How Often Should You Replace Work Shoes? Find Answers Here

Are you one of the people wondering how often should you replace work shoes? You are in the right place, and I will answer your question as thoroughly as I can.

How often you replace your work shoes depends on many factors that include:

Quality of the work shoe: How much did you buy the work shoe? If it’s cheap, it’s most likely a poor quality thus it will most likely wear out fast.

Miles you walk: If you are a nurse, you walk more often than someone operating a machine.

As you might have guessed, the more you walk, the more frequently you will have to replace the work shoe as it will wear out faster.

Your environment: Where do you work? If you work in a harsh environment where the work boot is constantly exposed to hazardous chemicals, it will most likely wear out much faster.

When should you replace your work shoes?

While different work shoes need to be replaced at different times, there will come a time when you will have to replace them.

For you to replace the boots, all you need to do is to look at the telltale signs that tell you when to pull the trigger.

Some of the signs that you should look out for include:

Lack of traction bumps

When shoes are new, they all have little bumps at the bottom that provide you with traction. It’s common for the bumps to wear out with time.

If you find that your work shoes are now smooth, it’s time you considered getting a new pair.

If you work in concrete or any other slippery areas, you will be in for trouble as the shoes can easily slip and you fall in the process.

The shoe is “talking.”

We say that a work shoe is “talking” when the outsole starts to separate from the upper. If you find your shoe starting to separate, it’s time that you considered getting a new pair.

When your shoe is “talking,” it is not only ugly to look at; it’s also dangerous to work with, especially in a fast-paced environment.

The soles have holes

Shoes with holes are not only unsightly to look at, but they also put you at a lot of risk. For example, if you work with chemicals, the chemicals can easily get to your feet, injuring you.

You should replace your work shoes when you notice even the smallest hole.

The shoe is leaking

If you work in a wet environment, you want a work shoe that provides you with enough waterproofing.

If the shoe is allowing water in, it’s not right for you, and it’s time to consider getting a new one.

The cool thing is that there are plenty of waterproof work shoes on the market that you can go for.

The shoe is showing the protective component

Different work shoes have various protective features. Some have a reinforced toe, steel shank, steel midsole, or metatarsal guard.

If any of these components start showing, it means that your work boot is old, and it’s not providing you with the protection that you are looking for.

The only way out is to get a new pair.

How do you ensure that you replace the work shoes at the right time?

 

While many workers know that they need to replace their work shoes at the right time, very few of them do it.

This not only leads to excessive use of the work shoe, but it also puts you at increased risk as you work with a damaged shoe.

There are several things that you should do to ensure that you replace the shoe at the right time. Some of these things include:

Monitor the distance you walk

If you are a nurse, server, or any other person that works in a field that involves a lot of walking, you should be cautious of the distance that you walk every day.

According to verywellfit, most of the work shoes will need to be replaced after 500 miles.

Thanks to modern technology, it’s easy to track your distance as all you need to do is to download an app.

As you get closer to 500 miles, you should check the condition of the sole. If the traction bumps are gone, it’s time to get a new pair of shoes.

Undertake a flexibility test

If you feel that you have had your shoe for a long time and you aren’t sure whether you should get a new one, you should consider undertaking a flexibility test.

Here you need to hold your footwear with the laces up and bend the toe towards the heel.

If the shoe folds easily, it means that it’s old and it’s time to replace it. If, on the other hand, the shoe is hard to fold, it probably has another few trips to make.

How to take care of the work shoes for them to last for long

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyKaQsxL2MY

For you to avoid having to replace the shoes after every few days, you should take good care of them.

There are many ways in which you can do it. Some of these ways include:

Clean the work shoes regularly

One of the things you should do is to clean the work shoes as frequently as possible.

This is important when you are working at the construction site or any other place where the shoes are exposed to concrete, mud, or a lot of water.

Bacteria tend to thrive in dirty environments; therefore, when you clean the shoes regularly, you get rid of the bacteria, which ensures that your shoes last for long.

