Padded floor in workshop or good shoes?

[Jesse Tutterrow]

A friend of mine has done to the expense of adding soft floor mats covering most of his shop floor. Adding multiple floor mats can become cost prohibitive quickly.

I have a few mats in my shop around tools that I tend to stand at.

With the brake in the heat (hottest summer on record for Saint Louis), I am starting to work in the shop again. Yesterday I spent about 6 hours in the shop. This morning both legs are sore. So, I am debating either buying more floor mats, or looking for a good pair of shoes that will provide the same cushion as floor mats.

Can anyone recommend a pair of shoes that would work?

[David Helm]

I would do both!

[Jesse Tutterrow]

David, do you know of a good brand of shoes you would recommend?

[Phil Thien]

Look into some Crocs for your feet. They are extremely shock absorptive.

Change your footwear up from time to time. Sometimes I wear New Balance sneakers. Other times I wear Crocs. Other times I wear sandals. Changing from one type of footwear to another often switches the part of your foot (and your legs, and your back) which are enduring the stress, and makes standing for long times more tolerable.

[Steve knight]

if you stand in one spot for a long time then a good mat can help. A cost effective mat are horse stall mats they are made from recycled rubber and about 50.00 for a large one I would cut mine into thirds for standing mats. they weight a lot though so it is hard to move one by yourself. good shoes are a must keens really work well or other shoes with good arch support and that are designed for standing.

[Rick Potter]

SAS......


San Antonio Shoes made in USA.. They have stores all over. They have some walking shoes that I now wear constantly. Helped me, but they cost about $160. Had a pair resoled for $55 and they lasted me over two years of everyday use, including getting soaked more times than I can remember. Watch for sales...10-15% off.

[Jesse Tutterrow]

Look into some Crocs for your feet. They are extremely shock absorptive.


Thanks, will look at Crocs. Someone else mentioned this brand.


Change your footwear up from time to time. Sometimes I wear New Balance sneakers. Other times I wear Crocs. Other times I wear sandals. Changing from one type of footwear to another often switches the part of your foot (and your legs, and your back) which are enduring the stress, and makes standing for long times more tolerable.

It sounds like you are saying that you change shoes several times a day while woodworking. Did I understand you correctly?

[Sam Layton]

I have been thinking of horse stall mats like Steve suggested. I purchased one to try it out. I like it. The best part is you can roll tools with wheels, and chairs with wheels over the mat. The only issue I see, is they are black. How will a black floor be in the shop?

Sam

[Phil Thien]

It sounds like you are saying that you change shoes several times a day while woodworking. Did I understand you correctly?

If I'm on my feet for four hours, and expected to be on my feet for another four, I will change shoes (to a different types).

I know it sounds insane. But it is a trick I learned from an orthopedic surgeon.

[Jim Finn]

When I worked as a sheet metal worker I noticed our shop workers ,who stand at a bench 40 hours a week, have a wooden lattice type "mat" to stand on. Like hardwood 1"x2"'s 8 feet long on a 2"x 2" frame spaced enough to have some" give" to it.. Something you could make yourself. In my workshop I have a built up wooden floor over concrete and it works well for me.

[John Coloccia]

I'm on my feet all day in the shop. Good shoes are critical, but I think so are mats. I actually developed bursitis in one of my feet from all of this (a tailor's bunion, to be precise). It's taken months for it to go away after getting better footwear and religiously using the mats. Cement is incredibly hard on your body, even with good shoes.

[Don Jarvie]

Get a good of boots or shoes and put in gel Insoles. If you can add a wood floor do it. Standing on concrete all day is killer. I put in a wood floor and besides warming up the shop it's been great on my back and hips.

[Matt Meiser]

I really like Crocs for the shop. I get the closed ones made for cooks to keep the dust out. Searching on Amazon (they are listed 20 different ways) and looking at different colors I was able to get my last pair for $28.

[Ron Jones near Indy]

My dad, who worked standing on a concrete floor in a confined ares for 25 years, wouldn't buy any shoe other than a Red Wing work shoe--he retired in 1980 so I don't know if they are as good a shoe now as they were then.

[marty shultz]

I've had flat feet and fallen arches my whole lif which has resulted in sore feet, sore knees and sore back. Until 10 years ago i didnt even want to walk around the block.

Three changes have mad a big difference for me. I had custom made orthotics from Foot Solutions, I buy shoes (brooks) that have flat foot beds and I wear thick socks that have an elastic band around the arches. I don't have sore knees, or a sore back anymore. My feet still get sore if I stand for a prolonged period but it's nothing like it was before. Concrete or tile is the worst. I have somer rubber mats on my floor and they help too.


