If you work in construction sites, oil refineries, industries, or heavy-duty workplaces, wearing a pair of work boots is a must. You will probably wear the work boots for 8 hours a day and 5 days a week, or even more during overtime. While wearing the boots is compulsive to ensure safety to your ankle, toe, heel, and entire feet, it also brings a few important questions in front of us, particularly when you wear the work boots for too long.
These questions are, “Is it bad to wear work boots every day? Is it bad to wear work boots too long?” A few workers will even ask, “Are there any consequences of wearing work boots?”
Luckily, you may wear work boots all day long and every day without consequences if it has the right fit. Thus, you should choose a pair of rightly fitted and comfortable work boots to ensure the safety and relaxation of your feet, every day and any time.
It means the work boot needs to fit your feet ergonomically, and also, it should offer proper support right at where your feet need it. Plus, the work boot needs to have proper balance and flex to allow natural feet movement. When your work boot ticks all these boxes, wearing them throughout the day won’t be bad. In fact, it will improve your safety and relieve you from different foot conditions such as sciatica, bunions, etc.
Nonetheless, if you experience foot pain and swelling due to your work boots, the chances are high that it lacks appropriate support and cushioning. Also, it might be due to improper fitting.
Is It Bad To Wear Work Boots Every Day
There’s no harm in wearing work boots every day as long as you choose the right fit and they are made with the right material, cushioning, and comfy features. The work boot you choose should have a good midsole and insole to offer your feet a nice and cozy feel with every step you take. Also, it mustn’t be too rigid. The boot needs to have enough flex to allow natural foot movement of your feet. Plus, it must offer optimal ankle and heel support.
The key is to get a work boot with the right fit. If your work boot doesn’t fit your feet perfectly, it will be a punishment for your feet. If the boot doesn’t fit anatomically to your feet, it will cause fatigue, stress, swelling, and at times, severe pain to your feet.
Thus, you might develop foot conditions. It includes bunion, sciatica, heel spur, claw toe, athletic toe, plantar fasciitis, etc.
Long story short, a boot, be it a work boot or fashion boot, can be bad for your feet for the following situations:
- If it has incorrect sizing
- It feels uncomfortable
- It lacks the support your feet needs
It brings us to another important aspect of the work boot. What to look for in work boots for everyday use? We have researched it and found that the following points are must-haves for wearing work boots daily without any noticeable discomfort.
- The work boot must have good cushioning and a footbed to provide adequate comfort.
- The work boot must be good-quality to offer the right arch support for comfy use.
- It should have a good shock and impact absorption facility with the necessary support.
Although these points are self-explanatory, we think a deep discussion will help you understand it better and find the right boots for your feet.
Work Boots Must Have Proper Cushioning And Footbed For Comfort:
Let’s face the fact that your feet will work in demanding conditions for 8 hours a day, and it deserves maximum comfort. And the comfort of your feet largely depends on the cushioning and footbed design and arrangement of the boot.
The footbed stays between the insole and sole of the shoes and controls its padding largely. If the structure lacks support and flexibility, it will cause severe discomfort and swelling to your feet. The key is to get a footbed that will match the natural shape of your feet. That’s why, when you look at the worn-out footbed of your work boot, you will see a footprint on it.
The footprint impression suggests that the footbed has molded according to your foot shape. Thus, the footbed becomes cushier to maximize your support and comfort as the work boot gets older.
Most manufacturers will use natural cork footbeds for their boots. They use it to maximize the durability of the footbed. While it is not a bad choice, the tradeoff is the initial sturdiness that can hurt your feet. So, it is suggested that you give your work boots enough time to break in to avoid such hurting discomfort and pain.
Also, you may choose a footbed made from natural vegetable-tanned leather to avoid the initial consequence of the cork-made cushioning. Also, when you give the boot time to break in and mold to match the natural shape of your feet, it won’t give you a bad feeling in the future.
| Always get a pair of work with proper cushioning and allow it to break in for everyday use without any bad experience. You may hammer the footbed to break it in quickly. |
Never Choose Work Boot With Wrong Fitting:
The large portion of your comfort with the work boot depends on its fitting. The boot must fit anatomically to your feet. It is crucial because different people have different types of feet. Usually, you will see the following foot types and conditions for people’s feet:
- Low-arch feet
- High-arch feet
- Neutral arch feet
- Foot with different conditions such as sciatica, plantar fasciitis, etc.
