The Fact About Firefighter Boots: Why JK Superduty’s Chunky Heels Are Truly Genius
- 10 January 2025
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The Iron Snail
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The Historical past Behind JK Superduty Boots
John Khadzhi makes use of 100-year-old cast French hammers and Swedish lasting pliers to make high-heeled JK Superduty boots. These boots are nailed collectively, screwed collectively, glued collectively, and stitched collectively. They’re firefighter boots, they’re logger boots, they’re development boots.
You’re taking a look at among the hardest boots on the earth that simply so occur to have modified the lives of the hardest individuals on the planet for the final 400 years. I wish to placed on two pairs of sockie wockies; in any other case, my feetsie weetsies will get blisty wisties, and that’s no good.
The Haters and Right this moment’s Deep Dive
Right this moment, we’re taking a look at why the JK Superduty boots have an enormous outdated fatty on the again of them, which, after all, is the heel. These boots are tough and difficult, and you’ll maintain much more weight and never have sore toes than you’ll be able to with every other boots.
And whereas these boots are among the hardest boots on the earth, you continue to should just be sure you get the suitable ones. These have the honey sole, and once you look them up on Reddit, you will note a remark from Reddit consumer smokejumperbro.
Smokejumperbro says, “The boots that I’m carrying, these JK Superduty boots, are known as loft boots, and they’re for workplace work like stitching and consuming ice cream,” which is a hysterical remark but in addition surprisingly near my job.
And eventually, as superb as these boots are, they nonetheless have some haters – not JK boots particularly, however these logger PNW (Pacific Northwest) boots typically, and we name these haters the barefoot bros.
A number of the barefoot bros, not all of the barefoot bros, however both manner, an additional breakdown of what we will probably be speaking about within the article is right here:
Primary: Why the F do these boots even have a heel? What does that assist with? The key phrase: dorsiflexion.
Primary (a): Do these boots make your toes weaker by carrying them due to the heel?
Quantity two: The underside part of those boots is fuzzy, however the prime just isn’t. What’s with that?
Quantity three: Why do we have now like 12,000 stacks of leather-based on these boots?
Quantity 4: Why, once I first put these boots on, did I really feel a lump proper on the facet of my boots?
Welcome to The Iron Snail
What’s up, everybody? It’s Michael again with one other outdated article for the Iron Snail. This channel focuses on two issues: one, extremely deep dives into each technical facet of a shoe, of a boot, of a clothes article, no matter it could be, and two, style stuff.
And at the moment, after all, we’re deep diving, extremely deep and dangerously, into JK Superduty boots.
The Tech Specs: Breaking Down These Unhealthy Boys
Let’s simply get to know these boots first. Let’s undergo the fundamentals, after which we’ll get to the loopy particulars. Nevertheless, we want the inspiration. These huge fats fatties are 10 inches in peak. They use 8 to 9-ounce leather-based, the insole is real oak-tanned USA leather-based, the midsole is real oak-tanned USA leather-based, and the arch help is USA leather-based. These boots are fabricated from USA leather-based.
These boots are designed to at all times hold your foot in a resting place to distribute weight evenly, so standing on a log, my toes would usually sort of bend and conform across the tree until I used to be carrying reasonably stiff boots. Now they don’t – they keep straight, they usually get a lot much less drained as I stroll round and as I attempt to stability on one thing like this.
Actually, you see this come out in the event you stand on ladders all day. You desire a boot that doesn’t let your foot sort of sag over the ladder as a result of then your foot will get drained, which is clearly no good if it’s a must to work for 10 hours a day. You need one thing that retains your toes sort of stiff and never overly working and overly flexing. By way of floor really feel once you’re strolling, you get two issues.
Primary, clearly, it feels such as you’re standing on an absolute boatload of USA oak-tanned leather-based – there’s not loads of feeling, not loads of bending, and also you’re not very near the bottom once you’re strolling on these boots.
