Changed my mind about buying cheap work boots after a bad shift

I was at the diner last Tuesday, flat out during the dinner rush. My 40 dollar boots finally gave out right in the middle of service, sole just peeled off near the fry station. Had to finish the night in kitchen clogs that weren't mine, almost busted my ass on a wet floor. Next morning I went to Red Wing and dropped 220 on a pair, which hurt but they've held up through 3 months of grease and hot pans. Now I see why the older cooks told me to stop being cheap, you pay for it in other ways. Has anyone else had a cheap tool or gear fail at the worst possible moment?

3 comments

3 Comments

jordang321mo ago

120 bucks will get you durable work boots from Walmart that last a year. You just gotta break them in right. Red Wing is overkill for a diner kitchen. Grease and heat wreck any boot eventually. That 220 could have bought you two pairs of cheap ones plus some good insoles. Bet you wouldn't notice the difference after a month.

david_rivera41mo ago

Resole a cheap boot once and you've already lost your money.

kim.xena17d ago

wait is that really true though? if you buy a $60 boot and spend $80 on a resole you could've just bought a new pair and saved $20. the math only works if the uppers are worth saving, and cheap boots usually fall apart everywhere else long before the sole wears out.