Work Shoes

Shoes are more than just for fashion. In fact, they play a significant role when it comes to ensuring your safety and protection in the workplace. This is why a wide variety of work shoes for work are available in the market for different work environments.

Some people think that work shoes are just another part of the uniform. Because of this misconception, they are not careful enough when it comes to selecting the right kind of safety shoes and also wearing them properly in the workplace. If you are planning to purchase one for yourself, don’t hurriedly proceed to checkout when you have seen one or two pairs that catch your fancy. Spend your hard-earned money wisely by knowing the right type of work footwear to invest in. Check out our guide below to make the right buying decision.

Different types of work shoes

A good pair of work shoes should provide protection from workplace injuries. Since not all work environments and job roles are the same, you need to ensure that you are wearing the right pair. We understand and believe that safety should always come first. Hence, we will provide you with all the information you need to make a wise buying decision. What’s more, we also offer recommendations on which brands will meet your needs, budget, and preferences. So, read until the end.

Steel toes

This type of footwear is designed to prevent any bone and joint problems caused by pushing pedals, riding bikes, or driving heavy-duty trucks. Turf toe is one of these, a condition characterised by hyper-extended or sprained toe caused by bending the toe backwards, straining, or stretching the ligaments. Basically, steel insole footwear is a lightweight and flexible neoprene liner featuring a special spring steel plate to keep your foot stabilised and comfy throughout the day. Depending on your personal preferences, you can opt for either full steel or half steel insert.

Composite toes

Usually made of carbon fibre or plastic, lightweight composite toe work shoes for work are thick and bulky. Since they are non-magnetic or non-metallic, they make the feet neither hot nor cold. Composite toes can replace steel toes in most situations. Therefore, composite toes are becoming more and more popular among industrial workers as they are more comfortable and do not restrict motion as much as steel toe work shoes. If you work in an electric hazard environment, among the footwear selections you can choose from include Caterpillar, DeWalt, Timberland, and more.

Metatarsal shoes

These are designed to protect the upper part of your feet and bones from any mishaps in the workplace, making them perfect if your daily task involves lifting heavy objects such as on the construction site. One of the best things about metatarsal work footwear is that it works two-way by protecting your toes and feet both internally and externally. Work shoes for construction sites also come with metal instep protection. This means the sole of the shoes are very hard and can protect the feet from sharp objects like nails and glass shards.

Waterproof work shoes

People working in a wet environment need shoes that protect the feet against the cold and wetness. This is vital for preventing diseases like trench foot. Compared to other types of shoes like steel toes, these are not as heavy. The price of these shoes varies wildly depending on the insulating material. The best of them are lightest in weight and offer optimal protection against dampness. Some of them use waterproof coating instead of structurally waterproofing the entire shoe for the sake of reducing the weight. Although the former type is extremely lightweight, they are not durable at all. You should also look at the treads on the shoes to make sure that they are slip-resistant as well.