ask Dr.cold weather

Well you're staring a new job and the boss tells you to "go and get some steel toes and be here at 5:00 AM sharp". Well you think what the hell is a steel toe and do I need to go to the doctor for this? Eighty nine percent of the people in the world who get hired by a company requiring steel toe shoes have never owned or even of them. the ones that do, all swear by a brand and will only buy that brand. Some people buy shoes just like there fathers bought cars. If you where to ask me, that's not the way to do it. If you have a certain brand that you have worn in the past and you are happy with then by all means stick to it. But if it's your first time try couple of different brand or styles. One of the best places to do this is at www.rasenicks.com . The guys have an unlimited knowledge of boots and shoes and they love to answer your questions. So I gave them a call at 773 736 7705
and started in on them.

[ rb=rich-------dcw= me]

dcw: "So rb, what's the first thing people tend to do or say when they come to you to get some safety shoes?"

rb: "Well, most of the time the guys walk right past the men's shoes and pick up a womne's size 5 and ask if this come in a 12 wide[3E]. " Sorry sir but that is a women's shoe". You should see how fast they drop it and start talking about the Bears or Cubs. Then they tell me how they are on there feet all day long and start to weigh the shoes in their hands. Here's the funny thing, they put there hands inside the shoes and press down trying to fell the inside. I know that it's only human nature to use your hands to tell you how some thing is going to feel. So I ask them would you like to try one on"?

dcw:" So what your telling me is that I should not buy my shoes by the pound"?

rb: "No I would vote against that one."

dcw: "Why not? If some thing is heavy then why would I want to wear it? Isn't a lighter shoe going to be better on my feet at the end of the day?"

rb: "Well a general rule of thumb is if a shoe is to light something is missing. Many of the support systems in a better shoe will make it a little heavier. If a shoe is very light weight (like a gym shoe or a running shoe), it may not be able to support your foot for a eight or ten hour day. Now there are some exceptions to this rule, like the new Timberland Pro Titan. Talk about light and comfortable. These lightweight shoes and boots have state of the art components that will support properly, even for a twelve hour day. But that's not all. Wolverine has lead the way in comfort for years. Their DuraShocks have a three layer comfort system that will provide support and cushion"

dcw: "Now my brother-i-n-law braggs about his Redwings all the time. Is Redwing the best boot out there, or is he just a clown?"

rb: "Now your brother-in-law, he's the one that still wears a mullet that I meet at your labor day party last year who had loggers on with shorts, right? He's a clown! But Redwings are a hell of a great boot company. Now are they the best? Who knows safety shoes are like tools. Some guys like Bosch and some guys like porter cable. But that's a whole other thing. We are talking about shoes."

dcw: "How do I know if a shoe fits?"

rb: "Outside of trying the thing on you should maybe get measured by your shoe salesman. Now this is not 100% accurate. I some time measure guys and they take a size bigger or a size smaller. It what fits the best at the end of the day that counts."

dcw: "How long have you been selling work shoes for?"

rb: 'Since 1978."

dcw: "If you could tell people to do one thing what would it be?"

rb: "How about two things?"

dcw: "Knock your self out."

rb: "If its cold out don't put on four pairs of cotton socks. Why? Well cotton will hold all the moisture your feet give off. Spend the $5.00 and get some sock liners. Your feet will thank you at the end of the day. Eighty percent of all body pain starts in the feet.

dcw: "And the other 20%?"

rb: "Wives!"

dcw: "I don't know if I should post that."

rb: "My second pet peeve is this look at buying safety shoes as a tool. If you buy cheap tools you going to get just that, a cheap tool. But if you spend a few bucks like on a Lie-nielsen tool,
then your going to have a pair of shoes you can trust and depend on day in and day out. "

dcw: "How long should my safety shoes last?"

rb: "From 9-12 months depending on your work and how you take care of them. "Do you have any more questions for me?"

dcw: "No, are late for a date or something?"

rb: "No, I have go light a candle for the Cubs, they need all the help they can get right now."