30andout,
This is a good question, I am looking for a new pair of work shoes myself. I used to wear Sears Diehards, but they got where they were Die-easys. Most shoes these days have a rubber sole and the heels go out on me after about four or five months. No way would I wear tennis shoes, they don't offer the ankle support that we need for the type of work we do. I've seen too many feet injuries with these over the years, including mine. I have a pair of Timberland Hiking boots that worked well, when I replaced them after a year with the same model, the soles wore out with them after a few months. Last year my feet started hurting me a lot, I think my arches were starting to fall. I went to a specialty store where they did a pressure test on my feet, (measure your feet when you are stand up, instead of sitting down, you could be a half-size off!) 90% of people wear bad-fitted shoes. I bought a pair of expensive Cambrian shoes that fit great, but at $130.00 a pair these wore out after three months. The great thing is I got a pair of Lynco brand inserts that were designed for high-impact sports. They have extra padding for the ball of your feet, offering better support. My pain went away after a few weeks, best $60.00 I've spent in a long time. I'm still looking for some shoes though.....