Factory Seconds Work Boots (All You Need To Know About Them)

If you’re new or even if you’re not new to boots you might have never heard about factory second boots.

Or maybe you did on some forums or subs on Reddit but you thought there was something fishy about this.

Well, in today’s post we’ll talk about factory second boots and we’ll answer some of the most common questions you might have such as what are factory second boots. Is this a scam of some sort, I’ll give you some examples and much more…

So let’s get into it.

Who’s working on this page

Adam Rich
Boots Tester & Reviewer

Victor Adrian
Researcher & Editor

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What are factory seconds boots?

Factory second boots are boots that have cosmetic imperfections or structural imperfections that don’t affect the wearability of the boot.

Most of the time when you hear factory seconds it’s referring to leather boots.

Boot makers will assign an A rating or B rating to their boots when they go through a quality control inspection.

Obviously, A-rated boots are sold by major stores and directly by the boot makers.

Boots that didn’t pass the test but can still be used with little to no issues receive a B rating and are sold as a factory second.

Are factory seconds boots a scam?

No! Factory seconds boots are definitely not a scam.

Though people may try to pass off fake boots as factory seconds.

Remember when brands that sell high-quality footwear offer factory seconds it still has their logo and they will not sell something that looks extremely bad or is falling apart. They have reputations to maintain.

I’m kinda interested now. Do you have examples of factory seconds?

Well of course we do!

Factory seconds boots examples

Below I’ll show you three examples of some of the factory seconds boots I bought lately.

1. Thorogood Emperor-Toe work boots

First, we have Thorogood Emperor Toe factory seconds. So what’s the deal with these?

Well, I’ll be honest they are flawless in every aspect except one.

The safety toe….. the composite safety toe cap that was put into these failed the impact test.

You can’t exactly sell a safety toe boot that isn’t exactly safe. So they were sold as factory seconds.

Seriously you would have no clue these are factory seconds. They look that good.

By the way, if you want to read more about this boot you can check out my Thorogood Emperor-Toe boot review here.

Also, check out the Pinterest account for more images of this boot.

2. Wolverine 1000-Mile Boots

The next pair are Wolverine 1000-mile boots. The “Rugged” version.

These boots are nearly flawless except for the fact they have some minor scuffs and scratches as shown in the image below.

Most people would think why aren’t these factory firsts? These boots are expensive so you have to keep a high standard when a boot normally sells for around $400 or more!

Also as you pay attention to other details of the boots you’ll realize that the stitches are misaligned in one of the boots and have a few extra needle holes.

I’ve worn them a few times but as far as anyone can tell when they are on my feet they look like normal Wolverine 1000s.

3. Red Wing Heritage

The next boot is going to be a Red Wing Heritage Moc Toe factory second. This will highlight the structural issues you can run into with factory seconds.

Notice how the upper around the toe box is crooked.

Who makes factory second boots?

Well, it’s not so much that they make them. They do but not intentionally.

They are products of human error in the manufacturing process. It happens.

Most of you reading this are probably in trade work and we have all had days where our work just isn’t the best and the boss man says we have to redo it or mauls over whether or not it’s acceptable.

Factory seconds are kinda similar.

So what companies sell their factory seconds?

On the more premium end, companies like Nick’s, Whites, Wesco, and Wolverine(1000 mile). On the more affordable side, we have companies such as Redwing, Thorogood, Danner, and Timberland.

Do they make good work boots? Pros and cons?

Of course, factory seconds make excellent work boots.

The downside is you can’t always find your size and configuration needed.

As mentioned previously factory seconds aren’t something that boot makers plan to make so you have to wait for the right deal to come along.

For instance, you might only see soft-toe work boots seconds when you need a steel toe for work.

Or you see a great deal on a soft toe factory second but it’s only available in two sizes that are not your size.

Pros: High-quality footwear for a great price

Cons: Limited availability. No warranty.

Pricing and where can you buy factory seconds

Pricing varies. For example, the premium boot makers such as Nick’s, who’s boots normally sell for $500-600+, will sell factory seconds for around $400ish.

My Wolverine 1000-mile boots normally retail between $350-400 but I picked them up for 79.99!!!

Redwings are usually in the $225 range and Thorogood around $150-200. However, I did get my Thorogood Emperor toe boots for $99.99.

You have two options when it comes to buying them.

You can do a blind buy online. Meaning, when you buy from an online factory seconds dealer you don’t always see the boot you’re getting before you get it. It’s oftentimes just a stock image.

The other option is to go to a factory outlet or a boot outlet warehouse. You can usually find a boot outlet in most average-sized cities.

1. Online retailers

Nick’s, White’s, and Wesco all sell directly to the public on their own websites.

