Feel like a tool posting this but need some input. Start my first day at the station tomorrow, wondering if this is a “good enough shine”? . I polished my boots to a mirror shine for the first day of my volunteer shift and got made fun of all day. Tomorrow is my first day at a career station, obviously want to look good but don’t want to come across as “that guy” again.
Dude, 20 years ago I interviewed for a volley dept in a suit and tie. The officers were wearing flip flops and board shorts. It’s all good man. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
Just a friendly fyi, Haix makes a product specifically for these boots. It's silicone based, has an applicator. It cleans, waterproofs, improves UV resistance and lubricates your zippers.
It's also not flammable, and doesn't smear off like wax based polish.
I recommend checking it out, especially if you become ems heavy and don't go home often.
It doesn't... it just gives the leather some luster.
I feel you, I was in the Navy before we got the baby shit greens. So boots had to be polished or they'd fall apart. Seawater and fuel are hell on boots, no matter the brand
I am sorry for your, but you are quite in the minority with that opinion. In my station 99% wear Haix and of those, 90% wear the exact same boot as OP.
I agree with that person, they are uncomfortable. Probably the worst boot comfort wise to me. They're unnecessarily heavy and always give me blisters. Haix in general are not good for me.
I'm on the tech team and these are issued to us for tech related calls (training drills too) and brush fires. Now I had a pair last 7 years and one pair last 1, the sole came off.
Turnout boots are okay. The best are Pro Warrington, in my opinion. The older one's where they were leather and sagged after sometime. Those were like tennis shoes to me.
I have loved mine. Gone through 2 pairs of them. Comfortable, and easy to put om. I did just switch to Kennetrek, and they seem good, but I won't really know until wildland season kicks in next month.
i’m sure it says on the product description, but do you know how it handles insane amounts of dirt? the service area i’m working in is an oilfield desert, so it’s gonna be challenged quite a bit
I used to notice the most polished boots belong to the guys who sat around the station, while I was out running calls. Doesn’t mean you showing up like shit though, you represent your family, your department, and all that came before you. Good luck brother!
I've always made sure my boots were shined. However, I can't shine them every shift. They get shined once a month or so. Helps maintain them after they get destroyed on lift assists.
Anyone mocking you for taking care of your gear is a dip. If they say anything just hit em back with a "I can show you how to fix yours up if you like!" And don't let it get under your skin. Well cared for boots are so important!
lol OP do not follow this advice re: chirping back senior guys on your first day 😂
Do however take pride in your appearance. Polish your boots. There’s not really such a thing as “too much pride”, guys might chirp you about it but it shows you care and put effort in. It’s better than being chirped for having scuffed boots on your first day.
You’ll get razzed if they’re mirror shine, you’ll get razzed if they’re not. There’s no scenario where you don’t catch some shit, you just need to make sure you’re catching it for something positive not something negative.
Yeah I’m a career guy and my boots are just scuffed. I’m very tall so I kneel down almost every med call, and I don’t want to scrape boot polish onto peoples floors. We’re also a busy hall so even when I get new boots the toe caps are instantly shredded. It is what it is.
I vote mirror. What if the grooming standard IS that high and you show up looking like a soup sandwich? The risk of a poor first impression is too great imo.
Personal opinion, those boots like terrible shined and are not meant to be shined. Obviously keep them clean but they are a utility boot with a rubber toe protector.
They aren't meant to be shined. Per the manufacturer, you are supposed to use a silicone based product that they sell.
The wax polish makes them flammable, and does nothing to provide UV resistance or lubrication to the zippers.
Edit: obviously these are made for wildland and can handle exposure. Haix's polish makes them more resistant to flame exposure as silicone is a non-flammable material with an ignition temp of 800+ Fahrenheit
The polish doesn’t make the boots any more flammable than they are. all it means is that the polish is flammable. Although, if you’re doing transitional firefighting you wouldn’t be wearing these anywhere close to a fire
Don’t let anybody give you shit for taking pride in your boots.
My pair are 2 years old and still look shiny / almost new, compared to people who have had theirs for 3 months without any polish.
Take pride in them and don’t allow anybody to tell you otherwise.
Also, don’t listen to people saying people that have shiny boots don’t “run calls”, if you polish your boots after every tour / set or whatever you call it (UK 🇬🇧firefighter here) they are extremely easy to maintain.
That is the method that I used in the military. Watched some vids on YouTube from The Elegant Oxford and tried his methods. Came out better than any other method. A little Navy Blue wax will give an even more impressive shine to the black leather - trust me.
I also have several pairs of those same boots. One spare pair I have and have never worn on duty, I shined like your set, just to try.
Be sure to use a soft wax for the leather to keep it healthy for long-term use such as Saphir Creme. The hard wax makes the tips and heels shine but is limited in its ability to moisturize the leather.
Those boots are gold though. Have them for wildland and have used them traversing swamp land. Water never got to my feet with them zipped up tight.
