CAT steel-toes finally gave up the ghost

[SilverFoxKnows]

after being on my feet almost every day for five years. It was a sad day I got another pair. If these last five years of being worn every day I'll be happy.

Frank

 

[Tightwad]

Hmmmm......It's not to well known but any shoe / boot wear out from the INSIDE out long before the
outside is done. Five years on any daily foot wear
is way to long.

No, I'm not kidding. Shoes / boots are designed
to protect and SUPPORT your entire body from the
shocks of normal walking on any surface besides
soft earth. The support part is where 99% of the
people fail to understand that when the shoe
doesn't take the shock it WILL be transmitted up
through your feet, legs & lower back. Shoes
that are worn much beyond a year daily without
rotations are only keeping your feet clean. They
are, in all likelyhood worn out inside.

Got bad, knees , hips or sore feet?? Then look at
your shoes first. Go out and buy two good pair
of AMERICAN MADE boots/ shoes and rotate them
everyday and your Whole body will love you AND
your shoes will really last a lot longer bescause
they get a rest and chance to rebound.

Will this cost you some money?? Yes, it will as
good shoes/ boots cost more that imported shoes.
However, you WILL save money in the long run
when your shoe INVESTMENT pays off for both your
wallet and you body.

 

[tarsier]

Hi Frank, I like steel toe shoes also. I have to wear them every workday, but they're free, and I can get a new pair every year. There is no choice of brands for us though. I also exchange the insole every six months. This helps prevent some of the problems that Tightwad mentioned.

 

[fishbulb]

Originally posted by Tightwad
Got bad, knees , hips or sore feet?? Then look at
your shoes first. Go out and buy two good pair
of AMERICAN MADE boots/ shoes and rotate them
everyday and your Whole body will love you AND
your shoes will really last a lot longer bescause
they get a rest and chance to rebound.

They're not exactly "American Made" but I've come to find that my Dr. Martens are without a doubt the best boots that I've ever owned. Comfortable as can be, and the leather on them would be well at home in a Rolls Royce interior. I'm sure that other makers such as Red Wing or Cat make a good product as well.

Regardless, quality footwear is one of the best purchases you can make both in terms of longevity and comfort. Certainly not the right place to pinch pennies.

Just can't stand steel toes, though.

 

[Ming65]

Originally posted by Tightwad

Go out and buy two good pair
of AMERICAN MADE boots/ shoes.....

Then consign them to your closet, go back out and buy a pair of italian made boots and shoes......

 

[Ravenn]

I've had a pair of Wal mart, off brand hunting boots for over 10 years. "Still" not worn out. Granted the insides look a bit rough,but mole skin will fix that.

I do agree on quality made footwear though. I wear Rockport hikers , my work shoes are Rockys. My last Rocky chukka boots lasted almost 5 years of daily and weekend wear before the padded collar looked so bad, I was ashamed to wear them in public.

 

[firkin]

"Hmmmm......It's not to well known but any shoe / boot wear out from the INSIDE out long before the outside is done. Five years on any daily foot wear is way to long.

No, I'm not kidding. Shoes / boots are designed to protect and SUPPORT your entire body from the shocks of normal walking on any surface besides soft earth. The support part is where 99% of the people fail to understand that when the shoe doesn't take the shock it WILL be transmitted up through your feet, legs & lower back. Shoes that are worn much beyond a year daily without rotations are only keeping your feet clean. They are, in all likelyhood worn out inside."

This is true for a pair of shoes that is built like an "tennis" or "athletic" shoe--the foot is supported by a bunch of rubber/plastic and essentially foam rubber. The flexability of these materials allows the shoe to immediately conform to different shapes of feet, but also insures that they will collapse and wear out quickly. Something that quickly conforms to the foot and yet provides adequate support is not going to do both jobs well. Nearly anthing with glued-on soles fits this description. Unfortunately many relatively expensive boots do too, they just add a metal or composite shank to this construction.

A pair of boots/shoes made the old fashioned way, employing layers of leather carved to match the wearer's foot and arch, is another thing entirely, and can be expected to provide several years of daily wear, as long as the interior can dry properly so that it doesn't rot. If this can't be done then rotation is needed. Support is excellent. At some point the insoles or midsoles will deteriorate enough that they new ones need to be attached to the uppers. (Usually after several years if cared for) Such boots can be rebuilt several times (usually by the maker), as long as the uppers are in good shape. Of course the outersoles can be replaced as often as needed.

Here's a picture:

They are somewhat to quite expensive (around $250 and up--but check out the price of fitted pediatric inserts), and are often constructed on a semi-custom basis or custom-built on a last made from the customers own feet. They need to fit well, there is little tolerance for mis-fitting a hard carved leather insole and arch. The expertise required is rare nowadays, but still can be found. The uppers if cared for can last tens of years, and the rebuild costs less than the price of a new pair of boots. If one's feet aren't one of the measily two widths usually offered or of identical size, such footwear can be worth the added price for proper fit alone. I think that some of the foot/joint problems mentioned occur because many wear shoes that don't fit in the first place. Anything that isn't offered in a full range of widths and sizes is suspect as far as I'm concerned.

100 years ago, most people living outside of cities didn't have the luxury of bying multiple shoes for daily wear/work and expected several years of proper service from them if they were resoled and cared for. Footwear like this can still be found, but it won't be cheap or considered stylish by many.