Simon landed a job as a security guard, which meant he would spend most of his workday standing in one spot. ‘Score,’ he thought, as the chance of him getting injured at work would be minimal. what can possibly injure me if 'm just standing around? He thought.
After two weeks at his new job, Simon felt a little off. He had a sore lower back, was experiencing frequent headaches and having trouble sleeping at night.
After a long shift, feeling sore, tired, and confused, he took himself to the doctor and explained his symptoms. The doctor looked at Simon up and down, then pointed to the cheap-looking pair of boots Simon that he was wearing: “There's your problem”
Our bodies weren't designed to stand for long hours, yet in many industries we find ourselves standing all day! Before you go and have a career change, it's important to realize that there is hope… a good pair of work boots, (designed for workers who spend long hours standing) can do great things for you.
Let me share a bit of knowledge with you about the dangers (yes, dangers!) of standing for long periods, and the type of work boots you should be looking for if you find yourself in a job that requires long shifts of standing.
Our Bodies Weren't Designed To Stand!
Seriously, Man wasn't created to stand still. That's why our bodies are made up of hundreds of muscles (between 656 and 800 to be exact).
And guess what?
Muscles are actually hard at work to hold you upright. Who would have thought?
So, if you wear improper footwear and spend hours upon hours standing, there are serious health effects:
These nasty problems are intensified when you spend hours standing on really dense surfaces- such as concrete, which will not flex under body weight, no matter how heavy you are.
Only when one stands/works on concrete for 8 hours or more do they realize how hard it really is.
Good news, all those terrible health problems we talked about can easily be avoided, and it all starts with your work boots.
Think about it, your feet alone carry your full body weight, so doesn't it make sense that you treat them with what they deserve?
And what they deserve is a pair of extremely comfortable work boots, with features made to help you out when standing for long periods on hard, or soft surfaces.
Timberland PRO boots seem to always make the top 5, and These puppies are our #1 pick for this situation. These boots are full of the typical safety features you would expect from a work boot, along with Anti-Fatigue Technology that absorbs shock and returns energy at key zones of the foot. What does this mean? long-lasting, all-day comfort where you need it most. The unique sole will provide great standing comfort on any surface, and keep you out of harm's way. Read our in-depth review of the endurance boots here.
Wolverine Boots are skyrocketing in popularity- and it'snot going to stop, because they make some damn fine boots. When your looking for comfort, the buccaneer is at the top of its game. It provides extreme flexibility and thick cushioning in the foot bed, which is critical when standing on dense surfaces. The foot-bed has the added bonus of being removable, which means you can throw in some high quality insoles if your really looking for extra support. Available in steel or soft toe, definitely a great choice for someone who spends time standing.
The third work boots on our list are the EVER BOOTS “Tank” Full Grain Insulated Work Boots. These boots feature soft nubuck leather so that you don’t have to suffer through the pain of breaking in a new pair of work shoes. And the built-in mesh insulation will keep your feet warm and comfortable in any weather. These boots also include an anti-fatigue design with a steel shank for additional arch support. EVER BOOTS uses Goodyear Welt to construct their boots for a long lifetime of wear-and-tear. Plus, the oil-resistant outer and heavy-duty rubber sole will ensure that these boots serve you for many working days.
Thorogood American-made boots never fail to produce the goods when it comes to safety work boots, and these heritage 6” moc toe boots are no exception- made for the worker who finds himself doing plenty of overtime. Check out our in-depth review of the American moc-toe boot here.
Designed with your comfort and safety in mind, it has a removable dual-density insole, which again is great if you want to step up the comfort a notch by putting in your own special insoles (although these insoles will do the job, and then some). A fiberglass shank ensures you have maximum ankle support, and the wedge-shaped, abrasion-resistant sole will find the perfect standing angle to help you avoid those nasty muscle aches and pains.
Super comfortable, light, and supportive, these work boots are not to be overlooked.
You have been hiding under a rock if you haven't heard of red wing boots- these guys have been creating work boots for years, and with years of experience, you get better at what you're doing. Click here to read our detailed review of these boots.
Redwing does a great job at combining style with comfort on the job site. The smooth-looking boot consists of high-quality waterproof leather mounted atop a wedge-shaped sole; meaning you can stand in comfort for longer.
Be warned, these boots are renowned for having a typically longer ‘break-in’ period, while they mold to the shape of your feet.
Did you find this article helpful? maybe you have your own recommendation or tips when it comes to those long days standing at work? leave a comment!
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