When you buy your work boot, you will see that these boots have a different design for all of these food types and conditions. For instance, people with a flat arch will benefit from over the arch support of their boots. Physicians may even suggest customized support for flat or high arch feet or workers.
Also, there are specific work boots available for plantar fasciitis, bunions, sciatica, etc. So, before you get your work boot, determine your foot condition and get the boot accordingly. Once you get the right anatomical fit of the work boot, it will never be bad for your feet.
Right Arch Support Is Necessary:
We have already mentioned that work boots need to fit anatomically to different arch types of your feet. Unfortunately, most work boots fail to offer proper arch support and might cause injuries or foot pain in the long run.
But, what is the arch of your foot? It is much like the spring that expands and compresses as you walk or run to help you push with the ball of your feet. When the boot lacks adequate arch support, it will cause pain to the ball of your feet. Mostly, work boots with inappropriate fitting will lack the right arch support you need.
As a thumb of rule, we expect that people will have a neutral arch. It means when they walk, their arch will land perfectly flat on the ground. Unfortunately, most people don’t have a neutral arch. In fact, most people will either have a low arch or a high arch.
People with low arch support will find their ball of the foot moving inward to compensate for the arch movement. It is called overpronation. On the contrary, people with a high arch will see an outward movement of the ball. It is referred to as undepronation or supination.
Therefore, when choosing your work boot, make sure it has the right arch support. Many work boots will mark the arch support on their product label. Thus, you need to check it carefully. If you wear work boots with more or less than required arch support, it might develop serious consequences, and your feet will feel bad about it.
For instance, incorrectly fit work boots with inappropriate arch support boost your supination and overpronation issues. Consequently, it develops plantar fasciitis. You will experience lower leg, knee, and back pain at the worst.
| Always determine your arch type. After that, choose your work booth with proper arch support. It will never be bad for everyday wearing and walking in and outside the workplace when it has an anatomic fit. |
Workboot For Arch Support Suggestion:
There’re many work boots with good arch support for workers. Here we have suggested the top three work boots with arch support to aid you with the cause.
The Ariat Groundbreaker Chelsea Waterproof Steel Toe includes 4LR technology in its insole and has a 90-degree heel. These two features combine for excellent arch support. So, you can wear them all day and every day without any problem. The added cushioning will further improve your comfort while standing and walking in the workplace.
Next up, you can look for Thorogood American Heritage 6” Moc Toe Work Boots. It comes with Poron 4000 cushioning. Also, it has a dual-density footbed. Therefore, it relieves your feet from nasty pain with improved arch support. The boot is stylish and anti-slip for use in demanding conditions.
Finally, Timberland PRO Men’s 6 Inch Boondock Comp Toe Boot too has cushioned and comfy footbed. So, you will love its alleviated arch support during those busy work hours. It lets you wear the work boot every day without issues. Plus, its TPU outsole will take of the slippery surface.
Work Boot With Good Shock-absorbing Ability Is Better For Everyday Use:
Finally, when looking for comfortable and reliable work boots for everyday use, you must look at this shock and impact absorbing ability. Furthermore, it must provide your feet with good heel support. It is as important as the arch support is.
As you walk and run, it’s the heel that takes the maximum toll. It strikes the ground directly and receives the most impact and shock. The ball of your feet follows afterward and pushes the feet forward. So, you need to look for boots that save the heel from such shocks and impacts while landing.
For this, many workers will choose heavier work boots for added cushioning and heel support. However, your feet will experience fatigue and stress too soon if your work boot is too heavy. So, it’s not ideal for wearing all day.
Therefore, you need to balance the work boot weight and heel support. Technically, work boots under 2 pounds will be a great option without compromising the heel support. Also, avoid cheap work boots that claim to have good cushioning but will easily break apart in the workplace.
If your work boot lacks proper shock-absorbing facility and heel support, you will soon experience bruises around your feet. And it can be truly painful during the all-day uses.
