What is the best footwear for work?

[Engineer]

I've just had to buy a new set of boots for work (Rockport MWEKA) as I've worn them in the past and they are comfortable and hard wearing. BUT they don't have steel toecaps.

I wondered what others could recommend? I can have to cope with everything from building/demolition sites, Industrial sites (including metalworking) and yet they have to be comfortable as sometimes I can have long walks to do in them. For mud and ice, they should have a good grip as well.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Legion303]

I have a pair of 5.11 boots and they're very comfortable. They don't have steel toes but some sort of composite.

-steve

[tacedeous]

steel toes for locksmithing! OMG I thought I was done with those... lol

engineer : sounds like you do a lot more than just locksmith, especially judging by your posts, I guess I didn't see demo in your daily routine ... we all know what happens when you assume... any who, I used to use something like these: http://www.charlesandhudson.com/archives/2007/11/carbon-fiber-safety-toe-work-boots-wont-weight-you-down.htm beside the claims in that article the also "shatter" instead of "caving" in and "cutting" your toes off, or such as urban legand says heres one for mythbusters...

I used to work concrete/demo, steel toe where a must, but the carbon is way better IME...

... completely unrelated... whats up with your bumping rakes, I really dig the idea but cant really find any info... sorry if i'm hi-jackin

[Engineer]

Hi tacedeous

Urm... Best to describe my career path (Hah! - That's a joke..) as "varied" at best. I've lived in areas with over 96% unemployment, so you get no choices, you do what you have to earn a living. A list of the things I've done over the years would be a thread in itself probably...

Yeah, demo work was interesting - Never did get to drive a crane with wrecking ball though! I always tried to learn as much as I could at everything I've done. Locksmithing is the thing I've loved though, ever since I collected keys and locks as a kid.

Those carbon fibre workboots are really interesting. I must admit I've never heard of them before, but I'm going to research them. They could well be the ideal sort of boot I was looking for - Thank you for that idea!

Ah... the bumpin' picks. Well, it was an idea of my own, so you probably wouldn't find anything about them. I got some cut out, but was disappointed with the results. The problem with them was that you couldn't pull them out of the lock as fast as you bump a key into the lock. That meant you couldn't give the pins as big a "jump" as with a bump key and so the success rate was low. They make reasonable rakes though, but inhabit that weird world where you cannot be sure whether they are just raking, or whether there is actually a bit of bumping going on in there as well.

[prag]

Engineer wrote

I've lived in areas with over 96% unemployment, so you get no choices, you do what you have to earn a living.

Wow, that's hectic -imagine 96% unemployment. Where are you from E?

With odds like that you have to accept what ever gets thrown at you.


As far as boot for the locksmithing trade ( now see this is where my shoe and locksmithing business comes in handy ) I use something similar to these
http://workingperson.com/brands/1/Hi-Tec+Boots.html or http://workingperson.com/products/22_359_33/1/5593/Caterpillar_Boots:_Mens_Steel_Toe_EH_Work_Boots_89021.html.

The Cats are more expensive but a good wear and can be resoled ( put on a new sole).

Hope this helps

[Engineer]

Hi Steve,

Again I've never heard of these before, but these boots again look like the sort of thing I was looking for. I've found a stockist of 5.11 Tactical gear and have emailed them for more details, specifically if the model I like, has the composite toes or, or if not, which models do?

Thanks for the excelent help!

[Engineer]

Hi Prag!

I'm from NW England. When I lived in Liverpool & Manchester in the early 80s, both areas were all heavy industry. Then Britain changed over from a manufacturing economy to a service economy. All the big maunfacturing companies around them closed down it seemed. Week after week a big manufacturing company would close, putting another 10,000 people or so out of work each time. I think it was 7 streets at one time, before there was a person who still had a job. Those places are completley different now and relatively prosperous. It sure was interesting, but they were very hard times.

Shoe and Locksmithing business? Over here it's usually shoe REPAIR and locksmithing, but you have a good combination there and one that is especially lucky for me! The first link, for the Hi-Tec boots are all EXACTLY the style I like. I've bookmarked that page as well as soon as I've a bit more money saved for boots again (having just bought the Rockport ones), I think I'm going to have to try all these three suggestions, as each one has been absolutely spot-on!

Thank you as well for your help!

[Wreckmaster]

I doubt this thread is too dead. I am not personally a trained or practicing lockie. But, I have worked in the towing recovery and road service fields. I am currently driving a truck over the road. Like others, I do what I can to pay the bills.

I personally will never wear another boot other than Red Wing brand, http://www.redwingshoes.com/ I do wear a steel toed boot, and from life experience, I doubt I will switch to regular shoes. The ones I wear are about an 8" boot, insulated, water resistant, long wearing, and re-sole-able (sp?) The soles are sewn on, not glued. They are more expensive than other shoes. But, as much time as I spend on my feet, I need to have good shoes. These are by far the longest wearing, best fitting, most comfortable boots I have ever had on my feet.

[Engineer]

Thanks for that too Wreckmaster - I cannot believe how many outstanding replies this thread has got.

Again, you too have got it just right for the sort of boots I like. I find glued soles do peel away after a while, so I always try to get stitched ones. Glued soles are usually comming off after as little as three months with me.

I will bookmark this site as well, I will definately be spoilt for choice when it comes to getting a new pair again. Funny how so many of us seem top like the same type of footware, different brands, but we all seem to know quality when we see it.

Thank you for letting me know as well, I appreciate it.

[sir locksalot]

im a bit late on this but i reckon you cant beat hi-tec magnums, i used them in the army and i use them now, they last ages too, i think i paid about £60 from an army surplus store

[TheSkyer]

You don't want steel noses in your shoes (don't you watch mythbusters?). If something really heavy drops on you foot the steel tough will trap or even cut of your toes, not safe at all.

If you really insist I can recogment Undercover boots, it's a type of security boot with steel toes, very comfy and hard to wear down (worked on mine full time for more than 2 years and they are still brand new).

On another note I think you can't beat army style combat boots. They are inexpensive, have hardened (not steel) noses and can handle just about anything you can trow at them. They are a bit stiff in the beginning but after a week or 2 they fit like a (foot) glove I am really fond of mine, won't leave my house without them!

Hope this helps

[mattman]

The best work boots that I have ever had were Red Wing boots. They were exactly like these:

http://www.redwingshoes.com/productdeta ... rodid=1156

They were AWESOME!!!

- Matt

[adrenalynn]

Would you rather have your toes broken or amputated, Skyer?

I like Shoes For Crews. Patented guaranteed no-slip is huge when you're working in areas that are high slip-and-fall potential. Very comfortable since they're intended for working on your feet all day. And they offer a pretty darned cute women's mid-rise steel toe (ANSI) boot.

[TheSkyer]

Would you rather have your toes broken or amputated, Skyer?

I like Shoes For Crews. Patented guaranteed no-slip is huge when you're working in areas that are high slip-and-fall potential. Very comfortable since they're intended for working on your feet all day. And they offer a pretty darned cute women's mid-rise steel toe (ANSI) boot.

No I would not, that's why my boots have hardened noses, not steel. They work the same but after an impact they will flex back, not trapping or cutting into your toes Another plus is that they are allot lighter, I have steel and hardened once and the hardened beats steel by far.

[adrenalynn]

What's the ANSI rating on them?