Anybody have a particular brand of shoes they swear by for spending long periods on your feet in the shop or on other concrete surfaces - like a factory? I've tried a number of different alternatives but still get tired/sore feet, legs, and back if I'm standing for extended periods.
The best pair I found for the money is through my uniform company, Cintas they run around $60.00 - $80.00 and I replace them at least once a year. I have tried many work boots/shoes over the years, these are by far my favorite.
I have been wearing "tread safe" I think made from Dr.Scolle's for years . at are sold at Wal Mart
The Soul ' s have a tread like a set of Micky Thompson's
they are sticky on just about every surface even with some oil on them.
I tried just about every variety but went to this style "the Captain" because
1 no laces
2 the sand does not get in as easy cause no tongue & laces
3 simple design less stitches to pull out & fail I have had them 3+ years now .
I have almost as much wear on the sides as on the bottoms from rolling on the creeper
4 they are oil resistant
The 1 thing that SUCKS with these is if the sand is wet it is damn near impossible to get it out of the treads :smash: ain:
I like Red Wings. I'm usually on my feet, on concrete, 10-16 hours a day in the summer months doing my USDA job as an inspector. Dr Scholls memory inserts help out a lot also. I'm also going to look into those shoes Rod uses. :thumbup: Dan
I have some from Georgia boot that are similar to what Rob has and they work well..In any case try them on and if they do not result in "Ahhh that fits and feels fine" put em back and try something else..
Whoa, great responses here. I thought my question might sorta get laughed off. I guess a good pair of shoes might be a worthwhile "tool" just like good eye protection and safety gear. I'm going to check out some of the recommendations when I'm in town tomorrow.
I had the same problem for years, no matter what shoes I wore. Redwing, Dr Scholls, Rockports, nothing worked. I finally broke down and saw a podiatrist. Turned out I needed arch support insoles. No more hurting feet, legs and back now. And insurance covered the office visit!
Wolverine dura shock are supposed to be great for concrete. I have a pair, but have never broken them in yet. I personally like Mason shoes. Like Red wings, they are a bit pricy, but I have never been anything but happy. I've had a half dozen pair and would buy again. As far as I know, they are still made in U.S.A. http://www.bamason.com/default.asp
I had the same problem for years, no matter what shoes I wore. Redwing, Dr Scholls, Rockports, nothing worked. I finally broke down and saw a podiatrist. Turned out I needed arch support insoles. No more hurting feet, legs and back now. And insurance covered the office visit!
My USAF supplied Magnum combat boots are just great!
Seriously, they are comfortable and definitely designed for people on their feet all the time. Maybe I'm just used to them after several years of having to wear them though. The best thing you can do is get rubber mats to put in front of equipment you have to stand over a lot, and most of all take time to sit occasionally! Nothing beats a good shop stool, from tall ones at the bench to the short rollers when working low. Taking the load off for five minutes out of every hour or two helps more than any shoe.
I don't know if you are looking for Steel toes or not, but when it comes to a steel toe I never could find one that did not hurt my big toes or kill my feet. I've tried extra wides, the next size up, etc. A buddy had a pair of Florshiems on and he said they never hurt his feet ot toes. So when the truck came around, I thought what the hell and would give them a try. I am now on my second pair. I stand 12 hours or longer on concrete and my feet or legs never get tired and best of all, they are comfortable and the steel toe does not bother me at all. About $100/pair, but well worth it if they do not bother you. I know I am sold on them and would recommend them to anybody.
Steel toe not required. What I'm really after is the correct support so my back, legs, and feet are not beat after 4-5 hours working on a concrete floor.
I started "small" by getting some of the Dr. Scholls memory inserts yesterday and will be putting them to the test today. I also looked at the Tread Safe shoes Rob suggested...but I have a very high instep and I couldn't even get that particular style (elastic band over the top) on my feet. The Wally Mart also had some Dr. Scholls that might be a possibility but wanted to check out Some Redwings and now the Florshiems you had luck with.
Just thought, I should have titled this thread "Happy Feet".
