Here’s Where You Can Buy Work Boots (8 Online & Local Stores That Sell Work Boots)

Adam here with BestForMyFeet.com bringing you the top five places in the US to buy work boots online and in-store.

If you’re like me you’ve probably searched online for stores that sell work boots either online or locally.

If you’ve ever googled work boots you’ve no doubt been inundated with the number of websites and stores near you that have work boots. We’ve gone ahead and spent countless hours scouring the internet and stores for you so you don’t have too. 

Hopefully after reading this article you’ll find yourself on the right path to making your work boot search easy.

We’ll have a look at what type of boots these stores have, what brands they sell, the type of work boots they have in stock, return policies, the pros of cons of buying work boots online vs in-store, and other good stuff. 

I hope this is going to be helpful. Let’s get into it!

Who’s working on this page

Adam Rich
Author & Researcher

Victor Adrian
Researcher & Editor

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Local stores that have work boots

Below I’ve listed some local stores where you can find comfortable boots for your work. You might recognize most of them since the majority of local stores included here are actually big companies.

1. Work boots at Walmart

Of course, I had to start with this giant. Walmart is everywhere nowadays and there’s a big chance you might find one store close to you.

Now I know some of you just rolled your eyes when you read that and are thinking: “Oh great this guy is just naming big box stores”.

That is actually not the case here so please continue reading and I’ll tell you why Walmart made number five on my list.

Most of us know that Walmart doesn’t exactly carry top of line boots and that’s why it’s on the list. They have affordability as their strength. And let’s be honest, where else can you find a pair of steel-toe boots for $50 or less?

We’ve all been in a place where money is tight, maybe you’re a broke 18y/o apprentice and you just need something with a steel toe. That’s where Walmart comes in.

Boots variety

If you’re looking for a wide variety of work boots you won’t find that at your local Walmart store. 

They’re not a work boot store at the end of the day. But if you’re in an emergency and you need work boots right now you can walk into any Walmart store and get a pair of work boots.

Here are a few boots styles you can find at a Walmart local store:

• Wellington work boots
• Lace-up work boots
• Wedge sole work boots
• Steel toe work boots
• Soft toe work boots

Boots brands

If you go to your local Walmart store to buy work boots don’t expect to see too many brands on their shelves either. 

Here are some of the brands you can expect to see:

1. Herman Survivors
2. Brahma
3. Tredsafe
4. Dr. Scholl’s
5. Interceptor

If you decide to buy online from Walmart and have the boots shipped to your door then you’ll have a few more options, such as:

1. Wolverine
2. AdTec
3. Skechers Work Boots
4. Georgia boots
5. Timberland PRO
6. Ariat
7. Carolina
8. Reebok work
9. Thorogood Work Boots

And many more. Check out their site for more options.

Price range

We’re doing our best to keep these pages up to date but depending on when you’re reading this article you might find that the prices might be different. 

When I wrote this article though, the cheapest pair of work boots I found at Walmart was this Brahma boot that goes for around 19.97 bucks.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, you can get your hands on this Herman Survivors work boot for 81.97 dollars.

So the price ranges from anywhere around $20 on the cheap side to somewhere around $80 for the most expensive work boots at Walmart.

Locations

The good news is that the megastore probably has a store in your city since Walmart has local stores in all 50 states. 

Check out the Walmart store directory here and see which store is nearest.

• Return policy

You have 90 days to return or exchange a product you bought at Walmart and you can read more about it here.

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2. Work boots at Lowes

Boots variety

Depending on what Lowes store you’re going to shop at, you’ll have a different variety of work boots to choose from. But in most Lowes local stores you’ll find these types of work boots:

• Rubber work boots
• Safety steel toe work boots
• 6-inch lace-up work boots

Boots brands

You’d think a home improvement store will have some work-related footwear brands in store but based on what I’ve seen on their website these are the brands they sell in-store:

• Marshalltown
• Safety works

If you want to order them online and pick them up in-store you have a few more option there:

• Georgia
• Rocky
• Dunlop

Price range

Since there’s not much to choose from the price range from $21.98 to $33.07 for a pair of rubber work boots.

Locations

This is another store that’s available in all 50 states and you can check where’s the nearest one here.

Return policy

If you’re not happy with your purchase you have 90 days to return it to any Lower local store. Read the policy in more detail here.

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3. Work boots at Target

Boots variety

From what I could gather, Target doesn’t sell safety toe work boots in store. They do sell a few models of soft-toe work boots if that’s what you’re after. 

But if you’re working on building sites you might be required to wear a safety toe of some kind (steel toe cap or composite toe cap).

Target has its own website as well where you can find more work boots models. They do sell safety boots online though so make sure you check out their website.

Here are a few boots styles you can find at a Target local store:

• Lace-up work boots
• Pull-on work boots
• Slip-on work boots 
• Rubber work boots (great for concrete workers)

Boots brands

Target is not your store if you’re looking to buy top brands of work boots. Especially if you want to buy work boots in the store because they don’t stock major brands.

Here are some of the brands you can expect to see:

1. All In Motion
2. Universal Thread
3. Goodfellow & Co
4. A New Day

However, if you choose to buy work boots on Target’s website you’ll see some extra brands including some well-known brands:

• Timberland
• Georgia
• Iron Range
• Durango
• Rocky

Price Range

These Kolten lace-up work boots from Goodfellow & Co go around $44.99 in-store. The highest price isn’t very far from the lowest price. You can get these Jordan All In Motion boots for $54.99. 

So the price range for work boots at a Target local store varies from around $45 up to around $55. If you go online you can some nice Georgia logger work boots that will cost you a couple of hundred bucks.

