I need the impossible, and you lot are just the ones to help me get it.

At my job I'm in standing water all day, while being sprayed with water. Work provides us with rubber boots and badass aprons to keep us dry. With summer, and months of hundred plus degree days just around the corner I would like to preemptively address a very annoying issue with your help.

I have several food allergies that typically manifests as an itchy rash starting with the tops of my feet then spreading over the rest of my body. I can mostly mitigate it with diet and allergy meds but because I'm allergic to so many of the most common ingredients that are in almost everything it's impossible to eliminate them completely from my diet. So I'm usually fighting the most intense itchy rash on my feet that get a million times worse when the temps climb in the summer.

One thing that helps is allowing my feet to breath. That is diametrically opposed to the whole "standing in standing water all day" thing. Last year I switched from the company provided rubber boots that do not allow my feet to breath at all, to the big yellow overboots while wearing a mesh running shoe inside. That actually worked decently as the large opening at the top allowed enough air movement that it was mostly livable. However they are nowhere near durable enough, I was lucky to get two weeks out of a pair. Plus they are freaking heavy.

The company provided boots last forever but are basically sealed at the top and by 9 A.M. my feet are soaked from sweat and are itching so bad I want to cut them off at the ankles. Makes for a long and miserable day.

So unless someone can come up with a boot that is 100% completely waterproof but breaths like it's not there I see two options.

1. Wear something like Crocs without socks and just let them get wet from the water all day but still allowing air to flow over them and see how that goes.

2. Rig up some kind of blower that I could power with a rechargeable battery attached to my belt that will blow air down into the company provided boots with 1/4" air hose to the top of my feet to keep some airflow going down there.

That's all I got really. Anybody got any crazy ideas?

Peg legs

Goretex?
Waterproof but breathable. I'm not sure if waterproof enough to spend all day in standing water.

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote: At my job I'm in standing water all day, while being sprayed with water. Work provides us with rubber boots and badass aprons to keep us dry. With summer, and months of hundred plus degree days just around the corner I would like to preemptively address a very annoying issue with your help.

I got to here and my immediate thought was a blower of some sort. Maybe something as simple as a computer fan blowing out on your back, sucking air out of the suit, so I'm thinking dragging fresh air in in return, while staying out of direct spray of the water.

Or maybe an air pump for live bait, something small albeit noisy, with the tubes going down your leg like you thought.

After spending a summer walking around in a swamp in everything from flip flops to chest waders, I suggest not going barefoot if you can help it. Maybe some good moisture wicking socks could help, does under armour make socks?

They make goretex hip waders. Not sure how durable they are in your environment.

Talk to your ehs person. They may be able to help. Ppe should not cause new issues...

John Welsh wrote: Goretex? Waterproof but breathable. I'm not sure if waterproof enough to spend all day in standing water.

No where near breathable enough based on experience.

What's in the water that would prevent you from going without the boots, assuming that would be less uncomfortable?

In reply to wvumtnbkr:

It's a very small company, two owners with less than ten employees. There is no EHS person. They ordered and paid for the yellow overboots last year in an attempt to help after I showed them my bloody feet. I'm sure they would buy any boot that would help the situation, I just don't think such a beast exists.

It's not creating a new issue. It's exacerbating and existing one.

breathable long pants

under armour socks both worn under your boots/waders

Depending on said water, honestly, a lightweight breathable running shoe might be the answer.

When I was at the brewery, i was constantly soaking wet. Now, our water wasn't full of ridiculous chemical jazz or anything, just water, beer, and the occasional basic cleaner. I tried boots, but them E36 M3s made my feet hot as hell, and if there's anything I hate, its my feet being hot. What I discovered was almost by accident, and that's triathlon shoes. Light, easy on and off, designed to dry fast. Super comfy for the long haul. Bonus for me, they come in ridiculous colors. You saw my last pair. They can be cheap if you know where to shop. (Disclaimer, i define cheap as under 100$ shipped. The pair you saw was 80$ on amazon). It was the best solution I had.

DeadSkunk wrote: What's in the water that would prevent you from going without the boots, assuming that would be less uncomfortable?

It's recycled water that is filtered with a ton of chlorine in it. Basically I've got a five axis CNC wet saw on one side of me and this big monster on the other side throwing hundreds of gallons of water and slurry on me all day.

In reply to mndsm:

That's basically what I was wearing inside the big yellow overboots. Honestly though they do it in any boot or shoe that isn't mesh. Even my Chuck's do it.

Back when I had to wear actual work boots the only ones that worked for me were unlined leather boots. Any kind of lining at all, yes even Goretex, I've tried them all, just suffocated my feet.

I like pumping low flow air into the boots like the fish tank bubbler idea. A little bit of air would help a ton. I worry more about your lungs hanging out in/over clorinated water all day.

patgizz wrote: Peg legs

You just gave me a really excellent idea.

A short stilt or some such thing strapped to my shoes to elevate my feet a couple inches above the water , extend the apron so that it covers my feet and I shouldn't need to wear boots at all!

MrJoshua wrote: I like pumping low flow air into the boots like the fish tank bubbler idea. A little bit of air would help a ton. I worry more about your lungs hanging out in/over clorinated water all day.

I'll take the chlorine over silica dust any day.

Could a low set of drywall stilts keep you out of the water all together?

Don't fight it... go naked.

How about "Ventz"? They're made for sleeves, but I wonder if you could fit them to your boots.

As someone who has had food allergies manifesting on my skin my whole life, I extend heartfelt sympathy for your situation. Since it always helps to laugh, however, I can't help noting that every single doctor who has ever talked to me about this has emphasized the importance of moisturizing.

I've been thinking about the stilt thing and while it does sound like a terrific idea on the surface I can foresee a few issues.

Traction on wet slippery floors. I fall a lot anyway, now I'll just be falling from a greater distance.

I'm on and off of the forklift a hundred times a day. That would become tiresome.

I'm already the tallest person in the shop and all the tables seem to be built for the short folks.

I'm constantly lifting, moving, sliding and generally manhandling pieces of rock that can weigh anywhere from 100 up to 1200 pounds. I often have to get low to get a piece moving and my knees and back are already suspect.

It's and interesting idea though.

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote: I've been thinking about the stilt thing and while it does sound like a terrific idea on the surface I can foresee a few issues. Traction on wet slippery floors. I fall a lot anyway, now I'll just be falling from a greater distance. I'm on and off of the forklift a hundred times a day. That would become tiresome. I'm already the tallest person in the shop and all the tables seem to be built for the short folks. I'm constantly lifting, moving, sliding and generally manhandling pieces of rock that can weigh anywhere from 100 up to 1200 pounds. I often have to get low to get a piece moving and my knees and back are already suspect. It's and interesting idea though.

It sounds like the answer is to put all of the equipment on stilts and wear a rubber cumberbund to keep your midsection dry.

be this guy:

Do you take any every day allergy meds? Localized allergy cream on your feet?

Something like these aquarium air pumps seem cheap and easy enough to try. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3669+8044+3693&pcatid=3693 I may try this first as the risk of getting hurt seems too likely with the stilt idea.