What are some good boots you recommend?
I started working at a job at the beginning of the year where I'm standing or walking around all day, and the corners of my big toes have gone numb from it, I think. They're constantly like this now, and have been like that for months.
Good boots are good but good insoles are the most important. Get something that actually fits you not some random shit. Redwings are good but are mostly chink shit, carolinas are good so are ariat and keen and wolverines are a good budget kind. BUT do not skimp out on a boot they will last you years and you will use it every day. Redwing stores also measure you to get a actual fit. I use them.
I don't even know where to find good insoles at. I honestly haven't walked into a shoe store in a long time, people just kept buying me shoes as gifts and I don't know if they ever even have insoles that are actually good. I've been using Dr. Scholl's insoles I found at Walmart awhile back, and they're okay I guess. I could never find any that actually have a significant looking toe padding.
>poorgay tier: the blue and yellow memory foam ones online that are about $10 a pair. Last about 6 months.
>better tier: the ones at department stores where you stand on the pad and it picks the best one from a bunch of different kinds. Cost about $60, last up to a year each.
>Best tier: the ones that are custom made for you. Hard resin ones can last a lifetime. Cost: a lot and requires seeing a podiatrist.
I've been using the poorgay ones myself for about 2 years. Replacing them every 6 months means they don't really get a chance to wear out, and being cheap and plentiful means it's easy to replace them. Don't get Dr. Scholls inserts unless you find a certain set is absolutely perfect for you. They are gimmicky, overpriced, and wear out far too quickly.
I just had a podiatrist prescribe custom insert for me feet. Always hated running & had on/off foot issues, recently got worse so was sent to doc, he looks at my foot for less than a minute then proclaimed I had probably the highest arches he'd ever seen, & was for sure in the top 10%, if not top 5, of high arches
OP here.
I probably have low arches, hasn't really seemed to cause me much problems though aside from some minor pain once in awhile that feels like I'm over extending the tendons in the bottom of one of my feet. Doesn't happen very often though. But with my toes having gone slightly numb, I should probably start seeing a podiatrist, if I could ever remember to schedule an appointment.
Podiatrist route is best route. I absolutely refuse to use shoes or boots without getting insoles made for them.
I should really save some for shoes and boots meant to last a lifetime, then get a podiatrist to make insoles for them.
Sure, it's fricking expensive, especially if you go for quality shoes (Hoka shoes for me, but they don't last the best with my rough usage), but if you can get boots and custom insoles that last, it'll be well worth your money.
Just focus on what is best for your feet.
I got a different pair of Dr. Scholls insoles that I've had for so long that I don't even know how old they are. They're probably 8 years old or something. I do remember them being more comfortable when they were newer, but after a certain point like a year or so after using them, they haven't degraded any less than that. I bought them at a Famous Footwear or something. I thought those were pretty good insoles, and I was using them in my work boots at my current job. I only bought new ones in an attempt to try and reduce knee pain. I think maybe they kinda work. But if I recall correctly the other ones were more comfortable for my feet overall. Still didn't prevent me from developing some numbness in my toes though. But I still have them, cause they're still pretty good. There's not really any "wear" on them.
blue and yellow is fine, actually.
spend a little more to get the ones that aren't memory foam.
Superfeet. Find the ones that match the arch of your foot. I've ridden same insoles though multiple shoes/boots. They don't wear out, squeek or have to be cut like a ton of other options.
You can also go see a podiatrist and get fitted for real custom orthotics for like $500.
Pardon me for ranting against superfeet if you saw that. I had confused that with another brand.
If you are using custom orthotics it can frick you feet up over time, by weakening it.
If you're reading this, your feet are already fricked up bro
Nah they are fine, I do not need custom orthotics.
But using them can give you plantaire fasciitis.
Redwing, danner, Justin and Ariat.
>first job
buy some $80 boots from tractor supply or something to spec.
then save and make your next pair:
biggest problem with gimmick boots is the ankles will shred.
Justin’s are shit nowadays.
you may have diabetes
I like USGI surplus boots because they come in widths and used to be dirt cheap and are of a certain known quality except for the Bellvue IIRC sold on Ebay cheap soles come unglued.
Forgot brand name that does lightweight boots for New Balance but they are good and like army boots come in widths.
>you may have diabetes
That's what I wondered at first, or gout or something. I started eating fast food all the time cause of work, and I didn't realize how much sugar and cholesterol was in what I was eating until I noticed the corners of my toes were numb. I noticed a few months after I started working this job. I was worried I somehow gave myself diabetes, but I don't really think I did. The only other thing I can think of is I must've been putting too much pressure on my toes somehow.
Prolly just pinching a nerve somewhere
Fix posture
It's like this on both feet. I am a little flat footed too, if that has to do with anything.
The numb spots are where bunions will eventually form. Fix your posture, strengthen your feet and stop being fat
Go to a foot doctor and get your actual foot size. Most do it for cheap
I got room in my shoes, I'm pretty sure the size is fine.
It could be lower back problems, I had a back injury and went to a chiropractor and he twisted my back up and almost paralyzed me. I have been working on my lower back for years now and only my big toes are numb, it was in my my feet and legs
I think I realized relatively recently I may have some nerve issues. I feel less coordinated than I used to, and I don't feel as cognitively able as I remember before.
I always wondered if chiropractors actually injure their patients if they're held liable. They better be.
This sounds weird, but your deescription of being less balanced, less coordinated, less cognitively able is something has been going on with me for around 5 years. I still do not have an answer. I am interested in what you find.
I didn't mention anything about balance, but yeah my balance seems a little worse too. I've always had really good balance, but I find myself stumbling over everything all the time now, and my gait doesn't seem to be as steady as before.
