You’re informed. You’re ready to buy. Where do you look for those steel toe boots you need for your particular line of work?

Carolina

Built for work, Carolina has been manufacturing industrial boots since 1963. Obsessed with the safety aspect, representatives of Carolina actually sat on the original committee that developed the ANSI standards for safety toe footwear, which still stand today. In addition, the company pioneered the introduction of hand-sewn footwear for industrial use. Patented construction in its work footwear include Ultra Welt, Pillow Cushion, DRYZ, Gel Cell and more.

Rugged Carolina work boots like the 1809 are produced in the U.S.A.

Belleville

More than a century old, Belleville has been a trusted producer of quality boots for soldiers, workers and others. With its first military footwear order placed in 1917, Belleville has grown from producing shoes with a simple, uncomplicated design to the modern technologies. No matter the climate or terrain, there is a Belleville boot to fit the need.

Belleville 550 ST Hot Weather Safety Toe Boot proudly made in the U.S.

Wolverine

Founded on comfort and durability, Wolverine has continued to deliver generation upon generation of American workers with premium safety footwear. Released in 1914, the 1000 Mile Boot set the standard for durable work boots. Equally committed to comfort, it uses innovative technologies like Wolverine DuraShocks and Wolverine Fusion to help keep workers on their feet and face the challenges of real life.

The Wolverine 6-inch Durashocks steel toe boot is one style made in the USA.

Chippewa

Beginning as a logging boot producer, Chippewa Boots was founded in 1901. Its Logger Boot quickly became popular among those entrenched in the rugged outdoors. Later, the company would add footwear like the Engineer Boot that was worn by land surveyors and the Artic that was worn by soldiers in World War II. Upon adding these styles of boots, the company began experimenting with the technologies that preceded modern day boot features.

A Chippewa example of a USA-made steel toe boot.

Thorogood

Since 1892, Thorogood has been in the business of producing boots. As a pioneering force in the American footwear industry, it initiated many of the common safety and job-focused design elements found in today’s work boot. Backed with time-tested craftsmanship, these boot experts continue to work new technologies into their safety footwear. Its American Heritage Work and American Uniform styles are union made in the U.S.

Made in the USA Thorogood boot.

Do you buy U.S. when shopping for work footwear?

The last couple of years the news headlines have been riddled with terms like downsizing and outsourcing. American produced products dwindled to an almost embarrassing number. However, one the Red Wing Shoe Co. appears to have had success in turning a dire situation around.

Red Wing manufactures hunting boots, industrial boots, hiking shoes and casual shoes; over 60 percent of its products are manufactured or assembled in the United States. Those who have ever shopped for a steel toe or composite toe boot are well acquainted with the Red Wing brand.

With over 500 company-owned and independent dealerships throughout the country, Red Wing plans to add 125 new stores over the next five years. The strategy to expand is possible because of their record growth in 2010. Up 12 percent from 2009, the company brought in $448 million and hired 315 employees.

Red Wing work boot

However, Red Wind did undergo some financial hardships like so many companies did in 2009. Employees went to a four-day workweek, raises were frozen, the second shift was scaled back and voluntary retirement packages were offered. Sales have recovered in the last nine months despite the sting of the recession as the company’s revenue is largely dependent on blue-collar workers such as construction workers, telephone linemen, miners, lumberjacks and longshoremen.

With an old-fashioned approach to customer service, Red Wing stores are set up to provide personal customer service. Sales people sit with customers, measure their feet and fit the shoes to the customer. Predominately providing footwear for blue-collar workers, Red Wing boots are meant to stand up to the elements and harsh work conditions. Too busy to make it into a store? Work boots are available for purchase on many websites.

Via Bloomberg

Would you rather buy Red Wing work boots online or in the store?

Spending the workday on your feet is no fun. It’s downright exhausting especially if you have to wear heavy-duty work boots on the job.

