High performing outdoor teams such as those in Refuse Collection and Waste Management need the best work boots for walking all day - which is safety footwear designed to give top-level comfort on every step. But the question is: do they always get it?
If you’re in charge of Health and Safety, you’ll know that for your teams, sore feet and foot pain can have a hugely negative impact on well-being through discomfort: both things that lead to a big dip in productivity, performance and revenue through time-off.
FOOT FACTS
To get an understanding of the importance of finding the best work boots to prevent sore feet when walking all day, here are some statistics that might surprise and shock you:
- In the UK, 10% of workers will experience the debilitating heel pain of Plantar Fasciitis.
- Walking adds about 30% to standing weight. So, if your teams are notching up 12-14,000 steps per day - like those in Refuse Collection and Construction - sore feet can be a massive problem.
- When walking, legs produce a change of momentum as they land, then create energy to turn downward motion to upward motion to step forward - and this force can be up to 1.5 times a person’s body weight.
You expend over 5 times more energy carrying weight on your feet than carrying that same weight on your back.
Hardly surprising then that in their Working feet and footwear study, The Trade Union Congress estimates around 80% of the adult population has some form of foot problem.
Common types of foot pain
- Plantar Fasciitis - heel and arch pain though lack of support
- Blisters - a painful sack of fluid between skin layers from repeated rubbing
- Corns and calluses – hard and painful skin from pressure or rubbing
What's clear from these types of foot pain is that they stem from two main things – lack of support and footwear that’s too tight. But V12 have got the answer to both problems, particularly for teams covering long distances in their boots.
THE V12 FOOTWEAR SOLUTION FOR SORE FEET
Comfort starts with the last – our data driven design
V12 safety boots and shoes are built on a last made from using data from over 4,000 global foot shapes. By accommodating the diversity of worldwide foot shapes, there’s greater comfort for all wearers, and this wider fit reduces the risk of discomfort from the pinching which causes blistering.
Pictured: V12's V1750 Defender STS, built on the V12 comfort last
Want to find out more about avoiding blisters? We’ve got a whole article on it here.
Cushioning and support – comfort insoles
We wanted to develop the ultimate foot pain-reducing insole – and the result was our industry-leading foot bed to prevent sore, aching and strained feet and maximise comfort.
Spotlight on Dynamic ArchTM
Dynamic ArchTM insoles’ shock-absorbing and cushioned material eases foot pressure which prevents corns, calluses and blisters, and critically, they combat the all-too-common pain of Plantar Fasciitis. These insoles come in low, medium and high arch heights, so strain and weight is taken off the heel and underfoot, and wearers’ feet are fully supported. Sore feet out, comfort in.
Furthermore, all three of these arch-specific insoles are available in male and True Women’s FitTM, so no matter what the shape of the feet, there is a Dynamic ArchTM fit for every member of your team - no exceptions. Find out more here.
Taking the impact - energy absorption
There’s comfort built into every possible area of a V12 boot. As well as our comfort last and cushioned insoles, our boots are made with an EVA midlayer to give the wearer further energy-absorption from walking all day. Coupled with outsole units like IGSTM, made from shock-absorbing PU, our boots are the perfect solution to avoid sore feet when walking all day by taking comfort to the maximum.
Small details, big solution – the shank
The shank is a component of our boots we place under the heel inside our already cushioned midlayer which helps the boot flex more naturally. The shank is often left out by some manufacturers to cut costs, but for us it’s crucial, because it means the boot has enough stability so it doesn’t cause the foot to over-flex when stepping, preventing cramp and strain.
Pictured: the shank - giving wearers the right amount of flex
Lightweight construction – enhancing comfort
Pictured: V12’s V2110 Groundworker safety wellington - the lightest in its class
A big element of avoiding sore feet is weight. Once the design, shock absorption and foot support are in place, a great way to complement these cushioning features for your teams is by providing a lightweight safety boot. And when it comes taking the weight off, there’s no boot more up to the challenge than the lightest safety wellington on the market...
Spotlight on Groundworker
V12’s V2110 Groundworker safety wellington is the boot of choice for many Utilities, Construction and Waste and Recycling teams around the UK, because of its unrivalled lightweight design.
It includes a:
- Lighter-than-steel fibreglass midsole
- Lighter-than-rubber neoprene and PU material
- Reduced Polymer upper material
So, while sore feet from walking at work can be a source of pain, with the right safety footwear solution, it doesn't have to be.
READY TO TAKE YOUR TEAM’S COMFORT TO THE NEXT LEVEL?
The V12 Boot Finder is your online tool to help you find the right safety footwear for the job. Simply click below, add in the details of your safety and comfort requirements, and you'll be given our instant expert work boot recommendations.
