Keeping your feet safe and protected is an essential part in many manual labour jobs, which is why it is so important you have the correct footwear.
At Hirst Footwear, we stock a variety of different brands that produce high-quality safety shoes and boots.
What are the best safety footwear brands?
Whilst there are a number of brands out there that cater to safety needs, not every brand creates high quality products that can withstand the test of time.
Some of the best safety footwear brands include:
What to look for in safety footwear
When choosing your safety footwear, you should take into consideration a number of factors, not just those related to safety.
Whilst the protection and safety level of your footwear must be a high standard, you should also ensure that they keep your feet comfortable for long periods since you’ll likely be on your feet for most of the day.
Listed below are some features you should look out for:
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Steel toe caps: protect your toes from dangerous, heavy objects.
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Padded collar and tongue: for ankle support and safety while the tongue provides protection from sharp or heavy objects.
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Penetration mid-sole: prevents sharp objects from penetrating the boot sole and hitting your foot.
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Slip-resistant sole: this is a type of rubber that resists cracking or hardening and offers cushioned sole support.
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Heat resistant: this may vary across different brands, but safety boots can be resistant to temperatures of up to 300℃.
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Chemical resistant: some soles can be resistant to acids, alkalis and other chemicals.
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Shock absorbing heel: to provide a secure fit and provide a comfortable mould around your heel.
Types of work footwear
Safety footwear is usually split into three main types: boots, shoes and trainers. Each offers a different level of protection and can be used in various workplaces.
Safety boots are the most common type of safety footwear, known for their protective toe-caps with many other safety features such as slip-resistant soles and penetration resistant midsoles. These features help to protect feet from falling objects and unexpected compression.
The best safety boots
The Amblers Mens Waterproof Breathable Leather Safety Boots are a popular choice thanks to their “locked-in” lacing system which ensures a secure fit. These boots also feature a shock absorbing heel with a PU heel guard and padded collar, which makes light of hard work.
These Amblers boots are also made from antistatic, oil and fire resistant outsoles, meaning your feet will be protected against even the harshest of working conditions.
Grafters Black Leather Wide Fitting Safety Work Shoes are the perfect work shoe for those who have wider feet. The steel toe cap is wide fitting, meaning your feet won’t be constricted, and the padded tongue will also provide additional comfort.
These shoes also feature a fully removable moulded EVA cushioning footbed and penetration resistant midsoles.
The Skechers Bulklin Ayak Black Composite Toe Safety Shoes are a composite safety shoe which provides all day comfort thanks to Skechers memory foam footbed.
The traction control rubberised outer sole provides superior traction and flexibility, while the black mesh uppers provide a breathable and comfortable fit.
The best safety trainers
For those who don’t work with the risk of heavy objects falling, the Grafters M90az Black/grey Safety Trainer Shoe is an ideal choice.
The leather is action coated with a flexi phylon to protect against external damage, and the rubber sole provides traction which surpasses SRC slip resistant test standards.
The Dickies Alford Safety Trainers are made from Nubuck leather and Oxford mesh uppers for a sporty, yet protective appearance.
These trainers come with a whole host of benefits including non-metallic anti-penetration midsoles, breathable mesh linings, rubber toe guards and heat resistant soles up to 300℃.