Locations

Target has stores all over the US so there’s a big chance you might find one in your area. Enter your zip code here and find which one is nearest.

Return policy

You have 365 days to return an item you bought at any Target store. Check out their return policy for more details.

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4. Work boots at Red Wing

If you have a healthier budget for your work boots you must go to a Red Wing store. Just watching and listening to how people talk about this brand makes me go and visit one of their local stores.

Why Red Wing? Well, you’ll be hard-pressed to find Red Wing boots in store anywhere other than in the Red Wing store.

Also, no list would be complete without including one of the most iconic work boot brands in the US!

Red Wing Stores have one very unique feature. It’s called, The Ultimate Fit Experience.

Through their years of knowledge of foot mechanics and shoes building, Red Wing has developed a platform that will scan your feet so they can best determine your size and what boot will fit your foot the best.

How does it work? You step onto a platform that measures your arch height, heel width, and exact heel-to-toe length of your foot. It also determines where your pressure points are as you step across it.

Based on this data they build a 3D model of your foot and can help you determine which boots are best for you.

What brands can you find at Red Wing? Well, Red Wing of course, and Irish Setter, a Red Wing brand.

Boots variety

This store is the one that is going to offer you the most variety when it comes to boot style and functionalities.

Here are some of the types of boots you can find at this store:

• Pull-on work boots
• 6-9 inch lace-up work boots
• BOA fit system work boots
• Metatarsal protection work boots
• Steel toe work boots
• Composite toe work boots
• Non-metalic toe cap work boots

Boots brands

In this store, you will only find Red Wing work boots.

Price range

If we’re talking strictly work boots, the lowest-priced boots I could find from Red Wing are these Truhiker boots that go for $189.99. On the opposite side, we have these bad boys that go for $364.99.

Locations

Red Wing has over 500 stores across the US plus more than 700 authorized retailers. Find your Red Wing retailer by entering your zip code here.

Return policy

If you didn’t like your Red Wings or for whatever reason you want to return the product you have 30 days from the day of the purchase to do so. There are of course other details that you must be aware of included in the return policy which you can find here.

5. Tractor Supply

Tractor supply isn’t something that comes to a lot of people’s minds when they think of work boots.

But most people will have one within driving distance and tractor supply, an outdoor and farm supply store, carries a decent selection of work boots in store.

Boots variety

You can find all sorts of work boots styles which might surprise many of you.

• Lace-up safety work boots
• Pull on work boots
• Cowboy-style work boots
• Ankle height slip-on work boots
• Moc toe work boots

Boots brands

No local store will have a vast amount of brands because of the costs of having too much stock but at Tractor Supply you can find these brands on their shelves.

• Ariat boots
• Wolverine
• Justin work boots
• Georgia boots
• Ridgecut
• Muck boots

Price range

They typically carry mid-range quality work boots with most boots being priced in the $60-$150 range.

Locations

There’s a big chance you have a Tractor Supply store in your area. Enter your zip code here to find out the nearest one.

Return policy

According to their policy on their website, you have 30 days to come back in-store with the boots you bought and your proof of purchase, and shouldn’t be a problem to exchange the boots or get a refund. Read more here.

Online stores that sell work boots

1. Amazon.com

Amazon is my go-to site when it comes to buying work boots online. From a consumer point of view, it’s a great store because the amount of work footwear you can buy is simply enourmus.

Boots variety

This store probably sells any type of work boot under the sun.

Here are a few types of work boots you can buy at Amazon:

• Cowboy work boots
• Combat tactical work boots
• Hunting work boots
• Hiking work boots
• Rubber work boots
• Slip-on work boots
• 6-16inch tall work boots
• Leather work boots
• GORE-Tex work boots
• Safety toe safety boots
• Non metalic work boots
• Moc toe work boots
• Side zipe work boots

And much, much more! There’s a big chance that no matter what type of work boot you need, Amazon has it!

Boots brands

Amazon has a couple of brands of its own:

• Amazon Essentials
• Montwell

Also, you can find some premium brands as well such as:

• Wolverine
• Timberland PRO
• Carhartt
• Ariat
• Dr. Martens
• Merrell
• Clarks
• Nike
• UGG
• Thorogood
• Wesco
• Kenetreck
• Danner
• Oliver
• Lucchese bootmaker
• Red Wing
• Chippewa

I won’t list all of them but they have a lot more.

Price range

Amazon’s catalog is huge and you can find dirt cheap work boots for less than $20 and the highest prices I’ve seen on a work boot on Amazon was in the region of $500+ like these Red Wing Iron Ranger or these Wesco boots that are great for linemen.

Return policy

Being such a huge online store their return policy might look a bit intimidating. But basically, you can return your items within 30 days of the purchase date. read more here. Be aware that Amazon’s return policy and third-party sellers’ policy might differ so make sure you look into these details before you buy.

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2. Ebay.com

Another good place to buy work boots online is Ebay. What’s unique about this store is that you can either place order immediately or if you have patience and you’re not desperate for a new pair of work boots, you can actually bid for a pair that you like.

Sometimes you might get a great pair of work boots for less money when bought at auction.

Boots Models

Just like Amazon, you can find ton of different types of work boots here:

• Steel toe work boots
• Soft toe work boots
• Breathable work boots
• 6-16 inch high work boots
• Lace-up and pull-on work boots
• Wedge sole work boots
• Slip resistant work boots

Boot brands

I think Ebay has an ever bigger variety than Amazon when it comes to brands available in the store. It’s something close to 1000 brands. Here are just a few:

• Carolina
• Wolverine
• Rockrooster
• Caterpillar work boots
• Work America
• White Diamonds
• Wesco
• Twisted X
• Justin work boots
• Georgia
• Terra
• Skechers work boots

Price Range

You can get yourself a pair of new work boots for around $20 on the cheap side and some of the most expensive work boots go around $700-$800.

