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What to do if my steel toe boots hurt my toes?

One of our customers had a question,

“The space between my toes and the steel toe is about 1.5cm. When used for about 6 hours straight, my toes begin to feel pain especially the 3rd and 4th digit. What should I do?”

We have a lot of customers with this question so we thought we would share Bob’s answer with you:

It sounds as if the side of the safety toe is rubbing the side of your toes. Remember, safety toe comfort comes in length, not width; you have to get the shoe long enough to accommodate the back and forth toe movement in the shoes. The proper fit occurs when the widest point of your foot (The Ball) is located exactly in the widest part of the shoe. When that happens the arch of your foot fits precisely with the arch of the shoe, giving you maximum support from the shoe.

So what is happening? Your arch has probably dropped some extending the toes of the shoes forward. Take your hand and put it on a table with the fingers going forward and the thumb back. That is the shape of your arch, Now move the fingers forward and you get the action of your arch and toes as you take a step. The arch of the foot drops as weight is placed on it, and the toes slide forward into the shoe. This back and forth motion of your toes is why you need to fit your shoes (not just safety shoes) using your arch measurement.

The arch measurement can be obtained with a Brannock Foot Measuring Device you should find in most good shoe stores. Without that measurement, you can get a pretty good idea how your arch is fitting in your current shoes by feeling for the ball of your foot while wearing your shoes. Rub the side of your foot and feel where the “ball” (bone) of the foot is located in your shoe. Turn the shoe over with the sole facing you, and you can see where the widest point of the sole is. That is where the “ball” of your foot should be. If it is slightly forward of that precise point, it is too far forward and you need a longer shoe.

Suggestion: Try to get your foot measured in a shoe store before you buy your next pair of safety shoes to see if your arch has dropped a little extending the toes further into your shoes to the point where they are rubbing the safety toe.

Over time, as you get older, weaker, weigh more, and your arch drops, your foot will get longer. It happens to everyone!

Now, your foot really hasn’t gotten any bigger, it’s just changed shape. The arch drops and the toes and arch extend further in the shoe. That means you need a longer shoe, may be a US 7.5 (8 is probably too big). Now unfortunately, when you go to a longer shoe, it is going to feel “bigger”. You should be getting a narrower shoe as you go up in shoe size to conform to your foot just getting longer, not bigger, but that isn’t possible because shoes today are made mostly in mediums and wides. That may require you to buy an insole for your shoes to “take up” the extra room. You can buy a thin flat insole that you can put under the shoe’s insole or a ¾ insole unit you put on top of the insole, or a high quality, full, replacement insole (thicker than the original insole) to replace the original. You are trying to make the insole slightly thicker to take up some of the additional room in the ½ size larger shoe. Try them on with the shoes you want to buy to see what works for you.

Also, you can look for and get a wider safety toe shoe. Safety toes come in lots of different sizes and shapes, and some come in a very wide shape, known as “oblique”. Regardless, you should try to find one with a larger toe box. When you turn the shoe over and look at the sole you get a better picture of the shape of the safety toe. If the toe or shoe fits tight, you just have to get a longer shoe.

One more tip: These bigger brands typically have their shoes made by several different manufacturers. Different styles within the same brand will fit differently because of this fact. Again, you just have to try the shoes on and test the location of the “ball” of your foot in the shoe to make sure you are getting the right fit.

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Are Diabetic Work Shoes Made?

We had a client ask if we had a Diabetic Safety Shoe. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a diabetic safety shoe.  What we (the customer and our sales person) have to do is find the most comfortable shoe for these customers.  It’s critical to get the correct fit.

We need to know who the diabetics are, so when they come to our shoemobile we’ll know to take extra care with these customers to make sure they get a very good fitting and comfortable shoe.  (The customers’ toes have to have plenty of room!)  And we’d like to know what kind of shoe they want, like 6 inch waterproof, lightweight athletic, etc., so we can be prepared with the right inventory for these customers.

Wider toe boxes and lighter weight shoes are what is typically needed for diabetics!  We all (the diabetic customers  and the sales person) need to be careful  to get the customer in a comfortable good fitting shoe, but there really is not a certified diabetic safety shoe.