Sierra.com

Sierra trading is probably one of the best options for finding Redwing and Wolverine 1000-mile seconds.

The Wolverines are usually around $79.99 and the Redwings are usually $150-225 depending on the boot model. The price might differ since prices change all the time.

The downside is you are blind buying the boots but you can always return them.

eBay

eBay is an excellent place to find Thorogood, Redwing, and Wolverine seconds. Don’t worry, if you do your due diligence you won’t get scammed.

Another good thing about eBay is you don’t have to buy blind.

Tips for buying from eBay are looking at the seller ratings and reviews.

If they have been around for a while and have sold lots of seconds and have a 98% or better feedback rating then you probably aren’t getting scammed.

Many times sellers will post actual pictures of the boots you are getting. If you feel like they are stock pics or there is something on the boot you want a better picture of, feel free to message the seller and ask.

Other online sources

Moosejaw.com and 6pm.com are known to carry Redwing factory seconds.

Workworld.com is known to carry Thorogood factory seconds. That’s who I got my Emperor toe boots from.

2. Brick-and-mortar stores that sell factory seconds boots

If you live within driving distance of Thorogood, Redwing, or Danner’s factories jump for joy!

They all have factory outlet stores that you can visit and check out and try on their factory seconds in person! Timberland also has factory outlet stores across the US and UK!

Sierra trading post, Work World and Moose Jaw also have some brick-and-mortar stores in the US.

Finding a local boot outlet warehouse is also a great place to check out. Most major cities in the US will have at least one. Nordstrom Rack is also an option, though, the boots you find may be a little nice for work.

Other things to know before purchasing factory seconds

Often times boot makers will alter or remove the model number to protect themselves or prevent a second from being resold as a factory first.

They also ship them in a generic box or in a box that has the model number marked out or removed.

For instance, my above-mentioned Emperor Toe boots have a defective safety toe.

So to prevent them from being confused or sold as a safety toe boot and opening Thorogood up to liability, Thorogood removed the original sticker and replaced it with one that had a generic model number.

So when you get your boots in and see the model number altered, don’t freak out and automatically assume you were scammed. It’s totally normal.

Here’s one more example of my Wolverine’s 1000-mile boot model number being marked out.

Final thought and conclusion

Ultimately whether or not factory seconds will work for you comes down to, well, you.

If you’re willing to put in the effort to check around and look for deals you will definitely find them. It does take patience especially when it comes to a well-known seller like Sierra Trading post, they sell out fast.

If you’re interested in high-quality leather boots for work or play, factory seconds remain a good option to try something new at a great price and I encourage you to start looking.

Hopefully, you’ve found this article helpful and are now armed with enough info to score some great deals!
Happy boot hunting and remember the golden rule of buying anything:

If something looks too good to be true, it probably is!

If you have questions please leave your comment below and we’ll do our best to answer them. Also, you can join us on the work boots sub on Reddit to chat and discuss more.

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Team Members Working On This Page

Adam Rich – Boots Tester & Reviewer

Hey, I’m Adam. I’m a welder and metal fabricator. Primarily doing aluminum tig a sheet metal fabrication. Spend most of the day on my feet on concrete floors in the shop with the occasional job site visit.

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/factory-seconds-work-boots-all-you-need-to-know-about-them/

Can You Wear Steel-Toe Work Boots On A Plane? (Here’s What TSA says)

Some of us have to work away. Sometimes over long distances. So traveling by car might be a problem.

For instance, my younger brother, who lives in Sydney Australia, is working in Melbourne at the moment. That’s at least a nine-hour drive on a good day. So he chooses to fly.

If you’re in a profession that requires that you wear steel-toe-capped boots, you might be wondering if you are allowed to fly with the boots. More specifically, if you can wear them on a plane.

The answer to that is yes. This article is going to explain the legalities and any problems that might arise.

Why would you want to wear steel-toed boots on a plane?

Steel toe-capped boots give the most protection to our toes compared to other alternatives. So they’re the preferred boot for a lot of people.

You might find that workers in the groundworks, oil rigs, steel works, or logger industries, among others, would find steel toe-capped boots the most practical. Some companies might even insist on their staff wearing them as part of the worker’s PPE.

You might not think so, but even airport staff would wear steel-toed boots. From transport staff to fuel workers, cleaners, airport security, and many more.

It doesn’t even have to be workers that wear these boots. Some people just like wearing them.

They might like them for outdoor activities, such as hiking or field trips. Or even something domestic like moving house.

If people want to fly to different work destinations, just like everyone else, they would have to pay a luggage charge. With the amount being determined by the weight of the luggage.

Having the work boots in their suitcases would add more weight. Therefore, incurring extra costs.

Work boots can often be quite heavy, especially the premium heavy-duty ones. Also, the steel toes are heavier than the composite toe or soft toe.