Return policy

The return policy here is not very simple since there are so many variables. I invite you to read the Ebay return policy here. I wanted to send back my Caterpillar Outline work boots once because I had doubts about the authenticity of the product. It was a simple process in all honesty.

It’s just a time-consuming task. Just make sure that when you buy on Ebay pay attention to how good the seller is by reading some of his reviews and checking if they accept returns or not.

In some cases, you can still send the item back and get a refund because you’re covered under the Ebay Money Back Guarantee policy. And this is true even if the seller doesn’t accept refunds.

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3. Zappos.com

Zappos is an American brand that has gained a little bit of popularity within the work footwear space in the last few years. They’re not a work boot store specifically. They sell clothes, handbags, and other accessories too.

But if we look at the work boots section we can see that they have a good decent selection of work boots.

Boots variety

• Hook and loop
• Walking work boots
• Tactical work boots
• Casual looking work boots
• Heavy duty work boots
• ASTM approved work boots

Boots brands

I’ve counted around 60 work boot brands when I was browsing the Zappos website. It’s a decent amount but not anywhere near the first two websites mentioned above.

Here are some of the brands you can buy at Zappos:

• 5.11 Tactical
• Bates footwear
• Under Armour
• Puma Safety
• LaCrosse
• KEEN Utility work boots
• Irish Setter
• DeWalt
• Dan Post
• Blundstone
• Caterpillar
• Carolina

Price range

When I browsed the website I found this pair of Skechers work boots that you can buy for $59.95 if what you need is an ankle work boot. The cheapest boots were a pair of Tingley PVC boots with steel toe caps that were selling for $29.95. On the higher end, you can own a pair of Danner work boots for $379.95 and this is the most expensive boot they sell.

Return policy

It seems like they have a good and easy-to-understand return policy that you can read here. In a nutshell, you have 365 days to return your work boots to Zappos. Needless to say, the boots can’t show signs of worn and they still have to have the labels attached to the boot. Read their policy for more.

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4. BootBarn.com

If you’re a fan of western style work boots then you’d like BootBarn. They have a lot of great cowboy and cowgirl-related products. But since we’re talking about boots specifically, here’s what boots you can buy at BootBarn:

Boots variety

• Western style work boots
• Handcrafted boots
• Lace-up work boots
• Pull-on work boots
• Exotic
• Motorcycle work boots
• Military work boots
• Rain work boots

Boots brands

You will find around 60 work boots brands on this website. Some are well known some are very niche. Even though this online store looks geared towards cowboys and cowgirls, certainly sell another type of work boots for many different industries. Here are some brands they have in store:

• Tony Lama
• Dan Post
• Cody James
• Double H
• Durango
• Lucchese
• Muck boots
• Tin Haul
• Timberland
• Thorogood
• Bates
• Hawx

Price Range

Some of the less expensive boots in this store are these hiking boots with a soft toe that go for $50 or this square toe work boot that goes for $53.99. This is the store that has the most expensive work boots in this round-up. These handmade Lucchese boots sell for $2500.

They’re beautiful of course but I don’t know if I’d wear these bad boys to work though.

Refund policy

You can return your work boots within 60 days of the date received. BootBarn requires you to return the boots with their original labels and original packaging. Additionally, the boots must not show any sign of wear. You can read their return policy here.

Should you buy work boots in-store or online?

Some of us don’t really need to read this since we have already clear in our minds which one we prefer.

Some of you simply love the experience of going in a store, spending some time looking at work boots, touching them, and feeling the material. Whilst others just want to spend 30 minutes looking at what we need online, buy the work and carry on with your life.

Personally, I like to buy my work boots online versus going to a store simply because it saves me a lot of time. That’s assuming I’m happy with the work boots I bought.

Because if something doesn’t go well like the size is wrong or they don’t fit as expected, in that case, I’m actually losing time.

That’s a pro and a con right there. Here are a few more…

Pros and cons of buying boots in store

Advantages	Disadvantages
You get to buy the perfect size	Not too many work boots type available
You get to try the boot to see if it’s comfortable before buying	Limited amount of brands available in store
Personalized shopping experience and advice from the salesperson	Out of stock items – it takes time to
If you need work boots ASAP you can buy them and go straight to work

Pros and cons of buying boots online

Advantages	Disadvantages
Wide variety of work boots styles	You can’t try the boots to see if they are comfortable
Wide variety of work boots brands	Often the boots are not going to fit you perfectly
You can find a lot of premium brands in most online stores	You might be scammed if you don’t buy at reputable online stores
Saves you time going shopping

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Team Members Working On This Page

Jessica Flynn – Writer And Researcher

Love technology, going to the beach, taking care of my body, and writing (amongst other things). You’ll see my face around here a little bit since I’m responsible for part of the research and writing of some of the articles you’re reading on BestForMyFeet.com. I hope you’ll find our content helpful and enjoyable! See you around, thanks for reading!

Victor Adrian – Editor And Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!

source https://bestformyfeet.com/where-to-buy-work-boots/

How To Disinfect Work Boots The Right Way? (Solved)

If your boots got stinky or maybe you’ve got an athlete’s foot infection and you want to disinfect your work boots in an easy DIY way then welcome, you’re in the right place.

I’ll share with you how I personally disinfect my work boots. It’s easy to replicate and cheap!

When should you disinfect and sanitize your work boots?