It seems like the cognitive stuff has been going on around 5 years or so for me too, but I don't really know. I've been trying to piece it together years later, but I can't really remember how I felt before adequately enough to judge it anymore. I remember what I thought, but I can't remember how exactly I actually felt before. At some point I remember thinking that something was off, but I don't know anymore. Maybe I was always like this, but I do feel like something is getting worse now, which is more recent. I don't know what's going on, but I hate it, I feel so slow. I wondered if it was something environmental cause it almost seemed like some people around me were getting dumber or slower too. Seems like it must've started around 2016 or so. I was wondering, are you from Chicago at all?
I'm not sure if whatever is wrong with me is actually environmental, but I'm pretty sure that something must be wrong with me regardless. Whatever I'm going through can't be normal.
See an actual doctor. Also I'm not sure if chiropractors can be legally held liable?
I'm working on it. When my appointment finally comes up, I'm gonna ask for a bunch of tests to get done, I just hope I remember everything I want to tell him. I just wish they had a sooner time available, it was two months away from when it was scheduled originally.
>Also I'm not sure if chiropractors can be legally held liable?
*Also, they better be. If they're absolved from facing all consequences of malpractice I'll be pissed.
>I just hope I remember everything
write things down as you think of them
Hopefully I actually feel like doing it. I'm too lazy for my own good, my motivation for anything is just destroyed. I'm really not well, and I have no idea how to fix it. I want to try though. I think I'm finally starting to take this seriously.
Instead of "thinking" (you are not a doctor) get checked. I was in great shape which saved me when cholesterol would have killed my ass so I got a stint and all is decent.
Laypersons are neither foot docs nor heart docs. Don't be like dumbfrick Bubbas who end up dragging tanks and/or having a stroke (does paralysis sound like fun?) and KNOW your condition.
Matterhorn
I like US army. They have a hard toe box and I can usually find them cheap (since I know my size).
Consider some comfy insoles like super feet
Isn't a hard toe box supposed to be a bad thing? I think that's what's been making my toes feel numb, probably too much pressure on the bottom of my toes.
The hard toe box allows your toes to move more freely
Oh, I know what it means now. Thanks.
I would still need something that's comfortable for my toes on the bottom though.
Like I said: super feet
redbacks. last forever. comfy af. great soles. come with safety toe if needed. mine are 5ish years old and look great. gotta be ok with the australian book thing tho.
>gotta be ok with the australian book thing tho.
What book thing? I don't understand what you mean.
fack. meant to say boot. its that elastic opening. you cant tie it down like you can with laced boots. its a preference thing. theyre easy on, easy off but sometimes debris can get in them depending on your pants/work youre doing.
>lasts forever
>glued soles
Paid content detected.
They are molded onto the leather which is just as strong bond with the added benefit of being 100% waterproof.
We know what DMS is, you can't replace them when they wear through.
used to use blunstones but they turned to shit now. Switched to redbacks and are pretty happy with them. They won't "last forever", the elsastic will go loose eventually but you can wear them everyday for a couple of years, they certainly pay for themselves.
These are the best shoes god ever created, ive had a pair for 7 years and only just swapped to a new pair but could have kept the old pair going if wanted, its not glued i think they dip them in rubber, plus i never have to lie laces
I was a machinist mate in the Navy which means I worked on/operated pumps and turbines in the engine room of the ship. I bought a pair of redwings shortly after boot camp. I couldn't tell you the model number or anything (they were really expensive tho), but they've lasted me years. They're still the boots I wear whenever boots are called for.
Unironically ignore the advice of anyone who claim boots last longer than a year btw
They never wear theirs
The thing that doesn't make any sense, is so far I'm seeing complete opposite reviews for stuff. Some people say that they wear it all the time and it lasted 5 years, and other people say they barely lasted 6 months before falling apart.
My guess is that they didn't wear it for work? Got a fantastic pair of danners last year that is lopsided because of how much wear I put into them from working 8 hours a day in em
P.S. these are the boots
Depends on what the work environment is, and whether the people wearing them are fat fricks who drag their shoes around like morons.
friend of mine in the day drove a log truck and burned through a pair of danners a year, they don't seem to impressive
Depends on the boot but have a strategy and buy replacement boots in advance (for the same reasons most of us don't buy asswipe by the sheet) once you find what works for you.
A good way to try expensive boots is buy used off Ebay since so many people sell boots that don't fit them. Having multiple boots permits easy drying and opportunistic maintenance, for example waterproofing and conditioning.
Find your US military boot size and your selection improves. I don't need boots to last forever, I need boots that last a year and when they go longer that's a bonus (welding destroys footwear).
they last years if you aren't a land whale, or abuse them on purpose
Redwing 2406 (6") or 2408 (8")
These
Based the #1 answer.
Spend 70$ on the ultra hard fitted pads, then spend another 150$ on 10 pair of socks.
I've saved more than I spent on my boots in 3 years at the podiatrist from digging out ingrowns, planters warts, and not to mention my feet don't hurt.
i have a pair of iron rangers and they are the worst boots i have ever had.
they suck in the cold, they don't breath in the heat, they suck up water just walking through grass. i condition the same way i do my corcorans and they still suck.
i've worn steel toe and unlined combat boots forever and my feet are miserably cold in the winter in the iron rangers even with thick or doubled up socks.
would not buy again, would not recommend.
i think the only reason people tell others to buy them is to justify the cost to themselves.
But those are not Iron Rangers, they are workboots, Iron ranger's are not work boots they are hipster boots.
>they are hipster boots
i found that out the hard way, i was only throwing in my opinion to help prevent some poor anon making the same mistake i did
iron rangers are excellent footwear when resoled.
t. wore one pair for years doing all season glazing and garage doors, and shop work.