This is why people might choose to wear the boots on the plane, rather than having them in their luggage.

But some people have also been known to do it to break in new boots.

It’s quite practical, because there isn’t a massive amount of walking to do, and sitting on a plane is a relatively pain-free way of getting used to the new boots before using them properly at the destination.

It might not be as comfortable as wearing regular footwear. Particularly on long flights. But it would save money and luggage space.

You could always take the boots off during the flight, but other passengers might not appreciate that. Especially if you have smelly feet.

The main problem that would occur is that the metal in the boots would set off alarms while going through airport security.

What can be done about this?

TSA regulations on steel-toe boots

The TSA (Transport Security Administration) used to not allow steel-toed boots on flights. This was because the boots were deemed possible to use as a weapon.

You can imagine a hefty kick to vital areas of the body from one of these boots would be very painful.

This was especially strict when terrorism was at its peak. Quite rightly, anything that could have been used as a weapon was thoroughly screened and not permitted.

Luckily, now that the screening process and airport security have improved, this rule has been softened, meaning steel-toed boots can be worn on flights.

However, this doesn’t mean you’ll be able to waltz through check-in without being flagged up.

The metal in the boots will set off the metal detector scanners as you walk through, so advice from TSA is that you take them off before you walk through.

While in the queue, place them in the conveyor belt tray with other items that might need to go in there, like watches, belts, or handheld luggage.

You might see taking the boots off in the queue as time-consuming, and a bit of a nuisance, but you will have to take them off anyway once you’ve been flagged up.

Some travelers pay for a TSA PreCheck. This can improve the travel experience by getting you through checks quicker, because it is a screening program that makes risk assessments about passengers before they arrive at the airport.

The PreCheck gives benefits, like allowing passengers to not remove certain parts of metallic clothing during checks.

However, this does not mean you won’t have to remove your boots while being screened.

Regardless of if you have a first-class, business class, or economy class ticket, or are TSA Pre service approved, you will most likely have to take the steel-toed boots off when being scanned.

At the end of the day, the discretion will be held by the officer doing the checks. You might get lucky and catch one in a good mood.

Whatever region or country you’re traveling to, it would be worth researching the regulations for that area, so that you’re fully prepared.

Alternatives to wearing steel-toed boots on flights

If you don’t want the hassle of taking your steel-toed boots off through screening, there are other options.

First, it is permitted to pack those boots in your suitcase. This will however add a little more weight, therefore increasing the charge, but your suitcase won’t be ripped apart by airport security for having them in there.

If wearing steel-toed boots at your destination is not crucial, you could choose to wear composite-toe work boots.

Although tough, they won’t give quite as much protection as the steel, but they are lighter and won’t set off any metal detectors.

Another option is to go for soft-toe work boots. These won’t protect your toes from falling objects, but there are plenty of rugged soft-toe boots that people wear for heavy-duty stuff.

Pros and cons of wearing steel-toe boots on flights

Pros

• Saves luggage space
• Saves on luggage charge
• A way to break new boots in

Cons

• Will set off metal detectors
• Might get uncomfortable during the flight
• Might slow down check-in time

Last words on wearing your steel-toe boot on a plain

That wraps up this article. We hope you’ve found it useful and informative. 

Remember to check the regulations of the area you’re going to before you travel. And if you do travel with steel-toe boots, try not to kick other passengers. It’s very frowned upon. You don’t want to end up like Mike Tyson’s recent flight episode.

Also, you will probably want to give yourself plenty of time before check-in.

Running to catch the plane with steel-toed boots on might not be the quickest or most comfortable thing to do. As well as having to take them off through screening.

If you would like to ask any questions about the topic or to discuss any of your own experiences with this subject, you can do so either by leaving a comment below or joining the Work Boots sub on Reddit.

For now, happy traveling.

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Team Members Working On This Page

Jimmy Webb – Writer And Researcher

Hey, Jimmy here. I’m one of the researchers and writers here at BestForMyFeet.com.  I’ve been wearing work boots all my life working as a forklift driver, landscaper, groundworker, and now as a tower crane operator so I know a few things about footwear and footcare in general. I’m also working on my first novel. So writing IS my passion. When I’m not writing I love to spend time with my wife, two children, and furball.

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/are-steel-toe-work-boots-allowed-on-a-plane/

How To Prevent Blisters From Work Boots? (8 Helpful Tips That Work)

Don’t you just hate buying new work boots, loving them, but wincing with pain when wearing them because they’re butchering your feet?

You’re on your feet all day trying to earn a living, in all conditions. You want your feet to be comfortable. You want those work boots to give you many miles, but those nasty blisters hurt you, hinder you, and make you wish you stayed at home.