IMPORTANT:  The first day the customer wears their new shoes for work, they should wear their old shoes to work and then change into their new shoes at work!  That way if there is ANY discomfort, the new shoes can be swapped for the old ones and the customer can continue working without discomfort and without creating a problem with their feet.

The client came back and asked about composite toe shoes for the diabetic customers.

As for the suggestion of using Composite Toe Safety Shoes for Diabetics, that is certainly a good suggestion.  Composite toe safety shoes have 2 advantages:  one is they are lighter, which is always a big benefit for diabetics, and secondly, they have a larger toe box, which gives the toes more room.  Toe room is the critical thing for diabetics; and because composite safety toes have to be bigger than steel to provide the same protection, that fact makes them a natural for diabetics.  (The reason they have to be bigger (more toe room) is composite materials are not as strong as steel; thus to make the composite toe provide the same protection as steel, the composite toe has to be thicker than the steel toe and the shape of the toe has to be more bulbous.)

There are some steel toe boots that have wider toe boxes, too, like the styles that have a more “oblique style” to them, as you would see in the old earth shoes (non-safety) or in KEEN Utility Safety Shoe styles.

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What is ASTM F2413?

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) 2413 sets the minimum standards and testing procedures for safety footwear.  

The identification of the ASTM 2413 standard is:

  • LINE 1 – ASTM F2413-11 (The F2413 identifies the ASTM Standard and the “11” signifies the year of the standard)
  • LINE 2 – F (Female) or M (Male) and I/75 (Impact safety-toe protection)  and C/75 (Compression safety-toe protection) 
  • LINE 3 – Used to reference additional protective features and they should appear in the order that they appear in the standard, i.e. Mt, Cd, EH, SD, PR.

 

ASTM 2413

Every year, thousands of work place injuries occur that could have been prevented with the right gear. Safety work boots are tested according to ASTM 2413 standards for impact and compression safety-toe resistance, metatarsal protection, conductivity resistance, electrical shock resistance, static dissipative properties, and puncture resistance.  Below is a guide to help understand what exactly ASTM is and how safety footwear is tested. 

Impact ( I ) and Compression ( C ) Resistance

A safety test is performed by dropping a 50 pound weight from a predetermined height (1.5 feet) at a designated speed.  The I/75 C/75  rated footwear will protect the wearer’s toes from an impact of up to 75 foot-pounds and compressive loads up to 2,500 pounds.

The clearances under the safety toe after the test is performed are as follows:

  • Men-0.500 Inch (12.7mm)
  • Women-0.468 Inch (11.9mm)

*The standard doesn’t cover the use of ‘aftermarket add-on’ protective toe devices*

Metatarsal – MT

Metatarsal protection is designed to prevent or reduce injuries when the toe and metatarsal areas of the foot are exposed to hazards.  The metatarsal test is performed by dropping a 50 pound weighted bar 1.5 feet onto the metatarsal guard.  (75 foot-pounds of impact energy.)  The impact energy is the same as for the safety- toe impact.  The clearance is measured by inserting a wax foot-form into the shoe to accurately measure the deflection of the metatarsal guard on the interior of the shoe.

The clearances under the metatarsal guard after the metatarsal impact are as follows:

  • Men- 1 Inch (25.4mm)
  • Women-0.937 Inch (24mm)

*The standard doesn’t cover the use of ‘after market add-on’ guards*

 

 Conductive Footwear- CD

Conductive footwear is designed to discharge static electricity from a person’s body through their shoes to the ground.  This type of footwear is designed to minimize static electricity and take the “charge” out of your body so static discharge sparks do not occur.

The electrical resistance of conductive protective footwear should range between 0 and 500,000 ohms.  (One-half Mega Ohm)

 

Electrical Shock Resistant Protection- EH

EH protective footwear is designed to reduce the hazards due to accidental contact with live electrical circuits and is only meant to be used as a secondary protection for electrical hazard environments. 

The outer surface of the sole and heel shouldn’t be penetrated by any electrically conductive component, like nails in the heel.

EH shock resistant footwear must be capable of withstanding the application of 18,000 volts at 60 Hz for 1 minute with no current flow or leakage in excess of 1.0 milliampere.

