For my career in forestry, I always had to have a specific kind of work boots: 8-inch uppers, melt-resistant soles, and laces. On the farm, I don’t have to follow those rules. So, I was pretty excited when Brunt offered to send me a pair of their Ohman boots to try. These boots look cool and tough, so I couldn’t wait to put them to the test to see how they performed around the farm.
First Impressions
The Ohmans came packed in a handsome shoebox with a bonus sticker, along with a cleaning cloth. The first thing I noticed was a card reading, “Are these boots too snug?” It explained how to remove an insert from the sole to convert the boots into a wider size (EE).
I moved the instructions to the side and pulled one of the boots out of the box. I immediately noticed how light the boot was compared to my previous pairs of work boots. Each size-13 boot weighed in at 1 lb 12.5 oz. This is far lighter than my previous forestry boot, for sure. However, they are heavy-duty and heavier than my Columbia hiking boots and certainly not in the featherweight category of footwear, but they’re much lighter than many work boots I’ve had.
Look and Fit
I usually wear a size 12.5, but I go up when half sizes aren’t available, and these size 13s fit me comfortably. Despite having no laces, they pretty much stay put on my feet as I walk, meaning no blisters. Right out of the box, they felt comfortable, and I didn’t think they needed to be broken in at all. They are surprisingly comfortable, especially for slip-on boots.
The brown Ohmans are handsome and work well with a number of different looks, including business casual with blue slacks. The slim upper has a low-profile under my pant legs without bunching or restricting movement. I appreciate the versatility because I have to look presentable when I am going from working outside to interacting with customers. I can even throw them on for errands or dinner after work.
One of the smaller things I like about the style is that they’re not covered in branded tags that scream, “I’m a work boot!” like some of the other brands.
BRUNT recently released a black version of the Ohmans, as well. In black, these boots could work equally well on the jobsite or behind a desk with khakis. I chose the rounded toe, which I think looks sleek and simple, but the Ohmans are also available with a moccasin-style toe.
BRUNT offers some other options on the Ohmans. You can choose from a soft toe, composite toe, or BRUNT’s patented exterior toe cap paired with the composite construction. The exterior “comp toe” cap or composite toe boot also looks really neat. I would definitely consider these if I needed the composite safety toe. You can also select a fully waterproof version of the boots, but this locks you into the round toe and 90-degree heel. If you stick with the water-resistant version, you get a wedge heel.
The fact that these boots come in a variety of styles really speaks to how versatile they are, style-wise, too.
Testing
I wore the Ohman boots around the farm for 30 days to put them through their paces. And even though they aren’t hiking boots, I took them up a 3-mile trail to the top of a nearby mountain to see how they performed if you need to walk longer distances. They were comfortable and light for both hiking and working. I didn’t experience any blisters or undue muscle fatigue. And I was grateful for the slip-resistant soles on more than one occasion when traversing loose rocks and muddy fields. And, true to my initial impression, I didn’t need to break the boots in and didn’t get any blisters.
The toe box on the boots is relatively wide and spacious, providing enough space that my feet didn’t feel cramped. However, they aren’t as form-fitting as a true wide toe box boot or shoe. The Ohmans are equipped with BRUNT’s CUSH’N insoles, which provide some arch support and a lot of cushion, making the boots very comfortable so long as you don’t have high arches. The insoles come treated against odors, which keeps your boots from smelling like, well, work boots.
While these boots are technically slip-on, I can’t get them on my feet without the use of at least one hand. I have some rubber slip-on boots that I can step into with my arms full, but this isn’t the case with the Ohmans. The upside of this is that these boots feel secure on my feet, even without laces, while my rubber boots can sometimes slip off.
Features
BRUNT is more than just a boot company, they’re a full workwear company. But this doesn’t mean that their boots lack when it comes to thoughtful design. It’s clear they understand what matters most in a work boot to people working in the real world under a range of real conditions. These Ohmans are a piece of technology in the truest sense. No, they don’t have fancy, overpriced microchips. What they do have is BRUNT’s lineup of innovative features. Let’s take a tour of what that includes.
First, their FARMGUARD™ leather keeps your feet dry, which keeps them comfortable. I didn’t experience any issues with damp feet from walking through high, wet grass. Water didn’t seep through after watering crops or working in the mud.
If there’s one thing I hate, it’s sweaty feet. Did my feet sweat while wearing these? Yes… I live in the South and the temperatures were nearing 100 degrees on some of my test days. But my feet did not sweat a whole lot, and they seemed a lot less sweaty than other boots I’ve worn. Over the course of the trial period, I didn’t have issues with clammy feet or soaked socks.
I did not use the BRUNT SWITCH-FIT® adjustable width system. The boots fit well considering my feet are only slightly wide. The system looks super intuitive, though, and trimming the insoles seems pretty low risk.
Value for the Price
These boots seem built to last, which makes them a great investment. They are about the same price as Carhartt, Wolverine, and Duluth work boots and about $40-$50 more than Caterpillar, but I like the way they look better than those brands. They are about $40 less expensive than the fancier Ariat boots, but comparable to their Chelsea. They’re $100 less expensive than Red Wings.
This is all to say, I think they’re worth the price.
What Next?
I am going to keep wearing the Ohman boots on the farm and on tougher hikes. They’ve become my go-to boots for working on the farm. If they continue to hold up well, I will definitely invest in another pair in the future.