Well, in this article you’ll understand why blisters occur and also I’m going to share with you a few tips and tricks that will help prevent those nasty blisters.

What are blisters and what causes them?

Blisters are nasty little lesions on your skin that are usually filled with fluid. Most of them appear on the outer layer of the skin. They normally stick out, sometimes like a bubble.

They are typically red, unless a blood blister, which is where the skin has been pinched and the area fills with blood. In this case they could be either red or a darker color. Sometimes appearing blue or purple.

So here are some of the causes

Blisters naturally occur under the below circumstances as a way of protecting the deeper tissues from further damage.

1. Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is one way a blister can form. It happens when the skin comes into contact with substances that can cause irritation or allergic reactions.

Some man-made chemicals can be harmful to the skin. They’re usually packaged with a symbol that informs that they could cause harm or irritation.

Some natural entities can also cause blisters. For example, plants like poison ivy, or even insect bites.

2. Health issues

Health issues often cause blisters. There are many, but in relation to the feet, to name only a few, blisters could be caused by dermatitis, chicken pox, erysipelas, and impetigo. These are the most commonly known.

3. Burns

Burns are a major cause, with the size of the blister being determined by the severity of the burn. This includes sunburns. We’ve all been in the sun too long at some point, and paid the price.

4. Friction

Friction is a form of burn and is the main reason blisters occur on feet. It happens when the skin constantly rubs against socks or footwear, most commonly on the backs of the heels.

Blisters from your work boots can occur for a variety of reasons.

The main one is if the boots are either too small or too big.

Boots that are too small will put too much pressure on specific areas of the foot, either digging in or rubbing hard. Boots too big will move too much, causing that unwanted friction.

Not tying the laces tight enough will also cause the boots to move more than necessary.

Moisture from rain or sweat can soften the skin making it vulnerable. The lack of protection from the soft skin will increase the chances of getting blisters.

Here are 8 tips to prevent blisters (especially when wearing new work boots)

Alright, now that you know a little bit more about blisters, let’s talk about how to prevent them.

1. Break in new work boots

One bugbear of buying new work boots is that they’re often quite stiff or nipping in certain places when we first wear them, which can lead to soreness, and often blisters.

The first thing you should do is break them in. This can be done in a variety of ways, depending on the type of boots.

It will gradually soften the boots and mold them to the shape of your feet, making them much more comfortable, with less friction.

If you want to avoid nasty blisters at the back of your heel when buying a new pair of work boots, this is probably the best thing you can do (next to buying a good pair of wool socks, more on this below).

2. Precaution by way of Band-Aids or vaseline

Once the boots are broken in, the next step is ‘precaution’. This only really applies if you’re very prone to blisters, or if you buy very stiff boots that you know will take a long time to break in, like wildland firefighter boots for example.

They can take at least 300 hours to break in. It’s the same thing with logger work boots and linemen boots since these PNW work boots are super tough and made with really thick leather.

The precaution comes by way of Band-Aids. They’re a good way to prevent blisters in danger areas, like the heels. They’ll need to be sturdy and have good adhesive, due to the high pressure and constant movement in that area.

An alternative is to apply vaseline to the problem areas before wearing the boots. This will add lubrication.

3. Get better quality socks

The socks you wear might help. You could try wearing thick heated socks during the break-in period. The heat will soften the boot materials, which will help break them in easier.

This might not be practical in the summer, or while out or at work, but it’s a simple task that can be done at home.

Specialist blister-prevention socks are also available. They have soft, minimal seems that don’t dig in and irritate sensitive skin, and have cushioning in certain areas. Here’s an example from Dr. Scholl.

Liner socks might help. They form a barrier between your skin and the normal
socks, which reduces the friction that causes the blisters.

Editor Note

Buy wool socks! I didn’t know this until I stopped buying those crappy, cheap 100% synthetic socks. When I first bought wool socks I was kinda like: Are wool socks really a good idea? They’re thick and itchy…

Little did I know how an AMAZING idea it was to wear wool socks with work boots, for many reasons. One of them being the anti-blisters feature they have.

4. Blister prevention cushions or gel pads

There are lots of blister prevention cushions or pads on the market. They usually come with built-in gel to cushion the problem areas.

5. Stretch your work boots

If your boots are too tight in certain areas, even after breaking them in, you could stretch them using shoe or boot stretchers. A bit of a cheat to give your feet some extra space.

6. Choose the right fitting boots in the first place

Before you start breaking your boots in, it’s important that you’ve chosen the right-fitting boots in the first place.

They shouldn’t slide up and down at the heel, and shouldn’t be too tight around the toes.

Be aware of foot width. Some feet are wider than others, therefore you’ll need wider-fitting boots. A good boot merchant will provide various width boots within the sizes.