 

Static Dissipating Footwear-SD

SD protective footwear is designed to reduce the buildup of excess static electricity by conducting body static charge to ground, while maintaining a sufficient high level of resistance that protects the wearer from electrical hazards due to live electrical circuits.

The electrical resistance must be greater than 1,000,000 ohms (1 Mega Ohms) and not exceed 100,000,000 ohms (100 Mega Ohms).

 

Sole Puncture Resistant Footwear – PR

Puncture resistant footwear includes a sole puncture resistant device (usually below the insole) which reduces the possibility of puncture wounds to the bottom of the feet.

PR footwear should withstand a minimum nail penetration force of 270 pounds. 

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Why You Should Wear Metatarsal Work Boots

Metatarsal Work BootsWhy are metatarsal work boots so important? Because the metatarsal bones of the foot are very vulnerable to injury because the front of the foot sticks out beyond the body line, inviting a rolling or falling object to collide with this unprotected part of the body.  This picture of the metatarsal bones in the foot demonstrates how exposed to injury this part of the foot is.  

Just rub the top (or metatarsal area) of your own foot with your hand, and you can feel the unprotected metatarsal bones right next to the surface of the skin.  In fact using the diagram below you can almost feel and identify each of the metatarsal bones in your foot.  Notice how close the bones are to the skin and note that there is virtually no flesh, muscle, or fat, protecting the bones in this part of your body.  

This is why wearing safety-toe shoes with metatarsal guards, or Metatarsal Work Boots, to work is so important.

So why not just wear the safety-toe to protect your feet?  Take a look at the two side-by-side diagrams below.  

Why wear metatarsal work boots

As the left diagram shows, the safety-toe, by itself, only protects the big toe and two to three toes; still leaving the rest of the foot from the toes all the way back to the ankle area highly susceptible to injury. That’s 15 to 20 very vulnerable bones plus all the attached joints, ligaments, nerves, and muscles, which can be 80 to 90% protected with metatarsal boots. (Reference the right diagram.) Each foot and ankle contain 26 bones, 33 joints, and 107 ligaments, 19 muscles, plus tendons and nerves, and together both feet contain 25% of all the bones in your body.

Most all of us have dropped a small object, like a bar of soap or bottle of shampoo, on our foot, and know how much that can hurt, and now you see why. Without metatarsal protection, a small impact to the foot can be painful because there is very little flesh and muscle to protect those metatarsal bones, and it doesn’t take much more of an impact to cause a disabling injury because all those bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerves, are exposed and unprotected!

With this obvious need in a work boot or shoe, how do you choose which Metatarsal Boot is best for you?

There are three general types of metatarsal guards – external metatarsal guards and internal metatarsal guards, plus a new External/Internal Super Met-Guard. All have to meet the same ASTM F2413-11 Metatarsal Safety Shoe Standard, using the specific impact test for metatarsal guards ASTM F2412-11. A 50-pound weight in the shape of a 1 inch diameter bar is dropped eighteen inches onto the metatarsal area of the shoe, resulting in a 75 foot-pound impact to the metatarsal guard. A full 1-inch clearance must be maintained under the metatarsal impact area on the inside of the shoe. The results are clearly seen and measured from a soft wax foot-form, which was placed within the shoe before the test and removed afterward to measure the deflection of the guard during impact

So what is the difference between the two types of guards?

Originally, Metatarsal Boots were only made with External Guards, that are made of impact resistant plastic and sit on the outside of the shoe covering the lace (or metatarsal area) and extending down to and resting on the safety toe. Some External Guards are encased in a leather pocket for both looks and added protection from sparks and heat, while others have just the exposed plastic guard.

In the past, External Guards were not very popular with employees because they were stiff, heavy, uncomfortable, and the External Guards often caught on floor stock and material causing trips and falls; but they certainly offered a lot of added protection corporations wanted for their employees. Eventually, the complaints about External Guards causing trips and falls and their unsightly appearance lead to the development of the Internal Guards. One positive for the External Guard is that although both Internal and External Metatarsal Guards meet the same ASTM Standard, the External Guard does seem to test a little better than the Internal Guard.

Footrest Metatarsal Guard

Thus, some corporations continue to require the External Guard for their employees, believing it is somewhat safer. Repeating though, both the External and Internal Guards have to pass the same ASTM F2413-11 Standard and both use the same Metatarsal Guard testing method described in ASTM F2412-11.

