Shocking new boots

[darrsi]

I'm clutching at straws a bit, but i noticed a few of you have been in the forces before so i have nothing to lose by asking.


I just bought an expensive pair of Haix Combat Boots, which are supposedly the mutts nuts as boots go, but i'm having a bit of an issue with them that has me stumped.


Even when standing still, let alone actually moving in them, i'm getting static electrical shocks between my toes on my left foot only.
If they were some cheap nasty boots then i may understand it, but they really aren't, in fact they're more the top end of the scale boots.


Not only that but they are also classed as anti static boots, and i have just put some gel anti static insoles too, which has really helped but not totally eradicated it, i still get the odd tingle.

And before you ask, i only wear cotton socks, and don't wear polyester pants.  :lol

[size=1em]I have a feeling that when they're broken in a bit it may alleviate the static, but i'm certainly a bit peeved that it's happening at all.[/size]
[size=1em]I own several decent pairs of boots, like Magnum, 5.11, Lowa, Bates, etc, and have never had this problem at all with any of them?[/size]

[size=1em]I was just wondering if any of you lot had any tips at all on solving it, because as boots go they are a great fit, and perfect on the bike as they're Gortex, Hydrophobic, hardened toe, etc, and generally a really well made tough but lightweight boot. [/size]

[mickvp]

You could hammer a nine inch nail through the sole into the dirt to ground them, that would fix it :rollin (sorry :o)

[stevierst]

Now that's just weird!

Never had that with any combat style boot ever, been wearing them for work over the last 25 years, and had quite a few different pairs ! !

Try contacting g haix, as they're a bloody good company and tell them what you've got.

[darrsi]

I've always spent money on really good boots and never had issues.
The only thing i'm guessing at the moment is that they have a textile band going all the way around them, and i'm wondering if that's the cause?


Bloody annoying as i really hate shocks at the best of times.


There is always the possibility it's just ME though.  :\


The other strange thing is that i've scoured the internet, and can't find anyone else who's had this problem before? There's literally no info anywhere about it ever happening, with any footwear?


http://www.haix.co.uk/military/170/boots...lity-brown

[darrsi]

You could hammer a nine inch nail through the sole into the dirt to ground them, that would fix it :rollin (sorry :o )

I was expecting someone to say attach an earth strap like you get on cars.  :lol 

[JoeRock]

I've always spent money on really good boots and never had issues.
The only thing i'm guessing at the moment is that they have a textile band going all the way around them, and i'm wondering if that's the cause?


Bloody annoying as i really hate shocks at the best of times.


There is always the possibility it's just ME though.  :\


The other strange thing is that i've scoured the internet, and can't find anyone else who's had this problem before? There's literally no info anywhere about it ever happening, with any footwear?


http://www.haix.co.uk/military/170/boots...lity-brown

Think it is just you, never heard of that in my life!

[noggythenog]

Never experienced that before mate.


But i have gone through phases where i was charged up and always getting a static shock off of any car i touch.


Ask someone else to wear them briefly to see if they get it.


Or take the boots to work in your bag & then try them on in a different environment.

[darrsi]

This is seriously not funny, not to me anyway, my mates down the pub are finding it hilarious.  :'(
Every 3 or 4 steps I take and I do a Homer Simpson impression.

"DOH....DOH....DOH....DOH....!!!!"

Same toe every time.  :groan

[His Dudeness]

That's classic symptoms of a dodgy regulator rectifier. You sure there isn't something in there poking your toe?

[dazza]

