I disagree with those of you recomending cotton socks. We use socks with 65% polyester, 35% acrilic fiber. Woven into the socks is “thinsulate” insulating fibers. These socks wick moisture better than cotton and they don’t “mash” (the fibers flaten out) like cotton does. Also, Get boots that are insulated. Wether cold or heat, insulated boots can’t be beat.[2c]
I tend to use steel-toed boots that go at least two or three inches past my ankles. I had an incident years ago and I feel I can depend on these to keep it from happening again. For a brand, iI have tried many, and the only one that didnt last as long as the others was a pair of Wal-Mart bought Stanley steel-toes. So any brand is better so long as it is NOT those, I suppose.
CSX has the same boot requirements - at least 6 in high with oil-resistant sole, and a “defined” heel, for ladders. Steel toe is optional, but it seems like all of the ones we order have them anyway. We order safety gear thru the company, and most of their choices are from Georgia Boot.
I always make sure to get waterproof boots. I have 2 pairs - one run-of-the-mill pair for summer use, and the other pair is insulated for winter. I get foam insoles if needed, but many boots have these already, so you may not need to buy them separately.
Here’s a trick - if your boots get wet, stuff them with crumpled newspaper after you take them off. When you get up later, the boots will by bone-dry.
Yep, I’m well familiar with the newspaper trick: the job I’m leaving to join NS is the fire service, so I’m very familiar with wet boots, LOL.
I agree. I have found that WigWam hiking /outdoor Ultimax sox as a cure for sweaty feet.
Wool sox are are a better choice than cotton for foot comfort.
Actually, I was expecting someone to come up with the blend - I just couldn’t remember what it was. I think it depends a lot on the climate you work in, too. I’m going to take the middle road and suggest that folks try both and find out what works for them. Same goes for wool, although some people have issues with it. What isn’t appropriate is your favorite argyle socks. You need something with more bulk. Many moons ago, when I was in basic training, they had us wearing “dress” type socks under heavier (might have been wool) socks.
The best combination is a natural silk sock worn underneath a wool or cotton one (depending on temperature). The silk draws the moisture (sweat) from your feet and keeps them dry (most important, especially in the cold) while the wool / cotton stores the moisture and provides insulation.
That kind of sounds like what we did in the Reserves while wearing combat boots: wear a pair (don’t laugh) ladies’ calf or knee-high hose under a pair of wool/cotton blend boot socks. In addition to the reason you listed, I was told the hose acted as a sort of nylon “lubricant” to prevent blisters.
One thing my son is learning in the Army is that boots may be worn out before the uppers start looking bad. Keeping the uppers oiled/polished is great – but watch the arch support and the heel pad (inside) for signs of wear as well.
I tend to prefer steel toes because they have to be more rigerously inspected than the non-steel toe boots to meet standards.
dd
Around here people actually stay away from Red Wing. [:O] Why??? Because they say it takes forever to break them in. But on the other side of the coin, IF you can successfully break them in then they last a good while. Several people have bought them and got rid of them after about 3 months because they said they just could not break them in and they hurt their feet too much. I stareted with a pair of cheapos from Wal Mart. They were Brahma brand. I wore them about two months and they hurt my feat all the time. The outsole was hard and felt like walking on concrete with only socks. However, within the first month their was noticeable outsole wear. My second pair–Timberland Pro series. They were pretty comfortable and broke in quickly. Within only 3 months they developed a crack in the soles and now get wet inside because of the failed outsole. I still wear them when I know it is not going to rain as they still are the most comfortable pair I have. My third pair is a pair of Wolverines. They meet all the standard requirements (as did the other two pair) but are shock proof also. This pair is well broken in but hurt my feet. Since I do a lot of walking in ballast and sand (tripped PC will do that ya know) I have a heavy heel stike. It only took 2 months before extreme wear was noticed on the Wolverines.
Most any shoe I wear does not hold up while walking on ballast and sand. Someone mentioned oil resistant. This is also required in most mechanical railroad shops. The soles will hold up as far as oil is concerned but the blallast pretty much eats the soles.