Newer versions of the External Guard Metatarsal Boot have gotten better, lighter, more flexible and more comfortable. The use of hinge-style Metatarsal Guards have made the guards a little more flexible than the original stiff, rigid guards, and lighter-weight Polyurethane soles, as well as the use of direct-attach construction and better cement construction techniques have dramatically improved the resilience and elasticity of soles and mid-soles of the External Metatarsal Boots. These improvements have made External Metatarsal Boots much more comfortable today.

The Internal Metatarsal Guard is often the more preferred Guard because External Metatarsal Boots are less attractive, with the large guard attached to the front of the boot.  In the past, Internal Guards had their share of comfort issues too, mainly because of the stiff guard placed under the lacing system and extending and resting on the safety toe. These stiff guards were difficult to flex and also uncomfortable, but in recent years, Internal Guards also have been revolutionized with incredible new, technically-advanced, impact-resistant materials that are thinner, much more flexible, and way more comfortable.

Internal Metatarsal Guard

Today, there are still a lot of plastic Internal Guards, but the exciting, new, Internal Guard is made of PORON XRD® by Rogers Corporation, a microcellular, urethane, open cell, breathable material, that is amazingly effective in dissipating the energy of high speed impacts.   Despite being light-weight and very thin, Poron XRD® can effectively dissipate up to 90% of the energy of a high energy impact.  This new material is revolutionizing the Metatarsal Boot business because now just about any kind of boot or shoe can be made into a Metatarsal Guard, without effecting the look or comfort of the boot or shoe.  This is an amazing development!

Consequently, now, the new Poron XRD® Internal Metatarsal Guard can be used in basically any style shoe from Cowboy Boots to Athletic Style Metatarsal Shoes.

External Guards are typically limited to 6″-8″ Metatarsal Boots and a few Wellingtons.

Now, a new, special third type of Metatarsal Guard is being introduced by HYTEST, a division of Wolverine Boots and Shoes, which developed this revolutionary, new guard in answer to a Client’s challenge to build a stronger, safer Metatarsal Boot—one that would test significantly better than the typical Metatarsal Boot. Thus, HYTEST created the “Super-Guard X”, which incorporates a new triple-guard design, featuring a new, two-piece, External Metatarsal Guard that covers much more of the foot than previous guards, and the Poron XRD® Internal Guard. Together, this very impressive design, is testing 50% better than the typical Metatarsal Boot. Instead of testing with a 1-inch clearance, it’s getting an amazing 1.5 inch clearance.

Clearly Metatarsal Boots are very necessary in many environments.  When shopping for your Metatarsal Boot, it is important to remember that certain industries and companies have specific requirements, regarding which guard they prefer; however, advanced technology has made and is making all 3 options (Internal, External, and the new Internal/External Super Met-Guard Metatarsal Boots) much safer, much lighter, more comfortable, in addition to being available in a myriad of styles that are better looking and more affordable. 

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18 of the Best Work Boot Brands

Listed here are the Best SAFETY and Work Boot Brands on the market.  All of these brands are good and worthy of mention, but this breakdown will most likely help you select the work boot that best fits your needs. What the industry calls a “Brown Boot Company” is not without reason, as the nickname implies a product that meets a very basic, universal need for a lasting, durable work boot.  

HYTEST

HYTEST is the oldest safety shoe maker and is still the leader in innovative safety shoe technology offering many styles for both men and women.

One of their most notable breakthroughs is their invisible and well-constructed XRD Metatarsal Guard, which is 50% safer than other metatarsal guards offered by other companies.

They offer the 6″ and 8″ work boot and Wellingtons to name a few. Their very high quality sub-brand, “FootRests” is the only brand of safety shoe to receive the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association–The Podiatrists) certification for a comfortable safety shoe. “FootRests” makes very comfortable men and women’s work shoes, boots, wellingtons, and metatarsal guard shoes. 

WOLVERINE

Wolverine is a very popular, legendary brand, offering not only many styles of soft-toe work boots, but also a lot of safety shoes, as well. They are indeed a classic, American “Brown Boot Company”, that has used modern, direct-attach construction and contemporary styling to enhance the Consumers’ work boot experience.