Although this might sound like a silly question I found out on my own skin (literally) how important it is to sanitize and clean your work boots every now and then. I’ll tell you more in the next section but first here are a few scenarios I found myself in where I had to disinfect my work boots. One or more might apply to you as well.

• Buy a second hand used pair

It was my first job where I needed to wear a pair of safety work boots. I was young and silly and I never thought about the risks of wearing someone else’s footwear or the importance of a good work boot. 

What did I do? 

In order to save some money, I bought a pair of second-hand work boots. I knew at that point that at least I had to wash the boots but I didn’t go all in and disinfect them. 

So maybe you are in a similar situation. Please disinfect your work boots if you buy them used.

You never know who wears them and if they had any feet conditions or not. I was lucky that time but I’ve learned my lesson.

• You’ve got Athlete’s foot infection

Another reason you might want to disinfect your work boots is if you had Athlete’s foot.

To my disgrace, I lived with this condition for more than a year not knowing how simple it is to deal with it (and cheap too).

As I was treating my feet to get rid of the Athlete’s foot fungus, I washed my boots, and also I was disinfecting the boots every day at the end of my shift to try to eliminate any possible bacteria that might want to live inside my work boots.

• When the work boots get stinky

Now, thank God I got rid of the fungus and I’m not sanitizing my work boots after each shift anymore. I still do it once per week or so depending on how much I wear them.

One huge sign that bacteria and fungus are starting to build a home inside your work boots is when the boots start to stink. Sometimes they even stink like cat pee or ammonia.

When that happens I start the process of disinfecting my work boots. I simply wash the boots and disinfect them every day for a week. That does the job for me.

Now, if you’re asking what products I’m using to disinfect my work boots here are a few I can recommend…

What products can kill bacteria in work boots?

• Alcohol (70%-80%)
• Lysol
• Bleach

I’ve stopped using bleach because is just stinky for me. And Lysol I feel that is not as effective as alcohol isopropyl.

You can buy a ready-made sprayer on Amazon like this one or you can make your own one at home as I do nowadays. I just buy a bottle of 99% alcohol isopropyl like this one and then I use it for different purposes at home by mixing it with different liquids.

How do you disinfect and sanitize work boots?

As I said above, I’m using isopropyl alcohol to disinfect and sanitize my work boots.

Here’s how I do it:

Step 1: Prepare your solution

In a clean spray bottle, I’m mixing isopropyl alcohol with water. For this purpose, you want to have 70%-80% alcohol and 30%-20% water.

Why you can’t use 99% alcohol to disinfect work boots? 

Simply because this type of alcohol, at this level of concentration, will evaporate immediately.

I’m sure you’ve seen one of those sprays that you use to clean your laptop or computer. Do you remember that the surface you spray it on gets dry almost instantly?

That’s why is not good to disinfect work boots with high concentrated alcohol. Because the alcohol evaporates so quickly, it won’t have time to do its job.

On the other hand, when we mix alcohol isopropyl with water, the surface that’s applied on (in our case, our work boots) the surface gets wet and the alcohol will stay there for a while.

That’s good because that’s when the alcohol will do its job, killing the bacterias and fungus you might have in your stinky work boots.

Step 2: Apply the solution to the boots

Now just start spraying the solution inside your work boots as freely as you want. I do put a lot until the insole of the boot gets wet.

I leave it for a day or until it gets dry (it depends on how much solution you apply and how hot it is in your area).

Step 3: Wipe the inside of the boot

You don’t have to do this step but I like to go all-in baby. 

After the boot got dry, it could be a few hours or maybe a day…I then use the same solution to humidify a clean cloth and wipe the inside of the boot with it.

This is kinda like dry cleaning the boot or washing the boot without getting it soaked in water. This will help remove dirt, bacterias, and fungus that were left on the insole.

And now the last step is to apply one more time the same solution with the sprayer. Let it dry naturally and then your boots are disinfected and sanitized!

Will this method kill bacteria and fungus for good?

Yes, this will kill bacteria and fungus but it’s not that they can’t come back. Actually, depending on the type of work you’re doing and the type of work environment you’re in they might take a little or a lot to come back.

If let’s say you’re a groundworker, the chances of your work boot developing bacteria and fungus inside are greater than an electrician for example who mostly works indoors.

That’s why I always recommend having more than one pair of work boots available at any point because first, you can change them daily, reducing the risk of developing bacteria and funguses.

And even if one of the boots got stinky you can disinfect one whilst you still have the other to keep working and bring that money home.

It’s a good practice to disinfect your work boots every couple of months. So, build good habits in order to have healthy feet. 

In addition, for heaven’s sake, get yourself a boot dryer. This is a game changer, especially for those of you with sweaty feet or working in water and wet conditions all day. And it’s not that expensive. I use this PEET Original boot dryer that costs less than 50 bucks.

Can’t you just wash them in the washing machine?

You can wash your work boots in the washing machine but that won’t kill the bacteria and fungus inside the boot.

Especially because I don’t recommend you use hot water when washing your work boots in the washer. That can deactivate the adhesives and damage the boots.

So throwing your boots inside the washing machine won’t be effective against bacteria and fungus. It won’t disinfect the boots, it will just clean them!

Precautions when disinfecting your work boots with alcohol

If you’re going to do it as I do it by mixing your own solution at home, then be sure to take a few safety steps in this process to avoid some unpleasant situations.

1. Handle the alcohol in an area away from anything that can create sparks or create a fire. 

This alcohol is super flammable and it can start a fire very easily if you’re close to any type of ignition source. So mix the water with alcohol in the garden or in the bathroom wherever it’s safer. 