With the goal of energizing wearied workers, Rockport Works has released a line of work boots with adiPRENE by Adidas. How does the adiPRENE technology work? Simply put, it is a lightweight material that absorbs shock. Placed in the heel, the material absorbs the initial strike impact. It heads off the shock waves, so they don’t transfer to the legs or lower back.

In addition, a layer of adiPRENE Plus is located at the front of the boots, which provides energy rebound when the weight is shifted from heel to toes.

For maximum shock absorption, adiPRENE is located in the rear and front of the boot.

Available in men’s and women’s sizes, the work boots are six inches tall. The majority of the styles boast moisture wicking nylon mesh, a dual density outsole, and removable EVA cushion insert made of adiPRENE. The composite toe boots are protected against electrical hazards, moisture, slips and falls.

The midsole and rubber traction provide better grip. Specific safety ratings, such as slip, oil, metal chips, heat, abrasion, and chemicals, can be found within the particular styles found on the Rockport Works website. The homepage video promises the boots will deliver “more energy on the job… and more energy after the job is done.”

Do you think adiPRENE would improve your energy levels after work?

Within the industrial line, the boots are soft-toed, steel-toed or composite-toed. The boots may look like hiking shoes, but they offer foot protection comparable to the other leading companies in the industry. Boots within Keen Industrial include:

• The Pittsburgh (available in soft toe and steel toe)
• The Portland (composite toe)
• The Detroit Mid (available in soft and steel toe)
• The Cleveland (steel toe)

A number of technologies are employed in each style. The Keen grip ensures you “hold your ground” with its slip and oil resistant outsoles, which meet, sometimes exceeding, the American Society for Testing and Materials F1677-96 MARK II non-slip standards. The left and right asymmetrical steel toe provides a roomier toe box with its anatomically correct steel-toe design. It meets ASTM F2412-05 and F2413-05 I/75 and C/75 standards. The Keen waterproofing system has a waterproof, breathable “membrane that lets vapor out without letting water in.”

Most importantly, all of the boots have the metatomical footbed design, which offers superior arch support and cradles the contours of the foot. Anatomically engineered, the footbed makes wearing work boots more bearable.

The work boots come in sizes 7-15. Extra wide widths can be ordered.

Do you agree with the way Keen approaches the design of work boots?

Linemen working from a conductor cart rely on their work boots to be resistant to electricity.

Making Sense of Symbols on Footwear

The green triangle signifies a puncture protection of Grade 1 protective toe, ideal for any industrial or heavy work environment, including construction, where sharp objects are present.

Yellow triangle means the boots have puncture protection in the sole and Grade 2 protection toe. Those employed in light industrial work, such as warehouse workers, would wear this boot.

The white rectangle with the omega symbol indicates that the boot has soles that provide electric shock resistance. If an industrial worker may come into contact with live electrical conductors, they should look for boots with electric shock protection.

A yellow rectangle with green letters SD and a grounding symbol signifies the soles are static dissipative. Boots with this characteristic should be worn in industrial environments where a static discharge may harm workers or equipment.

A red rectangle with a black letter C indicates the footwear has soles that are electronically conductive. These boots should be considered when the workers may come into contact with low-power electrical charges that could be a hazard for workers or equipment.

The white label with a green fir tree means that the footwear provides protection against chainsaws, which is ideal for forestry workers and others who work with or around hand-held chainsaws and other cutting tools.

A blue rectangle signifies a Grade 1 toe with no protective sole that is ideal for industrial work that does not require puncture protection.

The grey rectangle indicates that the footwear has a Grade 2 toe with no protective sole. Those in an institutional or non-industrial line of work and do not require puncture protection should buy this style of boot.

Internal Protection Codes

Additional markings that indicate the level of protection will be found on the boots. They include:

• 1 or 2 will indicate a Grade 1 or Grade 2 toe protection (0 if not present).
• P for puncture-resistant soles (0 if not present).
• M for metatarsal protection (0 if not present).
• E for shock-resistant sole, S for static dissipative sole or C for conductive sole (0 if not present).
• X for chainsaw protection (0 if not protection).