10/10 boot.
cant speak for anything right now, it took months until my whites felt symmetrical....
anything with goretex sucks donkey dong unless you like coping with swampfoot
the way things are going, the leather won't even last until the boots need a resole
I had a pair for about 8 years then gave them to a friend who still has them
i'm this anon
update on my iron rangers, i've had them less than 2 years and the sole is already separating from the welt. i got better wear out of a pair of steel toe boots i got from sears for 50 bucks
Not my work boots, but I've had my Iron rangers for 10 years this month and they are completely fine. Probably thousands of miles on them. Need new soles because the heel is so worn down, but no actual problems. Red Wing socks I got with them also lasted a ridiculously long time.
those are the only boots I've ever had where the inside of the heel wore out before the insole
Just picked up another pair of pic related today. Redwing Pecos 1159 priced $190. Old ones are exactly 3 years old and probably would have gone 3 years more if I had them resoled. Never cleaned or maintained them. I prefer pull-ons because tend to eventually let water in, especially if you’re doing a service call at 3:00 on a February morning in MA.
The only problem I’ve had with them was the factory insole, which was easy enough to fix. They took a long time to break in as well, but that’s quality.
Wear them 7 days a week, for work and yardwork. Trade is sprinklerfitting
>3 years old
>look 20
bruh what's your boot care routine
Don’t have one. I get a stipend from my company for stuff like this so I don’t see the point. They’ll be covered in drywall dust, pipe dope, and sprinkler water at the end of the day anyways
dunno about you but i like my things to last.
more free boots from the company just means more boots to rotate and keep the others in good shape that much longer imho
can you suggest a good alternative to redwing all natural boot conditioner? it's getting hard to get near me and since they've changed the formula i find it doesn't seem to work as well now
Can't comment on Redwing's conditioner.
been using generic dubbin grease, switched to Obenauf's recently and it's pretty decent. will darken your boots though.
darkening them is fine.
the old formula of redwing's conditioner was pine tar, mink oil, and bee's wax, it smelled wonderful and water proofed as it conditioned.
i don't like hubbard's as i've found it leaches out and leaves weird white residue behind
I bought a pair of 2408 back in December and they already wore the sole out. The rubber they put on it completely fell off. I was going to say screw Redwings but I called their hotline and they said they’d fix for free. They’re comfy boots just kinda upset they wore out that fast.
frick redwings, this happened within a year of doing electrical work on concrete and ladders. never spending $400 on outsourced chinkshit ever again. refused to repair under warranty too
What the frick are you doing to your boots
it's clear his faithful dog was bringing them to him, and they fell apart in his mouth
doing a dainty hop and a skip with every stride apparently
i was shining them or polishing whatever it is called.
why is the entire back of the boot scuffed to shit?
do you put your feet up on a table veneered with sandpaper all day?
Wtf.
I have 9 year old boots that don't look that bad
The soles fell apart on mine
I bought a pair at a Goodwill in Denver CO. All leather upper and well insulated.
I'd recommend them but they're mine. You'll have to kill me for them.
Size 13.
What brand are they?
No joke I got a brand new pair of doc martins boots from a thrift store in northglenn for 25 bucks
Carolina 10/10
Rocky 7/10
Redwing 5/10
Georgia 3/10
Carhart/Cat/Ariat 1/10.
I do 60-70 hours per week, 3/4 on my feet, no boot lasted me more than 3 months except for Carolina. They were also the most comfortable with their insert.
Adding to this, just do yourself a favor and save $200 for Carolinas. Maybe even splurge and spend $300, but I've never spent more than $200 for my pair. I actually signed up to their email sale notifications like a boomer, bought a second set and a set of their shoes with aluminum caps. Those shoes ended up saving my toes one day. I don't recommend aluminum, but their shoes have them and they're nice.
The AMPs look good to me. I don't think I'll get steel toe since they'd be for working in my house and landscaping. Is it worth it to get the USA version?
https://www.carolinashoe.com/CA5575
Are these decent Carolinas? They look decent and they have the aluminum toe. I don't need steel toe but aluminum might be nice for safety
Thanks for the advice, I'll have to think about those Carolinas.
For me I have to be on my feet like almost all the time, I only have a half hour each work day where I can normally sit down, which is my break.
Also, what's the story with how it saved your toes? I'm curious.
Long story short we had essentially a crate dolly that we welded together out of piping on wheels so we can maneuver 21 foot bundles of steel piping (couple thousand pounds) the person who placed it at the weld line didn't lock the wheels and it rolled down slope to my area, toes stopped it from running me over/breaking my leg.
My friend could've potentially lost his whole foot if he wasn't wearing steel toes, heavy shit ain't no joke. It's pretty weird how our bodies seem pretty resilient, but under the right circumstances just make stuff shatter like it's nothing.
Oh yeah I forgot to ask, but what ever happened to the person who didn't lock the wheels? Was he fired and had to pay damages and stuff?
He ended up getting fired for an unrelated event. He was a new hire and had a history of work accidents. Missing fingers from a landscape accident ect. One day he dropped a pipe over his shoulder and it busted all of the lights above the weld line while a different welder was working and popped hot on a drug test.
Was this a gentleman of colour?
It doesn't matter what color he was, a bad employee is still a bad employee.
Answer the question.
I can't, I'm not him.
he isn't wrong though, a bad employee is a bad employee.
i've worked with bad employees of all shades. naggardry knows no color
Can you really not tell?
Why do you love Black folk so much, are you a Rabbi by any chance?
>One day he dropped a pipe over his shoulder and it busted all of the lights above the weld line
How does that even happen?
It was a long pipe, probably like 20 foot, let the back end buck up onto hanging ceiling lights.
>Georgia 3/10
Really? I got a pair for work (outdoors/woods) and they've been ok.
Whites are some of the most comfy boots around, and last damn near forever.
yeah but theyre also stratospherically expensive
OP has a job, he can afford to take out a few loans against his house for some boots.