2. Mix the alcohol with water in an area that’s well ventilated.

The first time I used this 99% alcohol, I had my throat and hands itching the whole day. I read people giving these simple safety instructions but I didn’t think is going to be THAT bad. So I didn’t follow these simple safety steps.

Now I even use gloves to handle this chemical haha. Another lesson learned.

Also, the vapors alone can badly irritate your eyes and nose. It can give you headaches and nauseous too. It’s a quite strong chemical so treat it with respect. When used properly, it’s a great product to have and use at home.

If you want to know more about alcohol isopropyl this is a great article.

Disinfection of your work boots at home DIY: The takeaway

So ladies and gents, whether you bought a pair of second-hand work boots or your boots got stinky the easiest and most effective way to disinfect your work boots is by using a solution of isopropyl alcohol and water. 

You can easily kill the bacteria and fungus in your work boots by following the simple step-by-step instructions I’ve shared with you above. Good luck!

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Team Members Working On This Page

Adrian – Editor / Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!

Jessica Flynn – Writer And Researcher

Love technology, going to the beach, take care of my body, and writing (amongst other things). You’ll see my face around here a little bit since I’m responsible for part of the research and writing of some of the articles you’re reading on BestForMyFeet.com. I hope you’ll find our content helpful and enjoyable! See you around, thanks for reading!

source https://bestformyfeet.com/how-to-disinfect-work-boots/

When Should Work Boots Be Replaced? (And How Often?)

A pair of work boots must last you at least a year before breaking down or it needs replacement. When should you change your work boots and how often it largely depends on your work, how active you are, the quality of the boots, etc, etc, etc.

But nowadays, a good pair of work boots that you can buy on Amazon or any other retail store should last you a minimum of 8 months all the way up to 24 months depending on your industry and how much you abuse them.

I’m still yet to meet someone that worn their boots for more than 3 years! (Maximum I got from a pair of safety boots is 1 year and 8 months working in construction.)

Find out here what work boots last the longest based on feedback received from fellow professionals.

Here’s when you should replace your work boots

There are a few instances where I had to replace my work boots. They were not safe anymore since one or more of the features that were supposed to protect my feet have been compromised to some degree.

1. When there are cuts on the upper of the boot

Depending on what type of industry you’re working in this might be not very significant or it can be paramount! But keep an eye on how the upper of your boot looks like.

If there are any holes, cuts, or deep scratches present … that might mean you need to replace your work boots.

As I said, this will depend on what kind of work you’re doing. Imagine a person working in a warehouse and another person working in a garage, in the oil industry, or working with wet concrete.

The warehouse worker is still safe with a cut in the upper of the boot since will work in a nice and dry area most of the time. Whereas the others will be exposed to dangerous chemicals coming into their boots that could potentially cause some serious injuries. 

2. When the toe cap has been damaged in any way

Some people won’t understand that if something heavy dropped on your safety toe cap (steel toe, composite toe, alloy toe cap) … it saved your toes ONE TIME.

If there are any visible damages to the toe cap, even a little dent, and you’re still wearing that boot, next time you might not be so lucky. 

Health and safety officers say to change the boots immediately since the toe cap integrity has been or might have been compromised after one significant impact. 

3. When the outsole show cuts, cracks, or punctures

Not everyone works in a dangerous environment. But most jobs I go to, I step on screws, nails, broken glass, and other sharp items that can penetrate the sole of the boot. Especially if the boots don’t have a puncture-resistant outsole.

Even with a puncture-resistant boot, if your work boots show any potential cuts and cracks on the outsole you should definitely think about replacing them. 

They won’t protect you if you end up stepping on any sharp objects leaving you exposed to serious injuries that could potentially keep you in bed for days and weeks.

4. After a foot infection

Again, this might not be your case, but due to the nature of my job (construction contractor) working in wet and humid conditions most of the time, I’m at high risk of developing athlete’s foot and other foot conditions.

That’s because my boots are always wet or humid (even though I wear waterproof work boots most of the time).

A little while back I got infected with Athlete’s foot and it was horrible. One of the things I had to do was to replace all my socks with new ones as I was starting the Athlete’s foot treatment.

In order to make sure I’m going to get rid of the Athlete’s foot fungus, I decided to throw away my stinky work boots as well.

That was before I knew you could disinfect and sanitize your work boots by using a solution of alcohol isopropyl mixed with water.

Anyway, you don’t really have to throw them away, but I was desperate to get rid of that fungus because it was ruining my life. You can try and disinfect them first though. Here’s how I do it…

Here’s how often you should replace your old work boots

If your work boots don’t show any of the above issues, you don’t have to change your work boots unless you get bored of wearing them (which happens to me all the time). 

Most of the time I replace my work boots because I want something new and maybe more modern and comfortable.

Again, in terms of the safety of the work boots, you should change them every time one of the above signs appears. 

Otherwise, you can change your work boots as often as you want.

Can’t you just repair the work boots instead of replacing them?

Yes, that’s actually a great idea. You can repair your work boots. Any good cobbler will resole your work boots or do any repair on a good pair of old work boots and leave them as new.

You just have to make sure it makes sense for you from a financial point of view as some repairs might be very expensive.

But you can repair almost everything in a work boot:

• The outsole of your work boots
• The upper
• The inside
• Zippers
• Etc

How long usually a pair of work boots last?

How long a pair of work boots will last hugely depend on the type of work you’re doing and many other factors really.

If you work as a UPS delivery driver, for example, your work boots can last for at least 2 years before you even consider repairing them. 

Of course, I’m assuming you’re mostly driving during your shift and that means the soles and other parts of the boots won’t get worn as fast as if you work as a carpenter or maybe a correction officer, police officer, etc.