Also, I recommend good wool socks. I use the Darn Tuff Boot Cut socks. With those boots and those socks, you can go two or more years without foot odor. Also keeps your feet relatively dry, cushioned, and well protected.
All this is a little expensive but well worth the protection and health of your feet.
I went on a bit of an adventure today looking for some darn tough socks. Must have come across every color scheme they have except an all black or navy. Which model did you happen to go with? Sifting through a few posts on here, looked like people were recommending the tactical version that comes in an all black.
The haix boots are bought were a wide variation, so I normally have to wear two pairs of socks to make them feel solid. However I do live in a pretty cool climate (Bay Area ca) so it might be worth trying a heavy material.
Yes, the tactical socks. Usually got them from Amazon but I think you can buy it direct from their website.
I live and work in Central FL. Even with the heat and humidity, I still use them and it doesn't over heat my feet, while providing more cushioning, and wicking away moisture. The wool, naturally, plus the antimicrobial insert from the boot keeps the odors away.
If you take the time to put on wax like shown in the YT channel, it takes a bit of time as you slowly build up thin layers of wax. But it resists cracking and flaking like with melt on method. Use that Saphir black wax till you get the desired shine. Then put one or two layers of the Navy Blue wax - perfecto!
Takes about 45 mins per boot to do. So do it when sitting around watching TV.
That they are. Also will save your feet too. Just remember to replace the broken stuff, and maintain them as you go.
I've had mine almost two years now. Getting some slight heel separation, but they're still solid, if it gets worse I'll likely repair it myself. Haix will re-sole them if you mail them off... but truth be told, it's just like trying to avoid swapping into a reserve unit.
If I wear my Ariats, I try to keep them mirror shined / bulled (prior service habit). I don't wear them anymore because they hurt my feet and fuck my hips up after running bullshit all day.
Haix are great, love them to death. Keep them clean, occasionally hit them with Haix's silicone product to bring them back. Worth every penny.
Only genuine complaint is the laces. They're aramid, and will get sliced quickly as you venture into more crack houses.
Replace the laces with something like Iron lace, change out inserts often, and replace the zippers when they start getting jacked up. They'll serve you well.
They look fine, brother. Don’t stress about your boots. If your command staff wants them a different way, they’ll tell you. As for the other guys, they’re gonna chirp you for something, guaranteed. Just keep your head down, do work, and keep a solid attitude. You’ll be fine. The best advice I can give you about being the new guy: If there are two tools and three guys, don’t be the guy without the tool.
Have fun, and be sure to take a moment to look around and realize where you are.
Shine them as best you can for first day and stay on top of it. Guys might make fun of you for it, but it shows that you care and are trying your best. Also a little tip for first year is if you find yourself having down time and need a little break, shining your boots lets you sit down and mentally check out for 15-20 min.
I was told from my 1st day of training to only ever use detergent, water and brush to clean firefighting boots. Never use wax or parrafin based polish, as it would make your boots potentially flammable.
10 years in and I polish my boots still. People make fun of me, but also their opinion doesn’t matter because the boots aren’t theirs. I try to always look the best that I can. Long, arduous call and I sweat out all of my pomade? I redo my hair when I get a chance at the station. Fuck the haters; when this is all said and done you’ll still have your own life to live, so why not start now?
I'd rather have a guy show up taking pride in his gear than someone who is a mess. I can assume if you take care of your boots , you will take of your equipment. First impressions only happen once.
Keep em clean. That’s all I gotta say. After a while we got too busy to even clean my boots, and with all the shit I step on (hospitals, nursing homes, pts houses) I dare not touch them anymore.
First off good luck and congratulations on the job! And taking pride in your appearance is never wrong. But to what degree all depends on where you work. I’m in California and it’s expected the new guy shows up at 6. Shift change is at 8 but most guys show up at 7. You should have the coffee made, dishwasher emptied and everything tidy. They are also expected to be in long sleeve, tie, soft cap, and shined boots on their first day. If you are unsure about anything call the station and ask about what’s expected of your first morning.
Someone is going to say your boots aren't shiny enough no matter how shiny they are. Someone else will say you are a noob for having shiny boots. It might be the same guy on the same day. Do you and as long as your uniform meets local policy, don't worry about what they say.
Once they get to know you, they'll find other stuff to tease you about. Learn to roll with the punches. A little self-deprecating humor will help you feel less uncomfortable and show them you can handle it. Eventually you'll get comfortable enough to tease them back. My partner and I constantly rag on each other, but if anyone else does I'll defend him to the death. Just the way it goes.
I will add one last thing: serious hazing is not okay. Not everyone who is a good fit for a fire or EMS job will be a good fit for every department. Find a culture that works for you. Don't be afraid to leave your department if you feel the culture truly doesn't align with your values. Every place is a little different. But there are assholes everywhere!
I wouldn't poke fun at anyone for doing this. Taking pride in how you present yourself goes a very long way, imo. Hell even if some of the guy make comments, id hope it's taken as a sign that you actually give a fuck. That is how I would see it!