Their best brand, “DURASHOCKS” uses “Direct-Attach Construction”, which contributes to its remarkable durability. Recent upgrades to the DuraShocks brand include their MultiShox and award-winning Contour Welt brands that are similarly constructed. The sole on these brands is attached to the upper while it is in a liquid state, so it cures and attaches to the upper without stitches; creating a highly durable work boot for many different environments. Because this construction is so resilient and allows for the use of many different bottom materials, including Polyurethane, Thermo Plastic Urethane (TPU) and Rubber, these boots are capable of withstanding many tough industrial environments, like high-heat, water and chemical, and oil-based industries. These brands come in all the work boot styles, soft-toe and safety-toe, including oxfords, 6” & 8” boots, hikers, Wellingtons, and metatarsal guards.

While Wolverine makes many casual styles, hikers, and Wellingtons, their claim-to-fame is truly their safety and soft-toe work boots.

TIMBERLAND PRO

Timberland Pro is a division of Timberland. Despite being relatively new to safety shoes and heavy duty work boots, it has retained Timberland’s loyal following by bringing their contemporary styling, beautiful leathers, and high quality, to the work boot industry.

Their most famous style is their 6″ Gold Nubuck leather boot. While that style is their most famous style, their most popular line of boots has been the TiTAN brand boots and shoes, which uses very nice work leathers and a dual-density Polyurethane-TPU (Thermo-Plastic Urethane) outsole to provide good looks and great performance for its loyal customers. 

Timberland Pro’s work boots not only look good, but they use superb technology, as well, offering work boots with features such as electrical hazard and static dissipating technology.

Timberland’s reputation for very popular, high-quality safety footwear clearly continues that tradition with its Timberland Pro line.

ROCKY

Rocky boots are well-known for its waterproof, hunting and outdoor boots, as well as their work boot line. They were one of the biggest users of Gore-Tex waterproofing membrane in their boots and this made them a very popular, American brand. In work boots and safety shoes, they are known for using high-quality leathers and soles in their boots and styling popular with outdoor consumers, including Wellingtons, logger boots, and insulated-waterproof boots and shoes.

One of their most popular lines is their Mobilite® line which features an oblique (extra wide) safety toe, waterproof membrane, high-quality, oil-tanned leather, and excellent slip-resistant outsole. And this style is available in a soft-toe, 6” style RO7114. 

Georgia Boot

Georgia Boot, which in recent years was purchased by Rocky, is another very popular, American work boot brand. The Georgia brand is very well-regarded, especially in the Southeastern United States, and they also use high-quality leathers and traditional styling to produce excellent work boots.

Georgia’s trademark is the distinct use of a “RAND” around the sole of their Georgia Giant brand shoe, which is made in both soft-toe and safety-toe basic work styles, including 6 and 8 inch boots and very popular Wellingtons. This shoe features a very light, polyurethane sole and high-quality, oil-tanned leather, which makes this style light-weight, while providing a very durable leather and slip-resistant outsole.

DR. MARTENS

Dr. Martens Industrial shoes are made in England and are popular with many millennials due to their distinctive look, which includes work-shoe styling, clear PVC sole, and yellow stitching. Dr. Martens are mostly used in lighter industrial environments.

Dr. Martens were made popular with their PVC “Hot Knife” construction process, that bonds the PVC sole to the boot. The unusual, clear, PVC sole is heavy, but it has many redeeming qualities that make it popular. The sole is very resilient and has a cushioning property, and even though it feels “soft” on the feet, it is actually very durable in most environments except heat. (PVC melts at very low temperatures, which makes it inappropriate for metal industries that have hot materials on the floor.) Additionally, though PVC is also a very slip-resistant compound, and that also makes it very popular in slippery environments. And because it is also durable in chemicals and oils, it does a good job in industrial environments despite its limitations in high-heat.

One more unique feature of Dr. Martens is that they have traditionally only been available in one width and whole sizes only (8, 9, 10, 11, etc. no half-sizes), which makes them more difficult to fit comfortably. Dr. Martens will continue to maintain its popularity with young workers because of its unique styling and be important in certain work environments and industries.