Aftermath Of Wearing Inappropriate Work Boots:
When you choose poor-quality work boots for everyday wearing, it comes with a few consequences. An inappropriate pair of work boots will cause several damages to your feet. The most common damages to workers’ feet due to improper work boots include the following conditions.
Back pain:
When you wear poor-quality work boots, you invite back pain. Truly, work boots without adequate arch support will eventually cause foot fatigue and stress that develop into chronic back pain. Also, higher heels and incorrect sizing are responsible for back pain due to work boots.
Chafing:
Chafing refers to a condition when your toe is cramped for space to mimic its natural movement. It happens mostly with steel-toe work boots. Also, if the toe box is too congested, it will cramp the toe in the long run. Thus, the toe will experience too much rubbing with the boot and experience chafing. The best way to avoid chafing is to choose the work boot with the correct size. Check that the toe box is roomier and has space for the toe.
Plantar fasciitis:
Your feet have tissues that run all along the heel-to-toe section. When these tissues face inflammation, we refer to it as plantar fasciitis. When the tissues become inflamed, it is painful. The planter fasciitis again is the cause of inappropriate arch support.
So, always look for a shoe with excellent arch support and cushioning with a comfy footbed. It will be a perfect selection for everyday uses.
Factors to Look For In Work Boot For Everyday Use
You should by now rest assured that work boots aren’t bad for everyday use. But, that’s only true when you choose the right pair of work boots. You will need to consider a few points for this selection.
The correct fit is the key:
First of all, ensure that your work boot has appropriate fitting. If you choose any ill-fitting work boot, it eventually invites different consequences that you would never like. If your boots are too big, your feet will slide down frequently. It may cause damages. On the contrary, your toe will get cramped and cause pain if your boot is too tight.
Thus, look for the right length and width of a work boot. You can look at this shoe size chart to find your right fit quickly.
Never overlook the weight:
The weight of your work boot is as important as the correct fit for everyday wearing. Of course, work boots are heavier due to their safety toe. Nonetheless, you should look for lightweight work boots without any safety and comfort compromise.
Cushioning and footbed:
The cushioning will largely control your comfort for everyday work boots. While most manufacturers will use cork footbeds, it’s absolutely fine. Some work boots have dual-density cushioning that offers better support. Also, ensure that the footbed has optimal flex and responsive facility. It will relieve you from pain and swelling in everyday use.
Slip-resistance, ventilation, and insulation:
The work boot is definitely not good if your feet experience sweating. Also, moisture build-up and sweating aren’t pleasant feelings. Therefore, work boots should include good ventilation and insulation to keep your feet dry and cool.
Also, for workers, anti-slip boots with awesome traction are a must. You will feel more confident with these boots on your feet.
Quality comes first:
Although we have mentioned work boot quality, at last, it tops every point. Your work boot should be made with quality materials and follow standard procedures. Furthermore, work boots with ASTM and OSHA approval will never be bad for your feet.
Work boots with improved lining will add more comfort to your feet. But, low-quality boots will often overlook it and cause pain and fatigue.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why are my work boots uncomfortable?
If your work boots feel uncomfortable, the chances are high that you have chosen the wrong fit for the boots. Also, if the toe is tighter and heavier, you will experience discomfort.
Can tight boots cause nerve damage?
When your work boot is too tight around the heel and toe section, it will cause serious pain and discomfort. It further develops into repetitive stress that can affect the nervous system linked with your feet. So, never choose the wrong size work boots.
Should new boots hurt your feet?
Most work boots take time to break incorrectly. Thus, initially, you may experience blisters and a stiff feel around your feet. However, if the shoe feels like a sturdy leathered cage, you should avoid it.
Final Words
So, is it bad to wear work boots every day? No, it’s not at all.
When you pick the correct work boot size, proper cushioning, adequate arch support, and insulation, you are good to wear work boots 365 days without any pain. However, it is suggested that you alternate between two to three pairs of work boots. It will allow the boots to remain in good condition longer and stop odors. Also, use socks with your boots for improved comfort and nice hugging feel throughout the day.