Don't forget about the emptying the savings accounts too, in addition to emptying retirement accounts and taking loans as well. 🙂
Woah woah now...
It's just a pair of Whites, he isn't getting something like 5 Guys.
anyone with a job, even a shitty job, can afford them
Can confirm got my first pair in 2017
>2017
Aw, they are like babies still.
What boots have a wide toe box and no rise? (No heel, sole is the same thickness everywhere). Essentially a 'barefoot/minimalist' style boot. Been wearing minimalist' footwear now for 6 years (things like Lems, Xero, Merrell Trail Gloves, etc) and my feet have never felt better. I've essentially been wearing those to work while having actual work boots on site just in case I need to put them on for the inspector. Most normal boots I've tried so far have all been uncomfortable to straight painful.
Viva barefoot tracker
Ariat Turbo are cheap and really comfortable, Keen are pretty durable and medium priced and good for wide feet, Danner are durable and get comfortable with use but are expensive.
I got me some Thorogoods with some Timberland insoles for work and that was a killer combo. Love those boots, they are so comfy.
Anybody else got opinions on these boots? Looking to buy a pair for auto tech work
Nick's Handmade boots
>Nigs
any recommendation for a steel toe that i comfy like these generic army boots?
Ive been working in them for the past three months and no one has called me out on them not being steel toe... yet.
until i ended up around a safety inspector who is a veteran.
I was given a pair of doc martins once and wore them all the way through. they were nice.
if OP is still here, Doc Martin's make some great quality boots to stand all day.
>made in china
This isnt the 90s, Docs are shit now
Yeah, I'm still here. Just don't have much to say, mostly just taking in info.
Man, it takes too much mental effort to be such an active participant in a thread. 🙁
They make steel inserts, anon.
doc martins are actually quality and not just a meme shoe?
Nope, total meme shoe and not quality and especially not a work boot, just casual.
Bates. Best pair of boots I've ever bought.
Carolina work boots. I bought a pair in 2002. Put new soles on them twice. Get some mink oil and they'll last pretty much forever.
TIMBERLAND PROS
Surprisingly comfy and last a long time.
>pic related.
Yeah this.
I'm actually on my feet 6 hours a day 5 days a week and that's the average
If you have wide feet timberland pros 100%. Get some inserts too
I agree completely. have these badboys for 3 years now and still going strong.
pic related i mean.
Get 2 boots that you alternate daily to let them air out completely before putting your feet in them.
Or just change your socks
i just wear my solovairs for everything and polish them regularly
I use Keens man, you can get them gently used/new on Ebay for 100$ish. Current pair is almost two years old.
I have some Georgia boots with a wedge sole they lasted about 8 months now I'm ready for something nicer been eyeing Redwings and Thorogoods. I did buy some Dickies steel toe socks they're really comfy.
>I'm standing or walking around all day, and the corners of my big toes have gone numb from it
I get that too, the only solution I have found is a massage technique and theory under the name reflexology. It takes like half an hour a day, but it seems to work.
I guess I'll have to look into that.
I forgot to ask, but what's your routine like to deal with this kind of thing specifically?
Please tell me what you do specifically for your reflexology treatment. I'm not good with searching stuff and I don't know if I would be able to find a solution myself again. You're already here, so please tell me what you do to remedy it on yourself, so I can try and replicate it.
sorry I left you hanging buddy. The short and skinny of it is that it's just a foot massage theory developed over hundreds of years by bug people. I'll take some pictures out of my book for you tomorrow.
I'm glad you're back, I was gonna post another thing soon in case you missed it before. I'm not very good with looking things up, so I'm not sure if I would ever end up finding a treatment for the specifics of this thing again.
Thanks for coming back man, I appreciate it. Also what was the name of that book you're referring to?
Also, what did you mean by "bug people"?
this is the book I have. I couldn't find it on libgen.is unfortunately.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/303447143902
>bug people
I mean that it's chinese medicine.
Thanks for telling me book.
It's Press Point Therapy by G. Bendix, in case anyone else was wondering and didn't feel like clicking links.
I couldn't find it on z-lib.org either, unfortunately. I'm looking forward to seeing those pages you mentioned from your book though. Sounds like I'll still have to give the rest of the book a read sometime, sounds pretty interesting.
You still there? I was hoping to see those pictures from your book.
1/2
2/2
That should get you started.
Thanks for the pics.
What specifically was working for you to reduce toe numbness though?
Also in image 1, the last two images are a repeat of the same page.
My bad, no consecutive pages are missing.
To be clear, sometimes stimulating circulation in the foot is enough to take away the numbness, but there are more treatments listed in this book that deal with further complications.
I'll have to try it sometime and see if it'll help with the numbness in my toes. I almost wonder if this thing is connected with me getting headaches occasionally, although I'm pretty sure that is related to me getting a sore neck, because the headache coincides with it.
>my big toes have gone numb
You have diabetes or pre diabetes and/or the start of mitochondrial disease you fat disgusting, israelite trusting, Black person worshipping, high fructose corn syrup chugging, fried food PUFA gorging, cuck porn fapping, vidya playing, morbidly obese, estrogen maxing, angry b***hboi autismo. Stop being poor and fat you fat disgusting moron. Stop eating mass carbs, ready made homosexual meals and fast food israelite poison. Jesus Christ dude, you’re killing your fat zogbot self
I'm actually underweight. One thing that annoys me is when I hear people saying that I'm in "great shape" when they see me, no I'm not. It doesn't happen often, except for when I'm acting hesitant for too much physical activity. I don't want to break myself or die.
