Being a harvest intern is hard work. There are many weeks where you’re working 12-14 hours per day, 6 days per week. That’s a lot of time spent on your feet and all of the bending can hurt your back. When my feet start to hurt, my good mood fades quickly and it took me weeks to figure out how to relieve the pain! I’ve made a list of products that help me survive harvest and I’m going to share these holy grails with you. Hopefully this guide will save you from becoming the hunchback of Notre Dame during your next harvest.
You can shop the full list here.
Comfortable Work Boots
This one is kind of a given. You can’t really do cellar or vineyard work with a crappy pair of boots. You need ones that will last throughout the year, including harvest! My coworkers have given tons of recommendations on which boots to buy. They like Carhartt, Keen, Timberland, and of course, Blundstone. I had Doc Martens work boots that lasted me two harvests, but I’m now looking at Blundstone or Timberland as my next pair.
Compression Socks
Something else I couldn’t live without was compression socks. Compression socks prevent your feet from swelling up, which will happen when you’re standing anywhere from 12-14 hours per day. I could immediately tell the difference on days where I accidentally grabbed a regular pair of socks rather than my compression socks. I LOVE the Bombas brand, but they’re so expensive. Instead of spending a million dollars on compression socks, I bought these ones and they worked wonders.
Insoles
Even the most comfortable boots in the world hurt my feet because I have high arches and walk heel-heavy. Along with compression socks, insoles were also a game-changer when it came to standing on my feet all day. I really like the Dr. Scholl’s Work Insoles because they have shock absorption for your heels and arch support. It really depends on what your feet need. Some harvest interns can get by without insoles, but alas, I could not LOL.
Foot Roller
Another product for your feet? Yes! The foot roller was my holy grail. The compression socks and insoles helped my feet a lot, but after eight hours, they’d still be in pain. The foot roller I bought actually stopped all of the pain for me and I could do 14 hours with no issues. I raved about my foot roller throughout harvest because it changed everything. Five minutes on each foot before bed and your feet will feel refreshed in the morning!
Foot File
I’m not kidding when I say your feet get beat up from working in a cellar. Your heels will start to callous, which is why every harvest intern needs a foot file. Sounds disgusting and it is disgusting, but it’s also kind of satisfying to see all of that dead skin come off of your heels. Plus, it’s better to invest in one of these instead of getting a pedicure and your pedicurist judging your feet. I’ve had that happen and it’s super embarrassing.
Kerasal Foot Repair
Yeah, I know it’s another foot product. This is what you use after the foot file to keep your feet baby soft and prevent painful cracks. I use this regularly on the off-seasons as well. The one I bought came with the heel socks to trap in the moisture while you’re sleeping. Nothing is better than waking up with soft feet, trust me.
Back Stretcher
Not only do your feet hurt, but so does your back from all of the bending! I finally bit the bullet, and purchased a back stretcher and wow did it make a difference. Along with the foot roller, I stretch my back for 5 minutes every night and my back feels refreshed for the day… until I bend a thousand times at work again and have to do my night routine all over.
Leggings
I’m a leggings kind of gal and that means I’m definitely wearing them to work. Winery work is active, which is why I like to wear active wear. Leggings dry really fast, which makes getting water or wine on yourself less miserable. In 20 minutes, you’ll be dry anyway. Leggings also take up less space in the wash (and your luggage if you’re doing harvest abroad). Honestly, I can’t think of a reason not to wear leggings in the winery. Sure they might rip, but I had zero rips in my leggings and rips in my other pants at the end of harvest.
Hat
A hat is necessary for working outside. It protects your scalp from burning and if the winery you’re at lacks shade over some of its tanks and crush pad, a hat could be a life saver. I have about five different hats and sometimes I lose them throughout the winery, but my favorite is my Adidas hat. Something about the quality of the Adidas hat compared to my other hats is just good. Please tell me if I am crazy for having a favorite hat.
Fanny Pack
It’s so old-fashioned, but a fanny pack was super handy to have in the winery. I liked having it because sometimes it acted like a belt when my jeans got too loose. Sometimes I’d wear the wrong pair of leggings without pockets and wanted to have certain items on my person. I kept my phone, pens, AirPods, and hair ties in my fanny pack. It was one of the best things I purchased during harvest, which is why harvest interns should have fanny packs. Let’s bring them back in style!