And when you get them home, tie the laces tight enough (but not too tight). Loosely tied boots might allow them too much movement.

7. Keep your feet dry as much as possible

Try to keep the feet dry, because as stated before, moisture can cause blisters because it softens the skin, making it vulnerable.

People who sweat a lot can have a problem with this. Moisture-wicking socks help. But there are other ways to help relieve your feet from sweat.

8. Use cornstarch

Applying small amounts of Cornstarch to the blistering area can reduce friction. It also keeps the area fresh.

Although, you’ll need to be very careful not to use Cornstarch on open blisters. The area will be too raw, and it might cause infection.

9. Wear the appropriate boots for the task

Not wearing appropriate boots for the tasks can be a problem. For example, it’s not advisable to wear very stiff, heavy-duty work boots for hiking and walking long distances, or doing lots of squatting and kneeling.

How to treat blisters caused by work boots?

However much you try to prevent foot blisters, there’s always a chance that you’ll still get one. Don’t worry, there are ways you can treat them.

1. Don’t pop the blisters

Whatever you do, don’t pop the blister (says me who always pops them). Experts really don’t like you doing it because it could lead to infection.

If the blister is unbearably big and painful, and you really need that release, one
way of popping them is by piercing the edge with a sterilized needle. But don’t tell
anyone I told you. If you do, I’ll deny it.

2. Use Band-Aids

Band-Aids are probably the most common way of treating blisters. They reduce friction and help the healing process.

Make sure the blister is clean first, by using an ointment, then stick on the Band-Aid, keeping the middle quite loose to give the blister enough air to dry, which will help with the healing.

Otherwise, you can cover the blister with a non-adhesive bandage. If so, make
sure to change the bandage daily.

3. Clean the affected area

It’s important to maintain cleanliness, by washing, and using alcohol, or antiseptic ointment.

Then afterwards, you can use vaseline to act as a barrier, protecting the wound from further friction and dirt.

4. Use Epsom salt

Epsom salt is a good remedy. It helps dry out unpopped blisters. It also helps reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling, because it’s high in magnesium.

All you do is pour some Epsom salt into a tub of warm water, stir it thoroughly,
then soak your foot in the liquid.

Last notes

There, we hope your thirst for knowledge has now been quenched. You now know what blisters are in general and why they occur, what to do to prevent foot blisters, and how to treat them if they appear.

So hopefully, you can now wear your work boots in comfort.

But if you want to go out for the night to get away from all the woes of the day’s labor, pop your glass slippers on without having to worry about limping while dancing with your Prince or Princess Charming.

Enjoy.

Let’s go to the ball.

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Team Members Working On This Page

Jimmy Webb – Writer And Researcher

Hey, Jimmy here. I’m one of the researchers and writers here at BestForMyFeet.com.  I’ve been wearing work boots all my life working as a forklift driver, landscaper, groundworker, and now as a tower crane operator so I know a few things about footwear and footcare in general. I’m also working on my first novel. So writing IS my passion. When I’m not writing I love to spend time with my wife, two children, and furball.

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/how-to-prevent-blisters-from-work-boots/

Are Rubber Boots Slip Resistant? (All You Need To Know)

Why do we wear rubber boots? The most logical reason would be to keep our feet completely dry in wet conditions.

One of the risks of being in these wet conditions is our instability on slippery surfaces. This leads us to the topic of this article. Are rubber boots slip-resistant? Let’s find out.

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Who’s working on this page

Jimmy Webb
Author & Researcher

Victor Adrian
Researcher & Editor

First, I’d like to apologize in advance if I refer to these boots as wellies. I’m originally from England and here rubber boots are called Wellington boots. Wellies for short.

But I understand that in the States these are Wellington work boots. I’ll try my best to refrain from using my terminology.

Right, let’s answer the question of the topic Are Rubber Boots Slip Resistant? The simple answer is yes.

There you go. No need to write any more. But wait. What am I doing?

You’re all intelligent, curious people who love information. That’s why you’re here in the first place, right? Well okay, if you insist. Let us feed your ever-burning desire for knowledge. 

Features that make rubber boots slip resistant

Rubber boots are used widely. They’re often used in the household, for doing jobs like digging flower beds or jet washing patios, for example. Or for taking the dog for walks along dirt tracks or fields.

They’re also used for more industrial purposes, like farming, chemical plants, concrete workers, etc. You get my drift.

The common denominator for all these tasks is that the boots need to protect the feet from mucky jobs and environments, and prevent water, chemicals, mud, etc from getting into the boots.

So, when working in these environments, there is a great risk of slipping and falling. This is why slip-resistant work boots are very important.

I’m sure you can imagine that kitchen workers could easily slip on grease, or that mechanics or oil rig workers are in danger of slipping on oil. You could even simply be in your garden in the rain and slip on the wet or icy ground.

