Has anyone tried firefighter / paramedic duty boots? I don't mean the stiff bunker boots that are worn by firefighters at fires. I'm referring to the boots worn with a regular uniform while on duty. I've been an EMT / paramedic for 27 years and have tried just about every make and style of duty boot made.
Because we work in hazardous environments at fire scenes and car crashes, our boots have to comply with specific OSHA guidelines. And since paramedics tend to come in contact with nasty body fluids and hazardous materials, the footwear also has to be compliant with CDC guidelines.
I've found that Thorogood boots made by Weinbrenner USA ( http://www.weinbrennerusa.com ) are the best. I wear their #804-6191 Commando II boot. It's 8" tall, weatherproof, electrically isolated, steel-toed, and is lace-up and side-zippered. It has a leather "shoe" with a tearproof 1200 denier Cordura nylon ankle area. A Gore-Tex vapor barrier keeps sweating to a minimum.
I've worn them while standing in 3 inches of water for 20 minutes without leakage. They've been caked with mud, drenched in transmission fluid, and covered with battery acid. I just wash them off with soap and water using a pressure washer and they're as good as new. I've walked through broken plate glass and a pile of sharp tin can lids without any damage to the soles. The pair I currently wear is about two years old.
It's also available in an all-leather version (#804-6091).
They cost between $75 and $100.
Mark
CNW534 wrote: Has anyone tried firefighter / paramedic duty boots?
Has anyone tried firefighter / paramedic duty boots?
Mark,
I switching over from the fire/ems service to the railroad, and unfortunately the brand of boots that they issue us are not the best quality and fall apart quickly. Also, I was told by the chief clerk at my future terminal to stay away from ones with the cordura ankle area.
csxengineer98 wrote:myself... the expensive ones are going to ware out just as fast as the cheep ones if you work the yard and are unlucky enought to keep haveing to walk train after train after train becoues of problems..csx egnineer
Penny wise and pound foolish comes to mind. Ya gets what ya pay for.Cheap shoes,insoles and plastic bags, I can feel my feet screaming for mercy.
cyeargin wrote: I switching over from the fire/ems service to the railroad,
I switching over from the fire/ems service to the railroad,
Weird. I'm seriously thinking of doing the same.
I used to break in my boots with a pair of socks stuffed with cotten wast that had som "mink oil" in it just left the socks in the boost when they wernt in use... it worked ok with the work boots we need to wear on our restoration project.
Gunns
I do the plastic bag trick too...have a sleeve of bags used to wrap newspapers I get off the local newspaper boy...during the short cold weather we have, slip one over my socks, and it traps the body heat quite well.
Dosnt do a thing to keep any rain out, but as long as my feet are warm, I can deal with the rain.
23 17 46 11
RABEL wrote: csxengineer98 wrote:myself... the expensive ones are going to ware out just as fast as the cheep ones if you work the yard and are unlucky enought to keep haveing to walk train after train after train becoues of problems..csx egnineer Penny wise and pound foolish comes to mind. Ya gets what ya pay for.Cheap shoes,insoles and plastic bags, I can feel my feet screaming for mercy.
the inexpensive way has served me well for the past 2 years that i have been a flowed back yard foreman beating the baslist night after night... my feet dont hurt anymore then someone that spent hundereds of bucks on an expensive pair of boots... your going to get the same milage out of them either way... the balist will destory boots in no time...csx engineer
I guess we have a difference of opinion and experiences.
tree68 wrote: Don't forget socks - wish I could tell you the best kind to wear, but I'm sure the experts will help. I wear cotton under my EMS workboots while doing my railroad work - but I'm not T&E and my time on the ballast/climbing/etc is limited. When I do upgrade, I'll be looking at some more suitable boots.
Don't forget socks - wish I could tell you the best kind to wear, but I'm sure the experts will help. I wear cotton under my EMS workboots while doing my railroad work - but I'm not T&E and my time on the ballast/climbing/etc is limited. When I do upgrade, I'll be looking at some more suitable boots.
FWIW, I'd look around for a couple pairs of Thor-lo hiking socks. They aren't cheap (been awhile since I bought any...but I think they were around $16.00 a pair), but they're good. They breathe very well, are comfortable, and I have yet to get any blisters while out hiking (and that includes a 17 mile trip up Long's Peak with more than a mile of elevation gain over tallus slopes that make ballast seem like a walk in the park). They also offer various thermal levels, so you can adjust to changing weather (although I only use the Middle-weight (which is advertised spring/fall) and heavy-weight (winter)...the summer ones seem a little too light for my purposes).
Also, in addition to weatherproofing as the others have mentioned, you might think about getting a set of boots with Gore-Tex lining if you foresee yourself getting very wet. It may be overkill for your purposes, and it isn't cheap (my hiking boots cost me about $225), but I've set up tripods in creeks and such, and as long as the water doesn't get higher than my ankle, my feet stay dry. I still waterproof my boots, too, as it seems to help them last a bit longer.
Not quite a railroader's perspective, but definately from someone who appreciates his feet and tries to take care of them!
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
What??? No Sketchers???
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
jeaton wrote: What??? No Sketchers???
I am afraid not. The railroad has approved certain vendors and certain styles. You must choose between those vendors and style. UP will paid 1/2 the price for one pair per year.
You are on your own for the socks. But the ThorLo s work best for me. They are expensive but outlast everything else.
I'll have to swim upstream a bit as usual. In my experience (T&E) as both an Engineer and a Conductor/Trainman I have worn Redwings extensively and although I do like them to a degree I have had two distinct problems with them:
1. I had a pair (sorry, don't remember the exact model) with soles advertised as oil resistant etc. Unfortunately, the rubber seemed very soft and the ballast made relatively short work of them (1 month until I took them back to the store and got a credit towards a replacement pair).
