Even though I was a teacher I have been wearing steel toed boots every day for the last forty years, due to an ankle and knee problem. Here is what I have learned by trial and error which may be of some help. 1. Buy a boot that is a half size larger than your street shoes, plus unless your feet are very narrow, buy them wide. Buying them the same size as your street shoes will cause problems, because there is no give in the toe area to stretch into. 2. I know that this will sound dumb, insulated boots are more comfortable and the uppers do not breakdown as fast. 3. Even though I wear insulated boots and sweat alot, I wear two pairs of cotton socks every time. I have never had a sock holes problem and very seldom have an oder problem. You do have to keep the insides dry each night. 4. Once you find a brand you like, DON'T try something different, due to price, I've always regretted it. I have been wearing Rocky IronClad boots for the last 20 years, in a couple different styles. 5. A pair of boots lasts me 2 years, the first year they are my regular foot wear, to break them in and the second year they become my work boot. My work boot is worn about 10-12 hours a day. By the end of the second year my feet start to hurt and I change over to the next pair and buy a new pair. Only time I am not wearing them is when I have a tie on. Maybe this will help someone out, it has worked great for me.
FWIW I ripped my right fool off back in the 80's so have been wearing boots ever since.
The orthopedic surgeon gave me some very good instructions.
1) buy a pair of boots 1/2 size bigger than your shoe size & 1 size wider ( similar to what Rivets )
2) buy several pairs and do not wear the same pair every day this is very bad for your feet and paticularly for the circulation in your feet.( which is almost nil in the right foot to start with )
3) If they end up feeling a little sloppy, fit an innersole linner.
I have 8 pair of steel caps and I simply rotate them each day,
Fiive of them are different brands and 3 are identical Catapillar boots but 1 year apart.
No boot will ever be waterproof unless you feed it .
You can't get whale oil any more which is a bugger because nothing works as well as whale oil.
My motorcycling boots are 30 years old and apart for 3 new sets of soles are just as good now as when I bought them, because they get a good feed several times a year.
The oldest work boot is 22 years old and now badly cracked but I still wear them because they are the most comfortable.
3 pair came from Aldi and were $ 20 ( Aus ) on special and I started wearing a new one every 2nd year so they would not all wear the same.
I also only ever wear Holeproof Artic Explorer socks in either cotton / nylon or wool / nylon.
These are thick terry style socks are are fantastic for cushioning and I also buy them in the next size larger.
While steel caps are no cheap, a few hours spent at the foot clinic of your local hospital ,seeing all the otherwise healthy men reduced to invalids because they did not look after their feet will change your mind.
Wally Mart & HF would have to sell steel caps as all the glass fronts sell them down here, as do the outdoor shops ( most expensive ) tool shops and funny enough the gay shops had the best range of steel caps. ( though that might not go down well with some of your co-workers )
Military disposal stores will also keep steel cap GI boots in a dozen styles.