I will be switching jobs soon and will be 10 hours on concrete with probably half standing, half walking.

What are you factory/maintenance guys wearing?

Doesn't have to be a safety toe shoe.

Seeing a lot of good reviews on Skechers and Timberlands. Both look like a tennis shoe style.

Not sure about the Skecher but I know for sure the Timberland is a safety toe.

Red Wings

Georgia hammers

Been wearing them for year’s

Try a pair on

I’m not buying redwings or the name brand

Georgia gets my money.

I wear Red Wing 6 inch, King Toe, composite toe, waterproof boots.

Because I have freakishly wide toes. They are the only thing that
fit. And I buy through a store that specializes in quality, work shoes.

Need a safety toe.
And they only carry the waterproof version.

Very comfortable on concrete. The #1 seller for Red wing, I'm told.

Judging by research I have done, due to my feet,
Thorogood Boots have an excellent reputation for comfort.

i'm sure somebody will be along to recommend thorogoods. i have not tried them but will be buying a pair of slipons before winter.

It depends on the size of your foot. I have wide feet and find that Keen shoes fit me the best without having to go longer to get the width.

Those suck.

Try the Georgia hammers

Trust me

Had a pair because everybody I know loves em.

Never worn such an uncomfortable boot in my life. Soles as hard as a wedding dick and no padding in the tongue.

Quality built for sure but no go working/walking on asphalt all day, at least not for my feet.

Tossed em after 6 months of feeling as uncomfortable as the day I bought em.

New job will have a lot of standing in 1 spot.

Should add, inside work.

Be inside of a factory doing building maintenance and production machine repair.

Must a wedge sole if wearing a boot.

I think I am looking at more of a shoe style for now.

I've been wearing the moc toed Thorogoods with a wedge sole for the last 15 years. I buy the extra thick insole also. They wear well with very little break in needed. I am typically in them at least 16 hrs a day. Haven't.found anything more.comfortable for long days on concrete and steel than they are for me.

If I didn't require steel toes and metatarsal prot. I'd wear these. Carolina CA5020 Link at Northern Tool

They are my preferred casual/street boot and I wear them most of the time when I'm not working or in sandals
They wear well, and are available in almost every size imaginable. I wear 16EEs

They will not last forever. At my weight and wear rate I consider myself to be doing good to wear a pair for 10 months or so. They are a light weight imported boot, and are priced accordingly. I usually keep a new pair ready to go in my den closet.
As noted, very reasonably priced for today's boot market

Edit; anyone needing larger or odd sizes would be well advised to acquaint themselves with The Shoe Box in Black Earth, Wisconsin. Amazing place with the best service you'll find anywhere.

For long days on your feet consider two pair of boots.

Change every other day or 1/2 way through the shift.

Your feet, back and rest of your body will thank you.

Keene is known for wide fit.

Didn't work for Freak Foot.
My toes don't taper in.
They maintain full width to the end.
Except for my Rattlesnake headed big toe.
It actually sticks our about 3/16" over the plane of the ball of the foot.

Hoffmans!!!

The last time I did factory work I bought two pairs of mid ankle, composite toe ,sneaker type shoes. I am not picky about brands and I wear a 15 B, so tough to find boots. A local shoe store always has 50% off second pair. While I did not need toe protection I like it for working on my knees. I also bought two pair of work boots from Rocky, both lasted me quite awhile and the price was right.

I've been pleased with my Keens

My system is: 1. Go to an actual Redwing store. 2. Have them fit you with two pairs of US made Redwings. 3. Keep them at the shop, don't wear them back and forth or for other things. 4. Wear them on alternate days.

Nothing says "stupid" like someone working in an industrial environment (especially concrete floors, the old oak shop floors being pretty rare now) in a pair of sneakers or hiking boots.

The old oak block floors are nice, and they predominate the facility I work in, outside of the molten metal/ingot plant where i work.

You might be surprised, as I was, to see how many types of shoes are available and rated for work in molten metal shops today. Including those that look like tennis shoes or hiking boots

I've been wearing those daily for years. Like you I have an extra brand new pair in the closet waiting for when the ones on my feet wear out. I also have a pair of the 400 gram insulated version of that boot for winter. They are the most comfortable boots I've been able to find and I've had Red Wing, Thorogood, Georgia and Chippewa.

I never heard of them so I just looked them up. Nice looking boot... are they made in USA?

Red Wing

Glad to hear someone is having good luck with Redwings. I've occasionally bought Redwings for work boots over the years and they fell apart on me within a few weeks every time, or stretched out to the point I couldn't wear them, or some stupid thing....