Now, someone also mentioned socks. I wear thick socks and found that Thorlos work best for me. The basketball or tennis ones are pretty much the same except for the sole color (basketball is blue and tennis is gold). Thorlos will last a good while also, somethin
Has anyone tried firefighter / paramedic duty boots? I don’t mean the stiff bunker boots that are worn by firefighters at fires. I’m referring to the boots worn with a regular uniform while on duty. I’ve been an EMT / paramedic for 27 years and have tried just about every make and style of duty boot made.
Because we work in hazardous environments at fire scenes and car crashes, our boots have to comply with specific OSHA guidelines. And since paramedics tend to come in contact with nasty body fluids and hazardous materials, the footwear also has to be compliant with CDC guidelines.
I’ve found that Thorogood boots made by Weinbrenner USA ( http://www.weinbrennerusa.com ) are the best. I wear their #804-6191 Commando II boot. It’s 8" tall, weatherproof, electrically isolated, steel-toed, and is lace-up and side-zippered. It has a leather “shoe” with a tearproof 1200 denier Cordura nylon ankle area. A Gore-Tex vapor barrier keeps sweating to a minimum.
I’ve worn them while standing in 3 inches of water for 20 minutes without leakage. They’ve been caked with mud, drenched in transmission fluid, and covered with battery acid. I just wash them off with soap and water using a pressure washer and they’re as good as new. I’ve walked through broken plate glass and a pile of sharp tin can lids without any damage to the soles. The pair I currently wear is about two years old.
It’s also available in an all-leather version (#804-6091).
They cost between $75 and $100.
Mark
Mark,
I switching over from the fire/ems service to the railroad, and unfortunately the brand of boots that they issue us are not the best quality and fall apart quickly. Also, I was told by the chief clerk at my future terminal to stay away from ones with the cordura ankle area.
Well, just an update: got my Red Wing 964’s today via my friendly neighborhood UPS man, and I think I made a good selection based on the advice I received from all of you. Jhhtrains, I must respectfully disagree on the Red Wings/ breaking -in thing: these feel like they’re broken-in right out of the box…like buddah, LOL. I must say I have to tip my hat to the Red Wing dealer too: I special ordered them yesterday around 11 AM, he had to get them from a store in Gainesville, FL, and they were here today by 1 PM via UPS…that’s pretty darn quick!
myself…i buy a 20 dollor walmart boot with the steel toe… and put in the dr sholes gel insurts… i also put schoch gard water repellent on them to keep them water resisten to a point…but water is still going to find ways to seep in… in the winter time…to keep my feet dry and warm… i ware 2 pairs of socks…and seperat one pair from another with reguler old walmart bags…(just make sure they dont have any holes in them) and that has gotten me through 2 winters… and its cheep… now once if the complany gives you money for new boots evey year then you can spring for more expencive pairs…but with my personal experinces… the 20 buck walmart ones with walmart bags works fine for me… the expensive ones are going to ware out just as fast as the cheep ones if you work the yard and are unlucky enought to keep haveing to walk train after train after train becoues of problems…
csx egnineer
Penny wise and pound foolish comes to mind. Ya gets what ya pay for.Cheap shoes,insoles and plastic bags, I can feel my feet screaming for mercy.
Weird. I’m seriously thinking of doing the same. [8D]
Mark
I used to break in my boots with a pair of socks stuffed with cotten wast that had som “mink oil” in it just left the socks in the boost when they wernt in use… it worked ok with the work boots we need to wear on our restoration project.
Gunns
I do the plastic bag trick too…have a sleeve of bags used to wrap newspapers I get off the local newspaper boy…during the short cold weather we have, slip one over my socks, and it traps the body heat quite well.
Dosnt do a thing to keep any rain out, but as long as my feet are warm, I can deal with the rain.
the inexpensive way has served me well for the past 2 years that i have been a flowed back yard foreman beating the baslist night after night… my feet dont hurt anymore then someone that spent hundereds of bucks on an expensive pair of boots… your going to get the same milage out of them either way… the balist will destory boots in no time…
csx engineer
I guess we have a difference of opinion and experiences.[8D]