MYSTERIES: Electric People The source of some human-body sparking is a mystery. There are reports of rare people, "Electric Humans," who develop high voltage on their bodies and suffer the continuous problem of "static" sparks. Their sparking occurs regardless of footwear, clothing, humidity, or even motion! Electric people are forever getting zapped when they touch others, or when they touch large metal objects. For the rest of us, "static electric" sparks can only occur after we walk across certain carpets when humidity is low, or when we wiggle around while sitting upon certain chairs. And for the rest of us, the problem vanishes when the humidity is high, or when we go barefoot or avoid wool or nylon sweaters/pants, avoid plastic seats, etc. But the bodies of "Electric Humans" instead seem to become electrified all the time, all by themselves, without involving the friction or the contact/separation of differing surfaces.
R.A. Ford mentions two cases in chapter 13 of his book HOMEMADE LIGHTNING (1991 Tab Books). In one case from 1837 a woman could repeatedly jump sparks 1-1/2" long to a metal object while she stood still on a thick carpet, or she could continuously create 1/16" sparks much faster (once per second.) Another case took place in 1920, when prison inmates in upstate New York suffering from Botulin food poisoning were found to be "electrified." They were able to attract paper, create sparks, etc., even when partially submerged in a bathtub. (Obviously the bathtub must not have been attached to grounded pipes, otherwise the excess charge would have vanished instantly.)
In modern times an Electric Human would have additional problems besides irritating sparks. Computers, stereo equipment, digital watches, etc., are easily damaged by high voltage and spark discharges. All sorts of electronic appliances would not survive very long under the electrostatic barrage. An electric human would be advized to buy mechanical watches, and to avoid buying any appliance which contains a microprocessor.
Unfortunately, scientific skepticism is currently at an all time high, so if a person with this sparking problem was to seek help, they would probably be ridiculed and their sanity questioned! Scientists don't believe in "electric people." Reputable scientists "know" that Electric Humans are mere superstition and cannot exist. Therefor anyone claiming to have this problem is irrational, perhaps deranged! At least the internet is there, giving opportunity for 'charged humans' to tell their stories (for example, at: REPORT YOUR UNUSUAL PHENOMENA)

So, in conclusion, you are to be ridiculed, have your sanity questioned, are irrational and possibly deranged. Hope this helps. :lol

[darrsi]

That's classic symptoms of a dodgy regulator rectifier. You sure there isn't something in there poking your toe?

No stuttering problem  :o  just a painful annoying constant shock?
The worst part of it is that otherwise they're possibly the most comfortable pair of boots I own, apart from the 5.11 ATAC which I have 2 pairs of and are simply amazing to wear.

[darrsi]

Okay Dazza, I will mention there is one bit of equipment at work which I feel shocks from when I touch it, but no other person feels, which is why I did say "It could be me?"

Even still, I can't believe that there is nobody else online that has mentioned anything,  bearing in mind they are the latest army issue boots.
So we're talking about a lot of people in different scenarios wearing them!

[darrsi]

I work in the film industry so maybe I should drop a hint if they ever need someone to make up The Fantastic Five.....I could be yer man.  :lol

[His Dudeness]

Try putting something between your toes to spread them out. That'll either stop the problem or it cause the charge to build up to a deadly level :lol On the plus side if you kick someone up the arse they'll know all about it :lol You should ask Dazza about this he's got a PHD in testing electric people. Might involve hooking up jumper cables to your nuts though :lol

[darrsi]

Self Shocking Geezer........has a nice ring to it.  :lol

[darrsi]

After reading this article my problem could be a little more serious than just constant zapping of my toes, bearing in mind i handle HD Video and Film cameras at work which obviously contain circuit boards, or the one that grabbed my attention more was about being near flammable liquids, maybe i should keep my gloves on when filling up the bike with fuel.
It also says to actually feel static shocks your body generally has to be around the 2000-4000 volts level.  :eek


Well at least i can give the bike a quick jump start if the battery ever runs down in the middle of nowhere.  :lol


http://www.electrostatics.net/articles/s...shocks.htm

[noggythenog]

But a K&N recharge kit and rub the oil on your foot :lol

[darrsi]

But a K&N recharge kit and rub the oil on your foot :lol

Last night it didn't matter if i was on carpet, concrete, standing still or walking, i was getting zapped in the same toe every few seconds. 


The new anti static gel inserts certainly lessened the strength of the shocks but they didn't eradicate them, it was just downright annoying by the end of the evening.


I still reckon that the textile band that runs all around the boot above the sole is rubbing the sides of my foot creating friction then static.
The problem is i don't know if that will actually ever "break in" or stretch, and the only way i will ever find out is by wearing the damn things all the time.


I've just written an email to Haix asking if anyone else has reported this happening before, but i think i know what the answer will be.

[JoeRock]

I'm not taking the piss, but there's not something sharp in the toe of your boot is there?

[darrsi]

I'm not taking the piss, but there's not something sharp in the toe of your boot is there?

No mate, nothing at all.


I wore them last night again, for the 2nd time, and this time i'd been out for about 30 minutes and hadn't felt anything, then it started again. :'(
I was out for about 5 hours, didn't matter again what surface i stood on or whether i was moving or not, just constant small shocks in the same bloody middle toe on my left foot.
As you can imagine, highly irritating, and it can take away your concentration when you're having a conversation, 'cos people look at me puzzled as to why i keep staring at my boot in anger and muttering profanities under my breath!  >: