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 BOOTS
Besides Knee Pads, the most important piece of equipment to sliding is boots. Not wearing proper footwear can result in some nasty injuries.
Steel-Toed Boots are a must. As you slide you will drag your toes, which will shred leather quickly. If you aren’t using steel-toed boots, you can kiss the skin on top of your toes goodbye. Instead, when the leather is gone, you will start grinding steel. Which takes much longer to rip through and has the added benefit of throwing sparks on certain pavements. But keep in mind that rough pavement will eat through steel toes as well, so it might be a good idea to have two pairs that you alternate every other day. This also helps to keep your boots happy by allowing them a day to dry out between uses (remember the sweating heavily part), which reduces odors and prevents boot rot.
As everyones feet are different, we don’t sell boots. But we will do all we can to make your purchase easier (or at least make you happier with the boots you do purchase).
When looking at steel toed boots there are a few things to look for:
Steel Toes:
It might be obvious from the above, but double check that the safety boots you are looking at have steel toes, not composite toes. I haven’t verified that there is any negative effect using composite toes, but you don’t get that signature spark and sound of shredding steel.
Comfort:
This is the Big one, and the one that keeps me shopping for hours. If you work on reasonable pavement, your boots should last for awhile. If your are a good scare character, you will probably be on your feet a lot on any given show night, and if you are a good slider you will practice a lot in your off time. This means that these boots will be your new best friend (or worst enemy if their not comfortable). Make sure that your boots fit properly, that they support your foot, and aren’t too tight or too loose. Buy insoles for them and make sure to fit them properly. You will be sore enough from sliding, you don’t need to have sore feet on top of it.
Support:
I personally prefer a tall boot with ankle support. This ankle support also equal ankle protection while I’m dragging my foot across cheese grater like pavement. Good ankle support also means that you are less likely to turn your ankle when rising from a slide or doing an emergency maneuver or just general scaring. Also make sure the body of your foot is properly supported and that your have any insoles or orthotics that you might need.
Style:
Not just looks but construction and lacings as well. I prefer Black Boots as they easily go with many costumes and fade to a grey when ripped and worn. Then I look for any seams or protrudences over the toe cap that could cause instability in my slide or failure of the boot itself if it gives way. Next I look at laces. I’m not a fan of boots with speed laces, as they tend to come loose in active scaring. I prefer eyes or loops the entire way up. Another advantage of Eyes and loops is in repairs: You will burn through and snap your laces. It will happen. When it does Standard Operating Procedure is to replace them with zip ties (cable ties). And when those break, do it again. Zip ties and speed laces don’t always get along. I also have had luck with leather lacing, but it gets worn out too. And the final stylistic choice is to make sure your boots are appropriate to your activity level in the climate you are performing in. Figure out if you need ventilation or insulation and get appropriate boots.
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