There are different outsole materials and textures for different surfaces.

Different lug depths

For instance, soft, shallow-lugged rubbers are ideal for tiled surfaces like industrial kitchens. There is more sole in contact with the floor, and the pattern and texture provide the friction.

Whereas deep-lugged soles are better for muddy surfaces like farming because the lugs dig into the surface, giving extra grip.

Grooves and tread patterns

Grooves and tread patterns in the soles are also a factor.

Grooves often come in slip-resistant boots. They help with correcting body posture, aiding with grip, and giving foot support.

Tread patterns are something people don’t really take much notice of, but they’re integral for friction.

They often come in little circles, hexagons, triangles, and diagonal lines on the bottom of the outsoles. These patterns allow water to disperse from under the feet when walking, allowing extra friction.

Heels

If your job involves hiking, climbing trees, or climbing ladders, the heels on boots are very helpful for getting purchase when hoisting yourself up.

For instance, if someone is resting on a ladder of heavy plant while carrying out maintenance work, the heels will help prevent them from slipping off the ladder rung.

What materials are slip-resistant outsoles made of?

There are various materials used for outsoles. The most common are EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), and Nitrile.

1. EVA outsole

EVA, a synthetic rubber, is a foam-like resin also often used in the midsoles of the boots. A lot of running shoes are made with EVA too.

Pros

• Very lightweight
• Shock absorbing
• Flexible
• Can take almost any color

Cons

• Not as durable as others
• Prone to compression after time

2. TPU outsole

TPU is a lightweight and sturdy substance most favored for slip resistance.

Pros

• Highly tolerant to abrasion and splitting
• Very slip resistant
• Cold resistant down to -20°C (-4°F)
• Resistant up to 130°C (266°F), unless specially modified for more.
• Resistant to most chemicals and oils
• Durable

Cons

• Less shelf life
• Increases the cost, compared to the cheaper PU
• Not massively resistant to heat, unlike Nitrile

3. Nitrile

Nitrile is ideal for working in hot conditions. A good choice for people that do jobs like welding, firefighting, tarmacking, etc, because of its high resistance to heat. Up to 300°C (572°F).

Pros

• Very high heat resistance
• High puncture resistance
• High resistance to oils and chemicals
• High abrasion and cracking resistance
• Reduces static electricity

Cons

• Can be expensive
• Less flexible than others
• Used less than others, so might be difficult to source your preferred Nitrile soled boots.

4. Rubber

Rubber outsoles are very common. Although, the other types of outsoles are forms of rubber. These however are usually made of vulcanized caoutchouc, which is a type of latex.

Pros

• Long shelf life
• Very high slip resistance
• Very high water resistance
• Heat resistant up to 300°C (572°F)
• Cold resistant down to -30°C (-22°F)
• High puncture resistance
• Very sturdy

Cons

• Heavier than others
• Can become more rigid when exposed to cold temperatures

Examples of slip-resistant rubber boots (In order of affordability)

1. HISEA

• Steel toe cap boots
• Non-slip rubber sole
• 15-18 inches tall

See In-Store

2. Tidewe

• Plain toe box
• Deep tread rubber sole
• 15-16 inches tall

See In-Store

3. DRYCODE

• Soft-toe cap boots
• Anti-slip rubber sole
• 15-16 inches tall

See In-Store

4. Bogs

• Plain toe boots
• Rubber non-slip sole
• 12,5 inches tall

See In-Store

5. Dunlop

• Steel toe cap
• Vibram rubber outsole
• 15 inches tall

See In-Store

You’ll sometimes come across the term ‘non-slip’ boots. This is basically the same as ‘slip resistant’ but marketed as non-slip to appear more bold. Please know that no boot can realistically be totally non-slip.

Also, be careful of boots being advertised as being slip-resistant. Particularly on the cheaper end.

Before buying your rubber boots, we advise you to check all the reviews to see actual customers’ experiences. Quite often, companies will (intentionally or unintentionally) falsely advertise.

Maintaining the slip resistance

Like with anything, nothing lasts forever, which is why it’s important to do everything you can to keep your boots as slip resistant as possible.

The first thing you should do is keep them clean. Any dirt between the treads, or lining the surface of the sole, will reduce the effectiveness, and will probably eventually wear the soles and the depth of the treads down.

This leads us to advise you to check the tread depth. Just like car tire treads, our rubber soles will wear over time. So it’s a good idea to monitor the amount of wear so that you know if the boots need re-soling or replacing.

When buying the boots in the first place, it’s advisable to choose ones with at least two millimeters of space between the tread pattern shapes. Furthermore, the treads should be at least three millimeters deep to allow liquid to disperse from between them quickly.