I don't know what's wrong with my health, but there's gotta be something going on here. I probably need more tests at the doctor, but I can never remember to schedule an appointment. They never found anything amiss so far, which is only more confusing to me. My diet isn't very good, and I can't figure out how to fix it, or if that's even what needs fixing. Like I physically cannot come up with a solution that I can implement into my life, and I don't know if that's a mental disorder or what. Something is not right here, and I can't figure out how to go about trying to fix it. Everything is always curtailed by forgetfulness and a lack of motivation. I don't know what's going on, but something is not normal here, it can't be.
Maybe go see a podiatrist. Sounds like you have nerve damage from squeezing your foot into a boot with a narrow toe box is my guess. Ive tried all kinds of boots, redwings, danner, wolverine, but the best Ive found are the moc toe maxwear wedge soles by thorogood. sadly they're over $250 thesedays but they're worth it to me.
>the corners of my big toes have gone numb from it, I think.
I don't want to scare you but if get checked for Multiple Sclerosis. Just a quick MRI. That is precisely how it started for me (I also noticed that the ground felt warmer under the balls of my feet than the heels because fricked nerve signalling)
I don't think it's MS, but it never hurts to check. I might as well.
>(I also noticed that the ground felt warmer under the balls of my feet than the heels because fricked nerve signalling)
I haven't gotten anything like that.
Bludstone cause having to lace up your boots is for gays.
>corners of my big toes have gone numb
It's not your brand of boots, but that you're wearing them too small. Go up a full size, and remember that shoe salesman are insane and will *always* sell you shoes that are too small.
I don't think my boots are too small. I got some room in there, enough to move my toes around.
I had the same issue. It’s not diabeetus
Just shitty boots
Invest as much as you can afford into a pair, preferably something like nicks or whites
Check out Rose Anvil youtuber for advice, he recommends boots for every budget.
Buy a pair of approach shoes instead.
rock roosters. available on amazon. Very comfy. affordable. try em for a week if you dont like em return em'
Love my docs. Even if they went full chink, I've gotten 4 years out of my current pair.
Going to grab my 3rd pair in 6 years soon, I can't go past these tbh.
I really liked these and they were super comfortable out of the box but the zippers failed on me, and i couldnt zip/unzip them, ended up ripping the zip right off my left boot
Never had an issue with them other than the pull loop on the heel ripping off the seams on the last pair. They do wear out inside faster than most good boots apparently but eh for the price you can't complain.
Since you know they fit you best to buy spares rather than waiting then hoping you can still get the quality you want. They don't go bad in storage.
Nah man boots don't last long in storage, at least some brands don't, either the rubber or the glue disintegrates. A lot of jobsites here give you a decent-ish pair of boots every 6-9 months which led to a bunch of people just wearing one pair for years and saving the rest up to sell online, only for the buyer to have the soles or sides fall off.
Vibram really rules the sole market, don't they?
They make the best soles barre none
How do you know that? And what makes it so special?
>How do you know that?
came to me in a dream
>And what makes it so special?
i am the chosen one
Vibram is a company that makes rubber soles, they are pretty much the Leica of shoe rubber. They are known to be very grippy and very durable.
The ones with a vibrant sole were $30 more than the standard boondocks but they also have a huge rubber heel cup, they also weigh a frick ton. The left heel is giving me a blister right now I can feel it.
*vibram, sorry on mobile
Are those true stitching or just for the looks?
can anyone give me some pointers on increasing the grip i can get from the soles of my boots?
i posted about the iron rangers, the vibram soles don't grip for shit on a lot of surfaces. for instance, i used to have a wood top on my deck an am replacing it with trex and i get worse traction on the dry trex than the dry wood, i expect it's going to be worse when it starts raining again, probably on par with the wet mossy wood
This, I'm interested in hearing about this too if anyone has any info.
If the grip can't be increased though, then I suppose resoling them is the only other option.
Resoling or hobnails but hobnails destroy floors.
I'm going to be working in precast concrete.
should I go with hard leather or nuback.
Anybody tried Uvex boots? Looking to get a pair. Reviews say they're comfy enough for long hours. Everything else I've tried so far just disintegrates inside out after a few months, new insoles last a few weeks tops
i have the uvex shoes not the boots. the ones with the rubber puller instead of the shoelaces, there comfy to wear for the shift.
the insole whoever developed a hole on my left big toe after around 1 1/2 years.
Update on these, I just got them and they're ok I guess. Better than what I had before, but still not quite satisfied. Feel like half a size too big. Had them 2 days and they're squeaky as frick too lmao.
My search for perfection continues
what are OP picrel boots? look maybe like Filson uplanders?
anyway, can'g go wrong with usa-made heritage line red wings, be it iron ranger, 875, 877, 1908 - excellent leather and workmanship
I found cabelas Redhead 8" Ultra Warrior tactical boots to be the best for the money- somewhere around 100.00/pair.
The most important thing you can do is, when you find a pair that works, immediately go back and get another pair or two. Rotate wearing them from day to day and the two pairs will last way more than twice as long. They also won't stink. If you really like them, buy even more because the bastards discontinue or change styles all the time.
Tried a pair of those pieces of shit, tissue paper is more water resistant.
I waterproofed every issued boot by slathering them with whatever goop was handy then hitting them lightly with a heat gun. The heat gun is an ancient shine boy trick that also works on shoe polish.
doc martens
I just used really thicc winter socks to break my boots in, cause it was the winter time. Didn't give me blisters at first cause of the socks, but if I wore other socks they were a little uncomfortable. Now, I can wear any socks though.
TL;DR: thicc winter socks are comfy for your feet.
Good socks are vital. Tube socks a shit.
tube socks are nice because when one side wears through, you can just put the holes on top and they are like new socks
Blundstone
Frick laces.
Depends on what kinda criteria you need for the boots.