THOROGOOD

Thorogood is a brand produced by the Weinbrenner Shoe Company in Wisconsin. They also are traditional American work boot brand and also make a lot of boots for the uniform industry. Their boots feature excellent leathers, durable soles, and traditional work boot styling, and also have many safety specifications, like Electrical Hazard, Static Dissipating, and Metatarsal Guards. Their boots are regarded as some of best for tough industrial conditions, as they use a variety of constructions (welt, cement, and direct-attach) to build boots for specific environments and needs. Whatever they may lack in styling, they make up for in their high quality, durable boots for industrial and work environments.

WARSON GROUP

The Warson Group has licensed several brands to support multiple segments of the work shoe industry; offering everything from dressy-casual and beautiful, colorful athletic styles for men and women to heavy-duty work boots for the steel and aluminum industry. They make static dissipating, electrical hazard, and conductive work shoes and safety boots, as well as soft-toe, uniform shoes.

  • Florsheim Brand, known for dressy-casual styling, features some very handsome, dressy-casual style safety shoes, with excellent cushion insole materials. Additionally, they also have a line of outstanding heavy-duty safety work boots, with excellent leathers and durable soles. including a variety of dressy casuals and safety shoes. Both Static Dissipating and Electrical Hazard styles are available.
  • Rockport Works, also known for their men’s dress-casual safety shoe styling, features excellent styles of popular men’s and women’s boat shoes and other casuals. Additionally, its work shoes, hikers, and 6″ work boots are equally nicely styled and feature excellent outsoles, beautiful leathers, and comfortable insoles. They too, make their safety toe work shoes with Static Dissipating and Electrical Hazard specifications. Rockport Works also make a small line of soft-toe, slip-resistant work shoes for men and women.
  • Reebok, known for its athletic styling safety shoes, brings in the beautiful colors to athletic safety-toe and work shoe industry. Reebok has only been in the safety toe market for a few short years, but already they have made a positive impact on light-weight athletic styling for men and women. They provide outstanding competition for Skechers and Nautilus, especially for women’s styling, which has gotten much better since they entered the market. Reebok makes all varieties of athletic safety-toe and soft-toe, slip-resistant work shoes, including conductive, static dissipating, and electrical hazard.
  • Iron Age Brand is old brand purchased by Warson Group and now used to market their heavy duty work shoe styles. These work boots feature excellent leathers, and contemporary styling, durable outsoles, and comfortable insoles. They are made with Electrical Hazard and Static Dissipating features.

CATERPILLAR

Caterpillar work boots are produced and marketed by Wolverine, which licenses this brand from Caterpillar. Caterpillar is hugely popular in Europe and has a growing reputation in the America because of its great contemporary styling, which is popular with young people

Caterpillar offers both soft-toe and safety-toe work boots, and their work shoes feature very contemporary styling. They have two basic lines of shoes: casual-athletic-hiker styles which have colorful, attractive patterns, while featuring light-weight, durable, slip-resistant outsoles and work styles, which have heavy-duty, high quality leathers and outsoles, great contemporary styling, and comfortable insoles.

Because Caterpillar is synonymous with high quality, tough products, Caterpillar work shoes have taken that reputation and built some outstanding and comfortable work boots, both safety-toe and soft-toe, for men and women, that are very appealing to the younger generation.

NAUTILUS

Nautilus is known for its athletic shoes, but it has made a name for itself in the work shoe industry by morphing their athletic constructions and designs into a line of men’s and women’s athletic safety shoes and also soft-toe, slip-resistant shoe styles as well. Their focus and key products are their colorful and comfortable, men’s and women’s, athletic, safety shoes, which feature some styles with an extra-wide safety-toe, an extra wide width, and extra-large sizes.

They also own the AVENGER and Skidbuster brands, and together with Nautilus, they offer static dissipating, electrical hazard, waterproof, metatarsal, and slip-resistant work shoes.

SKECHERS

Skechers is very popular for their contemporary, men’s and women’s, athletic work shoe styling. They are responsible for bringing great-looking, colorful, lightweight, and comfortable work shoes to the safety shoe industries. Additionally, they have pioneered contemporary styling in slip-resistant work shoes, and more recently, the extremely comfortable “Memory Foam Insole” technology in their athletic work shoes and safety shoe lines. Recently, Skechers is trying to transform athletic styling and comfort technologies into heavier duty work shoes and work boots, including Wellington Boots.

