In the late '80s, early '90s, we wore Justins all the time. Dad would order them, he wore the original ropers with rubber soles for work, and I think what I wore was called a "ranch roper". The lower part was a lot like a roper, but the upper was quite a bit taller, with rubber soles. We both wore ropers with the leather sole more for dress boots. At first they were good quality boots, but started going downhill about the time dad passed away in '92. They completely quit making the tall ones I liked, and it got to where the last ropers I bought just plain came apart within 6 months. I tried several different brands after that, from cheap $49 wal-mart specials to Wolverine dura-shocks. Sadly, for me, the wal-mart ones lasted just about as good as the Wolverines... Everything from sole splitting, to stitching ripping out. The Wolverines WERE much more comfortable than the wal-mart ones while they lasted. Tried some with the MACK truck logo on them... They WEREN'T built like a MACK truck... Total Junk. Tried some of the CAT brand, didn't last much better. I'm not a lace up boot person, but I bought a pair of H&H lace ups, and they did last well, and were very comfortable. About 10 years ago, I went to Red Wings for work boots, and have been very happy with them. I've had several pairs that I have worn for over 2 years (that's a LONG time for a pair of boots to last me), and then I broke out a new pair for myself and gave the old pair to guys that worked for me that weren't smart enough to spend a little money for quality footwear for work. Every pair of Red Wings that I've had, have been comfortable since day one. I usually have my boots on for about 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. You could count on one hand how many times I've had tennis shoes on in the last 5 years. I would try a pair of Ariat work boots if I saw a style I like. My dress boots are Ariat, and if anything they are more comfortable than my Red Wings. Just don't know if they would hold up to the abuse I put boots thru.
I do have a strange observation, back when I wore the other brands, I had a problem with "walking out" the outside of the boots. The outside of the soles would wear a lot faster than the inside, tilting my feet out. Everyone said it was ME, not the boots. Ever since I went to the Red Wings, I don't have that issue. The sole wears evenly, and the uppers stay straight. Don't really know the meaning of that, but my ankles don't give me problems like they used to.