2. I was wearing a pair on the day I suffered an FRA injury as a result of a slip/fall. I don't think it mattered all that much as given the snow/ice conditions at the time, I doubt it would have made any difference what boots I was wearing. Nonetheless I don't wear them anymore.
So, what's my solution?
I now have 3 pairs of good serviceable 10" steel toe boots. All 3 are made by Lehigh Safety Shoe. Two pairs I use most of the time are uninsulated. The ones I use in the dead of winter are well insulated. All 3 are great in the snow and with proper care have lasted several years with rotation and waterproofing. I have resoled one pair so far in four years. Of course, I don't put on the same mileage over ballast as I used to... My boots aren't cheap at $165/pair, but the smaller number of twisted ankles and other bad shoe issues make it worthwhile. Also, replace your laces fequently and don't skimp on them either. Nothing worse than breaking one on the road. I keep a spare set in my grip.
As to the steel toe, I like it because I have gunboats for feet (13EEE) and I find the steel toe protects me against things other than dropped FREDs. For example, I have some good dings from locomotive steps in my boots but I have never torn a boot, nor had a penetration with the steel toe. Also, those heavy switch locks bounce off much better...
LC
I am glad LC mentioned the shoe strings. I was going to but didn't.
Most of the shoe strings I have seem that come with the lace up boot are round. Many of the boots available have a metal hook which the shoe string winds around. This hook will slowly cut into the shoe strings causing them to break when trying to tighten them. Some guys will wear a coyboy type book (with steel toe and the other required features) that does not require shoe strings. I have not found any boots that fit my feet very well and are comfortable so I go with the lace up shoes. I have broken several pair of shoe strings and now stay away from the shoes with any type of metal hook. Therefore having an extra pair of shoes or shoe strings is an excellent idea. Having more than one pair of shoes and rotating their use helps them last longer and in my opinion is better for my feet.
Another option for those who work in wet areas that I liked were rubber overshoes made by Tingley. They come in different heights (I used the 10" tall version) and in sizes to fit most boots. For me, they held up well to the CNW pink lady rock I worked on, and they seemed to grip better in snow and ice conditions. They're also impervious to damn near anything (helpful in some places we had to switch, also nice when I had to help out on my parents farm, boots don't get coated in mud and manure).
I agree on the laces, always carry spares, and change laces at first signs of fraying. I do like the boots with the hooks for convenience, though.
Randy Vos
"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings
"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV
jhhtrainsplanes wrote: Some guys will wear a coyboy type book (with steel toe and the other required features) that does not require shoe strings. I have not found any boots that fit my feet very well and are comfortable so I go with the lace up shoes. I have broken several pair of shoe strings and now stay away from the shoes with any type of metal hook. Therefore having an extra pair of shoes or shoe strings is an excellent idea. Having more than one pair of shoes and rotating their use helps them last longer and in my opinion is better for my feet.
Some guys will wear a coyboy type book (with steel toe and the other required features) that does not require shoe strings. I have not found any boots that fit my feet very well and are comfortable so I go with the lace up shoes. I have broken several pair of shoe strings and now stay away from the shoes with any type of metal hook. Therefore having an extra pair of shoes or shoe strings is an excellent idea. Having more than one pair of shoes and rotating their use helps them last longer and in my opinion is better for my feet.
That is one nice thing about the Red Wing boots: the RW stores at both my home and away terminals replace shoe strings free of charge...I know that's kind of a minor thing, but hey, free is free, LOL.
As far as wearing cowboy-type boots...I was told those are a no-no on NS; ya have to have lace-ups.
I think it's a Podiatrist for feet...
As to heel supports, I don't use them as my boots give good support. I have used ankle supports with prior boots, but I find that the leather uppers in my current pairs when properly laced and tightened give more than adequate ankle support...
jeaton wrote:What??? No Sketchers???
The CSX has a safety program that pays for your shoes, ask NS has a simular program, why pay for them if you can get them free, for just taking a class & a test.
Me I'd get steel toes, safer the better.
Since you are going to be on the ground an 8" boot is a must. I'd advise a safety toe style, even though you might not drop anything on them there are plenty of things to stub your toe on around the railroad and a safety toe will prevent that PAIN too. As others have said get two pair if you can swing it. Try to find a cotton sock with extra cushion in the heel and toe area. If you have time before you need them apply several spray coats of waterproofing. Give them time to dry between applications. I allow a day, but I live in a drier climate.
If you have sweaty feet anyway, do yourself a favor and invest in socks that wick the moisture away.
Good luck with new job!!!!
When I was in train service, I wore 8" Thinsulate/Gore Tex boots, either Worlverine's or Field and Stream from Dick's Sporting Goods. I wore them year round. And because I was mostly in yard serivce, I wore the sole out in about a year.
Now that I'm a Yardmaster/Trainmaster, and don't spend as much time on the ballast, I wear 6" Timberland Classics.
I'm surprised no one mentioned the worst thing about steel toe boots. How cold the steel toe gets in the winter. After my first winter wearing steel toes, I swore I'd never wear them again.
Nick
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/
cyeargin wrote:Thanks for the reply, Ed....I too anticipate doing quite a bit of flat switching, and the pair I'm thinking of right now is the Red Wing #964, which is an 8" non-steel toe. One other thing: I know most leather boots are water-resistent, but some are listed as water-proof. Is this something worth considering, or would they be too hot on non-rainy days and therefore not worth it. ( I'm going to be working in southeast Georgia).
Where in SE Georgia?
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.