Last Updated on February 8, 2024 by Azad Asf
So you got a new pair of steel toe work boots, and they hurt like hell, causing sore feet and blisters.
And that’s why you’re looking for ways to keep steel toe work boots from hurting your feet but can’t find any on the internet.
Got it! Before you give in to the pain, let me share a quick guide with you that will teach you (step by step) how to stop it.
Let’s begin.
How to Stop Steel Toe Work Boots from Hurting
You probable thought that wearing brand new steel toe boots is supposed to hurt a lot and that you have to wait until the work boots are broken in to stop the pain.
Well, that’s not entirely true. Here’s a list of a few easy-to-follow tips that you can use to stop the pain of wearing your steel toe work boots:
- Break in Your Work Boots
- Make Sure the Work Boots fit Right
- Wear Cushioned Socks
- Take Care of the Work Boots
- Add Extra Padding Above your Toes
- Replace Footbeds
- Consider Wider Work Boots
- Get Composite toe Work Boots
1. Break in Your Work Boots
There’s a good chance that you think your steel toe work boots will fit comfortably after the break in period is over.
But, why wait for weeks for this to happen?
I wrote an article about how to break in work boots faster, which outlines a few simple steps you can take to reduce the time it takes for your steel toe boots to become comfortable.
Let me share with my favorite methods:
- Warm water method: You have to grab a few small towels and soak them in warm water and cover the work boots with them, letting the water hydrate the leather fibers so they become more flexible. After 30 minutes to an hour, wear the work boots for an hour or two so they mold to the shape of your feet faster.
- Boot stretching spray method: Apply a generous amount of boot stretching spray to the work boots to make the leather fibers more flexible, allowing for a quicker break in process.
- Wet towel method: To break in your work boots using the wet towel method, soak a few small towels and stuff them inside the work boots. After about an hour, take them out. Finally, wear the work boots for an hours or two which will speed up the break in process as the leather fibers would be already more flexible.
2. Make Sure the Work Boots fit Right
In a word, if your work boots don’t fit right you’ll live a nightmare. When this happens your feet will constantly rub against the inside of the work boots which will lead to blisters and foot soreness.
Once you get a pair of steel toe work boots that fit right, you’ll see how your feet will stop from hurting. Especially once the work boots are already broken in.
A great way to make sure that your work boots fit fine is by picking a pair that doesn’t allow the feet to slip forward or backwards inside the work boots. Also, there should be about an inch of space in front of your toes.
That way, the work boots will snug your feet without hurting them, which is the sweet spot we’re all looking for when getting new steel toe boots.
Be careful not to tie the work boots too strongly or you risk making then very painful to use!
3. Wear Cushioned Socks
There are numerous things you can do to ensure that your steel toe work boots are no longer painful.
Wearing cushioned socks is one of them.
Cushioned socks are made of breathable cotton/polyester and padding material that fits snugly around your feet while keeping them warm when exposed to cold temperatures.
This is a great feature for workers because it cushions the feet even when walking on hard surfaces, preventing foot pain.
4. Take Care of the Work Boots
If you think about it, if you want to make sure your work boots don’t hurt your feet anymore, you should take good care of them.
Why?
By taking care of your work boots, you’ll be able to:
- Make your work boots look fantastic.
- Increase the durability of your work boots.
- Hydrate leather fibers to increase their flexibility and comfort.
How should you take care of your work boots? I wrote a detailed article on how to clean work boots in which I teach you how to properly care for a pair of leather work boots.
Applying a thin layer of leather conditioner is key as it nourishes and hydrates the leather fibers to make them easy to be moulded to your feet.
5. Add Extra Padding Above your Toes
Once you start feeling your feet hurt due to how uncomfortable your steel toe work boots are, you won’t be able to focus on anything else.
A great way to avoid this is to cut some padding and place it directly above the area of your feet that is rubbing against the work boots.
This will significantly reduce pain because there will be no more contact between your feet and the inside of the work boots that is causing them pain. As a result, your feet will no longer hurt.
6. Replace Footbeds
Some steel toe boots are made with cushioned footbeds that are too bulky and take a lot of space inside.
This makes these work boots unbearably painful as they make the feet constantly rub against the inside of the boots.
Replacing these footbeds for thinner ones is a great idea that could potentially solve this issue.
Once you do this, your feet will stop from rubbing against the stiff leather of the inside of the work boots, which is the main reason why your feet hurt so much.
7. Consider Wider Work Boots
You should also think about getting wider work boots.
A work boot with a wider design will allow you to enjoy wearing your work boots without your feet hurting, which is common if you have meaty feet.
This is critical in order to allow workers to concentrate on their work rather than how much their feet hurt.
8. Get Composite toe Work Boots
You may have heard that composite toe caps are not only lighter, but also a bit bulkier than steel toe caps.
This is an essential detail as it allow workers to get more space inside their work boots, which is key to keep the feet safe from hurting.
I know, steel toe caps tend to be more protective and less expensive. However, composite toe work boots will give you that extra room inside the work boots that will make them more comfy.
Steel Toe Work Boots Rubbing Big Toe?
If nothing that was previously discussed works to stop steel toe work boots from hurting, then I’d tell you to either buy new or remove and fix steel toe caps
How to Remove and Fix Steel Toe Caps
Well, the process of removing and fixing the steel toe caps goes without cutting them like this:
- Reach inside the work boots and feel where the lid that covers the toe cap is
- Pull the lid out with a plier (making serious force) to allow the toe cap to be removed. You’ll probably detach part of the insoles too
- The toe cap out and use a hammer to make the toe cap wider or to fix dents
- Put the toe cap back on, push the insoles back in and the lid to cover the toe cap (you can use fabric glue to make sure the lid and insoles stay in place)
- Done!
Some people like to cut the toe caps off their work boots. However, I find that process tedious and risky because you will have to re-stitch the work boots and there is no guarantee you will do it perfectly.
Frequently Asked Quesitons
Here are the most frequent questions that pop up when discussing how to stop steel toe work boots from hurting and my attempt at giving you an answer.
Why Do Steel Toe Work Boots Hurt?
There are a couple of reasons why steel toe work boots hurt. Let’s discuss them:
- Steel toe caps, even though they are highly protective and inexpensive, they tend yo cram the toes together which causes pains and potential blisters
- The weight and bulkiness of the steel toe caps normally leaves the work boots sore after a long work shift
- Some manufacturers offer narrower designs, making their work boots highly uncomfortable to wear
How Should Steel Toe Work Boots Fit?
There’s an easy way to tell if your steel toe work boots are properly fitted. Your work boot should fit snugly without hurting your feet.
What exactly do I mean by this?
The feet should not slide backwards and forwards inside the work boots because this will cause soreness and blisters.
Also, there should be about an inch of space between the toes so they don’t rub together.
How long do steel toe boots take to break in?
Normally, work boots take about 7 to 21 days to break in. This can be particularly daunting if your work boots hurt like hell during this period.
For those that want to make sure the break in process is faster you should read an article I made about breaking in work boots fast, that teaches you how to break in work boots in a couple of days instead of weeks.