I rotate out 3 pairs of boots for work
Irish setter (red wing) logger boots with steel toes for when I'm out on sites during initial site development and need to climb around downed trees, on equipment etc. The ones I have are also waterproof
Dan Post square toe westerns for once site development is done and we're into going vertical, also my dressier boots for management meetings since they clean up nicely
And a $40 pair of rubber muck boots for when everything is fricking soaked and a muddy shitpile cause Florida
And a pair of Sperry boat shoes in the truck for going to and from work without getting shit all in the cab
As others have said, most important thing with a pair of boots is proper fit, room for your toes, proper ankle support (one of the most important if on your feet all day), and the insole as well as properly breaking them in.
Old trick that works for full leather western boots is soaking them in warm water overnight, and wearing them until they dry. Wouldn't recommend doing this on a day at work, and bring multiple spare pairs of socks and change them throughout the day with a few minutes of your feet drying out between sock changes. This will help get the boots to loosen up and fit to your foot better and quicker. Once the boots fully dry rub them down with saddle soap and a brush.
Best thing a man can spend his money on in life is a good mattress to sleep on and a quality pair of boots that fit right
Once you pick a pair of boots OP spend some money on good socks like others have said.
Check REI or other high end camping/hiking/outdoor stores for good socks in the hiking section. I'm a fan of smartwool boot socks.
keen san jose
Autism boots?
yes
Great
Bluderstone is my favorite, but I get Olivers for free. Olivers are not bad
I have two pairs of steel-toed Keens that I use. I switch between each pair every day and wash and wax them about once a month. Very comfortable to wear while on my feet all day and have lasted two years so far.
I used to get Duluth Trading mock toe boots but they stopped making 8" ones so now I get Thorogoods.
If it ain't White's it ain't right
Everyone's feet are different and you will need to try a few different brands to see what works for you. I love my Ariats, but I have coworkers that absolutely hate them. I feel the same way about Red Wings.
That being said, proper fitment is absolutely key. They should feel very snug when you first get them, and it will probably take you about a month of dealing with them being pretty uncomfortable to break them in if you don't do anything to accelerate the process. There are ways to break them in faster, but I've always found that just wearing them will give you the best results in the long run. Yeah it sucks when you're breaking in a new pair, but they will mold to your feet better.
This is why you don't buy cheap boots as they will fall apart shortly after you get them broken in and then you gotta start the whole process over. Good boots should last at least a year in moderately harsh confusing at a minimum.
>search far and wide to find boots that worked well for me
>ended up with redwings in 2012, $180
>insole is destroyed and repaired, outer soles are worn, uppers have started to rips at the seams so resoling isnt really worth it.
>go look, see redwing replaced the model with a new model, its now $260 and a bit of a compromise from what I had
>closer equivalent (which is still a compromise in one regard) MSRP is $360
I cant do it my guys
I tried on a bunch of boots on at different stores, I bought some Wolverines online despite how bad they look.
I hope they fit like the other wolverines did in the store, I guess we will see.
Your boots lasted ten years? I'd say they're worth 260$ now if so.
^This. That cost per year is trivial. Retail price is not the only measure of value.
i like these. bought my current pair about 2 years ago, theyve held up fine. factory insoles are garbage but i just slap in some new dr scholls inserts every 8 months or so.
depends entirely on environment. Also, you can buy little bandaid like things specifically for that issue. I myself have a couple different pairs of boots. Rubber boots, hiking boots, and combat style boots. they're all designed for different things, generally.
They don't come in steel toe but they've held up well for me. I do flooring so I usually go to a cobbler and have them put a leather patch on the toe portion because it gets dragged around so much. I didn't do that for these and they're still going strong after a year.
Honestly best boots I've ever owned. Doubt I'll ever buy a different brand for work.
Original pair still comfy AF and going strong three years in and I'm a fat toe grinding electrician (climb ladders all fricking day) and soles and tread are still hanging on.
They also make THE BEST inserts I've ever used.
Cannot recommend enough.
Good to know I need to replace some Georgia boots that have holes in the toes from 6 months of flooring. Some guys say steel toes dig into their toes when doing flooring but I've never tried any.
I've seen a lot of guys wear Wellingtons and have heard good things about the style of boot, so I ordered these yesterday. I also had positive experience with Wolverine.
Canada West boots, proudly made in Canada. I bought this pair for the protective patches of leather at the sides. One drawback is they only make 3E width boots. I'm a 2E guy. Had to shim the back and sides with diy cork shims.
Oh my god this looks so based, and I'm not even a Canadian. I want them now.
>see thread
>press F3
>one mention of Merrell
>mention is minimalist shit tier unsuited for work
OP, I've been working in Merrell boots for the last eight years, have gone through three pair in that time -- walk ~10mi daily in a warehouse, have dropped heavy shit on feet, composite toes are awesome.
What Merrell do you wear?
vertex mid vent with composite toes, had a pair of MOAB 2 but they died after five years of hard use.
Put about 300hrs on these so far pretty good boots, but the regular boondocks are more comfy.
Satan wants you
looking through this thread so many ""boots"" that have like 50mm of heel on them. When will they learn.
Never get Hawx. I bought a pair a couple months ago and they're already falling apart
They exist for people who are routinely out in the brush and the woods, you know.... like loggers.
Only morons would wear them in shops or on a typical construction site.
Comfy
nig's is the way
I use Sole brand insoles, they are made from cork and form to your feet. Somewhat pricy, but worth it imo. My favorite boots are industry specific, but I recommend them constantly. They have two steel shanks in the sole. Hoffmann 10" Powerlines. I have worn them for ~7000 hours of work over more than two years and they are still going strong after an $80 resole.
I have these custom Wescos, and they are inferior, had problems with the stitching after only a few weeks of climbing, they are less comfortable and more expensive. I forgot to mention socks, they are very important. I wear tall wool socks every day, I have 10 pair of the same sock. Even in 100+ weather they are great. Cotton socks are garbage for work.
what brand of socks, anon?