For those not fortunate enough to work in a warm office, Converse has recently released a boot that provides waterproofing and temperature control. Aiding not only in the wearer’s comfort, this Converse boot will protect his foot from the harsh elements of his work environment, whether a chilly cab of a semi-truck, walk-in freezer or frosty butcher’s warehouse.

The Converse 8″ Sub Zero Freezer Boot ($143.99) has a waterproofing system that consists of DriMax nylon mesh lining with Converse StarGuard technology. The 600 gram Thinsulate safeguard feet and make it that much harder for frostbite to strike the hardworking ice road trucker or freezer technician.

The Sub Zero Freezer Boot has a removable EVA cushion insert with a sponge rubber heel wedge. Dual density, the EVA cushion midsole has a rubber traction bottom, which ensures that all important sure-footedness when traversing icy pathways or terrain.

The Sub Zero has a sturdy composite toe. Although as not as heavy as steel, the composite toe will still protect toes more than the regular boot. This boot is completely non-metallic. Available in black with gray trim, the style comes in both regular and wide for sizes 6-14.

For industrial lines of work like demolition, workers choose protective steel-toe boots. Photo taken by Washington State Department of Transportation.

There’s a boot out there for everyone. Whether you are a construction worker or a lumberjack, manufacturers produce a variety of protective footwear tailored for specific lines of work. But how does one select a work boot? Most employers will provide a set of regulations for workplace footwear; however, some may expect you to make your purchase without guidance.

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) provides a number of minimum requirements for the work boot. Their standards cover the performance of boots and shoes in resisting puncture or chainsaw penetration. Safety footwear is designed to protect feet against a wide variety of injuries – the most common of which are impact, compression and puncture. This is why it’s important to identify the hazards that will be encountered throughout the workday.

For example, you may want to evaluate the following:

• The materials handled.
• Risks of objects falling onto or striking feet.
• Any material or equipment that might roll over feet.
• Any sharp object that might cut the top of feet.
• Object that may penetrate the bottom or side of the foot.
• Possible exposure to corrosive substances.
• Possible explosive environments – risk of static electrical discharges.
• Risk of electrical discharge damaging sensitive electronic components or equipment.
• Risk of coming into contact with energized conductors of low to moderate voltage.

Also remember to account for injuries that may results from walking on rough terrain or slippery surfaces, extreme hot or cold temperatures, and/or exposure to abrasive machinery. Additionally, remember to consider any exposure to liquids or water that may damage boots or harm feet.

Steel-Toe Versus Composite Toe

Steel-toe boots offer reinforced toes for jobs that work with heavy materials, such as construction workers. As mentioned above, a number of risks would be resolved with these boots. Composed of a single sheet of steel, the reinforced toe safeguards against punctures and falling objects.

Composite toe boots are also reinforced, but instead of a steel composition, they are produced from composite materials, or plastics like thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Composite materials are made from two or more materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties. Composite toe boots are 50 percent lighter and resist extreme cold and heat. They are as strong as steel.

Photo by MSU Campus Archaeologist

Styles of Work Boots

Workers can rely on several well-known styles of work boots to address potential workplace hazards, as discussed on About.com and in “Men’s Steel-Toe & Composite Toe Boots.”

Careers of the outdoor variety will require a waterproof or water-resistant boots to keep feet dry. For example, forestry employees, back-country guides, or park rangers might find these boots useful.

• Electrical hazard boots have insulation that protects the wearer from electrical charges up to 600 volts. Those who work with electricity, such as linemen, electricians, and inside wiremen, should consider these work boots.
• Slip-resistant boots have special soles that provide traction on wet or oily floors. People who work in auto body shops or in factories may want to invest in a pair of these.
• Insulated boots keep feet toasty during frosty conditions. Lined with materials to keep feet warm, the boot has a bit more weight to it. They are ideal for those who work in cold conditions, such as employees of refrigerated warehouses, ice road truckers or anyone who has to work outside during the winter.

What do you think is the most important aspect of a work boot?