Shoes for work

[Zourous]

I always seem to go through these in what seems like no time. My current pair are doc martins and have lasted just into 4 months and now giant cracks have appeared under the soles so back to puddle skipping again. Not sure if this is normal or not (not the puddle skipping bit but the wear)? I do practically live in them, but a large majority of my walking is at work. How does everyone else compare? Is there any other better brand I can go for? Used to always buy POD shoes but they faired about the same.

[synaesthesia]

I always avoid shoes, rather like suits & ties they're not particularly practical with the job role in mind. I stick with walking boots usually, on my second pair of Karrimor boots; the first lasted well over 18 months and still get used for camping/fishing/rough stuff Good wearing, not massively expensive and not likely to suddenly sprout leaks!

[abillybob]

Same used to happen to me, they get a lot of wear when you wear them day in and out 5 days a week.

 

I decided enough was enough in the end and got myself some black, plain Rockport XCS which have now lasted me well over a year. They are still now pretty battered although they just need a polish more so than anything!

[FishCustard]

I bought some Chelsea boots from Amazon (one pair brown, one black) about five years ago and they're still with me today! I agree with @synaesthesia that boots are probably the way to go, wherever you choose to shop.

[Mako]

I exclusively wear shoes. Black smart shoes, and only leather ones. I avoid rubber-soled shoes like the plague. A pair will last about a year before I get them resoled, and usually with a steel heel cap to prolong their life even further. I've gone through maybe four pairs in my 10-something years.

[LeMarchand]

I always seem to go through these in what seems like no time. My current pair are doc martins and have lasted just into 4 months and now giant cracks have appeared under the soles so back to puddle skipping again. Not sure if this is normal or not (not the puddle skipping bit but the wear)? I do practically live in them, but a large majority of my walking is at work. How does everyone else compare? Is there any other better brand I can go for? Used to always buy POD shoes but they faired about the same.

 

I used to get the same problem and had to retrain myself as I think the cracked sole problem is largely caused by thick soles not liking being bent for long periods of time when you balance on the soles of your feet (e.g. when crouching down). I try to keep my feet flat and the soles seem to wear with use rather than crack at the bend point.

[jdoyle]

I currently use dark Karrimor/Salomon trail shoes, partly as I have a 1.6mile walk from the car park to the desk and then back. Nice and comfortable. Get a reasonable life out of them.

[IrritableTech]

I've had similar trouble. The last two years I've bought Grafters Contractor 4 eye safety shoes and they've lasted almost exactly a year until they crack along the ball of my foot. This year I decided to get some Grafter Uniform Safety Shoes which have very similar soles to Dr Martens they've split in the last week - I started wearing them in January :-(

[synaesthesia]

Another issue I have with posh shoes is the smell. Oh god, the smell! I have a hell of a lot of foot surface area to generate sweat

[DJ-1701]

I always seem to go through these in what seems like no time. My current pair are doc martins and have lasted just into 4 months and now giant cracks have appeared under the soles so back to puddle skipping again. Not sure if this is normal or not (not the puddle skipping bit but the wear)? I do practically live in them, but a large majority of my walking is at work. How does everyone else compare? Is there any other better brand I can go for? Used to always buy POD shoes but they faired about the same.

 

Are you me?

 

It seems getting reliable footwear is getting harder and harder these days. Shoes don't seem to last me half a year now, got some new shoes 4 months ago and they have almost had it...

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/168978-shoes.html

[SamanthaD]

+1 for Karrimor boots. The only time I don't wear them is when I have to wear steels for site visits. Tried a pair of Skechers and although they were really comfy, they only lasted 5 months!

[kennysarmy]

Skechers - so comfortable...

[Mewdewgooboofoo]

Skechers - so comfortable...

 

too right Skechers with memory foam souls best shoes i bought ever!

[hardtailstar]

I was forced to buy an expensive pair in the local show shop as my last pair broke and the shops in town were closed.

 

Probably the best money ive spent on work shoes, they were around £50 for a pair of Padders.

 

The only issue ive got is that they are a bit scuffed but are so comfortable.

 

had them for about 2 years.

[sparkeh]

Another one for Karrimor. Dead comfy and last ages.

[DSapseid]

I wear smart shoes and am currently in a bad cycle of buying cheap ones from Sainsburys/Tesco/Matalan etc. They only last me about 3months max before they need to go in the bin as ive worn the soles out and im almost walking bare foot. I really need to invest in a better pair that last longer!!

[john]

I wear some black Timberland Boots, from the EarthKeepers range rather than the more traditional style boots I wear them daily and have a bit of a trek both ends of my commute on the hard pavements of London and get 18 months of so out of them before the tred has worn. I got 18 months on my last ones an only swapped them as the snow and ice left me skating a bit too much so still have them and can wear them just ensure its a non-ice day!

[SHimmer45]

M&S shoes chunky type lasting well so far and i am rather heavy on footwear due to how i walk, before that a few pairs of clark's which i brought from a local outlet

[caffrey]

My tredair from the original shoe thread are still going great - if you can get some cheap they are worth getting

[MatthewL]

I currently wear these. I get them bought for me, go through a pair a year give or take but they do get some hammer. They cost us about £30 from a local tool shop, I find them really comfy with some support, lots of the others tend to go for the shoe version but there not for me.

 

I do have some smart leather shoes from Tesco I wear from time to time but the daily messy work is these, even tend to wear them out of work as they are comfy too.

[mikeprice]

I tend to wear smart black shoes for work. I also tend to be really heavy on shes as I walk funny.

 

I have found that Clarks are hard to beat - they wear well (only shoes that I can make last a year) and keep looking good for ages - unlike some cheap ones that look like you play football in them after a week!

I normally keep an eye on the local shop and check out the sales - otherwise the prices are pretty high

 

for none smart - I agree with the idea of walking shoes/boots - I have some from mountain Warehouse that I can't seem to wear out - I have had them for years and put them through hell - first pair now look scruffy due to abuse - second pair look fine after several years of heavy wear and abuse

[arwen]

I used to live in my dr marten (various pairs) and not once had a fully cracked sole... Have you got a picture? Most sole problems can be fixed on dr martens by simply melting the two sides back together - I once sliced down the side of the sole on one pair with a knife by accident. 5 min with a light and you would barely have known there was damage there.

 

I moved away from dr marten due to their questionable quality standards these days. (my shiny purple boots ended up being black after all the shiny purple rubbed off them in a matter of months...) I now wear Altbergs or normal walking shoes.

[john]

(my shiny purple boots ended up being black after all the shiny purple rubbed off them in a matter of months...)

 

 

Don't tell @Little-Miss that she will be upset that it may hit her purple sparkley Dr Martins

[3s-gtech]

I found the quality of DMs collapsed 20 years ago - I used to have them for school. Each pair would last a year, and I'd outgrow them before they split. Then my last pair were ruined within weeks of having them. Switched to Caterpillar after that, typically getting several years of heavy use (5 days a week) but you pay for that quality.

 

Currently on a spree of cheap but comfy shoes. Watching this thread with interest.

[Dos_Box]

I wear Karrimore stuff from SD. My latest pair of boots have lasted almost 3 years with extensive wear but will need replacing soon.

I'm also a fan of Clarkes outdoor (walking) shoes, very, very comfy and waterproof to boot - https://www.clarks.co.uk/Mens-Shoes/Gore-Tex/c/m185

Not cheap, but well worth the money as they last.