When the Ariat brand was born, the focus was on equestrian footwear and apparel. Soon, the brand named after the hardest-working horse in racing saw a need in another arena.
Work boots.
Longtime Ariat rep Dale Keel remembers some of those early conversations and how the brand’s WorkHog family of boots took off.
“We didn’t really have a lot to offer for work until we introduced the WorkHog,” Keel said. “That really has sustained the industry. Ariat has one thing that sets us apart from our competitors. We put quality first. Quality has to be there, or we’ll say that it won’t work for us. Quality is first.”
That quality shows through in the WorkHog’s construction. In the sole, ATS Max technology disperses pressure to keep you comfortable all day. DRYShield waterproof breathable construction, a removable Pro Performance insole for cushioning and shock absorption, a lightweight EVA midsole, and an oil and slip-resistant Duratread sole all contribute to the WorkHog’s comfort and performance.
Keel said there’s a clear reason the WorkHog still stands out.
“We offer one thing that nobody else can offer,” he said. “That’s the U-Turn system. In the back of the boot, it’s like having a built-in shoehorn. When you can’t make that turn from the shaft of the boot into the gusset, that U-Turn, and it’s unique to Ariat, pushes out and lets your foot go right into it. You’ll hear it. If you don’t hear the air push out when you put that boot on, you don’t have a great fit.”
WorkHog still among our biggest sellers at Harrison's. Kevin Harrison said that speaks to the brand’s commitment to quality.
“One of the things that makes you know you’re doing it right is that nearly every vendor out there has come up with something that’s their version of a WorkHog,” Kevin said. “And nobody’s got one as good as that WorkHog on the market. There’s just not one.”
With the Ariat work reputation quickly growing thanks to the WorkHog’s pull-on styles, the company turned to lace-ups. The first iteration was the Turbo, with the Rebar Lift soon following. The Lift features a cream-colored sole, a Chelsea style, and plenty of that Ariat technology. Like the WorkHog, the Lift was built for tough outdoor jobs, but is comfortable in any working conditions.
Keel said that kind of versatility is something that drives Ariat.
“The industrial market is almost a 95 percent lace-up business,” Keel said. “We’re always coming out with new products, and trying to come up with better ways of taking the technology up.”
