Manufacturers use three basic methods to attach rubber soles to leather uppers, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The quality of the connection between a boot's lower and upper - the body and sole - impacts its durability. This awesome technology is relatively new, and it may be difficult to find on store shelves. They're not overly heavy, they protect the toes from falling debris and other hazards just like steel does, but they're far more comfortable to wear. We'll refer to these components as "composite materials."Ĭomposite materials pose no problems with heat/cold retention. Special polymers and ceramic materials can be combined to mimic the strength of a steel-toed boot. Suffice it to say that aluminum toe plates meet industry safety standards and offer essentially the same level of protection as steel. Some workers question the strength and durability of aluminum vs. You may experience annoying static electricity when wearing aluminum-toed boots around certain types of machinery, but the side effects aren't nearly as severe as they could be if you were wearing steel-toed boots. And while it's true that aluminum also conducts electricity, it doesn't do so to the same extent that steel does. Retention of heat/cold is still an issue, but heat dissipates faster through aluminum than it does steel. Because aluminum toe caps are so much lighter than their steel counterparts, they create less foot and leg fatigue for the wearer. AluminumĪluminum wields several advantages over traditional steel, including its lighter weight and increased flexibility. Workers who don't mind wearing a heavy boot of metal should be satisfied with this variety of footwear. Nevertheless, steel-toed work boots are exceptionally durable. Steel-toed boots are also notorious for retaining heat or cold - an uncomfortable proposition, to be sure. What's more, steel-toed boots can conduct electricity, making them unsafe to wear around machinery with a strong electrical and/or magnetic field. Steel toes are great for anyone who works with heavy equipment or has cause to use their foot as a blunt-force tool, Mark said.īut steel is heavy, and over the course of an eight- or ten-hour shift, its weight can bring on foot and leg fatigue. We spoke with former freight line worker Mark Rice, who told us that steel-toed boots were a must-have during his days on the railroad. This type of footwear has graced the market for decades. Hearty and dependable, steel-toed boots shield the toes from falling debris, hot construction materials, and dropped tools. It's up to you to decide which type of toe protection suits you best. Others feature a toe cap made of aluminum or composite materials. Some work boots include a steel plate inside the toe box. Read on to discover the answers to these questions. The first question you should ask yourself is a broad one: “What exactly are my needs?”More specifically, what type of toe protection does your job require? Does your work environment dictate a specific tread pattern? Would you benefit from a metatarsal guard? Would you prefer boots with a cement adhesive or high-tech injection technology? must wear boots that are approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). For example, laborers and skilled craftspeople in the U.S. In other situations, the employer provides a set of guidelines, but it's up to you to find footwear that adheres to them. In some work situations, the question of what to wear on your feet has already been answered by a supervisor who tells you exactly what to buy. Concrete workers benefit from waterproof boots with deep tread.Carpenters need boots that safeguard them from puncture wounds.Welders need boots that protect them from hot metal shrapnel.Your work boot choice depends heavily on what you plan to do while wearing them. We evaluated more than 100 pairs of work boots to help you find the perfect pair.
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