Workwear Guru is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Just like you upgrade your closet by buying comfy clothes that are trendy and get rid of old-fashioned and uncomfortable ones, you can upgrade your safety toe shoes, too. You can get rid of unprotective boots and bring on composite toe shoes for your safety at your workplace.
What Are Composite Toe Shoes?
Composite toe shoes are safety shoes designed to protect your feet at workplaces when occurrences such as falling heavy objects, sharp equipment, heat or cold masses, electrical hazards threats, and so on can happen. So, based on the OSHA standards, composite toe shoes are constructed to assure safety to employees in different conditions at work.
What Are Composite Toe Shoes Made Of?
Composite toe boots are created to ensure safety at the workplace in different conditions. The material used to construct the composite toe shoes plays a great role in safety.
Material
Composite toe shoes are made of materials that contain non-metal elements such as Kevlar, carbon fiber, fiberglass, or plastic. These materials are all strong ones and benefit the shoes in many ways. For instance, Kevlar, although is a lightweight material, much lighter than steel, it is much stronger compared to steel, too. Not only do they use Kevlar in making composite toe shoes because it is a strong material, but they also use it in making grenades and bulletproof vests.
Carbon fiber is also a strong and lightweight material that has doesn’t conduct temperature and is a good insulator; which makes it a great choice for creating comfortable and warm shoes during colder months. On the other hand, plastic is a flammable material and needs to be mixed with other materials when constructing composite toe shoes.
Weight
Composite toe shoes generally weigh between 1.75 to 4 pounds. It might sound heavy, but in comparison to steel toe shoes, they are 30 to 50 percent lighter. They are more flexible, too. In such a case, you won’t feel the weight dragging you down with composite toe shoes. This way, you will feel more comfortable when walking and doing your job at the worksite.
Insulation
You can wear your composite toe shoes without having to worry about the weather or temperature outside. Whether it is boiling hot or freezing cold, the shoes will not transmit the outside temperature to your feet. Composite toe caps offer insulation; they do not conduct cold or heat. Also, the sole material is cold and heat resistant and that also contributes to having comfortable shoes for every season.
Safety Standards: Who Approves the Shoes?
In order to be safe to wear, composite toe shoes should be approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This means they should comply with the set standards and regulations and must be strong and protective. They need to be resistant to water, heat, cold, chemicals, acids, electricity. Based on the standards, they need to withstand puncture and protect the feet from objects falling on them.
Benefits of Wearing Composite Toe Shoes
Choosing to wear Composite Toe Shoes at the workplace has many advantages. They feel lighter when walking with them, they reduce leg fatigue, are highly protective to the feet, and are a great choice for worksites with metal detectors.
Lighter feel
One of the major advantages of wearing composite toe shoes is that they are lighter compared to other safety shoes since they are made of non-metal materials. For this reason, you can feel comfortable when working under difficult conditions. They won’t hinder you in any movement or cause pain due to their lighter-weight material. You will work and move freely, and consequently, you will be more productive.
Reduced leg fatigue
Another benefit of wearing composite toe shoes at work is that they reduce leg fatigue, especially for those whose job requires long hours of standing or walking. Due to the non-metal material and the lighter weight of composite toe shoes, your legs will feel more relaxed. Once you decide to go lighter, check for the boots that offer protection and use the most recent materials for the sole, the outer part, and insulation. You can find all these in composite toe shoes.
Great for worksites with metal detectors
When wearing composite toe shoes you will feel safe because they do not pass through metal detectors since they are made of other materials. So, you won’t bother when walking by security when at work, as composite toe shoes are detector friendly. At this point, when in doubt of choosing between steel toe shoes, alloy toe shoes, and composite toe shoes, the latter is the answer.
They don’t compromise protection
Based on the standards set by OSHA and ANSI, all safety footwear needs to withstand impact and compression. So, composite toe shoes pass this test as they protect your feet when something heavy falls or rolls into them. Also, they are puncture-resistant so you won’t experience any pain. They are waterproof, chemical resistant, and keep your feet comfortable no matter the temperature. While when it comes to safety shoes comfort is not always associated with high protection, composite shoes prove differently.
Who Should Wear Composite Toe Shoes?
Composite toe shoes are a great fit for anyone who works outdoors. Due to the material they are made of, they are the number one choice for electricians, engineers, or anyone who works in dangerous environments. This is because the toe caps offer maximum protection. They are also a typical fit for nuclear workers, security staff, and anyone who’s employed at airports since they are detector-friendly. But, even if you don’t work in a hazardous environment but you stand on your feet a lot or need to walk and work outdoors in wintertime, then composite toe shoes are the ‘go-to’ shoes for you.
Safety footwear is an essential part of ensuring proper working conditions, therefore if composite toe shoes fit the environment in which you work in, it is smart to invest in a good pair that will last you for longer and won’t compromise comfort.