Last notes

Now you know that rubber boots are generally slip-resistant. I say generally because the more affordable work boots might not be all that they’re cracked up to be.

However, the lugs and the tread patterns will be designed to keep you steady on your feet, rather than giving yourself a sore rear end.

You also know what rubber boots are generally used for, what the soles are commonly made of, and how to try to keep those soles as slip resistant as possible for as long as possible.

We hope this information is useful in your rubber boot journey. More importantly, we hope you don’t have any slips.

But to ease your mind, if you do happen to slip and fall, don’t worry, you’ll stop when you hit the ground.

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Team Members Working On This Page

Jimmy Webb – Writer And Researcher

Hey, Jimmy here. I’m one of the researchers and writers here at BestForMyFeet.com.  I’ve been wearing work boots all my life working as a forklift driver, landscaper, groundworker, and now as a tower crane operator so I know a few things about footwear and footcare in general. I’m also working on my first novel. So writing IS my passion. When I’m not writing I love to spend time with my wife, two children, and furball.

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/are-rubber-boots-slip-resistant/

Why Do New Work Boots Hurt Your Feet And Legs? (5 Reasons)

If you’re new to work boots and you just bought a new pair of boots for work that seems to be a bit uncomfortable or maybe they hurt your feet or legs in different places you might wonder if this is normal or if there’s something wrong with your boots.

I’ll answer all your questions in this post, but if you’re here for a quick and simple answer, let me tell you this.

Your boots hurt your feet and legs the majority of the time because the material they’re made with (which is mostly leather of different qualities and thicknesses) is brand new and it needs breaking in.

It could also be that the boots you bought are not of quality, they might have defects and other things I’ll break down in more detail below so keep scrolling to learn more but first…

Is it normal for new work boots to hurt your feet?

Yes, in my experience it’s completely normal for a new pair of work boots to hurt a tiny bit or at least to be a bit uncomfortable on your feet and lower legs. At least for the first few days anyway.

Some boots will create more discomfort than others based on the type of boots, the materials are made with, and if you’re used to wearing those types of boots or not.

For example, my colleague Dony is testing the Timberland PRO Boondock for us. He wasn’t used to wearing 6-inch tall boots. He prefers the 8-inch tall boots because they provide better ankle support which is needed in his line of work.

The Timbs Boondocks boots were quite uncomfortable for him for the first week because the boots were rubbing against the back of his leg at the ankle level. For me, this is completely normal since the majority of boots I wear are 6-inch tall.

I’d have the same experience he had if I start wearing 8-inch tall work boots but in my case, the boots would rub against my feet much higher up my leg in a place I’m not used to.

5 Common reasons why new work boots hurt your feet

Ok, based on my experience wearing lots of different brands of work boots and different models here’s why I think your new work boots are giving you some hard time…

1. Tough upper material

Some work boots are really comfortable right out of the box while others require quite a brutal breaking-in period.

I’m sure you’ve seen or heard about PNW boots used many times by linemen, wildland firefighters, and loggers among others. These boots are going to be rough on your feet and legs, many times for weeks or months before they fully break in and become like a glove.

The leather work boots are made with is usually thicker than what you’ll find in your regular, casual boots. I know this because I learn a lot about how work boots are made by cutting my work boots in half after wearing them for a while on my day job.

The leather on the work boots I wear varies between 1.8mm to 3mm in thickness. Obviously, the thicker the leather is, the harder will be on your feet and lower parts of your legs.

Some boots, for example, these Thorogood moc toe (steel cap) work boots, are made with what’s called “tumbled leather”.

This type of leather is already soft because it went through a process called tumbling which consists of placing a big amount of hides in a massive drum and they spin over and over and over again. Kinda like a washing machine or a tumble dryer. That’s where the name “tumbled leather” comes from.

2. Soles are too stiff

Not many people pay attention to the outsole the work boots they’re about to buy. If the soles of your work boots are too stiff and you work on a hard concrete floor all day for example, then you might start to feel a lot of pain and fatigue in your feet.

That’s because work boots with hard or stiff outsoles are meant for outdoor work where you need the lugs to dig into the ground in order to provide with you good traction and stability.

Working outdoors in a pair of work boots that has a stiff sole won’t be as bad as wearing the same boots working as a mechanic for example in a garage where the floor is smooth and hard.

Hard, stiff outsoles absorb shocks better on soft ground therefore you won’t feel pain but you will when used on hard concrete.

3. Factory defects

There are many brands out there that are selling their work boots as “factory seconds” as they’re known. This means that a particular brand of work boots will have a batch with particular defects.

Well, many times these boots don’t get destroyed but they will end up on the market selling for a lower price.

That’s one of the reasons you will find some brands that YOU KNOW are expensive, selling their boots at a lower price.