While Skechers has been the leader in bringing great styling, comfort and slip-resistant features to the athletic work shoe industry, they have had a difficult time consistently delivering their products on-time, and they do not warranty their products against defects. Nevertheless, Skechers is very popular with consumers in many environments that want to wear beautiful athletic and comfortable shoes to work.

CAROLINA

Carolina Shoe Company specializing in high-quality, heavy duty work shoes, including specialty boots, like loggers and lineman boots and safety-toe and metatarsal guard safety shoes. Through the years, Carolina has made great boots with high quality leathers and soles, mostly for men, but in recent years, Carolina has produced some nice basic athletic and casual styles, featuring mostly safety-toe shoes for men and women. They have specialty shanks with reinforced steel specially created for standing on small poles for a long period of time.

JUSTIN BOOTS

Justin Boots have been known through the years for their western and Wellington style work boots, and they are considered one of the Best American Work Boot Brands because of their long history of providing high-quality leather work boots. In recent years, Justin has moved and improved their position in the safety toe market by offering a variety of western safety toes, including a new square toe design.

Ariat

Relatively new the work boot industry is Ariat, but they are a very traditional western and work boot manufacturer that uses high quality leathers and classic styling to make both work and safety boots.

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Steel Toe Wellington Boot Sizing

QUESTION:
I recently purchased a pair of WellingtonSteel toe boots from a boot truck. I am very happy with the quality and comfort of the boot, but the fit and slippage has made them not so comfortable. I got a size 7, and the boot was difficult to put on at first. I’ve had them about a week, and as the boot has loosened up, they now feel like they are a half size too big, and I can feel my foot slip as I walk. Is this normal?

ANSWER:
Sorry to say, but this is normal! Wellington boots have no laces and you almost have to get them too tight when they’re brand new to get them to fit! That’s because the longer you wear the boots, the more the leather on your instep area stretches from the moisture in the foot and pressure of the foot on the instep part of the boot. And of course, this makes the boots “loosen up” and become sloppy.

Another reason they seem too big is that Wellingtons are typically a sloppier fit (after you wear them awhile) than a lace up oxford, athletic, or work shoe style boot. The laces in these styles allow you to tighten them as they get looser, which unfortunately is not the case with a Wellington style boot. I usually recommend customers only wear Wellingtons to work if they are used to wearing Wellingtons to work because the sloppier fit is bothersome and can cause the legs and feet to work more and be uncomfortable.

While this “sloppy fit” is normal with Wellingtons, this doesn’t help you much, so let me suggest that you get another insole from an old pair of athletic shoes or just another pair of old shoes you have and slip it under (or over) the insole in your new boot. This will take up some room in the instep area of the boot and help tighten them up. You can also purchase an after-market insole.

Dr. Scholl’s is another popular brand that Walmart carries, but I have never been a big fan of the “gel” insoles. They are typically heavier and don’t provide as much “cush”, if you know what I mean! I hope this helps! Contact me again if you need more help. Thanks. Bob

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Dress Safety Shoes for Narrow Widths

A customer recently asked me this question about narrow width dress safety shoes:

I have a 10 year old pair of Florsheim Penny Loafer Steel Toe shoes in C width. I have searched the web and cannot find any dress slip on safety shoes in a B or C width. The D or medium widths are just too loose on my foot and not comfortable.

Does anyone make a C width dress steel toe shoe?

Answer:

No manufacturer that I have found does.. I’m also narrow-footed, and I have the same problem.

My solution is not a perfect one, but here it is.

I had to resort to getting the same length of safety shoe in Medium width, then inserting a purchased insole on top of the standard insole in the shoe. This is not perfect, but it’s the only way to get my shoes to fit reasonably comfortably. Make sure you DON’T BUY YOUR SAFETY SHOES A SIZE SHORTER because the steel toe gets too close to your toes and can result in blistered toes.

Sometimes the extra insole might be too thick and cause the shoe to fit too tight on the instep or around the toes. If that’s the case, I remove the original insole (most today are removable) and just use the thicker, added insole. I usually keep the original insole in case the shoe gets sloppy after wearing it a while. If that happens, I just add the original insole back into the shoe with the extra insole.

Thanks!

Bob