BRAND???! oh shit.... WOOL FRICKING SOCKS YOU butthole...WOOL the brand is WOOL (a.k.a WOOLEN) for fricks sake if this is where we are, we are lost and in trouble...
knit me some socks butthole
i just wondered if the anon had a brand he recommended or preferred, i don't tend to see wool socks for sale near me, and getting something simple like cotton gold toe socks is hit or miss what a the places near me are going to carry. i don't like the last pack of cotton socks i bought, they have some weird stretchy shit in the fabric that slides around in my boots.
no need to be a c**t about it
Not him but darn tough socks.
thanks anon, will give them a look
I don't spend my day looking at telephone poles, but I didn't realize that not all of them had those metal things on the sides to use as a ladder.
At first I was wondering why there was so many divets in the wood this high up, then I realized that's what you're using to climb, and that there's nothing to hang on to aside from your harness.
I often climb without the bucksqueeze attached, and only attach the harness when I get where I'm going. It is easy to grab the back of the pole with your hands and climb, feels fluid. Pole steps are for gays, and telecom guys.
They are Kirkland brand wool hiking socks, which when I looked, they don't carry anymore. They only have dress ones with spandex in them. I can feel the panic setting in, what will I wear in a few years, its been too long I can't change.
Excuse me, we (telecom guys) use ladders, not steps, sir.
So if the pole is an inaccessible hiker, you carry a ladder all the way to it? I can't imagine they're putting telecom gays on helicopters.
You need gaffs, the things strapped to your legs. You want tree gaffs, they are longer than the ones I wear to pierce the bark. While not required, climbing boots will make your feet FAR more comfortable. Then you need a climbing belt, also, to be OSHA compliant, two lanyards to maintain 100% attachment. Finally, a handline, some rigging and you're good to go. But Anon, working aloft with chainsaws and heavy loads can be dangerous. I hope you are familiar with chainsaws and basic rigging on the ground before you attempt it in the air.
I have taken a ladder up pretty shitty hills and on hikes yes.
I mean, I have had to climb two or three times a year but it's definitely ladder preferred.
And as a splicer I might spend like a week or two at one pole. Even if i couldn't get a ladder to it, I'd get a baker board or strand platform.
thanks anon
i'm going to be cutting primarily alder, so the bark is fairly thin and i'm cutting at home so osha isn't a concern.
i've managed to not kill myself running a chainsaw on the ground, i have had some severe close calls though.
rigging will be new to me and cutting off the ground. gotta start learning somewhere
>they don't carry anymore
well shit.
qrd on climbing gear? i have a bunch of trees i need to learn to take down from the top
Of course, there is always the option of sharpening some rebar, duct taping it to your legs, tying a rope around your waist and getting to work. All that climbing gear is fairly expensive.
if i could afford a heliwienersucker i would.
i could probably swing building a blimp though
Hey OP, I have the same feet issues, numbness in both big toes. I have collapsed arches and tendonitis. During the collapsing phase arches hurt pretty badly, was wearing vans and working 10+ hour food service shifts. Later teaching my toes started going numb but arches didn't hurt anymore. I had custom arch supports made, they were ok, I found them helpful to an a extent. I got some brooks shoes, solved everything. I know your looking for boots but, look for wide, since your feet are flatter that should give the toes some room. You don't have diabetes or ms, unless you have other symptoms that go with it. Epsom soaks for rough days. Stretch your feet after work with your hands, esp your big toe knuckles MTP joint.
OP here.
I am a little flat footed too, my arches don't really hurt but occasionally they'll feel like I'm overstretching the tendons on the bottom of one of my feet, but it's not very often. I kinda figured that my toe numbness was due to how I was standing because of my flat footedness, like maybe I'm putting too much pressure on my toes from trying to keep the arches up. Whatever I'm doing, it's not a conscious effort.
Also, I got plenty of room in my boots for my toes. It wasn't really until this thread that I realized there are people that try to cram their feet into shoes that barely fit them. I don't know why, but by that standard I'm probably a size "too big" with all my shoes, but it's just right for me.
XtraTuf deck boots are great if you're doing anything around water.
Just dropped 600 on a pair of nicks loggers. Dunno on a build date but my dick is hard already.
I’ve had good luck with the premium built in America red wings but my cobbler always gives me shit when I ask him to put new vibrams on.
My favourite work boots are Terra because they have wide toes. I used to have a problem with work boots squishing my toes all the time until I found those and now I’ll never go back. You can look into getting insoles for your boots as well. Most large retailers carry them and some even have a machine to recommend the right ones for yiu
I bought a pair of Thorogoods less than a year ago and they’re already falling apart. One of the riveted eyelets around the middle of the tongue popped off and the middle of the tread on the sole of one of the boots is flapping off.
I don’t know what to buy next. I just want a simple steel/composite toe leather boot with EH rated soles that wont fall apart in 9 months.
White's, Nick's, Wesco, JK Boots.
As long as you maintain them with conditioner and clean them when they are dirty they won't prematurely wear.
The majority are dogshit
>Merrel moab style ONLY ok in desert, the strips of the design rot out
>Timberland Pros delaminate a the heel but last long otherwise
>Wolverines have gone downhill since they discontinued the Hex, must be it lasted too long
>current CAT's have not rotted out so far but are not actually waterproof
>Reebok Rapid Response and my Lowas seem to be the only things reliably waterproof
>most boots rot out at the bend near where the laces end or the heel
What about Redwing/Irish Setter?
What's good for snow? It's gonna be a rough winter.
>It's gonna be a rough winter.
Where at?
Canada
What province?
Ontario
How do you know if it's gonna be a rough winter though? I haven't been watching the weather channels so I don't know.
I'm not sure what part of Ontario you live in, but I live in Chicago so I wonder if it's gonna bleed over to here as well.
