Muck Boots have been around for quite some time, and they feature ample breathability and durability that can be compared to none. However, if you are a factory worker and tend to work with concrete, you would need a shoe that can withstand the occasional splash that might happen during the mixing or application of concrete.
In your search for the right boot for concrete-related work, you would have surely stumbled upon muck boots. Many would have recommended you the same, but are they really good? Can they last for long as you juggle with cement pouring or similar work?
In this blog, we will decode what makes up for the right boot for concrete work and whether or not the muck boots are a good fit.
Navigation
Selecting a Solid Work Boot for Concrete
There are multiple brands available in the market that are made of rubber and mould into the foot’s shape. That is what makes them pretty comfortable and soft to wear as well as move around on the construction site. Unlike other boots, they aren’t required to be laced up.
Moreover, these boots are very easy to clean as compared to any other work boot for concrete in the market. So, if you tend to work on any construction site daily, you can turn up spotless even after a long day of dealing with cement.
The muck boots are also very light in weight & don’t actually affect the overall operation speed. The underfoot sole plates are designed to handle the traction faced in the work environment to a certain extent. Plus, they are available for cheap & tend to be slip-resistant.
Rubber Boots for Concrete Work
You can also make use of rubber boots when working in a concrete handling environment. They tend to be lightweight, comfortable, & provide amazing traction, making them ideal for concrete pouring. Today, you can get rubber boots designed specifically with modern tech in place to ensure a seamless work environment.
But, what works better than rubber boots are muck boots that are meant specifically for concrete work.
Why Do You Need Muck Boots for Concrete Work?
When dealing with concrete, you might come across chemical ingredients that might eat through your normal work boots. As hard as concrete is, it packs in a range of chemicals to become strong and durable enough.
These chemicals can erode your work boot significantly in a small frame of time. Here are some chemicals that are added to your regular concrete mix:
1-Corrosive Inhibitors:
Your concrete mix is packed up with corrosive inhibitors to aid against any corrosion that might happen to your reinforced metallic steel in the construction environment.
Although they help evade any erosion in the metallic structure, these inhibitors sure aren’t good for your work boots. However, the muck boots are designed to ensure that no structural damage happens to the work shoes,even for the longest possible time frame ensuring repetitive usage.
2-Bonding Agents:
If you are renovating an old building, you might need to introduce a bonding agent to help the new concrete bond with the old one. These agents could also affect the texture and longevity of your regular work boots negatively.
3-Accelerators:
These add-ons help speed up the concrete’s hardening process &are used in cold weather conditions to help speed up any finishing processes.
Accelerators can harden your work boots and might be quite tough to remove from the work shoes.
4-Retarders:
Just an opposite element of the accelerator, retarders are designed to slow the drying process to allow the workers more time to mix the pour or plan a design before finishing up.
These retarders could also eat up the work boot material, and it is required that you make use of a durable boot such as the muck boots to help protect your feet in a better way.
5-Defoamers:
These elements are added to a normal concrete mixture, and then a lot of air is added to aid extra rise within the surface. It helps with air dissipation.
So, defoamers are something that you might have to worry about when wearing normal work boots.
6-Pigments:
Contractors that require concrete of different colors tend to add pigments that could stain regular work boots. The key is to opt for muck boots that help evade staining issues.
7-Plasticizers:
While great to introduce better workability with concrete, Plasticizers might be degrading for regular work boots for concrete workers.
8-Pumping Aids:
Pumping aids, when added to the concrete, can help the pump trucks easily place the prepared concrete mix. However, this could lead to unwanted splashing that eventually falls on your work boots.
One thing that can be said for sure for concrete workers is the fact that they need to wear a boot that can withstand abrasive chemicals with ease. An old boot would surely stand no chance against these chemicals present in the wet concrete.
You could also face concrete burns on the feet due to these chemicals, and this is something you might never want to deal with. When left untreated for long, it could lead to concrete poisoning, which isn’t something to risk as it might enter your bloodstream in the long run.
History of Muck Boots for Concrete
Created by The Original Muck Boot Company, these boots were introduced to the market back in 1999. The company started with the goal of offering comfortable footwear at pocket-friendly prices. With time, Muck Boots brought in a range of work boot styles along with fashion boots, casual boots, and so much more.
One factor that made these Muck Boots popular among the buyers is their extraordinary comfort. It was achieved via crafting footwear that was very flexible while being light in weight. Moreover, the Muck Boots are easy to remove and put on.
Several designs in the market are made to be waterproof and extremely warm, give their neoprene uppers. Now, depending on the work boot model you choose, you could also pair it up with sock liners & breathable linings made up of Airmesh by Muck Boots. These add-ons help wick away the perspiration and humidity to keep you cozy, comfortable, and dry while you work with concrete.
Further, the Muck Boots provide ample protection due to its 100 per cent waterproof shell-based bottom. The company’s attention to detailing ensures that they stay relevant in the market for years to come.
Features of the Muck Boots for Concrete
Speaking of the features brought in by the Muck Boots, let us talk about some of the most favoured and loved aspects of these unique boots designed for use by concrete workers.
1-Waterproof:
Muck boots are waterproof and thus allow you a chance to work with wet concrete. The material used for creating these boots is water-resistant, allowing you to avoid water seepage.
2-Rubber Outsoles:
These boots also carry high-quality and durable outsoles made of rubber to make up for easier cleaning process post work. Given the fact that rubber tends to be non-porous, any settled mixture can easily be removed or scraped post drying.
3-Anti-Slip Outsole:
Muck Boots’ anti-slip soles are perfect for both dry and wet concrete. The accidents that might happen at the construction site could cause fall or slip instances.
4-Arch Support:
A contoured and curved foot arch ensures that you do not have to deal with issues such as plantar fasciitis or any other foot pain. Muck Boots ensure that you can work on the project for a long duration without worrying about any underlying pain.
Apart from this, the Muck Boots do come with light padding, but you can make it way more comfortable by adding some extra padding to counteract the foot fatigue issue. It helps combat any impact that you might have to deal with or any shock that could affect your feet.
The bottom line
Even after the concrete has been set, most plumbers, construction experts, electricians, or tradesmen in the same profile would have stood atop the concrete for perfection in the job. The issue with concrete is that it acts slowly on your feet, but the results are pretty bad and could stay with you for long. So, if you are someone who tends to work on concrete continuously, make sure you have the best boot to protect your feet, such as the Muck Boots.
William has hands-on experiences with construction sites, and the hazards employees face while working. He has been a dedicated worker since 1995 and is currently looked up to by many of his subordinates for the work he has done throughout his tenure. He has passed several certifications regarding safety at the workplace, including OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Silica in Construction Certificate, and the National Association of Safety Professionals Certification.
He has ample experience in woodwork and welding and understands the importance of a tough work boot in dangerous occupational environments. His achievements, experience, and knowledge allow him to be an expert in the field of work boots. He selects and tries all the products that he reviews and presents to his readers. As per him, the safety of the boot is beyond the beauty of it. He carefully scrutinizes each aspect of work boots, including flex, laces, length, breathability, strength, and more.