Good luck

[Chris Damm]

I put 1/2" interlocking floor mats in front of a few machines. My wife said I should do the whole floor so I did. I got them at Sam's Club for about $.50 a sq. ft. I've had them down for about 10 years now and they have held up well. They have also saved a lot of chisel tips that would have hit the concrete. As far as comfort I can now work in slippers if I want to and don't have to put on the Redwings to spend time in the shop.

[Peter Perrello]

Here's a discussion that may help.

http://www.woodtalkonline.com/topic/2103-these-boots-are-made-for-woodworking/

[Michael W. Clark]

My dad, who worked standing on a concrete floor in a confined ares for 25 years, wouldn't buy any shoe other than a Red Wing work shoe--he retired in 1980 so I don't know if they are as good a shoe now as they were then.

+1 on the Red Wings. You can get them at most industrial shoe supply stores or boot stores. A good pair may cost you $100+, but it doesn't take many mats to equal that. I wear crocs when only in there for a few hours, but also have rubber mats in front of the bench, TS, and router table. If I'm working for all day, I'll put the workboots on or a pair of tennis shoes. The workboots are steel toes with metatarsals, so I usually on wear them if I'm doing a lot of lifting or something rougher out in the yard where I want some extra protection, but you can get them without the steel toes.

Mike

[Jim Andrew]

I was having back trouble, went to a chiropractor, he has a scanner you stand on and it checks your arches. He recommended these foot pads, they have built in arch supports, were very expensive, but really help. When they are worn out, plan to try the dr shoals machine at walmart. It is supposed to recommend the right arch supports. My older son bought some, said they helped a great deal. I'd like to have a wood floor in my shop, but don't want to move all my machines, benches etc to build a wood floor over the concrete. If starting over, would pour a stem wall and go with floor joists and a wood floor.

[Larry Whitlow]

My dad, who worked standing on a concrete floor in a confined ares for 25 years, wouldn't buy any shoe other than a Red Wing work shoe--he retired in 1980 so I don't know if they are as good a shoe now as they were then.

I have three pairs of Red Wings. I like them because they are carefully fitted, can provide a custom fitted insole, and last a long time. I am fortunate that there is a Red Wing store nearby.

[Dan Rude]

+1 on the Redwing shoes, I’ve worn them for years. I have the steel toes because of the neuropathy in my feet; if I drop something on them sometimes I don’t know it. So my wife insisted I get them this time around. SAS are my regular shoe and they last a long time but do cost a bit, worth every penny. If you have a farm store around the horse stall mats work very well too. I’ve used them for years too.
Dan

[Ole Anderson]

I have 2 bevel edge mats that I can move around to the current work area, say in front of the router table, workbench or drill press, depending on what repetitive work item I am doing at the time. But Crocs or a cheap imitation would be cheaper and more mobile. Bought the mats way before Crocs were invented.

[Kevin W Johnson]

Good shoes are first and foremost. I worked 12hr shifts on my feet for 11 years, and cheap shoes couldn't cut it. At that time, my first rule was never buy work boots that cost less than $125. I'm sure that number is likely higher nowadays with the increased cost of everything, but there's a reason $150+ boots cost what they do. Then, just stick with the brands that are known to make good work boots. You may need mats in addition, but good shoes are a must.

[Jerome Stanek]

I buy my Redwings from a small dealer that is about a 2 thirds the cost of a Redwing store. The ones I get cost $185 at a redwing store but I get them for $120 from the Amish dealer.

[Rick Gooden]

I have had the interlocking mats on a concrete floor for about 6 years, not expensive as they came from harbor freight. Surprisingly they have held up very well and appear to have a few years left in them. In addition I wear sketcher shape ups, which I have found to be very comfortable with lots of cushion. A lot of people, like my wife, have problems with the shape ups, so walk around the showroom for a little while before buying. Of the two, I would go for the mats first.

[Philip Rodriquez]

I usually wear crocks and I have the interlocking floor mats, from Sams. Cheap and they have held up for years.

[Joe A Faulkner]

+1 on some type of mats. I have an eclectic collection of mats - ranging from the 1/2" interlocking foam mats that Chris describes to some scrap rigid 1/2" pink styrofoam under old cardboard boxes. As far as footware goes, I love asics running shoes with the gel integrated into the soles. The shoes themselves are very light and extremely comfortable. Decent ones start at around $60 a pair.