Waterproof the shoes

There is nothing that destroys shoes as fast as water. When water gets into the work shoe fibers, it weakens them; thus, they come apart after just a short time.

The cool thing is that there are many waterproofing sprays and creams on the market that you can go for.

You only need to choose the right one for your application.

Alternate the footwear

Have you worn the same piece of clothing for a long time? It wears out fast, right? The same thing happens when you wear the same pair of work shoes all the time.

For the shoes to last for a long time, you should alternate them. This calls for you to have two or more pairs of boots.

Repair the work shoes

If you are like most other people, you wait for the work shoe to be out of shape before you can repair it. This is wrong as you are usually forced to buy a new pair.

To avoid this, you should repair even the minor problems that you see in the work boot.

Remember that it’s the small issues that get worse; therefore, when you don’t fix the problem when it’s at its early stages, it has high chances of escalating, which forces you to buy a new pair of work boot.

Why you need to replace your work shoes

There are plenty of reasons why you should replace your work shoes. Some of these reasons include:

Comfort

You will agree with me that when your work shoes were new, they were much comfortable than they are now, right? When you replace them, you will enjoy the comfort that you enjoyed when you had new shoes.

When the shoes are comfortable, you are not only happy when working, you are also more productive, which increases your output.

Protection

The reason you are wearing the work boots in the first place is that you want protection.

When the sole is worn out and has holes in it, it doesn’t give you the much-needed protection. When you replace the shoes, you get the protection so that you can comfortably work at your job site.

Look

A worn-out shoe not only fails to give you the protection, but it’s also ugly to look at. By replacing the shoe, you look good.

You are confident when executing your tasks, which has been shown to increase your productivity.

Factors to consider when replacing your work shoes

When you are replacing the work shoes, you need to buy the right ones for you to get the most from them.

This calls for you to consider several factors when making the purchase. Some of these factors include:

Environment

Where are you working? You should get a shoe that is ideal for the environment that you are working.

For example, if you are a construction worker, you need a work shoe made from leather or any other tough material.

You also should ensure that the sole is tough to take the stress that comes with concrete.

If you work in a wet environment, you should go with waterproofed work shoes.

The good thing is that there are plenty of them on the market that you can choose from.

If you are a nurse, server, or in any other profession that requires you to walk for a long time, you should buy lightweight work shoes that have a tough sole that will effectively handle the miles that you walk every day.

If you aren’t sure of the right type of shoes that you should go for, get the input of a professional.

Durability

Although, you have to replace the shoes at a particular time, you don’t have to do it too often. For the shoes to have a long life, you should go for those made from tough materials.

One of the best materials that you should go for is leather. The good thing about leather is that it’s not only tough thus lasts for a long time; it’s also easy to maintain.

Size

What size of work shoe do you wear? You should always ensure that you buy the right one. The last thing you want is to be uncomfortable when working.

For you to ensure that you are buying the right size, you should try out the shoe before you buy it.

This calls for you to wear the shoe in the store and walk around in it. If it’s too big or small, avoid it.

If buying the shoe online, you should try it as soon as you receive it. Again if it doesn’t fit you properly, return it.

Price

Everyone’s eyes on the price and you should highly consider it when making the purchase. Just like everything else, you get what you pay for.

This means that when you buy cheap shoes, it will be of poor quality. You don’t have to buy the most expensive shoe for it to give you an excellent service.

A good work shoe costing $100-$200 is a good start. When making the purchase, ensure that you buy it from a reputable store.

Conclusion

If you have been wondering how often should you replace work boots, now you know.

The frequency depends on several factors, such as where you work, the mileage you cover, among many other things.

For you to increase the lifespan of the shoes, you need to take good care of them.

Clean the shoes regularly, mend them when they develop problems, among many other things.

When buying a new pair of shoes, buy one made by a reputable brand. You also should sure that you buy from a reliable store.