survival of the fittest

[Gary Granger]

I work at a factory as an electrician, and am required to wear 'steel toed' work boots everyday. First the comfort issue. The only reason I don't wear MC boots is my foot is wide (EEE or 4E) and nobody makes a boot that will fit me that I know of. I work 12 hour days on concrete floors and ladders and today's boots are comfortable, you may have to try a few to find what you want. Wolverine durashocks are very nice and come in a slightly-insulated waterproof model. I just got a Rocky brand boot to try that is very similar. These are top quality boots and typically in the $100-$125 a pair range. They also have non-steel composite toes available. I use a titanium toe boot for my everyday boot because it is lightweight and comfortable. There are other materials that meet the standards however. A steel toe will get cold, if that is a concern I have Merino wool socks I got on eBay in a six pack. Not too heavy, just the right warmth to counter-act a cold toe. Crushed toes? We had a guy who got a direct hit on the toe with a giant bar of steel and I was told the steel toe bent in (crushed) and it messed up his foot badly. They had to have the boot cut off at the hospital. Without that steel toe his foot would have been gone. Here is the boot I use for riding and 4 wheeling http://www.wolverine.com/Product/Wolverine/6-inch-BOOTS/Mens/Wolverine-DuraS hocks-Electrical-Hazard-Steel-Toe-Waterproof-6-inch-Boot.aspx W31077 model, I can wear these year round. * - Wolverine DuraShocksR * - 6" Work Boot * - Steel-Toe * - Assembled in USA * - Electrical Hazard * - ThinsulateT Ultra Insulation * - Waterproof Waterproof full-grain leather with rugged pigskin upper. 400-gram ThinsulateT Ultra Insulation adds warmth. Permanent direct-attach construction seals out water. Patented, long-lasting Dri-lexR lining wicks away sweat and keeps skin dry and comfortable. Removable double density footbed adds cushioning and stability. Tough, lightweight polyurethane midsole. Fiberglass shank stabilizes foot, weighs 75% less than steel and reduces fatigue. Steel toe rated ASTM F2413-05 M I/75 C/75 EH. Good luck with your boot search. GG _____ From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Shawn Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 10:22 AM To: Don S Cc: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Steel Toe Boots One other thing to consider - cold weather riding. A steel toe turns into an ice-cube.

On 9/23/06, Don S com> wrote: > Hi Mike. > > If the pressure on the toe is sufficient to crush the steel toe of the boot. Imagine what your toes would look like without the steel toe. They'd be lost regardless. The upside of steel to boot is that you won't stub your toe and will have added protection if you do drop a heavy object on your foot. The downside is the added bulk and weight and limited walking comfort. I personally wear a good quality hiking boot (Vasque). I've had them for twenty years and I bet they have at least 7000 miles on them. They're light, water resistant and very comfortable. They are padded and also offer some protection from stone strikes on gravel roads. Check out some hiking boots to see if they may be a better choice. > > Don > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Gary Granger" wrote:

> I work at a factory as an electrician, and am required to wear

'steel toed'

> work boots everyday.

Been there, done that.

>know of. I > work 12 hour days on concrete floors and ladders and today's boots are > comfortable, you may have to try a few to find what you want.

Yeah, that puzzled me too. My old work boots were as comfortable as any motorcycle boot I've ever worn. More comfortable, actually. I was on my feet for 8+ hours a day while I'd never do that with any motorcycle boot in my inventory.

> other materials that meet the standards however. A steel toe will

get cold,

> if that is a concern I have Merino wool socks I got on eBay in a six

pack.

> Not too heavy, just the right warmth to counter-act a cold toe.

A motorcycle boot gets cold too. Most motorcycle boots are not insulated at all.

> Crushed toes? We had a guy who got a direct hit on the toe with a

giant bar

> of steel and I was told the steel toe bent in (crushed) and it

messed up his

> foot badly. They had to have the boot cut off at the hospital.

Without that

> steel toe his foot would have been gone.

Yeah, when I was first required to wear steel-toe boots, I asked about the old "crushed toe" thingy, and the foreman explained to me that if something hit my foot hard enough to crush the steel toe, my toes would have been turned to a splat on the factory floor without the steel toe. The main problem with work boots is that they're not all that tall, and don't provide as much protection to your lower leg as a good motorcycle boot (especially motocross boots). Not all that much ankle protection either in my experience. But the criticisms given (cold, uncomfortable) were the kinds of criticisms that someone who's worked office jobs all their life would give, or who bought $8 Wal-mart boots and expect those to be the bestest and greatest work boots available, and don't hold up in my experience. -E

[Andrus Chesley]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Norloff" wrote:

> > How can steel-toed boots amputate your toes? Right off, I'd think

anything

> that can collapse the steel protection would have guillotined your

toes if

> you didn't have the steel. MythBusters did a good review of this and > concluded the same thing.

Been wearing them things for many years due do making my living in the oil field all my life. Never heard of or seen someone getting their toes cut off by the steel cup. Have seen the whole toe smashed once when a chain broke and the engine block fell. (this is an engine block from a drilling rig engine so is not small). He lost his toes due to the tissue and bone damage but then without, his amputation would of been lots faster. Andy in Louisiana > Still in the oil patch Sigh!