Marcum Wolverine DuraShocks® Opanka ST EH Oxford

I purchased this style one year ago and find it most comfortable. I am required to wear steel-toe shoes and am a construction project manager, so I do not actually work in them. However, I do a lot of walking especially around campus and find them very comfortable. I also own a pair of Rocky steel toe oxfords which are very poor for doing much walking in.

I was initially wowed by the comfort of this shoe from the very first try-on. The leather is soft and compliant, the insole is well-cushioned, and there were no issues with the seams or edges of the steel toe rubbing on my feet. I was all smiles walking out of the store. That changed the first time I had to wear them for any length of time standing up. It seems Wolverine has done something with the sole of the shoe to allow the toe to be flexible from the get-go. The floor of the shoe stops just shy of the ball of your foot and then continues again somewhere under your toes. This does, indeed, allow the toe to flex well when walking, and the "gap" at the ball of your foot is fairly well padded with foam. But as you walk, the edges of the floor of the shoe become more and more obvious - they are square edges, not rounded at all - and eventually start hurting your foot. Apart from the comfort issues with the gap in the insole, I noticed about 3 months after buying these shoes that the fabric and foam part of the insole has now started to rip where one edge of the gap is. These insoles are sewn into the shoe, so you really can't replace them. I also noticed that the stitching has come loose on the outer edge of the upper where it meets the sole, and the rubber in the sole has ripped where the stitching was. Obviously this shoe is not durable despite having the name "Durashock." So bottom line, if Wolverine would fix the gap in the insole of the shoe (rounding the edges would probably do it) and if I had any confidence in the durability of the product, this would be the best safety shoe I have owned. It is very comfortable in general with its soft leather upper, and it has a great look between dress and casual. However, due to the gap in the floor of the insole and the durability issues, I would not recommend this shoe to anyone.

I have worn Wolverine shoes and boots for years, and always have been bery satisfied with them. I recently purchased a pair of these shoes to wear at work. They are without a doubt the most uncomfortable, non-supportive shoes I have ever purchased. I had to go back to my old boots within a week because of the pain. I am absolutely disgusted with the quality of these shoes. I guess I will have to go back to Red Wings.