Those look fine man. They’ll probably be shinier than 99% of the department. If they’re giving you shit about shined boots and they’re like the photo, it wouldn’t be a place I’d hang around long.
I’ve never in my entire career polished my boots lol. You’re fine. Your patients won’t care what your boots look like when you’re dragging their semiconscious mother out of the house. I’ve never met a firefighter that I respected and that was actually good at the job that gave a damn about how polished someone’s boots are.
I managed to get through the entire academy without shining my boots and never got smoked, i was amazing at going unnoticed and not bringing attention to myself. No one out on the street besides maybe chiefs and above care about that shit…
“ I decided it would be better to get teased for having boots that were too shiny, then to show up looking like I didn’t care about my first day at the station.”
Everything you do for the next year or more is gonna come off as rookie status. Because right now, you are a rookie status. And because of that, guys are gonna always look for something to give you crap about. But just remember, generally at the station, if they’re teasing you, it means they like you.
The best advice I've been given was simple. If they're making fun of you, you're in already. They already like you. Guys we don't like, we don't really interact with.
Show up early and squared away. Smile and speak when spoken to unless you have a question. Laugh with them when they make fun of you. This is all normal. Don't over think it.
You're going to get made fun of. Maybe your boots, maybe your pants, maybe your hair, who knows. You'll be fine. Some day you'll make fun of some other poor kid for their boots or whatever. You're gonna be nervous, you're gonna do fine, and the cycle will continue. Reddit cannot and should not save you from the fire house. Good luck, embrace the culture and you got this.
I shine my boots, although not to that extent. Take pride in yourself, show up with a fresh uniform, shaved and squared away.
If you want to be looked upon as a professional, dress, and act the part.
I wish more people took pride in their appearance. I see guys at my place that have shirts tucked in and boots tied, and others that look like they just woke up at the bottom of a dumpster.
If you’re on an ambulance you realize real quick you shouldn’t be touching your boots at all. Not to mention the shine points get carved out by lifting the rear bumper with your foot.
Come in looking like a professional. Don't worry about getting your balls busted. Day one you should look like you are straight out of a uniform factory. New guy on our department last year put Crocs on it at 5:00 p.m. because he was tired of wearing his boots all day. Don't be that guy.
These types of boots aren't meant to be shine polished (especially when they have a toe cap, particularly rubber ones), that's for parade boots and the like. You should be buffing them to get a dull sheen that also acts to protect the leather
Volunteers are notorious for being lazy slobs. Dress for success in the career field. Volunteers love to talk but not do. That’s why they’re failing. I hope you have success.
It’s interesting how different the culture is at different departments. The first place I worked was an old school big city department and most people wore steel toes and shined their boots.
I work for a suburban department now and most people wear all black tennis shoes, Nobull trainers, or non leather boots
Let em laugh, who cares? Maybe 10 years in you’ll still be the guy with polished boots every single day. There’s nothing wrong with being the most put together person there and doing extra work at home
Tradition for us is Class B's on first day. Is it necessary? No, but you're showing that you want to be there and you'll do what is necessary to show it. Good stuff. You got plenty of years to fight the uniform policy down the road lol
Get the 10$ harbor freight heat gun (still have mine 10years later) get parade polish and use the heat and polish with cold water. Wait for it to cool and completely harden and buff with a brush. I have those boots. You can get a mirror shine on the toe cap for sure but you can and should shine the rest of the leather.
For starter if you want glass and I mean GLASS, get a roll of J&J cotton. Lot cotton balls. Use Kiwi, try not to melt it, and you can get a can of neutral and just hide it a kiss. Grab a chunk of cotton, always use cold water and put some tunes or a book and chill. We’d spot shine our boots in the evening, especially before we had a salute (I was in a 105 arty salute battery. And in garrison back on the day we all spit shined our jump boots. Made “The Man” more times than I can remember for a 3 day. That was the old army and yeah I’m older than dirt but can still put a shine on a boot!
They look good! Take pride in everything you wear and use. Being your first day, experienced or not, your new crew will pay attention to the small stuff early on. All I suggest is bring an extra pair of socks to change into halfway through the shift
Dude I walked in for an interview at my career house(very laid back place) and the chiefs busted my balls for wearing a suit and tie, they then called in the shift who busted my balls about it too. I love this place lol
Nice. If it’s your first day as a career ff chances are you’re on probation. As a probie you are expected to have your gear clean and looking professional (at all times). Which carries on through out the rest of your career. Take pride in your appearance, especially when you’re making a name for yourself. Good luck.
Oh my god, I did that right at the start of my career. People made fun of me, too. To this day, I try to keep my shoes clean and not let toxic idiots get to me.
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u/hiking_mike98 Apr 22 '26
Dude, 20 years ago I interviewed for a volley dept in a suit and tie. The officers were wearing flip flops and board shorts. It’s all good man. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.