post, I teased that while John had reviewed a pair of their boots already, we had another review in the works. Well, you didn’t have long to wait, because we’ve got our review of the Brunt Workwear Sullivan Boots ready for you.
Brunt Workwear Sullivan Boots: what they are
I get it – that section header is redundant, because it’s obvious these are boots. But hey, standards are standards, and that’s how we approach things here. So, lets get into the details. The Brunt Workwear Sullivan Boots are your classic 6″ work boots, which refers to how high up your leg they’re going. This provides plenty of coverage for your ankles, as well as support while you go around your day.
Fittingly, for a pair of work boots, they have all sorts of compliance standards to keep you safe in slippery environments, high-heat, and even an electrical mishap. While we had the soft-toe version come in, you can also opt for a version with a reinforced toebox. In short, everything you need to keep you safe on a jobsite or in a factory.
So, why did we review them?
I mean, it’s been close to 20 years since I needed steel toed workboots for the factories I worked in. However, just because you’re not in a factory or working construction, doesn’t mean you can’t make use of a good pair of boots like these. Around the house, I find boots a better choice than sneakers when you’re doing yardwork, especially if you’re up and down a ladder or driving a shovel through the dirt. Back when I rode a motorcycle, there again the workboots were key.
The use case I enjoy the most, though – other than wearing them on rainy commutes – is for camping and hiking. Sure, in summertime, you want to have lightweight stuff on your feet, right? If you’re about to banging about in the trails, though, that sturdy, full coverage is what you want. And if they’re waterproof – like these are – you don’t have to worry about it raining, or even the dew that settles in overnight. Your feet are protected and ready to go.
Wearing the boots
Then again, it doesn’t matter how you want to use the boots – if they’re not comfortable on your feet, you’re not going to want to wear them. While John felt his pair ran a little large, I thought that the Brunt Workwear Sullivan Boots fit true to size. If you feel yours are a little tight, they come with a two-layer insole. What this means is you can remove the one layer, and get yourself a little more wiggle room.
Even though the leather of the boots is thick, it actually is very soft. I’m used to dealing with break-in issues (and soreness) in the toebox and across the top of the foot, but that was not the case with these. They were immediately flexible and comfortable. The one area that I have had some more break-in issues with is in the heel. It’s quite structured, and I’ve had some rubbing happening on the back of my heel (even with the laces locking my foot solidly in place).
I wore the boots in the rain plenty, and had zero water getting to my foot, so their waterproof membrane does the job just as advertised. As a result of that, it means that the tongue is held in place, which I find helps with the comfort.
Getting the boots on
This merits it’s own section, as sometimes boots can be a massive pain to actually pull on. I’ve had boots where I’ve needed to severely loosen laces (which is then more work to tighten up), or the pull tab on the collar of the boot is too small to actually be used.
Fortunately, that is not the case at all for the Brunt Workwear Sullivan Boots. I didn’t feel I needed to loosen the laces to pull the boots on. Additionally, the finger loop on the collar of the boot is a perfect size. It’s easy to pull the boots on, and if it’s just a quick out-to-the-garage thing to grab something, you don’t even have to lace them up.
Oh, and speaking of lacing. The boots come fully laced up, but you can undo the top lacing, and instead use speedhooks to lace/unlace. This would be helpful if you do find you want a little more room to slide your foot in, but also want to lace back up quickly.
Wrapping things up
If you can’t tell – I like a good pair of boots, and I find all manner of uses for a sturdy pair of workboots. The Brunt Workwear Sullivan Boots get that job done quite well, with classic styling that works even in the office (if it’s casual), and with a grippy lug pattern that keeps you on your feet.
One thing to note with that soft leather – it will pick up the marks and nicks of life, and that’s good, the boots are protecting your feet. I have found that scuffs do work out of the leather pretty easily (must be the oils in there from the tanning process), and I’m confident that regular care of the leather will keep them looking in good shape.
The fact that the Brunt Workwear Sullivan Boots are also waterproof mean that these are rated for just about anything I could throw at the boots, and I’m foreseeing them logging a bunch of miles in the year (and on the trails) this year. You can get them with a soft toe, composite toe, or “Brunt” toe, in 6″ or 8″, and in men’s or women’s sizing. The 6″ soft toe that we reviewed comes in at $145.99. If you’ve not bought work boots, that might seem pricey, but I think it’s right in the ballpark of where these boots should be. They’re going to be hard-wearing and long lasting, and a little bit of leather care a few times a year will see you get years and years from them. You can get yours directly from bruntworkwear.com
Brunt Workwear Sullivan Boots Features
- 6” Height
- Fully Waterproof Build
- 90° Defined Heel
- Electrical Hazard Rated
- Slip & Oil Resistant
- 572?F Heat-Resistant Outsole
- Meets ASTM F2892-18 Standards
Performance & Durability
- Built with a breathable waterproof membrane and waterproof leather to lock out moisture and keep your feet dry
- Industry leading BRUNT rubber outsole is oil and slip-resistant and high-heat resistant up to 572°F/300°C
- 90° defined heel and 5mm lugs provide improved stability on ladders, scaffolding, and uneven surfaces
- Round toe design sheds sparks easier when grinding or welding
- Electrical hazard (EH) provides a secondary source of protection for accidental contact with live electrical circuits
- Waterproof and barnyard-resistant FARMGUARD™ leather locks out rain, mud, oil, piss, and sh*t – while resisting the damaging effects of harsh chemicals like oleic acid, urea, sodium chloride, and ammonium hydroxide
- Built with a breathable waterproof membrane to keep your feet dry
- BRUNT leathers are sourced from USA Texas steer—the highest quality hides available
- Pass-through or wrap-around lace hooks with heavy-duty eyelets
- Reinforced double- and triple-stitching at stress points
- Outsole and midsole meet ASTM D471-06 903 oil and isooctane chemical-resistant standards
- Meets ASTM F2913-19 SATRA non-slip testing standards
- Meets ASTM F1677-96 Mark II non-slip testing standards