Sometimes it’s just a cosmetic issue but it could be also structural. So keep that in mind when you buy expensive work boots at lower prices. You might end up buying some really uncomfortable boots.

4. The wrong boot for the job

This unfortunately happens a lot. That’s because many people think it’s not that important what boots you buy and what features to consider when buying work boots.

They’re just boots. All you need is something on your feet to do the work.

The most common mistake people do is buying work boots with heels when they work mostly on flat surfaces.

So if for example, you’re an order selector in a warehouse or maybe you work as an electrician on commercial buildings, you could not wear logger-style boots or any heeled boots.

I mean you could but that would be a terrible mistake. The best option for you would be a pair of wedge sole work boots.

And vice-versa, landscapers and farmers for example should use work boots with a bit of a heel and deeper lugs for traction and support due to the fact that they’re working mostly outdoors, on uneven grounds, and on rough terrain.

So make sure you buy the right work boots for your environment and for the type of work you’re doing!

5. Poor quality manufactured boots

I remember my first job that required safety boots. I was working cleaning the streets so in order to get the job I had to buy some boots with a safety toe cap.

Of course I went and bought the cheapest work boots available on the market. God, that was top 3 worst decisions I took in my whole adult life. Those boots killed my feet. The toe cap rubbed my toes until I started to bleed.

Because of that bad decision I had to quit this job since I couldn’t walk anymore. I stayed in bed for 1 week. Anyway, it’s ok to buy affordable work boots but please, do not make the same mistake and go for the cheapest of the cheapest.

If you already bought a pair of boots like the ones I just described, you’ll be better of to get rid of these and get a more decent pair of work boots.

You’ll thank me later.

How do you stop new work boots from hurting your legs?

These are some of the tricks I’ve used to make my work boots more comfortable and stop hurting my feet or the lower parts of my legs.

1. Oil your work boots

There is a ton of leather conditioning products out there. Coconut oil, dubbing, grease, mink oil, boot oil, etc.

Just choose one that you like and that’s also good for the type of leather your work boots are made with, and start to condition the leather by applying mink oil to your new work boots every week or every couple of days, depending on how much and how fast the leather of your work boots absorbs the oil.

Here you have two options

1. start wearing the boots at work
2. leave them at home with an adjustable shoe tree inside

Wearing the boots at work after you just oiled them is going to have a bigger impact and the breaking-in process is going to be faster and more effective.

But if don’t want to get oil on your jeans or simply don’t want to feel the pain as the boots are being broken in then simply stick a shoe tree inside the work boots and leave them at home.

You should put them on though when you come back home from work and do some bends and flexes. This should help the leather become softer, and faster.

2. Try to stretch them a little bit

Depending on where the boots are hurting your feet it might be a good idea to try and stretch out the leather of your work boots using some rubbing alcohol or even just warm water and an adjustable shoe tree.

If you feel pain at the ball of the foot area this is a great trick to try. This usually happens when the boot fits too snugly or simply they’re just too narrow. It’s also helpful if you suffer from bunions.

3. Wear Merino wool socks

If the pain you’re suffering is in the lower parts of your legs kinda like my colleague Dony who had a few blisters at the back of his leg because the boot’s collar was rubbing against his leg, a great idea is to wear Merino wool socks.

Yeah, I didn’t know about this either but wool socks are worth the extra money. Never had a blister again once I started to wear Merino wool socks.

4. Wear better insoles

I know some of you are wearing orthopedic shoes or work boots and the soles of this type of footwear tend to be quite stiff but that’s the case with many cheaper work boots brands.

If you’re on a low budget and you can’t buy good quality work boots one thing you can do to compensate for the lack of comfort is to buy better, more comfortable insoles.

Many of the insoles I wear have arch support and comfortable heel cup plus cushioning under my feet.

So if your boots hurt your underfoot a good solution for both, people on a low budget and people wearing orthopedic boots, is to get your hands on a better pair of insoles.

Last notes

So if you’re new work boots are killing your feet is probably because one of these reasons:

• Tough upper materials used on the upper
• Soles are too stiff
• Factory defects
• They’re not the right boots for the tasks you’re doing or the environment you’re working on
• Or simply you bought poorly made work boots in order to save some money

I’ve experienced all of the above in my working lifetime and I’ve always find a solution for each one of the above situation. Try some of the tricks I’ve used myself over the years and hopefully one of these is going to fix the issue:

• Use leather conditioners to smoothen the leather and make it more comfortable
• Try to strech them a little bit
• Wear wool socks
• Use better quality insoles

Let me know if this was helpful and also I’d love to hear from you what other reasons you think your new work boots might hurt your feet and maybe what you did to resolve the problem (if you could fix it).

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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/why-new-work-boots-hurt-your-feet/