Basically, the more active you are in your day-to-day job and activities the faster your work boots will need a repair or a replacement.

Personally, I never had a pair of safety work that lasted more than 2 years working in construction as a handyman, machinist, and other positions I had.

Do work boots have an expiry date?

No, work boots don’t have an expiring date on them.

Maybe the leather and other materials the boot’s upper it’s made of might have a shelf life in the sense that if they just stay in a box for years, some parts of the boot might start to fall apart like is in the case of some type of outsoles.

Is there anything you can do to make them last longer and avoid replacing them?

As a matter of fact yes, you can. Here are a few things you can do to make your work boots last longer and avoid replacing them too fast.

7. Have more than one pair

This will not only avoid getting bored of one pair of boots (assuming you’re not going to buy the same model) but it will also avoid fungus and bacteria building up inside the boot. 

Also, by doing this the boot will keep your foot more comfortable for longer.

6. Clean them

Clean the boots on the outside it’s also helpful for a longer lifespan of the work boots. Especially if it’s made of leather as leather and dirt are not best friends.

Dirt and dust will dry the boot over time and that could damage the leather and eventually will crack.

5. Wash them

Also, wash your boots. Here’s how I wash my work boots if you want some ideas. There are a few ways to do it. You can pick and choose from just throwing them in the washing machine to dry wash them.  

Whatever you choose, washing your work boots will also increase the life cycle of your boots avoiding replacement.

4. Oil them

Oiling your work boots will not only make them more comfortable but will also moisturize the leather and even make it waterproof. 

3. Disinfect them

One of the best things about having two pairs of boots available at any time is that you can take turns washing them and even disinfect them. I disinfect my work boots when they get stinky and that’s every two months or so depending on how much I wear them.

This will prevent you from suffering from Athlete’s foot and other related conditions that might force you to replace your work boots.

2. Buy orthotics insoles

I rarely find a pair of work boots that have an amazing insole from the get-go. So I usually have a few pairs of insoles around to put in my new work boots as soon as I buy them.

But with time, the insoles and the footbed of the boot get stinky and also they become uncomfortable. The solution to that is not to replace your work boots but to buy new inserts (cheaper than repairing the boots or buying new ones).

1. Repair them 

You can definitely repair your work boots. Unfortunately, it’s not something many people choose to do nowadays simply because on some occasions it’s not cost-effective. It’s better to just throw them away and get a new pair.

But if you buy good boots, especially good and expensive leather work boots, it might be better to ask a cobbler how much will cost a repair before throwing them away.

The takeaway

Keep in mind that if you take care of your work boots (clean them in and out, oil them, etc) you won’t have to replace them that often as long as they don’t break down on important parts such as the sole or the upper.

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Team Members Working On This Page

Victor Adrian – Editor And Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!

Jessica Flynn – Writer And Researcher

Love technology, going to the beach, taking care of my body, and writing (amongst other things). You’ll see my face around here a little bit since I’m responsible for part of the research and writing of some of the articles you’re reading on BestForMyFeet.com. I hope you’ll find our content helpful and enjoyable! See you around, thanks for reading!

source https://bestformyfeet.com/when-to-replace-work-boots/

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How To Get Rid Of Athlete’s Foot Fungus Forever (At Home Cheap & Fast)

If you’re been suffering from Athlete’s foot infection I understand completely how you feel.

I’ve been dealing with this for years, altough I didn’t have to. In all honesty, I was just too lazy to take action until one day the fungus expanded so much that now it developed into nail toe fungus. Arghh

Anyway, I’m sure you’ve looked up on Youtube and probably on Google as well for Athlete’s foot fungus remedies and treatments and I bet you’re overwhelmed by the vast quantity of content about this topic.

Many of them don’t even show you real results or tests done, they just list a number of random things you should do and try. In my case, I’ve tested the things you’re about to read on my own feet!

So you might not know where to start, what to believe or what to try first in order to get rid of the fungus. Well, a great idea is to start by visiting a doctor and see what they recommend to you.

I’ve used a few products and some I even documented on this site and YouTube as well like for example 3% hydrogen peroxide. But it didn’t work for me although some people commented on my videos that it worked for them.

How did I got infected with the Athlete’s foot fungus?

I’m a construction worker, so I’m in my work boots all day long. That could mean at least 10-12 hours per day without removing my work boots.

Many times my boots get wet due to working in rain or next to the water and then it stays wet for the rest of the day.

That’s what this fungus (tinea pedis) loves the most. Dark and wet places where there is a lot of moisture.

My work boots…their home!

So that’s how I believe I got infected with the Athlete’s foot fungus.

Other ways you can get infected with this fungus

If you think:” well Adrian, I don’t wear work boots like yourself. Or my feet don’t sweat that much, I’ll be fine.” …

…think twice.

Because you can get athlete foot in places such as the swimming pool, the sauna, locker rooms, basically all places where there’s a lot of moisture.

The best thing to do when you go to public places like the ones mentioned above is to avoid walking barefoot. Get some flip-flops or something. That will help avoid bringing this fungus home.

Btw, many times I see people on Reddit showing a pair of work boots they bought on eBay or some other place that sells second-hand work bots.

This is one of the reasons you should never buy used footwear!

You never know who wear those boots or shoes before.

What can you use to get rid of the Athlete’s foot fungus?

There’s a vast majority of products available out there for this.

Some are approved by professionals such as:

• Creams
• Powders
• Sprays

While others are considered more like home remedies that are not properly tested and documented as official treatments against Athlete’s foot fungus but people seem to have used them with success.

Some well-known remedies to cure Athlete’s foot fungus are:

• Cider vinegar foot soaks
• Hydrogen peroxide foot soaks
• Listerine
• Epson salt

What treatment did I use to get rid of Athlete’s foot?

