CAT is licensed Caterpillar workwear — boots, gloves, jackets, hats — made by a footwear and apparel company under the Caterpillar brand license. They're not literally made by the Caterpillar tractor company, but the licensing is real, the spec is real, and the boots are real workwear, not fashion product.
We carry CAT because they sit in a useful spot on the price ladder: cheaper than Timberland Pro, branded enough that customers recognize them, and built well enough that they'll get you through a long stretch of work without falling apart.
What we keep on the shelf
Second Shift Steel Toe — the 6-inch lace-up steel-toe in honey or dark brown leather. EH-rated outsole, oil-and-slip-resistant. The model that's been on shelves for fifteen-plus years and doesn't change much from one season to the next. That consistency is a feature.
Threshold — newer, more modern silhouette. Composite or alloy toe options, lighter weight, more flexible upper. Aimed at the same guy who'd buy a Timberland Pro TiTAN — somebody who walks all day and doesn't want a heavy boot.
We also keep the CAT pull-on Wellington styles for guys who don't want laces, and the Diagnostic Hi work boot when we can get it.
Fit notes
Second Shift runs true to size for most people, sometimes a touch large in length. If you wear a 10 in your sneakers, try a 10. The toe box is medium-wide. If you have a wide foot, ask — CAT does make some wide widths, depending on the model.
Threshold runs slightly snug, especially in the toe box. Order your normal size and try them on. If you wear thick socks for work, factor that in.
The leather is real, the stitching is real, but the construction is bonded sole — you can't resole these. When the outsole goes, the boot goes with it.
Where it falls short
CAT is fine, not great. The boots will last you 12–18 months on a normal jobsite. They'll last 6–9 months if you're really destroying them on demo or concrete crews. The stitching around the heel is the typical failure point, then the outsole wears smooth.
Leather scuffs more than Red Wing or Thorogood. If you want a boot that still looks sharp at month six, CAT is not it. If you want a boot that gets the job done and you're not precious about — perfect.
The branding is loud. The yellow CAT logo on the side of the boot is part of the appeal for some customers and an eye-roll for others. If you don't want to be a walking advertisement, the dark brown Second Shift hides it best.
Bottom line
CAT is the safe, recognizable, affordable American-style work boot. Second Shift Steel Toe if you want the classic and you need the safety rating. Threshold if you want lighter and more modern. Don't expect Red Wing longevity, but at the price, you don't need to. Come in, try them on, we'll size you right.