Would you rather want your shoes to weigh less or more? It is always the former, isn’t it? None of us would like to carry around extra weight, especially in our shoes. Not only would that make it difficult for you to walk around all day, but it would also cause sore feet.
Besides the material, the extra weight is also added through the additional protective reinforcement added on the toe part. When it comes to steel toe boots, it goes without saying that they weigh more than the majority of the other work boots. If you are curious about its weight, they weigh around 4.5 lbs that is roughly 2 kgs. Read along to learn more about it.
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What are Steel Toe Boots?
Steel toe boots are a type of safety boots that have a steel protective layer on the toes. It is worn by workers who wish to protect their feet from any heavy falling objects.
Besides steel construction, such safety boots have thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and aluminum as a base material. These are used by construction or industrial workers who have to work in hazardous circumstances.
They come in different styles like dress shoes, sneakers, clogs, etc. They could either be formal or informal.
Germany invented them by the end of WWII.
These steel toe boots have to meet certain set standards in order to be available to the public. Moreover, some countries have made them mandatory for a group of people. For example, according to UK law, workers have to wear steel-toe shoes if they work in a dangerous environment.
Advantages of Steel Toe Boots
Why do we wear a helmet while driving? Why do the construction workers wear a helmet in their worksite? They do so to protect their head from sustaining any grave or severe injuries. The same logic is applied to our feet.
Even though our feet are covered at all times while we are outdoors, the soft shoe material might not provide adequate protection. In case you are a construction worker, you are more susceptible to getting injured due to random and heavy falling objects. You might be able to protect your head with protective gear, but what about your feet? This is where footwear like steel-toe shoes comes in.
The following are the advantages of wearing steel-toe boots:
Protection
Getting your feet crushed by a 60 lbs object is the last thing you would want while working. This could be a common sight at an industrial or construction site. Rather than wearing your normal work boots, it is best to wear steel-toe boots that cover your feet, especially the toes.
Steel-toe boots offer optimum protection. Even if you find yourself in a situation where a heavy object ends up falling, your shoes can protect your feet from getting crushed.
Support
Standing all day could make your feet sore. This can be prevented by wearing steel-toe boots. These shoes can provide the required level of comfort and support that can help you stay on your feet on hard surfaces.
If your job demands you to remain standing for hours, these are the right shoes for you.
Comfortable
It is a common belief that steel-toe shoes are uncomfortable. Even though they are made of tough metals, they come with a soft inner layer.
These shoes can be worn with socks for utmost comfort and protection.
Reduces Fatigue
Qualitative steel toe shoes are designed in such a way that it provides maximum protection as well as support and comfort. This kind of shoe also works as a shock-absorbent that can prevent any external impacts from jolting your feet.
It reduces the chances of soreness and allows you to wear it for hours.
Is the Weight Worth the Shoes?
As mentioned earlier, steel toe shoes weigh approximately 4.5 lbs. Would the wearer be comfortable in wearing such shoes? YES!
Even though the shoes are heavier as compared to other work boots, the protection and comfort provided remain unbeatable.
Besides steel, aluminum or plastic are also used in its construction. If steel feels heavier to you, you can also choose the one with aluminum construction. It reduces the overall weight up to 1.5 pounds.
How much weight can steel toe boots undertake?
It is necessary to know how much weight can your steel toe shoes withstand. This will allow you to understand its tenacity.
Most of the steel toe shoes can easily withstand 6000 pounds of weight without compromising their quality. For a better comparison, regular work boots can hold up to 1200 pounds of weight. That is a significant difference.
Hence, if you have to work in a hazardous situation, it is best to ditch your regular shoes and get steel-toe boots.
Weight of Other Boots
Besides the regular steel-toe boots, other types of shoes might vary in terms of weight. If you wish to compare your steel-toe shoes, the following bifurcation can help you in a better understanding:
Hunter Boots
Hunter boots are a special kind of footwear that you can wear in order to protect your feet from any external factors like mud, rain, or thorny branches. Approximately, they weigh 4.4 lbs or 2 kgs.
Ski Boots
As evident from the name, ski boots are used while skiing. They weigh around 4 pounds which are 1.8 kgs.
Army Boots
Also known as Combat boots, army boots are worn by soldiers during parades, training, and other duties. As the soldiers have to be on a constant move, they weigh lighter. They only weigh between 1.2-2.4 lbs, i.e., 500 gms to 1.5 kgs.
Hiking Boots
Hiking boots are necessary for people who wish to climb uneven terrains. As the wearer has to be in constant control of his/her movements, such boots weigh only 3 pounds, i.e., 1.4 kgs.
Snowboard Boots
Snowboard and skiboard vary in terms of construction and manufacturing. Hence, they cannot be used interchangeably. They are heavier too, as they weigh 8 lbs, i.e., 3.6 kgs.
The bottom line
As we are coming to the end of the article, we hope that you are well-informed about the weight as well as the importance of steel-toe shoes. However, take note that you should avoid wearing steel-toe shoes in non-hazardous situations. They should only be used in harmful and dangerous workplaces.
William has hands-on experiences with construction sites, and the hazards employees face while working. He has been a dedicated worker since 1995 and is currently looked up to by many of his subordinates for the work he has done throughout his tenure. He has passed several certifications regarding safety at the workplace, including OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Silica in Construction Certificate, and the National Association of Safety Professionals Certification.
He has ample experience in woodwork and welding and understands the importance of a tough work boot in dangerous occupational environments. His achievements, experience, and knowledge allow him to be an expert in the field of work boots. He selects and tries all the products that he reviews and presents to his readers. As per him, the safety of the boot is beyond the beauty of it. He carefully scrutinizes each aspect of work boots, including flex, laces, length, breathability, strength, and more.