In the previous article, I shared my tests and results of using 3% hydrogen peroxide to cure Athlete’s foot infection.

That didn’t work for me so then I tested the 6% hydrogen peroxide and that didn’t work either.

I wish I could say I’ve used some 700 bucks product that I could promote and get some nice commission from doing that 🙂

But as with everything I do on this website, honesty comes first to me and my team.

So I’ve used this very cheap My Cota cream that you can find in many stores. You can even buy it on Amazon if you prefer.

How long did it take to get better from the Athlete’s foot infection?

To my surprise, it took about one week to see massive improvements. By the second week of doing the steps, I’m sharing with you below I was free of Athlete’s foot infection.

But, and this is a big BUT, make sure you don’t stop using the cream or any treatment given by your podiatrist just because you’ve seen some signs of improvement!

You should carry on with the treatment for at least 3-4 weeks to make sure it’s effective and after that, you simply need to maintain a better overall hygiene of your feet and footwear.

Here are the steps I did to get rid of the Athlete’s foot fungus

First, here are a few things I’ve used for this:

• A towel
• A plastic tub (big enough to place both feet)
• 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Shower gel
• Toothbrush
• Multi-purpose pedicure tool
• A hairdryer
• My Cota cream for Athlete’s foot fungus
• Anti-fungal powder
• Moisturizing cream (whatever you prefer, I’ve used Vaseline)
• Dry cracked skin repair cream (whatever you prefer, I’ve used this one)

Alright, now let’s get into it. To free myself from the Athletes foot fungus I’ve followed these simple steps:

Step 1: Start applying anti-fungal cream and powder

My wife bought everything for me (thanks love hehe). When she bought the My Cota Athlete foot fungus cream I asked her to buy some anti-fungal powder too.

Before I’d go to work, I would apply the My Cota cream in between my toes and under my toes, also on the length of the sole.

Apply the cream and rub until the majority of the cream penetrated the skin.

Right after that, I’d apply tons of anti-fungal powder on top and under my feet and most importantly in between and under my toes.

The anti-fungal powder is great for absorbing moisture and reducing sweat so it’s highly recommended to put some of it into your socks and into work boots or whatever footwear you wear for your work.

Editor Tip

If your feet sweat a lot more when wearing work boots than they usually do I highly recommend you have one extra pair of socks with you and also leave one powder can at work in your locker room.

This is so you can swap in the middle of your shift the old socks with the new, fresh ones and apply some powder as well.

Step 2. Proper cleaning of the feet

I’d do this step every time I came back home from work. Imagine 12-15 hours shifts in the same work boots. Yep, so my feet needed some deep cleaning!

This step is probably the most important at this stage.

Fill up the tub with water

I’d fill up a plastic tub with warm water and stick my feet in there for a couple of minutes.

It’s actually quite nice and relaxing, especially if you throw in some Epsom salt.

Brush the feet using the nylon brush

Then using the brush that comes with the multi-purpose pedicure tool and some regular shower gel I’d start brushing the feet in circular motions.

For the first few days, I’d spend 4-5 minutes per foot. In the second week, I’d spend about 1-2 minutes per foot.

Do not use a sponge for this. First, the sponge can’t penetrate between the cracked and dry skin to remove and clean the fungus. The brush does.

And secondly, the brush is much more hygienic than the sponge since the fungus can get into the sponge and it won’t be easy to take it out forcing you to throw away the sponge after just one use.

Use a toothbrush to scrub in tight places

Use a toothbrush so you can scrub properly and effectively in between and under your toes. The other brush wouldn’t reach there, it was too chunky.

Scrub properly on top of your nails and if you can under the nails as well. Don’t force it though, you don’t want to make it uncomfortable or painful.

Exfoliate

Using the same multi-purpose pedicure tool I’d use the pumice stone to exfoliate the bottom of my feet and try to get rid of some dead skin.

Spray some hydrogen peroxide

We’re getting to the end of this step. The last thing is to spray a little bit of 3% hydrogen peroxide on and under my feet also in between and under my toes.

Be careful though as it can sting a little bit (or quite a lot depending on your tolerance) if you have open wounds like I did.

Step 3. Dry the feet properly

Many people say to dry your feet properly after you had a shower, especially in between the toes. To me personally, it was always an impossible task.

For that reason, I’m using the hairdryer to dry my feet. It takes less than 3 minutes for both feet and that way I know my feet are completely dry and moistureless before the next step…

Step 4. Skin moisturizing time

I know. I just said you should bone-dry your feet and make sure there’s no moisture left.

That’s BEFORE applying the cream!

After you took your shower at night time and you’re ready to go to bed you have to moisturize the skin in order to fix those cracks and dry skin.

Dead skin is a food source for the fungus so getting rid of the dead skin it’s a good idea, it’s a must actually.

I haven’t used anything special for this step. I’ve applied some Nivea and Vaseline Cocoa Butter intensive cream I’ve had at home.

This step is most effective if you do it when you go to sleep or after you had a shower and you’re ready to go to bed.

Editor Note

For the first 5-6 days I would only apply the My Cota Athlete’s foot fungus cream trying to make sure I kill the fungus. Only after a week or so, I started the step of moisturizing the skin of my feet.

Step 5. Getting rid of the dead skin

It won’t be long before you see significant results just by using the My Cota cream, at least in terms of itchines and rushes.

Now it’s time to take care of the dead skin. Dead skin not only looks horrible especially if you want to wear sandals or flip-flops in summer but as mentioned previously, dead skin is also a food source for the fungus.

