Very Particular Features in Work Boots

[gatlibs]

Made in U.S.A., steel toe, steel shank (prevent nails), and some decent form of metatarsal guard, with low to preferably no heel drop in a set of leather uppers.

Can anybody thread the eye of this needle? I've sent this to several brands of U.S. boot manufacturers on tonight in addition to this posting. I've been fine with the five pairs of Redwings that I have. Each is the same style with a different feature i.e. soft toe, steel toe, insulated, steel toe and metatarsal guard, and one shorter set. These have served me well. I don't particularly like having heel drops. I'm not riding horses; therefore, I'm just teetering forward with no benefit. My problem with these boots came on today with a nail in my foot thru the souls and shank. I like to be able to catch things from touching the floor or ground with the boots which is why both steel toes and guards for the metatarsals are needed.

 

[rlitman]

...I don't particularly like having heel drops. I'm not riding horses; therefore, I'm just teetering forward with no benefit. My problem with these boots came on today with a nail in my foot thru the souls and shank. I like to be able to catch things from touching the floor or ground with the boots which is why both steel toes and guards for the metatarsals are needed.

I'm not sure what you mean by teetering forward. Work boots generally have two sole shapes. Defined heal has a heel that sticks out. Wedge soles have no heel stick-out. Both have the same heel rise though. About 3/4" in most men's boots. The defined heel is a required safety feature for people climbing ladders (among other thing things you've noticed), whereas the wedge sole is made to not catch on things on the ground (a requirement for postal workers for example).

As for nail protection, steel shank is one option. If you want something more flexible (better for walking, worse for ladder work), I remember owning a pair of boots that had overlapping ceramic pieces in the shank, much like fish scales, that had the flexibility of a shank-less sole, but actually had a wider protection zone from nails than steel shanks.

 

[gatlibs]

I'm not sure what you mean by teetering forward. Work boots generally have two sole shapes. Defined heal has a heel that sticks out. Wedge soles have no heel stick-out. Both have the same heel rise though. About 3/4" in most men's boots. The defined heel is a required safety feature for people climbing ladders (among other thing things you've noticed), whereas the wedge sole is made to not catch on things on the ground (a requirement for postal workers for example).

As for nail protection, steel shank is one option. If you want something more flexible (better for walking, worse for ladder work), I remember owning a pair of boots that had overlapping ceramic pieces in the shank, much like fish scales, that had the flexibility of a shank-less sole, but actually had a wider protection zone from nails than steel shanks.

If the heel is higher than the toes, then the body is always lurched forward. Having a defined heel or not doesn't change that.

 

[rlitman]

If the heel is higher than the toes, then the body is always lurched forward. Having a defined heel or not doesn't change that.

That's fine, but work boots don't come in a flat sole that I am aware of.

 

[Ton ton]

Have you checked out the Merrill Ontario shoes?

 

[kctyphoon]

Thorogood wedge soles maybe.
youd have to look for individual features, but my flat bottom boots are much more comfortable IMO. They are leather upper, wedge sole, composite toe, emperor toe model.

I believe keen is also making flat bottom boots now too.

You might have to give up “steel”.. many places have moved on to composite toe’s and fiberglass shanks. They are lighter and dont get as cold. Nothing but benefit there if you ask me, but you may not agree.

Pretty sure these are the exact model i have.
Thorogood 804-4655 Men's American Heritage 6" Emperor Toe, MAXWear Wedge Composite Safety Toe Boot, Tobacco Oil-Tanned - 8 D(M) US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AYDE0YU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Just to help, Thorogood has at least 3 toe options. Moccasin , round, and emperor. You’ll find mixed reviews on the comfort on the boxed style Moccasin style. From my understanding, round is more like a standard style, and the Emperor gives you more room. I picked the Emperor.

I guess the guard you want is a lace type of guard? I dunno, they might have an option. I’d be more concerned with comfort. Finding all those options are worthless if they bother your feet.

 

[gatlibs]

Have you checked out the Merrill Ontario shoes?

No, but I have sent that company the same thing that I've been sending others.
"Are any of your boots made in U.S.A., Steel Toed, Steel Shanked, with metatarsal guards? Preferably with no heel drop."

 

[gatlibs]

Finding a boot without heel drop is unlikely. I added that feature because I would like it. I haven't found a boot without one. I could forego an impact guard provided that the uppers we're good leather. That gives some protection.
It is difficult for me to accept the idea of anything preventing what just happened hours ago except steel. I can easily imagine a galvanised steel nail piercing fiberglass.

