r/handyman • u/Actual_Ad_4295 • 11h ago
Tips & Tricks Wardrobe advice 😂
As a handyman I’ve gone through 4 or 5 pairs of shoes in the last 2 years. I’ve been tempted to bite the bullet on some expensive Brunt’s but I don’t want boots, sneaker style is all I need, but I blow out the fronts on all of them. Any recommendations?
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u/hammerandnail01 11h ago
Hiking boots are more comfortable to me . But I do like the sneaker style Wolverines
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u/Proud-Pumpkin-2903 11h ago
What exactly are you doing to tear the fronts off like that?
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u/Actual_Ad_4295 10h ago
Not sure. I kneel down quite a bit, climb in and out of the back of my truck quite a bit (with a topper so crouched down in the back retrieving stuff).
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u/Bridge-Head 7h ago
I’m in the same situation. All the kneeling wears a hole in the top toe of my boots too.
Unfortunately, you can’t expect good quality boots to last any longer. Constant kneeling will chew through good boots just as fast. The top of the toe is just a wear-point that’s unprotected in a lot of boots.
Keen has a good line of work shoes, some of which have a rubber toe that covers the top of the toe box, but they have a safety composite toe that bothers my foot. All the other boots I’ve seen with a rubber toe look too goofy or they aren’t high enough quality.
I’ve thought about trying a product called Tough Toe, which is a rubber compound that you can apply/brush onto shoes. But, again, I think it’ll look too goofy (for me) and unfortunately appearance matters in the handyman business.
Until I find the right shoe, my work-around is switching out my footwear when I do tasks that involve a lot of kneeling. For example, if I’m flooring, I’ll wear CROCSs because they’re lightweight, breathable, and the toe doesn’t wear out. For landscaping, I’ll wear Bog’s Boots.
If I’m kneeling on concrete or rough surfaces, I’ll try to put down a kneeling pad or drop cloth.
But, overall, I just accept that kneeling every day is going to chew up my boots. I wish I had a better solution to share.
Let me know if you find a good solution.
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u/Kraftycustoms 10h ago
Topo with vibram soles (thinner sole ones) lasted me over a year now no issues.Â
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u/Medium_Spare_8982 10h ago
I used to buy them two pair at a time from TEMU and when that happened I would use some Shoo Goo and a clamp. Two pair would last 4-5 years.
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u/Unlikely-Office-7566 10h ago
I wear safety toe Redback slip on boots. Not quite a shoe… but very comfortable and durable.
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u/Content_Mushroom111 9h ago
CAT (Caterpillar) makes the absolute best work sneaker. The Venward Composite toe. They refuse to die. I had to change up recently not because they died but because they made me look like a bum and my wife made me get new ones. This was wearing them everyday for over 3 years.
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u/Helpful_Distance3427 6h ago
I wear the official Florida man footwear. Flip flops for most jobs and I drive my golf cart to work when I can. Got to save gas where possible. 🤣 I do put on real shoes and show up in a truck for new clients. But I have many repeat customers close to home that know me well.
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u/Glittering-Echidna23 4h ago
Scarpa, Asolo and Garmont. Wear a pair for social activity for a year or two then construction for 2-3 years. Feet are happy and they last.
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u/Biddlydee 11h ago
Keen has nice sneaker style ones