The Guide To Buying Your First Pair Of Oil Rig Boots

Working 10, 12, even 14hour days can be tough, especially when you spend the whole day on your feet. For that reason we decided to put together a guide to buying your first pair of oil rig boots and what you should look for when buying them. Having a good pair of boots can make the difference between hating your job or loving your job...well at least tolerating your job. Keeping your feet both comfortable and dry will make your job much more enjoyable.

NO LACES

If your a worm or a hand don't get laceup boots, that's the first and most important thing I can tell you. You'll be walking around through ankle deep mud and water and your laces will gum up if not disinigrate. Laces also aren't necessarily safe on a rig with so many moving parts they can get caught in. Most everyone I've seen come with cheap laceup Walmart boots has been back at the store getting pullup boots in a matter of days.

COMFORT OVER STYLE

Don't worry about looking stylish there's few if any women on the rigs and your not there to look cute your there to work. Nobody cares what kind of boots your wearing or what they look like. Go for comfort over style. I personally would recommend when trying on boots try them on about a half size too small. This will allow you to break them in and your ankle won't slip around much in the boots. A boot that's too big is just as bad as a boot that's too small it will be uncomfortable they could get sucked off your feet by the mudd and you could twist your ankle.


PADDED INSERTS

Your boots are going to take a beating, your going to be on your feet all day. You don't have to run out and spend $20 on some Dr. Scholls gel pads. To be quite honest I think Dr. Scholls gel pads suck, I'd take the 0.99 cent foam inserts over Dr. Scholls anyday. I've never used anything too pricy just some old foam heel inserts. They make a difference.


WATERPROOF, WATERPROOF, WATERPROOF

I can't stress this enough. Water makes your feet sore, makes your feet stink, is unhealthy for your feet and also makes you more likely to get blisters. It's also hard to dry out boots before your next twelve hour shift. It's also miserable working in wet boots, especially in cold weather. Save yourself headache or I should say footaches and discomfort and buy yourself some waterproof boots. Spend the extra bucks and get something that's both waterproof and breathable. It's money well spent.


LASTLY

I'm cheap, I know it's tough to drop $100-$200 if not more on a new pair of work boots but it's a tax write off and it will make your life much better and much more comfortable. Your boots are an investment in your job, your comfort, your health and your life and you should have the best if your working in the oilpatch.