The Thoughts-Blowing Arch Help
Now, the one factor that can shock you in the event you’ve by no means worn PNW boots or boots with very robust excessive arch help is the sensation of arch help. It’s unreal on these and I shall clarify what it looks like by the metaphor of a sock. Clearly, these boots have a heel – chances are you’ll suppose although the underside of those boots is flat when it’s not, it’s very, very closely rounded, and take note of that.
That may turn out to be useful later once we speak concerning the heel. However what it looks like is – image a rolled-up sock proper beneath your foot; you’re not carrying a boot, you’re simply gently placing your foot down on a sock. That’s basically what it looks like, besides the sock is within the excellent place the place your foot is not splaying out and getting drained. It’s resting on the sock and supported, you understand, technically by the remainder of the boot. I assume the metaphor dies there.
I need to admit I left a vital half out of the strolling, how they really feel and stuff take a look at, and that’s vary of movement.
I left it out as a result of it’s extremely fascinating as a result of it really works for you and towards you relying on what state of affairs you’re in, however when it really works for you, it’s most likely the nerdiest, coolest factor that I’ve ever heard – it’s hacking your foot and your energy.
The Massive Query: Why That Chunky Heel?
Why the F do these boots have a heel? Primary, I’ll reference Rose Anvil. You need to use the heel as a lug to grip onto issues and lock into issues; that’s very helpful.
However quantity two, it’s what I used to be speaking about earlier than – you’ll be able to see the outsole of those boots actually drips down as a result of there may be a lot leather-based used for arch help that in the event you didn’t have a heel, you’d be strolling on a weebly wobbly floor and that may’t occur. So it’s a must to chunk an enormous heel on the boot to be able to have that many layers of leather-based providing you with help.
Most boot soles are completely flat, and strolling round in them is not any downside. You’ll be able to add somewhat little bit of a heel, but when it’s completely flat, it’s no huge deal. JK boot soles are rounded up a bit, so now you want to basically add somewhat platform so the rounded half doesn’t contact the bottom; in any other case, you received’t have loads of steadiness once you’re strolling.
Okay, so now we all know arch help is essential, however we don’t essentially know why it’s essential or the way it helps you sort of fly up a mountain and nonetheless have your whole energy and make issues simpler, and actually, why is it so essential that we’re chunking large heels to the underside of shoes. Earlier than we get into dorsiflexion, we have now to interrupt down among the smaller options of those boots.
The Magic of Tough Out Leather-based
First issues first – why tough out? Why are there two sorts of leather-based on this boot? Put merely, tough out doesn’t present scratches the identical as clean leather-based.
Tough out, the alternative facet of the leather-based is rougher and more durable. It doesn’t scratch as simply – it’s a must to get by the entire fibrous materials and the fuzz earlier than you’ll be able to even start to scratch the leather-based, so it’s a must to transfer a ton of stuff out of the way in which earlier than you’re damaging the leather-based.
Why did smokejumperbro on Reddit say the outsoles, these honey Vibram outsoles, are for workplace work like stitching and consuming ice cream? As a result of there are totally different more durable outsoles, I feel there’s the V100 and the 100, and also you may need to right me on that. It’s a black outsole.
It’s more durable than the honey outsoles, so it lasts longer, however JK generally makes use of honey outsoles. They use all types of outsoles, so you’ll be able to decide what you need. They often use honey outsoles as a result of individuals say the softness grips higher once you’re going by sure terrains, so it does have its pluses and minuses.
Evaluating Totally different JK Boot Choices
Function
Particulars
Advantages
Utilization
Drawbacks
Building
Nailed, screwed, glued, and stitched collectively
Sturdy and strong for heavy-duty duties
Appropriate for firefighters, loggers, and development staff
Requires correct sizing and adjustment
Materials
8-9 oz Oak tan USA leather-based
Supplies robust arch help and weight distribution
Very best for prolonged standing or climbing
Could really feel stiff initially
Heel Design
Chunky heel for dorsiflexion and stability
Reduces fatigue, enhances stability on uneven terrain
Important for climbing and gripping
Restricted vary of movement throughout working
Outsole
Honey Vibram outsole
Mushy grip for versatile terrains
Nice for mountaineering and outside work
Shorter lifespan in comparison with more durable outsoles
Tough Out Leather-based
Fibrous texture immune to scratches
Enhances sturdiness and put on resistance
Handles robust environments
Could require common upkeep
Customization
Tailor-made to particular person specs
Ensures excellent match and luxury
Customized orders for particular wants
Increased value for personalisation
The Spicy Query: Do These Make Your Ft Weak?