I work on concrete a lot and I always bought Danners with the shock absorbing midsole cushion in them. Only a few of their boots have this feature any more but it really helps when standing and working on concrete all day long. And my Danners usually lasted me as long as any boots I've ever worn. My last couple pairs of Danners were the GTX with the NMT , which was required at almost all jobs now...

Red wings

I wear Thorogoods. USA made.

I spend about 10 hrs on concrete each day in a factory.


I’ve turned others on the thorogoods boots and they love them too.

The others....

Hell nah I ain’t spending $240 on a pair of boots.

Well scooter, you about about 1/3 of your day on your feet. Why not be comfortable??

Rock on with your Brahmas that you replace every 6 months cause the side is blown out.

If this is the case, you’re doing something seriously wrong.

Same problem here. My foot looks like a damned duck's foot. Normal heel width but super wide toes. I will have to try the red wing king toes, next pair of boots I get.

Keenes weren't even close to fitting me either.

For me I went a different route. Currently working 10hr days on concrete. I went with a cheaper pair of Red Wings, then took out the insoles and replaces them with a pair of Aetrex insoles. Absolutely love them, had some fatigue the first few days ( as can be expected) but now I barely mind it at the end of the day! They are a bit on the pricy side, but worth every penny in my opinion.

Myself as well. I spend my days standing/working/walking on concrete, asphalt, gravel, steel grating and scafolding with a good selection of ladders mixed in. They are very comfortable and wear well. I'm on my 3rd pair with no intention to switch unless I hit a snag with them.

My area of operation. Pic taken from a crane man basket doing work on stack tip.

Steel toes are probably going to be mandatory by the sound of job description, and that in itself is going to leave out finding a good fit. So wear your normal every day boot sock, and before trying them on insert any cushioned insole you plan on using, then get them large enough to where they're comfortable when tied up tight, and with both on walk around the store a good deal if they aren't reasonably comfortable in the store, they won't be on the job either. Your feet are going to swell, so you want to allow for that also. I've used Redwings, but they take a long time to break in. Found it best to wear a new pair for a few hours a day and your old pair for the remainder. Then every chance you get, while on breaks take the damn boots off and let your feet cool down and dry in the air. It'll wind up being how well you take care of your feet more than the boots. That being said, I've seen a lot of people with their toes cut off by wearing those damn steel toed boots. I avoided wearing them when I could get away with it.

Phil

Safety toes not required, already asked about boots and dress code.

I agree and I wear them myself, but in my opinion you have to buy the USA made. The others don't last...

I spent much of my working years on a machine shop floor in front of a lathe or a mill. Redwing are the way to go. Go to a real Readwing store and listen to what they tell you.

Hell no just like most the crap you buy. But they are comfy and would wear them daily. I actually do. Try them

I get a boot allowance at work. Every year, I buy the same Wolverine 6" black steel toed boots. I'm nowhere near 10hours a day on concrete anymore, but when I was I was happy with them-- with the following provisos:

1) I wear two layers of sock. I have an inner sock that's there to remove friction and keep the water wicked. Walmart white dress socks do a remarkably good job. The second layer is a thick, cushiony hiking sock.
2) I buy $20 insoles that have extra arch support.

The boots barely look worn after a year, so I have several reserve pairs. My plan is to keep buying boots like this until I retire and then coast for the next 20 years. About every 5 years, I toss the oldest pair. I just got my newest pair last week. I probably will leave them untouched until Christmas.

Spent 95% of my working life ( spent some time driving) on my feet; much of it on concrete. I wore whatever didn't fit too bad. In my early sawmill years, I wore running shoes but when OSHA showed up, had to switch to boots. Wore boots in the woods. When I started working in machine shops I wore steel toed boots because they were mandated. In the gunsmith shop, I wore and wear whatever I want. I think the most important thing is to keep moving. Do some squats; raise yourself up on your toes. Bend and stretch throughout the day. Do some pushups. Keep your circulation moving! This will do more for you than the finest in footwear. GD

You’re such a good listener.

If you are going to be on your feet all day get a pair of arch support insoles. Gel is a nice plus, but the real goal is arch support. You want your weight to be distributed over your entire foot, not just the ball and heel.

You'll never go wrong with some Whites.

This is a good tip. I've bought a few pairs of specialty moisture wicking inner socks, and I can't tell a bit of difference in their performance from cheap nylon dress socks.