Dr. Martens survey reveals outdoor workers’ footwear issues

Dr. Martens has conducted a survey interviewing the UK’s outdoor workers in order to identify the core issues they face during the winter months.

Key findings revealed that over half (51%) of outdoor workers were unhappy with their boots, whilst a substantial amount of workers suffer with either cold feet (65%), wet feet (40%) or bad foot odour (25%).

The survey also revealed the top purchasing considerations for people buying outdoor workwear were comfort (73%) and price (40%), with the majority (58%) of outdoor workers saying they purchase their boots from conventional high-street stores or online retailers.

It was also found that three quarters of outdoors workers purchase their own boots rather than relying on employers to supply them. However, of those that do, employers provide a significant contribution of 68% on average, covering more than half of the cost.

Jon Marchant, Global Category Manager at Airwair International Ltd – Dr. Martens, commented: “In our experience,  the problem comes from a lack of information.

If outdoor workers are focusing on comfort and price, they run the risk of overlooking features that are critical to outdoor working, such as water resistance and warmth. It’s important that anyone working in extreme weather conditions is investing in the right product and buying from a supplier that can guarantee adequate protection and comfort.”

Dr. Martens offers a fully waterproof collection of footwear suitable for outdoor workers, with additional features including antistatic properties, composite safety toe cap and Smartmask puncture resistant midsole.

Available in three styles (TURBINE ST, TORRENT ST and SURGE ST – pictured), the boots also meet EN and ISO safety standards, making them ideal for industrial workers.