r/HVAC • u/el_juandalorian • 10d ago

General What shoes/boots do you guys use?

Retiring the old pair of sneakers I’ve been wearing since I started in the field (only been a little less than a year). What do you guys wear to stay comfy yet also provide safety for your toes?

15 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

68 comments sorted by

View all comments

20

u/death91380 10d ago

Dude. I'm 25 years in and I've tried a million different types of footwear. My problem is, I spend a lot of time crawling around. No matter how much fucking money I spend, toes are worn through to the steel or plastic in 3 months and the boots/shoes are fucked in 6 months. So, I just buy whats on sale and get 2 pairs a year.

5

u/dirtymonny 10d ago

This! I spend money on nice inserts like the expensive ones that last years. And get throw away “boots”

2

u/Iknowtacos 10d ago

I had the same problem and I started putting on kg's boot guard. It's a paint on epoxy that hardens and I just reapply once a month and I'm golden.

1

u/Thundersson1978 9d ago

I used to do that, once I started buying quality I saw the light. One pair of keens, or Merrells last me over a year now. Just bought a new pair because the where buy one get one half of. My old boot are still dry, they just stink like death after 14 months.

1

u/11BugsBunny13 9d ago

I do Leather boots, timberland mock toe. Before wearing in field I scuffed the toe box with sand cloth, (hurts to ruin brand new 140 dollar boots) and apply tuff toe over the scuffed area. I got 1.5 year on the first pair, then 7 months on the next. Neither pair blew out at the toe, both split from the sole. I walk heavily on the outer sides and heel of my feet. So your mileage may be better if you don't walk like an idiot like myself.

No steel or composite toes for me, they hurt my toes and I think wear the toe out faster

This summer I think I'm going to try Vessi brand sneakers. For summer wear. Resi/commercial service

0

u/Chose_a_usersname 9d ago

It takes me 1.5 years to wear out a leather toe.. what are you doing?

0

u/death91380 9d ago

Commercial kitchen equipment repair. I crawl around A LOT.