There's a long standing prejudice in the workforce that the average safety boots are uncomfortable, and that if someone want both comfort and protection he needs to shell out 0 or 0 a pair. Many industries and jobs require safety boots. Features such as a steel toe, slip resistance, waterproof, or electrical hazard rating are necessary for workers in various jobs. Even with modern accident prevention programs in place, foot injuries are one of the more common occurrences. Due to the rough nature of most of these industries, work boots often times don't last more than six months to a year, making a 0 price tag out of the ballpark for most workers. Asking employees to sacrifice comfort for safety is unreasonable. That's why boot manufacturers have invested heavily in research and development for comfortable safety boots that are affordable on nearly any budget.
Work boot wearers are often very territorial about their preferred brand of boot. One may swear that Timberland is the only boot that they'll ever buy, while they give his coworker blisters and calluses. His boot of choice is a Wolverine with their DuraShock pads. To the outsider, this staunch allegiance to one brand or the other may seem asinine, but their is in fact some basis behind it.
The real truth is that everyone's feet are vastly different. This may seem obvious, but it has a huge impact on how shoes and especially work boots fit. More goes into a shoe size than just the size of the foot. There are other factors, such as arch length and foot width. Additionally, everyone has a different walk and a different weight distribution. How weight is positioned on the feet can determine how much padding is needed in different areas.
Not only are feet different, but sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. This goes beyond what most notice, that a size 11 by Timberland is a perfect fit but the Wolverine 11 is a little tight. Shoes are designed to have the right amount of padding and "wiggle room". Width becomes a factor. The height of the sole may make a boot too tight. Finding the perfect shoe isn't quite an art, but there is some science behind it.
Putting on a boot that promises "revolutionary comfort technology" like Wolverine's Durashock, one expects it to solve all their discomfort issues. Like most name brand work boots, these have been carefully designed and manufactured for maximum comfort under even the harshest conditions. They should be comfortable for anyone if fitted properly. However, with impersonal shoe superstores and online buying many people never are correctly fitted. Wearing a boot with an improper fit will negate even the most advanced comfort technologies.
Maybe all of these factors make a play in the territorial nature of the work boot brand. The Timberland wearer finds them most comfortable because they're the best style for his foot. They have padding in all the right places, are the proper width, account for the arch of his foot, and how he stands and walks. These features are great, but for the Wolverine advocate. their Durashock compression pads make the difference for his feet.
The biggest impact on comfort in safety boots isn't, however, the brand. With safety boots, subtle differences like padding thickness and wiggle room can be amplified beyond what they are in an average shoe because the boots are typically heavier and built to be more durable. They're also worn in a rugged, wearing environments. Being professionally fitted for work boots is the biggest factor in comfort. A sales professional should be knowledgeable about the quirks and differences between two boots, and can find the best pair for each individual. He will measure feet and weight distribution using modern technology, proven methods, and experience.
Once properly measured, the shoe salesman will help find the most comfortable boot for the best price. Instead of having to go beyond budget to get the features the worker needs to maximize comfort and safety, he can find great alternatives within his price range. There is nothing wrong with being defensive or territorial about a favorite brand of work boot. Let the shoe professional work his magic, then have a valid backing for this display of favor. Oh, and save money while finding the most comfortable safety boot.