Okay, and now for the spicy query – do these boots make your toes weaker? Clearly, in the event you’re strolling barefoot, you’re strengthening your toes to the max, so do they make your toes weaker? I imply, for his or her basic goal, it doesn’t even matter. It’s not like your toes are going to be so weak which you can’t stroll on them or something like that.
These are logger boots, firefighter boots, and folks working outdoors all day boots. Irrespective of how robust your foot is, you’re going to get drained after 10 to 12 hours of preventing fires and lifting logs and heavy tools. So technically, I imply, yeah, possibly you can get your toes stronger, however are you actually going to inform a smoke jumper that he must do toe lifts after work?
The Science of Dorsiflexion
Now, I’ll say strolling round in these boots is definitely unimaginable. I find it irresistible, I don’t really feel like I’ve loads of foot pressure. I’m not doing something extremely strenuous, however they nonetheless really feel nice. It’s a pleasure to place them on, they usually’re not even damaged but. I can see why the entire hype surrounds these boots.
Nevertheless, yesterday, I had these boots on, and I used to be working by the woods – not going for a run, however I used to be really actively working by the woods, and that is the place issues get attention-grabbing as a result of the boots had been working for me and towards me on the identical time and that is why they’ve a heel.
Two crucial issues that you simply want to remember: Primary, I’m the epitome of a random man on the web, so speak to a physician in the event you want a particular sort of boot or sneakers, however quantity two is that my boots are usually not totally damaged in but so they are going to get extra versatile over time and break in much more.
Dorsiflexion child! Dorsiflexion is de facto – apparently, simply the motion of your foot once you level your toes up however hold your heel on the bottom. It’s essential once we’re speaking about these boots.
After I was working by the woods pretending to be a firefighter fighter, I seen the vary of my foot was restricted. Often, once you’re working, your foot is flexing all the way in which up after which many of the manner down. You get simply concerning the full vary of movement. In these boots, I sort of stayed within the center. Now the thought is that we have now a golden vary in energy of our toes once we are going up inclines.
It’s not overly superly excessive lifting your foot up all the way in which, it’s not overly tremendous low, so by preserving your toes within the center in that energy vary, you’re basically utterly avoiding the tremendous excessive weak zone the place you’ve got much less energy to go up mountains and hills, which after all means you’re fatiguing dramatically much less as you do work all of the day lengthy since you’re utilizing your strongest vary of movement.
Watch This Evaluation
The Ultimate Verdict
Okay, so at the start of this text, I mentioned these boots are technically not for everybody. I assume I ought to amend that as a result of JK Boots will custom-make boots for you, which implies, sure, these boots are for everybody. These boots are actually all the pieces I may have dreamed of and extra – they’re superb.
I like simply placing them on and strolling round. It feels good; they really feel like they’re constructed for you, they usually’re molding to your toes over time. I like all the pieces about them. So, if I wanted firefighter boots, logger boots, development employee boots, or one thing like that, I’d love these much more as a result of they might make my toes really feel lots higher.
Thanks a lot for studying! I’ll see you all very quickly within the subsequent article the place we have a look at the lightest denims on the earth and the heaviest denims on the earth.
This text was tailored from Michael Kristy’s video on The Iron Snail, with edits from GentZine, and was reviewed by Michael to make sure the integrity of his authentic content material. Watch the total video right here.
The Iron Snail is a males’s style vlog (and now article sequence!) starring a younger man named Michael and that includes a snail no greater than 1 / 4. The 2 are set on taking up the world of style by making a clothes line to finish all clothes strains. Till then, we’re right here to inform you EVERYTHING you want to learn about one of the best clothes on the market, from the very best high quality uncooked denim denims to the warmest jackets to the sturdiest boots…the Iron Snail has acquired you coated.