I currently wear Timberland "Pro" boots. And have been for a couple of years. On my last job I stayed on the run all day, no problem. At the end of the day I had to stand still working at a computer for about an hour. My feet hurt like heck every day from this. Even though I was standing on a "fatigue" mat and had extra inserts in my boots.
I changed jobs recently. From mostly outdoors I went to all day indoors working on a bare concrete floor. I was worried to deat if my feet could take it. After a couple of weeks I've found my feet hardly hurt at all anymore. The real difference is that I stay on the move all day. Same old boots.
When I buy new boots I take the old ones to work with me for a week or so. Just in case the new ones give trouble. That way I won't have to suffer the entire day.
When we were issued boots in the service we were told to alternate each day. That was the best advice ( other than " keep your head down" ) we ever got,
When you find a good pair, then buy another pair and alternate every other day or so.
I wear some junk from Wally World, but I alternate every couple of days.
With all my medical problems, it's time for me to step up and invest in something better.
Here's another vote for Redwings, just bought my 4th pair today. In that time they have went from $65 to $139 for the same thing (1986 to present) I worked for 9 yrs in a factory on my feet 8 hrs/day besides wore them everywhere else I went & they lasted at least 4 yrs usually more. The pair I have on now I have had since 1995 and have wore the sole down to less than half the thickness but the leather part is still good so I bought a new pair today & am going to have these resoled & use for working on cars, etc. They are pricey but actually work out to be less expensive than cheap boots when you figure how long you'll have them.
For the steel toes
Red Wing, and also the Sears DieHard.
Also--think about getting them a bit oversize----so yer tootsies can breath.
I have very short, wide feet----with a way high instep
Finding ANY shoe to fit my silly feet is nearly impossible-----8-1/2 EEE is still not fat enough, but is long enough---I end up with 9-1/2 EEE or or 10.
Also just getting dress shoes is a nightmare----as I travel frequently, lace up shoes are not an option for me (Airport security and strip searches----I am not going to be the one holding up the line). High instep makes these shoes nearly impossible to find.
Tennie runners-----hell, by the time I get one wide enough to go over my foot, those are way too long, and I start tripping over my own hoof coverings.
Texas steer from Kmart. I have a 4 year old pair that I still wear the most. They get soaked with water everyday I wear them at my job. I am more than happy with my 40 dollar investment. Newer ones obviously(I have noticed) have lesser quality, as none of my alternates have lasted like my first pair.
I am debating trying the simpson pit shoes or crew shoes I forget what they call em.
Red wings for my work boots. Like Bryan I have an odd size foot 12.5 B width. one of the best things i did was learn that I do need the narrow size,feet are more comfortable and boots last alot longer.
I have tried about everything and in the mud and rocks around the mines NOTHING beats Redwings for comfort and durability! That is the reason nearly eveyone there wears them and would have nothing else. As we always said "The only thing better than a new pair of Redwings is an OLD pair of Redwings"
No really. I have some supremely old texas steer boots. All the new ones split at outer side of arch on the sole. I have been sized up for red wings in the past. But the price always scares me away. And yes I know I have bought 4 pairs of steers that range from 30-40 a pair. Do the math I have spent over one pair of red wings.
As we speak I have the oldest pair. I use them almost every day still. Still comfortable. I wish I would have bought two pairs at the same time.
Don't make me take a picture, I will..If you really want to see em. Really run down but don't leak and are well broken in.
I was thinking the same thing when I read his comment. When I worked the grunt end of construction I bought a pair ONCE, I wore them two days and threw them away.
As posted by members, feet come in all sizes and shapes, when you find one that works for you, stick with it.
I know people that could sleep on cardboard, I have a $900 mattress that kills me.
I have a pair of Georgia Boots as my daily shoe of choice (steel toe--right around $80 with insoles IIRC) that I've had for nearly a year. So far, they've lasted pretty well for 8 to 10 on concrete and another 5 to 8 on other surfaces. I don't wear them that much on weekends, but I'll buy another pair in a heartbeat. I had a pair of Sears Roebucks once that lasted about a year and a half, but they must have been a fluke. Next pair got tossed about 3 months later.
In a while, Chet.
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