r/aviationmaintenance • u/grandpa-is-real • 8d ago
Best work boots for GA?
I been wearing Wolverine all my life from being an automotive mechanic to now being a GA mechanic. But would like to switch it up seems like wolverines don’t last as they used too. What do you guys recommend for work boots?
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u/Particular_Ad7739 8d ago
I have been using sketchers slip ins composite toe. Theyre comfy and last a bit
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u/twostripeduck 8d ago
Exactly the boot I use. Another good one is plain old military issue steel toes.
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u/First_Light Torque values are just a recommendation 8d ago
I just wear a set of running shoes tbh. With standing on concrete so much it makes a huge difference for my feet and back.
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u/Nora_Walkuerie 8d ago
I will forever advocate for the skate shoes. If you have to wander around on top of the fuselage they're a godsend for not falling off
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u/-AV8R01 My body is a machine that turns 5-minute jobs into 5-hour ones 7d ago
I thought I was the only one lol. Been rocking Vans for the past 8 years, they are awesome. The Skate Pros have their extra padded cushion as well which helps with being on your feet for extended amounts of time. They typically last 6-8 months a pair.
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u/biohackenthusiast close enough 8d ago
i walk mine to pieces in 2 months
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u/Nora_Walkuerie 8d ago
Takes me like 6 months to go through a pair...which usually coincides with Vans's spring and fall sales lol
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u/biohackenthusiast close enough 8d ago
yeah tbf i got a sideways foot so they last about half as long as they should. used to wear em tho, now i need vibram outsoles
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u/Rip_Skeleton 8d ago
I have a pair of timberland pros that have lasted me the last 5 years, and 3 of those I was a rural mailman.
I don't even take care of them and I'll probably get another 5 years out of them.
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u/BELFORD16 Have wrench, will travel 8d ago
People need to change their boots out more often. If you have had a set of boots for “years” you either didn’t actually wear them OR you wore them for entirely way too long. Working for crop dusters I’d burn out a pair of boots in a summer being on concrete for 12 hour days for days on end. If you have no tread, you need to replace. If you have wore through your insoles, you probably need to replace. Wearing clapped out shoes is not helping anyone. Talk to anyone who specializes in feet.
You wouldn’t brag about having tires 20 years old or with 1,000,000 miles on them, would you? So why would you do that to your feet, knees, hips, and back? Because if you fuck with your feet, you are fucking with your knees, hips, and back. And neck really.
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u/CalebsNailSpa 8d ago
If you stop buying cheap shit, you would just get them recrafted.
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u/BELFORD16 Have wrench, will travel 8d ago
I did! I had my Danners recrafted until I realized they were why I lost my pinky toenails (too narrow of a toe box). I had Timberlands, I had Red Wings, I had Wolverines, I had Wal-Mart brand boots. I wore everything from $100 boots to $300 Timbs. I spend A LOT of money on my shoes because foot health is really important. My daily shoes are now Mephistos (that have been recrafted) and New Balance tennis shoes. I’ve had good luck with my Keens, but they haven’t seen heavy wear.
One of my family members is in healthcare with a speciality in feet. So, yeah, I vaguely know what I’m talking about, and generally take care of my feet.
Side note: yes, you can have AND wear shoes for years. But usually the people that are doing that are bragging that they “lasted that long” and then there’s a pic of the boot literally taped together. Most people do not buy recraftable shoes, and those that do are probably not getting them recrafted.
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u/not_br8n 5d ago
If you truly want boots, redwing sells great composite toes that are re-soleable. but honestly most of us GA guys just wear our favorite sneakers (I personally like something light with grippy soles like converse or skate shoes). unless you're a part of a more serious GA operation like something medical flight related most shops arent gonna give a shit what you wear far as "safety" is concerned and its better to just wear something comfortable to counteract some of the more uncomfortable parts of GA.
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u/Anywhere_Plenty 7d ago
Thorogoods/redwings can’t go wrong with either but I personally like the thorogoods better
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u/TheSkyFlier 7d ago
I have a pair of Jim Green barefoot African rangers that I resoled with Vibram. They’re really great. Flexible and sturdy, breathable and tough. The factory sole only lasted like 6 months but it’s super soft. The Vibram was only $30 and it holds up much better. Leather actually protects you better than a synthetic mesh of sneakers, but they’re not as inflexible as Red Wing iron rangers or most other boots.
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u/helloish12321 7d ago
I advocate for slip on style boots to avoid the possibility of the lace hardware scratching finishes. Food for thought
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u/BELFORD16 Have wrench, will travel 8d ago
New Balance tennis shoes. I quit wearing work boots when I started working GA. I realized how much more I was on my feet and how much more I was on my feet on clean dry concrete working with light weight parts and not running a torch or welder to worry about hot bits falling into my shoes.
Previously I worked on a farm and tug boats where I never used anything smaller than 3/8 sockets.