and my feet cant go bare...they are way too pussified and tender.
Mine too.
...Plantar fasciitis
Couldn't walk for 2 days, and barely moving after 3 days, painfully
Either mine never got that bad, or I just suffered through it when I should have, but Plantar Fasciitis sucks.
I've never been able to find a comfortable work boot. Probably has a lot to do with a terrible and limited selection available around here.
Many years ago (~18ish) when I first started out my job, the rules were a little more relaxed in some ways. Over the ankle work boots were required, but steel toe were not. Back then Wolverine made a Durashock boot that I loved. The soles were soft and they didn't last long, but they fit well, were comfortable, and the job paid for them. Then they changed the rules. We no longer had to have over the ankle, but had to be steel toes. Wolverine made a steel toe version of the boot that was almost as confortable, but the toe box wasn't quite wide enough. Then Wolverine quit making that boot, and it's replacement wasn't near as good IMO. Never found a good work shoe in the years since. Got to where I was breaking the rules and just wearing whatever was comfortable, especially after I developed PF. I kept a pair of steeltoes in locker at work and would wear them if inspectors were coming through, but usually didn't.
Outside work, I guess at work too since I was breaking the rules, I still have a hard time finding comfortable shoes. Or atleast ones that I'm willing to pay for. For a time I was wearing Merrell MOAB hiking shoes and they were comfortable, then they got popular and expensive. I wasn't willing to pay what they wanted out of pocket for something that was going to get worn out quickly walking on concrete. (FWIW, I tried the steel toe version for work and not near as comfortable.) Since then I've found some New Balance and Sketchers that were comfortable, but inevitably they phase them out and the replacements aren;t the same. I still like the feel of most Sketchers initially, but they put the memory foam insoles in everything and it wears out FAST for me. For now I've settled on their go-walk line of shoes, the fit is good and they don't have the memory foam. They also have a pair of leather side zip boots that wear great once they break in. Just started breaking my second pair of those. First pair still wear good, but looking a little rough, so I'll keep them for working in.
Now that I'm riding a desk at work I might give the Merrell's another try. I still hate the price, but since I'm no longer doing miles on concrete per day they might last long enough to be worth it. I will be waiting for them to go on sale though.