 

[neophyte]

There are stainless steel insoles you can get to line boots and shoes, to help prevemt puncture wounds to your feet.
The insoles are listed at McMaster-Carr as “Puncture-Protection Shoe and Boot Insoles”
The insoles are near the bottom of the footwear safety section.

https://www.mcmaster.com/clothing

 

[gatlibs]

There are stainless steel insoles you can get to line boots and shoes, to help prevemt puncture wounds to your feet.
The insoles are listed at McMaster-Carr as “Puncture-Protection Shoe and Boot Insoles”
The insoles are near the bottom of the footwear safety section.

https://www.mcmaster.com/clothing

I have ordered a set of these. I'll know whether I still need to order new boots or not.

 

[connorm]

My head mechanic has flat soled redwings he loves, just throwing that out there. I believe thorogood (sp?) also makes boots with flat soles. (Flat soles as in no defined heel, it's higher in the back like pretty much every footwear that isn't a slipper or sandal.)

Ever since I switched from timberland-style work boots in HS to loggers I haven't looked back, even doing masonry, landscaping, and working as a mechanic, so take my 2c on a whim.

 

[DuBois]

If the heel is higher than the toes, then the body is always lurched forward. Having a defined heel or not doesn't change that.

There is not a fixed relationship between the orientation of your feet and the orientation of your body. Your hips, knees, and especially ankles can all flex to keep your body from lurching forward (or backward) if the ball of your foot is lower (or higher) than your heel. This is a good thing, otherwise we would all fall over any time we tried to walk up or down more than a gentle incline.

A neutral position for your foot to shin angle is not 90 degrees. For instance, if you sleep on your side or dangle your foot in water the toes will be pointed 'down' relative to the shin. Having a heel in your boot helps keep your foot closer to that neutral position. If you find heels cause you to lurch forward, you may have an underlying issue you might want to get looked at.

 

[gatlibs]

There is not a fixed relationship between the orientation of your feet and the orientation of your body. Your hips, knees, and especially ankles can all flex to keep your body from lurching forward (or backward) if the ball of your foot is lower (or higher) than your heel. This is a good thing, otherwise we would all fall over any time we tried to walk up or down more than a gentle incline.

A neutral position for your foot to shin angle is not 90 degrees. For instance, if you sleep on your side or dangle your foot in water the toes will be pointed 'down' relative to the shin. Having a heel in your boot helps keep your foot closer to that neutral position. If you find heels cause you to lurch forward, you may have an underlying issue you might want to get looked at.

Of course the body is constantly correcting for the forward positioning. The body's neutral position does not have a heel drop from a boot because the body doesn't have a boot... I'm really not sure what else to say about that. Maybe thinking in the extreme would help you. Neutral would be nothing but flat terrain below the feet. Extreme high would be a woman's high heeled shoe. Extreme low isn't something that I've ever seen. The closer that one gets to high is falling forward. The closer to low is falling backward. Yes, to prevent that the body compensates by doing something unnatural. You wouldn't stand on an hill all day long when you could walk to a flat area. Having your body in a non-natural position in a weight bearing stance all day while working is awful silly. I'd argue that if somebody needs a correction to help be in a neutral position, then he is likely to have an underlying issue. It's quite ridiculous to think that if someone basically doesn't need a prosthesis that he has an underlying issue.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you've liked the Red Wings you already have, take a look through the Red Wing catalog - they sell a whole bunch of different style boots and shoes, there may be something else in there that meets your needs.

 

[Kaizen]

No, but I have sent that company the same thing that I've been sending others.
"Are any of your boots made in U.S.A., Steel Toed, Steel Shanked, with metatarsal guards? Preferably with no heel drop."

Might want to call. Who knows if anyone is monitoring the email address you sent that to


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Legion Prime]

Of course the body is constantly correcting for the forward positioning. The body's neutral position does not have a heel drop from a boot because the body doesn't have a boot... I'm really not sure what else to say about that. Maybe thinking in the extreme would help you. Neutral would be nothing but flat terrain below the feet. Extreme high would be a woman's high heeled shoe. Extreme low isn't something that I've ever seen. The closer that one gets to high is falling forward. The closer to low is falling backward. Yes, to prevent that the body compensates by doing something unnatural. You wouldn't stand on an hill all day long when you could walk to a flat area. Having your body in a non-natural position in a weight bearing stance all day while working is awful silly. I'd argue that if somebody needs a correction to help be in a neutral position, then he is likely to have an underlying issue. It's quite ridiculous to think that if someone basically doesn't need a prosthesis that he has an underlying issue.

I'm not really sure that bending at the ankle is "unnatural." It in fact seems to be one of the things that the ankle is meant to do. If having a bit of a rise in your footwear is causing you to fall forward perhaps you have an inner ear issue that should be checked out as several hundred million people in this country alone seem to be able to manage it on a daily basis. I might also recommend making an appointment with your podiatrist and seeing what he has to say on the matter. He'd be rather well qualified to make recommendations and address any concerns you might have.