A total of 63% of workers on site claim it can take up to one week for work boots to be properly broken in and ready to use, resulting in extremely painful and potentially dangerous consequences, according to new research by Dr Martens.
In the research, commissioned by the footwear company and construction community website On The Tools, the breaking in of footwear was one of the major concerns of workers on site, particularly as work boots are considered a fundamental piece of kit for the industrial workforce.
The research also discovered long breaking in periods impacted how often workers replaced their boots, with more than 40% admitting they were put off from buying new boots due to the initial discomfort.
With work boots being an essential piece of safety equipment to industrial workers, the research reveals how manufacturers are not factoring in the urgency of “ready to wear” boots, meaning their customers must endure a week of discomfort, and may consequently be at risk.
Dr Martens has introduced a new range of workboots designed to offer immediate comfort
Demonstrating the need for change, Dr. Martens has cited other professions: how would an IT professional cope if it took their computer a week to start-up? Would an ambulance be allowed to take a week to arrive at a casualty?
Proving a point, 92.5% of respondents said that a pair of boots that offered a reduced breaking in period would increase their chances of purchasing them, and that comfort is top priority when it comes to work boots (92.9%).
Responding to the industry concerns, Dr Martens has launched a new Modern Outdoor range, designed to offer workers immediate work boot comfort and allow for a seamless transition when replacing boots.
Jon Marchant, global category manager at Dr Martens, said: “Creating greater comfort, reliability and durability without sacrificing the necessary levels of protection is not negotiable when it comes to safety footwear.
“Dr Martens understands the difficulties our trade customers face when working up to 10 hours a day on their feet and are committed to eliminating the breaking in period and improving workers’ comfort.”
