How to Tell When it’s Time to Replace Those Old Work Boots

A good pair of work boots makes all the difference to your shift. Whether you’re on a bustling construction site, chopping wood, or lifting heavy goods in a warehouse, your footwear keeps your feet safe, supported, and comfortable.

Still, it’s easy to subject your feet to the same boots for years on end regardless of their condition; you might just not notice how much cushion and resilience they have lost since you first wore them. A lack of arch-support, for instance, can cause severe aches, fallen arches, sprains, and other difficulties.

Wearing boots past their best can lead to injuries or long-term conditions beyond your feet; for example, soles being worn down affects their ability to grip, making you more prone to slippages. Not only will this endanger yourself, but others who may be nearby.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 89,000 of the 917, 060 injuries & illnesses causing days away from work in 2013 were due to problems with the feet or ankles. It’s essential to take good care of them in the workplace, especially in industrial environments where heavy goods and hazardous materials are present.

So, how do you know when it’s time to replace your old boots with a pair of shiny new work boots?

#1: Excessive Wrinkling at the Mid-sole

Pay attention to the condition of your boots’ mid-soles; this is the region between your boots’ tops and their treads.

When this starts to wrinkle, it means your boots are losing their cushion, due to warping from wear & tear, exposure to heat, and contact with moisture. Any sign of excessive wrinkling at the mid-sole of your boots is one obvious signal that replacements are needed.

#2: No Grip on Surfaces

You want to watch out for your boots’ traction on surfaces: if you’re slipping and sliding on even dry flooring, it may be time to change. Obviously, walking from one area of the workplace to another, without water on the floor, shouldn’t be a risk to your health – but it may be so if you wear boots beyond their lifespan.

If you notice yourself struggling to stay upright due to worn soles, stop wearing those boots straight away. Falling over can be dangerous enough, but if you’re carrying something heavy, the risk increases significantly.

#3: Tilting to One Side

When you set your boots down on any flat surface, they should stand upright without any tilting to one side or another. If you notice them leaning, even slightly, it may well be time to trade those boots for a new pair.

Why? Because tilting indicates your boots may be throwing your body alignment off, potentially affecting your posture and performance in the workplace.

#4: Rule of Thumb

One quick test you can perform to assess your work boots’ health? Simply press your thumb into the heel area.

This should be robust enough to push against your thumb, rather than giving in to your meager force. Any softening will take place due to your boot losing its ability to absorb shock. This can affect your comfort and activity, making even just walking from one area to another difficult on your soles.

#5: Visible Separation

Are your boots crafted with PVC or rubber? If so, beware of visible separation – if you can see openings at the seams, it’ usually a safe bet that your work boots are nearing the finish line.

This is especially important if you’re working in a wet environment, as moisture could well seep into your boots, affecting your comfort and potentially leading to health complaints.

In steel-toed boots, any sign of steel poking out from underneath the material covering them is a certain sign that you need to trade up.

#6: Any Hints of Pain

Assuming you pick the right pair of boots for your feet, you shouldn’t experience any pain beyond the initial ‘settling in’ phase of wearing them.

If, after months or years, you start to feel some discomfort while wearing your work boots (or after), it’s likely a sign of some serious wear and tear. This may be down to the midsole cushioning fading, or the material coming apart. Don’t ignore this, whatever you do: they won’t fix themselves when you’re not looking.

When you feel sure it’s time to change your work boots for a new pair, it’s vital that you actually go through with it. While buying them incurs a cost, perhaps a big one if you’re after a high-quality pair, you need to prioritize your comfort and safety over your cash-flow.

Avoid putting it off just to save money – you may well be placing yourself at risk for the sake of a few dollars.

JT Ripton is a freelance business, tech and lifestyle writer out of Tampa, FL. When he's not writing, he's consulting with start up businesses around the area helping them succeed, and checking out the newest things in tech.