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Bad shoes

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
silver_fox
Posts: 110
Joined: 27 Jan 2013, 10:13
Gender: Male

Bad shoes

Post by silver_fox »

The RM choices are crap:

-Cat trainers, unflexible soles, not waterproof, cause all sorts of leg/knee pain
-Magnum shoes, like walking on a brick, 2 inch thick sole, bound to trip on something in these

Not tried the Doc martens, but can't see them being any better. Has the choice always been this bad?

Can I wear my own Merrell gloves?
http://www.shoeshemall.net/images/B/267215_366_45.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They are great for running and walking, I can feel the ground, the sole is thin and flexible but puncture resistant, they are extremely lightweight and comfortable!

Will management object if they find out or can I say I need them for my own health and safety reasons?
clashcityrocker
Posts: 16692
Joined: 22 Sep 2009, 13:50
Gender: Male
Location: strummerville

Re: Bad shoes

Post by clashcityrocker »

The Dr Martens are good but take time to break in.
If you want to wear your own you need a doctor's note.
Delivery is brutal and I really wouldn't want to pay for 2/3 pairs of shoes a year.
The societies of consumption and squandering of material resources are incompatible with the idea of economic growth and a clean planet.
DB1100
Posts: 1976
Joined: 10 Sep 2007, 14:30

Re: Bad shoes

Post by DB1100 »

To be properly waterproof boots and shoes(not welly's)need a goretex liner,these are fine on very cold and wet days,however your feet quickly heat up in them and your feet will get wet with sweat which causes other problems,your best bet is to wear the issue boots (cat) and give the lower parts a good coating of something like nikwax.Don't bother with sealskinz socks as they tend to bunch up and cause blisters.If you give your feet a wipe with surgical spirits a couple of times a week this will harden them up lovely and help prevent any fungal infections.I wouldn't wear those minimalist shoes for delivery work,the soles have very little protection and for the average Joe they take a lot of getting used to
For we were soldiers once,and young
boo634
Posts: 48
Joined: 25 Feb 2013, 17:49
Gender: Male
Location: West Midlands

Re: Bad shoes

Post by boo634 »

Anybody remember the Clarke"s shoes we use to get comfortable and long wearing wish we still used them,now its all about cost and what cheap s**t they can issue which ticks the health and safety boxes they don't care if there uncomfortable they don't wear them!!! b
freelunch
Posts: 358
Joined: 14 Oct 2012, 20:39
Gender: Male

Re: Bad shoes

Post by freelunch »

We had the trial of the new Royal Mail shoes by YDS - I was under the impression these were being made available? They're nothing like Merrell gloves though.
"Everybody has a plan.. until they get punched in the face" - Mike Tyson
mojothefishmo
Posts: 132
Joined: 20 Oct 2009, 19:15
Gender: Male

Re: Bad shoes

Post by mojothefishmo »

As far as i was told the new footwear will be available in Jan,as for your own shoes i went to a podiatrist and now get my own shoes every 4 month payed for by royal mail up to £30
Decky Boy
Posts: 440
Joined: 22 May 2009, 10:00
Gender: Male

Re: Bad shoes

Post by Decky Boy »

silver_fox wrote: Can I wear my own Merrell gloves?
http://www.shoeshemall.net/images/B/267215_366_45.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They are great for running and walking, I can feel the ground, the sole is thin and flexible but puncture resistant, they are extremely lightweight and comfortable!
Silver Fox, them Merrell gloves may be lightweight and comfortable but if you start "running" in them you will have an accident come time ! ! !
For me boots with ankle support are the only way to go and I've found the Magnum Boot to be very light and comfortable and they need no breaking in at all. I go through 3 pairs a year though ! ! !
janitor
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 689
Joined: 28 Aug 2007, 16:18
Gender: Male

Re: Bad shoes

Post by janitor »

Magnums 3 pair a year, you can't be working hard enough, used to get through 3 pair in six months, yes they are comfortable, but they really ain't up to the job.
SP115
Posts: 178
Joined: 25 Nov 2012, 17:52
Gender: Male
Location: Location: Location

Re: Bad shoes

Post by SP115 »

Cat Trainers tend to last ~3 months if your lucky :thumbdown
mandelsons_toenail
Posts: 1294
Joined: 08 Aug 2009, 18:16
Gender: Male
Location: Outer Hebrides

Re: Bad shoes

Post by mandelsons_toenail »

I'm currently getting through a pair of cat trainers every 9 weeks.

:thumbup

Best of a bad bunch.

Apparently can't have anymore for a year, which is fine.

I'll wear my slippers once they fall apart :left:

An absolute shambles
janitor
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 689
Joined: 28 Aug 2007, 16:18
Gender: Male

Re: Bad shoes

Post by janitor »

Well when my 4th pair of magnums started to fall apart I got Doc Martins, they lasted a year, after taking three weeks to break them in.
Anonymouse
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 174
Joined: 02 Jun 2012, 22:20
Gender: Male

Re: Bad shoes

Post by Anonymouse »

I wear the cat trainers and i'm sure they are the cause of my wrecked toenails. I've never had this problem until i worked with RM.
They're decent enough to walk in and there's no pain, just bruised nails.

Oh, but they are like skates on wet tiles
rhino49
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1644
Joined: 04 Jun 2007, 21:50
Gender: Male
Location: At home with my feet up

Re: Bad shoes

Post by rhino49 »

clashcityrocker wrote:The Dr Martens are good but take time to break in.
If you want to wear your own you need a doctor's note.
Delivery is brutal and I really wouldn't want to pay for 2/3 pairs of shoes a year.
Agree with Clash, the DM's are quality but the ones we get are the "industrial" weight and you must be prepared to be uncomfortable for a couple of weeks 'til they soften up - rub some of the Doc Martens balsam in if you can get it as that will help especially as they are leather not synthetic. Once broken in they feel like slippers with a tough sole.
We wish to serve - but we will not be servile
postypie
Posts: 435
Joined: 18 Mar 2012, 19:37
Gender: Male

Re: Bad shoes

Post by postypie »

There is a huge waiting list in our office for Cats....stock problem according to managers.....some of us are going out on delivery in sub standard/worn Royal Mail shoes...
OnAFlyer
Posts: 1938
Joined: 16 Aug 2009, 14:24
Gender: Male

Re: Bad shoes

Post by OnAFlyer »

postypie wrote:There is a huge waiting list in our office for Cats....stock problem according to managers.....some of us are going out on delivery in sub standard/worn Royal Mail shoes...
I managed to get a pair recently but we were told the Cats are going to be stopped?

I really like them, they're the most comfortable footwear I've had from RM, no aches or rubbing at all for me though some in my office hate them.