Many professions require toe protection. Bumping into hard surfaces or solid objects falling on your feet can result in grave injuries. If you have a profession where these accidents are possible, it is highly advised that you invest in work boots that come with toe protection features. With multiple options available in the market, your choices are not restricted as they used to be before. Making the correct choice would depend on your purpose and criteria for them. The top two contenders for toe protection in the work boot category are- composite toe work boots and steel toe work boots. Both of these are highly effective in their aspects. But which will be better for you depends on what use you are expecting of them. Here, we would offer a brief comparison between these two types of toe protection work boots.
All About Composite toe boots
Non-metal material
Composite toe boots offer toe protection with the help of non-metal materials such as carbon fibre, fibreglass, kevlar, or plastic. These non-metal materials are flexible to use and can be very helpful in designing dynamic footwear designs. They are not as heavy and more durable in comparison to its competitor. When we talk about impact testing, both of the footwear types are almost similar in their results. Composite toe boots can offer sufficient protection against impact and compression.
Can pass metal detectors
Many workplaces these days do not allow metals inside the workplace. For this reason, the entrance gates would always have metal detectors installed. If you are wearing steel-toe boots, you will not be allowed inside. This is where composite toe boots can be handy. They are permitted by most employers and do not compromise in protection and quality leather. As composite toe boots do not have any metal used in their two protection parts, it is easier to pass most security verification detectives with them.
Lightweight
Nobody wants to have a brick tied to their feet when they are busy working. Being too heavy is the problem of most work boots available in the markets these days. Yes, they offer good protection to your feet, but they are too heavy to be worn all day long. Even if you try to stop them with padding, you will quickly get muscle strains and cramps as they are too heavy. Doctors also advise against wearing such work boots as they air ventilation while you’re working. Composite toe work boots are a great option here. They can offer you the protection you are looking for while being lightweight. Their hybrid non-metal materials are a good solution that solves the problem most work boots have.
All About Steel toe boots
Greater impact protection
Even though both composite toe work boots and mens steel toe work boots can offer good impact protection, it would not be wrong to state that steel toe boots are slightly better in this regard. As they are made of steel, a solid metal, impact protection is more than that of composite toe boots. Even when we are talking about compression protection, steel toe work boots offer good performance. They are very reliable if you are working with heavy objects, and bumps are frequent. These steel toe boots would prevent any serious injuries from happening to your feet. They offer sufficient protection to prevent any such accident.
Affordable option
Composite toe boots are a great option when it comes to versatility, but Steel toe work boots are the better option when we are considering affordability. They are primarily an excellent fit for construction workers or steelworkers who need to replace their boots often. Spending too much on every work boot pair is not possible. Given that steel toe boots are guaranteed to offer sustainable toe protection, the cheaper price tag is welcomed. If you do not want to spend much on work boots but still want a good standard of stability and comfort, steel toe boots are a great option.
Slightly heavier
Due to the metal being used in this footwear type, the overall weight of steel toe boots is comparatively more than the composite ones. The heavyweight makes them less comfortable to be worn over a more extended period. Especially if you are working on a construction site, it is not preferred to have heavy footwear. Heavy footwear restricts quick movement, which is not wanted in such a work environment. They are also less breathable, which is not preferred by most workers.
Conclusion
Depending on the type of workplace you have and the specific purpose you are buying these work boots for, your choice may differ. There is no such thing as a perfect choice. What fits your criteria the best will decide the perfect one for you.