I'll give you the answer you don't want to hear:
Go to an army surplus store and buy some standard issue boots. Lace them tight and wear them in the shower. Then wear them around for a few hours wet..
They will likely cause blisters at first. Pop the blisters so they form calluses. Once they break in they'll be the best boots you ever wear.
Or buy some Lowas if you want luxury.
I wear jungle boots for work since I don't need a steel toe (motorcycle mechanic)
The best boots tbh, I wear originals made in '66 but get the new ones made by mcrae. They take a month or so to break in, wear thick wool socks while they're breaking in otherwise it'll be hell on your feet.
My boot rotation
looks like crocs with extra steps
Industrial rubber boots are good, some have additional resistance to chemical liquids
nicks , only problem is they cost $600 and take forever to break in but they are worth it hopefully. Still trying to break in mine for the past 6 months.
It only takes 100 hours to break them in.
>Hipster Whites.
Dude.
This thread is old and no one mentioned Redwing loggers they are op I have steel toe worked in them everyday for almost 4 years now and the soles are worn they have character but you gotta realize you'll pay 100 for boots per year on average no matter the pair. Get a good pair and don't need to buy them every one or two years.
Post your work boots boys
I've been a NEET for over a year now though because I refused to get the vax and don't want to participate in society anymore
Best pair of work boots I've owned have been from a brand called Irish Setter. Forgot the name of the model I got, if anyone cares I'll dig em out.
All thick leather pretty much, aside from the sole and bottom obviously.
Not iron-toed but tough as hell anyway. Basically 0 sign of wear so far, I just clean em up and re-wax the leather and their as good as new.
Toe box is wide enough to not constrict my feet at all, and this is a huge priority for me. I won't wear shoes with any constriction on my toes. Mightve ordered them a half size up, idk, but it worked because of that.
I am not a power user like you guys, so I can't give an accurate account for theyd hold up being worn 9 hours at a saw mill or whatever.
But I'm glad I'll basically always have a good pair of work boots for whenever I'll need them for basically the next couple decades.
Best budget work boots are Jim Greens Razor back.
Best mid tier work boots are Thorogood American Heritage Moc toe.
Best high end work boots are Nick’s builder pro/ Wesco Job master/ White’s skid boot or roughneck.
They are all basically built the same.
Georgia Boots
Redwings
Danner
I've worked so long my feet are really tough. I have no problems wearing $70 shitty's it's awesome
The problem with boots that cheap is they wear down and have to be thrown out every 4-6 months.
Get proper width. Have your feet actually measured and get as wide as you can.
Most people’s feet problems start here and in the toe box.
Ive had good luck with Danners as long as they are USA made. They udually run a little wide for their width anyways and then I get extra extra wide.
So fricking comfy.
The sole is more important than the insole. An insole cannot make up for this. You actually want a more flexible sole, not some hard as frick rigid shit.
Do you guys think you could use cork rubber gasket material for an insole? Or would that not wear in correctly/stink really fast?
Just got some Thorogood American Heritage 6" Moc Toe and wore them for 15 hours yesterday. They're a little tight on my right big toe and I have a tiny bit of heel slip but not enough to cause blisters or anything and I think they'll break in a bit.
If you can afford them I love my Danner Super Rainforests. Put a nice supportive set of insoles in them and they will be comfy and last a long time.
Did anyone else notice the big marketing surge for Jim green boots in the past month or two. They got me and I bought rangers hopefully to be delivered tomorrow. Look like great no nonsense shoes
Been wearing these for a week and they are pretty good so far. If you have b***h feet get new insoles. The sizing on these are true to size but you might need thicker socks to really lock them up on your feet.
I second this. Darn tough socks are excellent buy a couple pairs of different types to figure out what you like and then buy 7 of those and you have socks every day for the rest of your life with warranty.
What boots are these in the pic?
How do you know if you need steel toe or composite toe boots? I'm just using these for around the house. Car wrenching, woodworking, framing, digging, electrical, pouring concrete, landscaping, etc. It sounds like steel toe aren't worth it for me because they're colder in the winter and they're heavier and harder to walk in, and the most Portland thing to me is that they be comfortable for walking and standing.
Composite toe is strictly better. They just cost more.
I'm not a tradie, I'm an office cuck. I just want comfy boots for my woodshop and working in my house. They will probably get 10 hours of use a week, and a lot of that will be walking
if you are working a trade on jobsites the GC might have some picky ass rule about which one they specifically want but composite is usually best, plus you can just lie.
Just oiled my boots with lanolin oil hope I didn't fricked up they feel nice a supple and are a bit darker now
try getting boots that actually fit you
and realize that putting a body to work for the firt time is going to engender some aches and pains that don't make much sense, but will go away in a month or so...
now,
in this day and age, if you can't find a boot store, there is more wrong with you than just lookin for easy answers on the chans
get your ass out there and act like you give a shit
thurogood is the best, and cheaper than most. i dont know no one mentioned them yet. although, their fit is kind of shit if you have wide feet. i dont normally wear wide, but they were too narrow for me, and the wides are too big in the heel.
>i dont know no one mentioned them yet.
They've been mentioned seven times not counting your post.
what's the lower bound on good boots pricewise
I'm on my second pair of these in 6 years, they're great
Chippewa Steel Toe Super loggers. $400 a pair but worth every penny. You're welcome
How is the sizing? Money is tight so I hunt new boots that the first owner failed to return (works great for motorcycle jackets too thanks to boomers who don't wear them).
Smith & Wesson Breach 2. I had the original breach and they lasted about 6 years with heavy use. Just bought the Breach 2 about 5 months ago and they're amazing, they barely had a break in period and have helped my knee pain considerably. I'm walking between 25,000 and 30,000 steps a day during my 8hr work shift (very physically demanding and back breaking work) and my feet don't hurt when I get home. Also stay away from Bates they fricking suck