User:Tulipthedog

Lineman boots
Lineman boots are footwear often worn by linemen, the tradesmen who construct and maintain electric power transmission and distribution facilities. The boots are characterized by extra-thick leather and extra-strength steel plates hidden beneath the instep (for better support when standing on ladders or pole rungs) and normally range from 14 to 20 inches high, but can also be found as high as 38 inches.

Lineman boots, also favored by cable installers, construction workers, tree service workers and motorcycle enthusiasts, were originally designed to protect the foot and leg from injury commonly associated with climbing rough-hewn poles. The extra-length leather boots are generally made from cowhide 7 oz. or more in thickness, as opposed to the 3 or 4 oz. thickness of the typical workboot. A common feature of lineman boots is a false tongue, or ‘kilty’, which is an 8-inch strip of leather intended to provide padding between the laces and the instep of the foot. The kilty is placed on top of the original tongue and held in place by the laces and sometimes features a serrated bottom edge. True lineman boots also include accommadations for wearing climbing spikes, extra side padding and steel side-plates to protect against abarasions while climbing, steel instep insertions to add support while standing on rungs and steel breast-plates to protect the boot from wear and tear of metal climbing spikes.

Other accessories often found in lineman boots include insulation, leather pads, kevlar, waterproof liners, Vibram soles and steel toes.

Lineman boots are popular with motorcyclists because of the excellent support and added side-protection.

Companies that offer popular Lineman boot lines include Red Wing Shoes based in Red Wing, Minnesota, Nick’s Boots of Spokane, Washington, Chippewa Boot Company of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and the West Coast Shoe Company based in Portland, Oregon.