So the faster we can get rid of it, the faster it’s going to run out of food supply if you want.

Every morning when I woke up I would sit on my balcony enjoying a nice coffee while I was exfoliating and sanding my feet using the excellent multi-purpose pedicure tool again.

This time I was using mostly the sanding paper part to remove dry skin and also to smoothen the skin. I’m telling you, this tool is amazing!

Editor Note

Quick note here. This step needs to be done in dry conditions. So make sure your feet are not wet or even sweaty. The sandpaper on the pedicure tool needs to be dry as well.

Step 6. Repair the dry and cracked skin

In week three of this Athlete’s foot fungus treatment I’d start to look into repairing those cracks the fungus caused on my feet.

For that I would follow the same steps as above but before going to work instead of applying the Athlete’s foot fungus cream, I’d apply a cream that helps with repairing the cracked and flacky skin.

Use any cream you like, there are many options out there and most of them work great. My wife bought some cheap crakced heel repair cream at a random store so I can try them out.

It worked like a charm!

I apply the cream, put my socks on, apply some anti fungal powder in my work boots and off to work.

At this stage I’m not using the My Cota cream anymore. At least not daily. I still apply it one or twice per week just to make sure the fungus doesn’t have the slightest chance of coming back.

Editor Note

Applying the cracked heel repair cream became a habit for me. I’ve used these types of creams many times but never paid attention to an important detail which is…

This cream creates something like a layer on top of your skin that prevents your feet from sweating. It covers the pores of the skin I guess so your feet won’t sweat.

I found that very interesting, especially because my feet sweat a lot, especially in summer!

Step 7. Rinse and repeat

Now it’s a matter of being consistent and repeat the steps above.

At the beginning it might be a bit tedius but slowly-slowly you’ll get use to the whole process.

Additionally as you see improvements you’ll start to decrease the amount of time and intensity you put into all this.

I only spend about 2 minutes cleaning my feet now and I do it while I have a shower. Maybe it’s a good idea to keep doing a deep cleaning maybe once per month. It won’t harm for sure!

Should you get rid of your footwear?

Some people will tell you that it’s the right thing to do but you don’t really have to.

You should try and clean them properly inside out and disinfect them before thinking about throwing them away.

That’s what I do anyway.

Additional tips to prevent Athlete’s foot fungus from coming back

Disinfecting your work boots is just one of the things but here are a few more..

1. Start wearing Merino wool socks

I’ve always heard people in my industry (construction) that they wear wool socks and I thought they’re crazy.

Simply because my memory related to anything made with wool is that is itchy as hell.

But last year I decided to pull the trigger and buy some Merino wool socks to wear with my work boots and see what’s the deal with them.

I was wowed by the comfort and more specifically for the fact that they don’t get stinky as fast as the synthetic socks I use to wear.

Wool socks absorb moisture and sweat very well so it was a game changer for me.

2. Have more than one pair of work boots

If budget allows it buy 2 or 3 pair of work boots so you can rotate between them.

This way you allow the boots to dry properly after a long day at work and avoid moisture and bacteria building up in your work boots.

If the budget is tight, the next best thing I suggest you to do is to at least have a few extra insoles.

3. Have more than one pair of insoles

Buying insoles is cheaper than buying a few different pairs of work boots. You’ll achieve almost the same result.

All you want to do is wear your work boots for one week and in your day off swap the insoles you’ve had that week with a new clean pair of insole.

In my day off I take the opportunity to wash the dirty insoles and leave them to dry. Next week I’ll have a nice clean pair of insole waiting for me.

It’s not a hard task, it only take about 5-10 minutes and it’s good practice. Especially after you got rid of the Athlete’s foot fungus in order to prevent it from coming and also your feet won’t stink anymore.

4. Get your self a boot dryer

Another game changer for me was getting my hands on boot dryer. The first one I bought and I still have is this PEET Original boot dryer.

It’s a very affordable boot dryer and I have to be honest with you, I love this simple piece of kit.

Every day, when my shift is over I come home and I put my boots straight on the dryer, even if they’re not wet from working in rain or water.

There will be moisture in the boots no matter what, even if that’s just sweat.

Not only that I love to have a pair of dry work boots when I start my day but most importantly in our case drying the boots overnight will leave no option for the Athlete’s foot fungus to develop inside the boots.

Whatch the video on YouTube if you prefer

Last notes on getting rid of the Athlete’s foot fungus

There you have it. This is how I finally managed to get rid of the Athlete’s foot fungus at home, fast and cheap:

• Wash my feet properly every day
• Bone dry my feet after each shower
• Apply anti-fungal cream and powder
• Moisturize my skin
• Repair creaked skin
• Rinse and repeat maintaining good hygiene of the feet moving forward

Based on what I’ve seen, read, and talked to professionals of the feet, there isn’t a solution that fits us all.

Hence the reason many of you told me that using hydrogen peroxide and other solutions that soled your problem. It helped you get rid of the fungus, but it didn’t help me.

So based on that I’d say to try a few different things until you find something that works for you. But whatever you do, don’t give up after one week. You have to be patient and persistent!

It took me about 3 weeks to get completely get rid of Athlete’s foot fungus. Hope this helped.

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Team Members Working On This Page

Victor Adrian – Editor And Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!

Jessica Flynn – Writer And Researcher

Love technology, going to the beach, taking care of my body, and writing (amongst other things). You’ll see my face around here a little bit since I’m responsible for part of the research and writing of some of the articles you’re reading on BestForMyFeet.com. I hope you’ll find our content helpful and enjoyable! See you around, thanks for reading!

source https://bestformyfeet.com/how-to-get-rid-of-athletes-foot-fungus/