Multiple innovative footwear options exist for oil, gas workers


When it comes to the oil and gas industry, what field workers wear on their feet really makes a difference. The right footwear needs to not only be comfortable – since employees are on their feet most of the day – but it also needs to provide plenty of protection.

“These workers are in tough environments so you want something that has the latest in safety features, but is also something they feel good about wearing,” says Rob Mills, president of Black Diamond Group, a Carhartt licensee. “Footwear has changed dramatically. If you look at what we did 20 years ago and look at boots now, they may look the same, but they aren’t. They feel and function differently.”

Carhartt talks with workers in the field to see what they like and don’t like in footwear and try to incorporate that into their designs, Mills says. “We’re always seeking feedback on how we can make a better boot and meet workers’ needs,” he says.

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Red Wing Shoes makes boots for more than 15 industries, and those for the gas and oil market are made to hold up to the most strenuous conditions, says Mark Dinndorf, senior product line manager.

“We’re really focused on understanding the working conditions, whether it’s Texas or the Bakken,” he says. “We put our products through extensive testing. We really put them through the ringer and make sure they hold up to these tough conditions.”

Carhartt has a number of new footwear products on the market to help workers find what they’re looking for, whether it’s a more traditional boot or one with a more Western style, Mills says.

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The CMF1391 is a 10-inch tall, pull-on boot with a rugged flex platform. The boot with its rugged flex outsole and Ortholite insole providers comfort to workers who are on their feet all day, Mills says. The boot is also packed with safety features, including a chemical resistant coating and slip resistant treads. They are also abrasive-resistant.

“It’s very durable but has a nice, lightweight and comfortable feel,” he says. “We basically took a rubber foot and replaced it with leather.”

Another boot, the CMF8720, also features Carhartt’s rugged flex platform, but adds five layers built into the insole to provide increased safety and comfort to the workers, Mills says. The pull-on, 8-inch boot also has high visibility marks on the heel.

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“It’s very versatile and the worker can wear it in several different areas as they move around,” he says. “It doesn’t have a restrictive feeling at all. Workers have the protection they need but without any added weight.”

Red Wing’s CrV design debuted earlier this fall, Dinndorf says. Nicknamed the “Curve,” the boot features a unique curve design to fit workers’ feet better and includes Red Wing’s waterproof technology. There’s an option for a soft toe or a lightweight aluminum safety toe.

“They have a great durability and they’re also geared towards younger workers who grew up on sneakers and skaters’ shoes,” he says. “The boots have all the safety and comfort functions, but the stylings and aesthetics are a bit younger. The guys on the ground skew younger.”

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Another Red Wing boot, Injex, is a knee-high boot that has a similar look to rubber, but is made out of an injected polyurethane material. This boot comes with a steel toe and is waterproof.

“They hold up very well and there’s no chances for leaking,” Dinndorf says. “These workers are sometimes standing in a lot of chemicals. They are very durable.”

Western-style boots – those featuring a square toe – are growing in popularity as oil workers from Texas, where the style originated, move into new markets, Mills says. Carhartt’s Rugged Flex Steel Toe offers the option of a steel or soft toe and offers a durable rubber outsole for traction and a shallow tread that releases mud and dirt.

“Some workers want to look a certain way and this trend has definitely spread,” he says. “We just make sure they’re comfortable as well as fitted with all the safety requirements.”

Red Wing offers a select number of boots that are “highly insulated” for workers in the colder climates of Canada and North Dakota, Dinndorf says. “We also have the Irish Setter hunting boot line that we can tap into for ideas and technology that we can then work into the boots for the gas and oil markets,” he says.

Comfort is worked into all of Red Wing’s products, Dinndorf says.

“We spend time on arch support and cushioning since we know these guys are on their feet eight or 10 hours a day,” he says. “Workers rely on us for durability and quality and we want to live up to that.”


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