A fun article about finding steel toed boots a.k.a. safety boots a.k.a. work boots etc. Whichever you may wanna call it.
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Forget laces
If you’re a worm hand, don’t even think about getting lace up boots. Trudging around in ankle-deep mud and water will gum up those things faster than you can imagine. And nothing will ruin your day faster than realizing that your cheap lace-up Wal-Mart boot, just isn’t gona cut it. It won’t take long before your back at the store looking for pull-on boots.
I made this exact mistake of buying some cheap Wal-Mart lace-up boots on my first day…. and I couldn’t throw them away fast enough. The very next day I drove into town and bought myself some pull-on redwings…. And never looked back.
Remember this if you remember anything
Don’t worry about looking stylish out there, because just like in the office, there’s no guy on the planet that cares what kind of boots you’re wearing. Go For Comfort. I can’t emphasize this enough.
When your trying boots on in the store, you should try to buy them about ½ a size too small. This will allow you to break them in without having your ankle slip around too much. A boot that’s too big is just as bad as an uncomfortable one.
Heel/Sole pads
These boots are gonna take a beating, and when they take a beating.. so do you. When you think about this, think about getting shoe inserts?
To be clear, im not telling you to go out and get some Dr. Scholls $60 gel pads, that’s just stupid. I never used anything expensive.. just some old heel inserts that my brother gave me, and trust me they make a difference.
- Waterproof
The first day you get water in your boots will most certainly be the last day it happens. Once it does, it’s hard to get them to dry out before your next shift in 12 hours. Not to mention how miserable you’ll be for the rest of your tower. Take it from me, it’s not fun. Save yourself the headache and get waterproof boots.
Oil Slip Resistant
Look for an ‘Oil Slip Resistant’ label on the shoe. The rig floor can get really slippery if you don’t have the right kind of ‘slip resistant’ materials.
Oil Slip Resistant
Look for an ‘Oil Slip Resistant’ label on the shoe. The rig floor can get really slippery if you don’t have the right kind of ‘slip resistant’ materials.
- Don’t
Some quality brands
Red wing: The most common rig boot, but commonly the most expensive. I have worn the Pecos waterproof & insulated boot and loved it. I wasn’t so fond of the heel though, I may have gotten them to big. I wear the 2499 boot right now and love them.
Muck Boots: Arctic Sport Steel Toe Costing around $140, this rubber work boot is a great option for colder climates
Timberland: They make a good work boot.
Wolverine: You won’t see a ton of these in the field, but a friend of mine wears them and says he will never wear anything else… they must be doing something right.
Conclusion
It’s tough to throw down $100 – $250 dollars on a new pair of work boots. Even tougher when your broke (like I was). But making the right boot choice is important. It’s an important investment that you should consider when working on a rig.. or anywhere in the oilpatch.
Red wing: The most common rig boot, but commonly the most expensive. I have worn the Pecos waterproof & insulated boot and loved it. I wasn’t so fond of the heel though, I may have gotten them to big. I wear the 2499 boot right now and love them.
Muck Boots: Arctic Sport Steel Toe Costing around $140, this rubber work boot is a great option for colder climates
Timberland: They make a good work boot.
Wolverine: You won’t see a ton of these in the field, but a friend of mine wears them and says he will never wear anything else… they must be doing something right.
Conclusion
It’s tough to throw down $100 – $250 dollars on a new pair of work boots. Even tougher when your broke (like I was). But making the right boot choice is important. It’s an important investment that you should consider when working on a rig.. or anywhere in the oilpatch.
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