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Getting a media job isn’t something that happens overnight. There’s a lot of competition, and it takes time to work your way into a good position. Most of us go through a period of taking low-paying freelance gigs to cut our teeth, working all kinds of other jobs to pay the bills. For the first few years of my writing career, I made ends meet by digging ditches for my uncle who’s an electrical contractor and then loading trucks. It was within this period that I discovered and grew an affinity for Cat work boots.
As someone who was just barely getting by, the affordable cost of Cat boots really appealed to me. But the reality is that I didn’t even buy my first pair; my now fiancée did when she gifted me a set of Cat Second Shift work boots for Christmas. She knew I needed some good boots, but was also just getting started in her own career, and that’s where she landed. For the next few years, those $70 boots became my go-to footwear. I won’t blow smoke and say Cat makes the greatest work boot, but they’ll get the job done, and I can’t recommend them enough for folks in that same position. So, when Cat approached me to see if I’d be interested in testing some of its work boots out, I took them up on it.
Today, we’re taking a look at the Cat Threshold Rebound. I’ve been wearing these on a daily basis for a few weeks now. They’ve kept me planted on everything from mud and snow to oil covered surfaces. For about twice the cost, they’re about twice the boot the Second Shift is. And because they’re comfortable and light, they’re a great step up to consider in any field of work.
The Bottom Line
| Cat Threshold Rebound Work Boot | |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 8/10 |
| Quality | 7/10 |
| Grip | 9/10 |
| Value | 8/10 |
| Overall | 8/10 |
Cat Threshold Boot Specs
For starters, the Threshold Rebound is a non-metallic boot with a composite toe for added protection. This already makes them great for any job where electrical hazard protection is a must. They have a slip-resistant, oil-resistant sole and are made with waterproof leather and a membrane to keep your feet dry. The durable leather outsole is separated from the full-grain leather uppers with an EVA foam midsole. Cement construction holds it all together.
Cat’s Threshold Rebound boot is available in three colors: Black, Honey Reset, and Pyramid Brown, which is what you see here. They’re available in wide and medium men’s sizes, ranging from 7-14, with a retail price of $144.95. They aren’t the cheapest work boots on the market, but that pricing does place them somewhere in the middle, right around the price of basic steel-toe work boots from premium manufacturers. Speaking of which, this is a good time to say that I’m all for spending good money on high-quality boots. I just really appreciate what brands like Cat deliver to folks who maybe can’t yet justify the expense or simply don’t see the value in spending more.
Getting Into a Little Bit of Everything With the Cat Threshold Boot
Now that I’m a full-time writer, I spend most of my working hours typing on a keyboard. I’m not trying to fool anyone into believing that I’ve beaten these boots to death working in conditions similar to an oil field. That said, I do get into some heavy-duty automotive projects, including suspension overhauls, engine work, and paint. I also take on a lot of odd jobs in my spare time. If not for maintaining my own home and cars, then someone else’s.
Because my career is so cushy, I do my best to get on my feet as often as possible. I take my cattle dog, Kipper, for several walks each day. On occasion, he’ll even break free and lead me on multi-mile chases through the Pennsylvania wilderness right out our back door. All that to say, I do appreciate what a good boot can do in any setting, and I wore these Caterpillar Threshold Rebound boots for all of the above. Starting with a run through the woods.
Kipper decided to see what these boots could do as soon as they arrived. He darted into the trees almost as soon as I could lace them up. It’s nearing winter, and we’ve already got snow on the ground in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It makes for some traction issues on the forest floor, to say the least. This brings me to the first thing I really like these boots for. They offer excellent grip, and I really appreciated that during this initial “test.”
I also immediately noticed that, while they aren’t the premier winter boot, they do seem to stay pretty warm. This totally contradicts the expectations I had based on other reviews mentioning them being pleasant in the summer. To me this means it’s not the best for either, but good enough for use in any season.
That grip is great in the garage, too. I still have NewAge products garage tiles in the shop. They’re awesome for the most part but can be pretty slick when oil is sitting on top. Considering I have a ’69 Charger in there, that’s a fairly common problem. While no boot will have a perfect bite in oil on smooth surfaces, these do pretty well.
Another thing that really stands out about these boots is that they’re really lightweight and comfortable—relatively speaking, of course. My everyday boot is the Georgia Eagle Light. It’s a soft-toe, 8-inch boot that I prefer because it’s light and comfortable. The Cat Threshold Rebound isn’t quite on par with that boot. I can definitely feel the added strain when wearing one right after another. It is, however, far lighter than the Georgia steel-toe Loggers I’m used to wearing around the shop and is much more capable. In fact, the most comparable boot from my personal collection grip-wise is the Carolina 4×4, which is crazy heavy by comparison, but it is a true winter boot.
The EVA foam midsole and insole to match work wonders for comfort. I’ve spent hours on my feet in these boots with minimal aches and fatigue. Hiking, working on a car, loading coal, whatever it is you’re doing, the comfort these offer is awesome. The extra padding does add a bit of bulk to the sole, which can be annoying at times. It did take a bit of getting used to when driving and stepping up onto raised surfaces. It’s not nearly as dramatic as what you get with a bulky winter boot, though.
The Verdict on the Cat Threshold Rebound Boot
At the end of the day, Cat’s Threshold Rebound is a super comfortable, super capable, affordable work boot. But, again, this is coming from a DIYer. Even if I spend a lot of time in the shop, I’m not exposing these boots to the same rigorous environment that someone working in the trades will. Some features, like the non-metallic construction, are kind of lost on me. My environment also doesn’t push these boots hard enough to rightfully say what kind of durability and longevity they deliver. That said, my experience with using Cat boots on the job is that they do seem to stay in the fight just as long as any other in or near its price range.
This clearly isn’t the optimal boot for mechanics as a lot of the features appeal more to folks in construction-related trades. However, the comfort and grip make it a great choice for anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet on slick and varying terrain. The low cost really only helps to up their appeal.
