Question:
Though many of you had some contrary advice to my last question about go
with dispatch or go with the ambulance company, I couldn't resist the
calling and went with the ambulance company. There was a great deal of soul
searching and I thank you all for the insight you lent me.
What I need to know now, is what is the appropriate footwear. My agency
requests I get black polishable boots. Not a problem. However as I began
my little quest for boot shopping I realized it is an entire freaking
industry!
Answer:
I currently wear and have been wearing for the past 405 years Hi-Tec's..... Just
my personal opinion... but to me, they feel like wearing a pair of high top
tennis shoes...very comfortable... depending on the dress code, you can get the
zippers to put in them...(Yeah..lazy man's zippers...) The zips are great if you
work 911... you can put them on while dead asleep and just yank them up...your
boots are fastened.... I have two pair that I wear... one is the standard
Hi-Tec(cost about $59)...the other a Hi-Tec with a GoreTex waterproof liner(cost
around $89-95).... I have stood in ankle deep water in the lined boots and not
gotten wet. They are both easy to shine and look really good. They both are
comfortable. The lined boots are a little hot to wear down here in the summer
month's in Texas...but not too bad in the spring when it rains....(when it
actually does rain)...
Two other boots I had...
I had a pair of Justin Roper Work boots....loved them.....wore the soles out on
them.... wore them on duty, off duty, everywhere! But, a lot of people do not
like a "Cowboy" style work boot. Cost around $80-90.
I bought a pair of Rocky 911 Eliminator's several years back. THEY WERE AND
STILL ARE EXPENSIVE. They run about $130. Stood in a crunched up car engine
and got battery acid all over them while extricating a patient.... chewed
through the sole, the boot tongue, the heel.... was not pretty... too much to
spend!
Several people I work with wear the Wolverine Durashock Roper style boots and
they love them! They run about $80 I think.
In regards to your question concerning footwear, the best advice would be to
choose something as comfortable as possible. While "sizing" will probably
vary from brand to brand (as well as "break-in period"), generally I've not
had a problem with choosing the same as my ordinary shoe size. Normally, all
workboots will have a "rigid" sole, but that, too, will "loosen up" a little
after wear. As far as brand/cost, I'm sure you've found by now that there
are many, many different brands and just as many different prices. I wear
Danners and have been most pleased with them, but they are relatively
expensive (~$300.00/pair) but have worn HiTec's (@ ~ $85.00/pair). The only
problem I had with the less expensive brands was that they wore out fairly
quickly (needed to replace ~ every six months; bought the Danners 2 years
ago & still wear). I might point out that I work in the mountains of North
Carolina, with a rural/urban service (walking on both concrete AND varying
terrain). As far as steel-toes go, I personally don't care for them. I
suppose the argument could be made that they offer some protection, but I
find them uncomfortable with the amount of walking required in EMS and
haven't seen the need for their limited protection.
