Special Report Trying Out a “Hybrid” Work Shoe

Can You Get Comfort & Safe Toes In One Package?

I RECENTLY TRIED out a hybrid for the first time and was really pleased with its performance. Only in this case, we aren’t talking about a gasoline-and battery powered vehicle—the subject matter here is a pair of shoes.

But before I get into this, a little bit of background may be in order. You see, I’ve always resisted the idea of steel- toed work shoes and boots because even though there have been times where I knew they were the right thing to wear, I couldn’t talk myself into strapping my feet into a pair of heavy, bulky, hot, uncomfortable clodhoppers that looked like they belonged on some robot from outer space instead of on a guy who wears a size 10D.

Oh, there were times when I was tempted, such as when I was undergoing an employment physical at an auto plant just as a fellow obviously suffering from intense pain was carried by on a stretcher. It seems that something quite heavy had fallen on his foot, resulting in more than one broken toe.

“Learn something from this,” the doctor conducting the physical told me, “and get yourself some sturdy, steel-toed shoes.”

But relying on the logic of a teenage guy, namely that nothing bad like that could ever happen to me, I compromised and instead bought a pair of Navy oxfords that I figured would give me all the protection I could ever need. Fortunately, nothing massive hit my feet while working in the plant and I escaped the fate of taking part in a stretcher ride myself.

Reconsidering Those Shoes

Timehasgivenmeamorereasonable perspectiveregardingsafetymatters,so Ifigureditmightbeagoodideatotake another look at some utility shoes and share my findings with Auto Restorer readers. After all, with the numerous technological advancements that have taken place over the decades, there must have been marked improvements in safety shoes, right? Specifically, I was looking for something that would offer protection while a person was in the garage or working around the house and yet still be comfortable and lightweight enough to leave on if you have to jump in the car and drive to the hardware store or not wear you down if you decided to wander around a swap meet, salvage yard or car corral with foot protection in place. I also must admit that I was hoping for something that would more closely resemble a casual shoe than have the appearance of a jump boot on steroids. (OK, so some of that teenage boy is still knocking around inside of me.)

Well, it just so happened that about the time I was getting serious about searching out some dual-purpose foot- gear, I received a media package from Keen, Inc., a company that got its start in 2003 by coming up with a comfortable, open sandal that also offered toe protection so a person could do some serious walking and even hiking without worrying about toe bruising. “This idea of dual-purpose ‘hybrid’ footwear inspired the brand…” the company said in a statement. And, recently, they took their philosophy of “Products for Living a HybridLife” into the area of utility shoes.

So, I started going through their catalog, and while some of the shoes still looked more suited for true heavy-duty labor, I settled on one called the Detroit Mid, which can be seen at the top and bottom of this page. “Light in weight, heavy on performance,” the company material stated. Besides, I liked the shoe’s looks and, having been brought up in Motown, I was just naturally drawn to a product bearing the hometown’s name.

Going further into the product literature, I saw that the shoes come with asymmetrical steel toes to better contour to the shape of the left and right feet while providing “a roomier toe box”and satisfying all ASTM (American Society for Testing and Material) safety standards. There’s a molded piece that wraps from the outsole up around the toes for added protection, special soles that are oil- and slip-resistant and meet or exceed ASTM non-slip standards, interiors designed to support and cradle the foot, moisture-handling technology designed to lock out exterior water while it wicks the sweat away from your feet, a heel support structure and a nice-looking nubuck leather upper surface.

Dropping the Hammer

The product descriptions all sounded good, but then it was time to take  them for a test walk. I generally wear a Timberland loafer with a chunky sole that weighs in at 19.1 oz. per shoe. The Detroit Mid is 23.4 oz. per shoe, which means you probably wouldn’t wear them when you go out dancing, but I quickly adjusted to the extra quarter pound of shoe weight and certainly had no problem walking around or trotting up and down stairways. Furthermore, these shoes were brand-new out of the box and a bit of heavy-duty breaking in would no doubt make them feel even more familiar.

After I wore the Detroit Mids around for a couple of days, I decided it was time to test the toe protection so I kicked a few hard objects and then dropped a stapler onto the toe area from a height of about three feet. Emboldened by the fact that I felt nothing, I substituted a hammer in the dropping test. I still had the same positive result, but that was as brave as I could talk myself into being.

If you’re not into the high-top look of the Detroit Mids, there’s also a steel- toed Detroit Low that looks like a standard tennie and weighs 22.3 oz. Another option is the lightweight but steel-toed Atlanta Cool model that’s designed for warm weather and weighs 17.2 oz.—even less than my everyday Timberland loafers.

The Detroit Mid has a suggested price of $140, the Low version is $125 and the Atlanta Cool is $115.

For more information or to locate a retailer in your area, visit keenfootwear. com or call 866-676-KEEN (5336).

Who knows, you soon maybetryingahybridonfor size yourself.