[Matt Marsh]

Another big plus for the Crocs. I live in them when I'm not at work. If I could get by with wearing them at work, I'd wear them there too! Be sure to try them on before you buy though, sizing is very inconsistant from one style to the next, and even in the same styles from one lot to the next. There is also a huge difference in the soles from one style to the next. The classics seem to have the best cushion, a few other styles are good too. Some styles have soles so thin and hard they're like walking on single ply cardboard. Other styles have sharp, over-aggressive bumps on the soles that hurt the bottoms of your feet after wearing them for awhile. The ones with leather uppers will often rub blisters on the sides of your feet until they're broke in.

I use to swear by Redwing work boots and oxfords. I wore them through high school in the 70s, and through my construction and industrial maintenance years into the 90s. I have wide and hard to fit feet, but Redwings came in just about every size and width imaginable. Very comfortable even after standing on concrete all day. But then in the mid 1990s something changed within Redwing. They started abandoning old models, and started with new styles. It was an obvious change that happened from one old pair that I had worn out, to the next new pair. They just couldn't get the fit right for my feet anymore.

[Matt McColley]

another basement dweller here....

I did all my aisle ways with the cheap interconnecting foam mats, which my wife got me on sale at the Christmas Tree Shop and BJs. The only thing I don't like about them is that I have an office chair and a draftsman's stool (both on casters) that I can't roll around on the mats while sitting on them.

For shoes, I second the recommendations for good running shoes. I just wore out a pair of Aisics gells that I loved. But now have a pair of Nike Airs that I also love.

Can someone please post a link to the type of crocks your all talking about. Not those cheap foam rubber things that my kids ware I hope.

[Jerry Hillenburg]

I have a concrete floor in my shop. I have always felt an easy on the body wood floor was impractical in a wood shop because of fire danger.

I am retired now, but when I was running my shop commercially, pieces of cardboard packing from plywood bunks became floor mats at the workbenches - new cardboard replaced the old as needed. When cleanup time came, the cardboard was put up and the shop was easily blown out. My Crocs would have been nice back then - I certainly appreciate them now.

After a long day of wood dust making, how do you clean the shop floors with the heavy stall matting or interlocking mats that are being talked about in this thread?

[Glenn Barber]

Jim-What is the brand name of your supports? Are they over-the-counter or custom made?

Glenn

[John Coloccia]

I have a concrete floor in my shop. I have always felt an easy on the body wood floor was impractical in a wood shop because of fire danger.

I am retired now, but when I was running my shop commercially, pieces of cardboard packing from plywood bunks became floor mats at the workbenches - new cardboard replaced the old as needed. When cleanup time came, the cardboard was put up and the shop was easily blown out. My Crocs would have been nice back then - I certainly appreciate them now.

After a long day of wood dust making, how do you clean the shop floors with the heavy stall matting or interlocking mats that are being talked about in this thread?

The dust and chips come right off the matts just like they would any other floor. They're not sticky like you would think.

[Darcy Forman]

I have had a ton of back problems. I wear red winds at work, because I need to wear steel toed boots, and they are the best steel toed boots I have tried. I my shop I have gone with crocs. I discovered the crocs about a year ago. I used to be able to spend about four hours in the shop before my back would start to hurt. With the crocs I have found I can work all day in the shop with no issue. I have no matts either. These shoes have been a real back saver for me.

[Whit AndersonIL]

If you drop a tool or work piece, a mat may keep it from damage. Comfortable shoes will only help a dropped piece if you manage to land it on your feet.

--Whit

[george newbury]

Get a good of boots or shoes and put in gel Insoles. If you can add a wood floor do it. Standing on concrete all day is killer. I put in a wood floor and besides warming up the shop it's been great on my back and hips.I second that.

And Crocs are not good shoes for a shop unless you have no tools or work pieces heavier than a ballpoint pen and nothing sharp. I know because due to a foot injury I've been wearing mostly Crocs (size 14) with a Vibram 5 Fingers (don't now why they call them fingers instead of toes) on my left foot for over 6 months. They are comfortable, light, airy and I invent new curse words when I drop something on one or jam a stick thru the holes in the front. In a shop you should wear PPE and Crocs don't qualify IMHO.

When I've real work to do I wear a pair of steel toed boots with gel inserts and a five fingered sock.

Horse mats sound VERY interesting for small workstand mats.

[Jeff Morton]

I switch between Crocs and New Balance shoes and use the floor mats around my work bench, TS and router table. Since my shop doubles as a garage, I put the mats on top of the workbench at the end of the session.