Why do Iron Workers Wear Wedge Sole Boots?

What are wedge sole boots good for? If you've ever wondered why iron workers wear wedge sole boots, I've packed everything you need to know into 60 seconds.

#ironwork #boots #moctoe

[joshbernier]

We wear them so if we hang out heel over the edge of a beam we don’t fall that half inch that a normal sole has. It’s called a half inch heart attack.

[anonymousdogg]

I’m glad I switched to Nike Manoa. 2 pairs a year, cheaper, lighter, arguably comfier than a thorogood. I am a landscapers so it’s just majority walking on random terrains. I used to use caterpillars, red wings, timberlands, Ariats, wolverines, thorogood, and Irish setters. It wasn’t until one day randomly scrolling though the Nike app, I found those Manoas. On sale for $70 at the time I bought 2 pairs incase I liked them. Ended up being the best choice in a long time. Wider toe box so my toes can spread better (more natural feeling), sole has a cleat like design making them perfect for grass, rocky, mulchy terrains. The only set back is no steel toe, and they are slippery on wet lacquered concrete.

[AutoSearPin]

I went in to buy boots at a small shop.

My 8” moc toe thorogoods are wedge, the man who owned the shop told me to get them simply because everyone liked them better than the heeled one, and he had regulars come by before and switch to wedge and never go back.
M

[FRESH-U]

Also when climbing on steel there’s no heel to catch on beams which could cause a trip

[jameswhitlock]

You can scrape mud off of them easier also

[michaelboguski]

It also helps to avoid 'Wedgies' if you slip.

[raymie]

So you're saying only old people wear them? Where do I sign 😂

[truthreignsforever]

Wedge sole aesthetics make a boot look “not so a boot”.

[jamesramirez]

Rodbusters wear them so our heel doesn’t catch while walking on rebar.

[northwestcutt]

They wear them so the boot heel doesn’t trip them on rebar or on a beam 100 story’s up.

[nathanfankhanel]

Lol as an ironworker myself, we will all tell you it's nothing to do with comfort, though it does help with lower back pain, it's because it's the safer choice on steel. Heels are a tripping hazard bud

[themannwithaplan]

in canada they are forced to wear them in the iron industry because heels are a tripping hazard.

[brucemerryman]

I’ve always found them to be slick as heck on icy or snowy conditions.

[Hobosdkcheese]

I’m a nurse but I wear thorogoods, I’ve tried for years probably 6 different shoes I’ve seen other nurses wear but every one of them caused lower back or foot pain. My thorogoods really help because I feel like all parts of my foot are in constant contact with the floor, with the running shoes my feet are constantly rolling laterally

[dominicteresi]

I feel like someone needs to educate people on what ironworker walk on. If you can guess it we walk on the iron at least 75% of our time in our boots, not concrete.

[MaggotSr.]

I was i rigger and i asked an iron worker about them he said its because when you walk on i beams you dint want to catch a heel on anything and trip. Made perect sense to me.

[seankeaney]

You forgot the most important reason for an Iron Worker. If you are walking a beam you do not want a heel that could induce what my father called the “heart attack slip”.

[chrisbutler]

Liquid Nails subfloor adhesive used to work great for reinforcing areas of wear on those soles. It blended in with the color and wore like iron.

[correcthoarsebatterystaple]

Frequently not permitted once the place is built for other workers (operators, etc.) as heels are preferred for vertical caged ladder climbing in a finished facility.

[mostunknown]

I was born into a concrete construction company and work doing a lil brick and stone. I gotta say that I prefer that flat wedge sole. I grew up as a skater kid and always wear flat sole skate shoes. If I were a logger, maybe I would choose a heeled boot. I spend at least 8 hours working with little breaks. Good boots are an investment in your posture!