I've had three "real" jobs in my life. 2 years delivering fertilizer and chemicals, six years delivering and bottling Pepsi, and 21 years at a power plant. All three jobs were hell on boots, the fertilizer would eat them up. The Pepsi would eat them up. The synthetic gas turbine oil would eat them up. I learned real quick, you have work boots, and other boots. Good boots, kept well oiled, will last quite a while.