Safety Boot (steel-toe-boot, steel-capped-shoe, safety shoe) is a type of boot recommended and designed for durability and protection. Safety Boots are usually reinforced with a steel cap under the toe cover to offer protection against falling objects and sometimes also have a mid-sole plate for protecting against punctures from below. As the name suggests, the primary objective of a safety boot is to offer safety to the wearer’s feet; hence steel is usually the material of choice for building the reinforcements in question. However, steel reinforcements also make the boot heavy and limit its flexibility. This could be acceptable in construction and heavy industrial settings but poses challenges in environments where ease in wearability is also a requirement apart from safety. To cater to such a market, reinforcements are also built using composite materials, aluminium and sometimes plastic such as thermoplastic polyurethane.
Doctors also recommend safety boots after examining the patient thoroughly and suggesting they wear shock-absorbing or slip resistance safety shoes to protect their feet against external factors like Slippery floors, uneven flooring or a bump which may lead to harmful conditions like fractures or tendon inflammation. Ratings for the safety boots vary based on the setting they are used in. For example, shoes are rated against electric ion discharge and special protection against electric shocks. In India, safety shoes are rated as follows: IS 15298-I: 2011 test methods, IS 15298 –II for safety footwear, IS 15298-III Protective footwear, and IS 15298-IV for Occupational Footwear.
Top 20 Safety Shoes in Different Designs For Men & Women:
Although safety boots are not the first choice when fashion is concerned, safety shoes come in various fashionable formats. Here are the top 20 safety shoe trends available for men and women, which come in handy for slippery household work and traditional safety boot settings.
1. Safety Metal Toe-Shoe for Men:
Also known as traditional good old safety boots, they offer the best protection for the feet of the wearer in harsh industrial settings. In India, such shoes are vastly used per industry mandate in big companies like SAIL, JINDAL STEEL etc.
2. Rubber Sole Men Shoe:
These good looking shoes are typically useful in slippery environments like cold storage; rocks riversides. The rubber sole in such shoes helps get a better grip and prevents accidental slipping.
3. Steel Insole Safety Shoes for Women:
Shoes with an insole steel plate protect against punctures below the shoe sole. Such shoes are particularly useful for women employed on the factory floor in heavy industries.
4. Diabetic Unisex Shoe:
Specially designed keeping diabetic patients in mind, these shoes offer better comfort through the thick, soft sole. These can be worn by both men and women who have diabetes. It is balance shoes for them. Patients need proper safety when they walk.
5. Low Ankle Single Speed Density Toe Shoe for Men:
These shoes have a Composite toe cap which offers high resistance against abrasion and attrition. Although not as protective as steel-reinforced shoes, such shoes can offer safety in industries like chemical processing and semiconductor manufacturing.
6. High Ankle Steel Toe Winter Shoe for Women:
These shoes provide the perfect alternative to traditional safety boots for fashion-conscious women working in a harsh industrial setting. Designed with high heels and a modern, sleek look, such shoes offer the protection of a safety boot through a reinforced steel toe cap.
7. Full Safety Gumboot for Women:
These gumboots made from PVC material are worn during the season more than a fashionable outfit; it is considered a protective boot against getting the feet wet from rainwater. But designers try to give a trendy outlook by bringing in jazzy and bright colours like shiny red, dull yellow or blue.
8. Normal Safety Gumboot for Men:
Such gumboots offer the perfect footwear solution for men working in a wet or marshy environment. Such shoes offer unparalleled safety against slipping accidents.
9. Water Resistant Leather Boots for Women:
For centuries leather has been the only material of choice for the footwear industry. However, leather doesn’t play well with water or humid environments. Waterproof leather boots offer the class of leather and weatherproofing of rubber for leather loving female customers.
10. Puncture Resistant Safety Shoes for Men:
This high resistance puncture resistance is achieved by placing a metal plate between the inner sole and the outer sole of the shoe and resistance against a force of 1200 newton and resists against cracking. The shoe’s upper part is non-metallic, making it lightweight and easy to use.
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11. Women’s Special Puncture Resistant Safety Ankle Boots:
Such shoes provide a lightweight & durable footwear solution for women who work in harsh environments. The sole of these shoes is reinforced with steel plates making them puncture safe and usable on potentially dangerous turf.
12. Heat Resistant Safety Boots for Men:
In this type of shoe, the upper part is designed with leather or suede material with a hooked or non-hook lace pattern. The sole is furnished with heat resistant property upto 300 degrees Celsius.
13. Anti-slip Safety Cut Shoes for Women:
This anti-slip cut shoe design is a classic shoe which offers style and protection. The shoe’s upper part is made from suede leather with a soft insole. The outer sole is made from an exclusive rubber material that provides the floor to sole outer grip, which washes out the water between the two surfaces, thus providing the anti-slip effect.
14. Absorbent Shocker Lined Shoe for Men:
This type of shoe is made to provide good contact with the inner sole and the feet by cupping effect. The inner sole is soft and has a cushioning effect. People who have a previous record of feet injury or tendon tear are always recommended to wear shock-absorbing shoes rather than normal fancy shoes and sandals.
15. Di-electric Unisex Boots:
Dielectric boots are specialized rubber boots suggested for people who work at a construction site or electricians whose daily job is to connect electrical wires. They are bound to wear boots with electrically insulated soles, which prevents shock against high voltage electric voltage. For ladies safety shoes, these rubber boots come in different colour combinations.
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16. Metatarsal Footwear for Men:
These boots provide special protection for the metatarsal bones by not compromising comfort. For heavy material work in industries, this type of shoe comfort for workers. When men work a full day in industry after wearing shoes, during the day, feet feel swollen, so this shoe gives a proper soft feel. These boots come in both ankle height and long boot formats.
17. Latex Safety Shoe for Women:
These safety boots are made of latex rubber, providing better flexibility while not compromising comfort. It helps to prevent any foot injury while working. Because electrical accident in industries or any machinery work platform helps to avoid such type of injuries or accidents, they offer good slip resistance and protect against static discharges.
18. Cold Resistant Women Safety Shoes:
For women working in a cold environment, these shoes provide good protection against cold and the usual protection offered by safety shoes. It helps in such industries where burning from chemicals or metal splashes. Some of the hard or dangerous substances injure the skin of the feet, so in the workplace, this type of pair is essential.
19. Nitrile Sole Safety Shoes for Men:
These Nitrile sole shoes provide excellent protection on hot surfaces and can provide heat resistance up to 300 degrees Celsius. They also offer good slip resistance, making them ideal in the mining industry, petrochemicals etc.
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20. Formal Safety Shoes for Men:
This is a work and safety type of shoe made with pure leather material. The pattern is solid. In the autumn season, this pair is comfortable for safety. These shoes go well with formal clothing for men and the protection of a traditional steel-reinforced safety shoe. It helps in any season, mostly autumn season, on your work platform; this type of shoe can wear on any outfit instead of office wear. For feet, safety needs such type of shoes too.
Safety shoes nowadays and offering the promised safety are also catching up fast with the ever-growing and fast-moving footwear fashion trends. The hardware manufacturers and the established footwear manufacturers offer rather good-looking safety shoes that fashion-conscious customers embrace with open arms.
