Whether you’re working as a window cleaner, construction worker, welder, or any other type of job, it’s necessary to purchase and wear high-quality work boots for the sake of your safety. The kind of work boots you wear will determine your level of comfort during your day at work.
Also, working with unsuitable boots can lead to a series of health problems such as athlete’s foot, back pain, fallen arches, and several other injuries. Read below to understand a few key aspects in choosing the right work boots:
- Characteristics And Construction
Before purchasing any work boots, you need to know which boots are right for your feet according to the nature of your work and your working environment. Here are different types of work boots and an explanation of their construction, design, and other things you need to consider when buying them.
- Insulated
These types of boots have more than one layer of protection against damp environments. As a result, they give your feet more comfort and safety than thin-layered work boots. Additionally, they make your feet feel warm, especially during cold winters.
- Oil-Resistant
These boots are specifically designed with polyurethane and leather. Their design helps in preventing oil and grease from penetrating through the shoes when exposed to these substances. Aside from this, most of these boots have steel toe caps to protect you from toe injuries in case you hit some blunt or sharp objects with your feet.
- Breathable
The use of technology in work boots has made it possible to wear protective shoes that allow your feet to breathe. Lack of ventilation inside your shoes can cause diseases such as athlete’s feet and hyperhidrosis. Therefore, if you have sweaty feet, these are the perfect boots to buy.
- Electrical Hazard
Electrical hazard work boots are non-conductive. If there’s a live wire on the ground and you accidentally step on it, these boots can help prevent electrocution by blocking the completion of the circuit. Therefore, if you’re an electrician or if there are potential electrical hazards in or around your workplace, you should consider buying these types of boots to prevent electrocution and electric shocks.
- Slip-Resistant
These boots have soles made of durable and slip-resistant solid materials such as rubber. They come in handy when you’re working on slippery floors, docks, or boats. Their skid-resistant soles help prevent you from falling or slipping at the workplace.
- Other Materials
The most common and popular material used to make work boots is leather. These boots are incredibly comfortable. Other common types of materials used in making work boots are synthetic rubbers, nylon, Thermo-Polyurethane, and many more. Feel free to choose any material according to your work specifications and environment.
- Sole Design
You must always make sure that the tread pattern on your work boots gives the appropriate slip resistance. For example, if the surfaces you’re working on are muddy and slippery, such as when doing roof repairs, your work boots should have a deeper tread on the sole. But if you mostly work on rough concrete flooring, the soles of your boots don’t have to be deeply treaded.
- Zip Up Or Lace Up
You can choose either zipped or laced boots. Both of these options are great for fastening the boots onto your feet and enabling you to move with ease. But remember, for the laced ones, failure to lace up properly can put you at risk of falling and hurting yourself, especially once you step on the laces.
- Weatherproofing
At times, you’d need to continue working even during bad weather. A good example is when you’re trying to fix a damaged runoff channel after flash floods. Therefore, consider whether the boots you’re about to purchase are weather-proof or not.
- Fit
You also need to ensure that the boots fit you properly. Avoid boots that pinch your toes or those that are too tight. Also, the boots shouldn’t have extra room for your feet to move back and forth inside. It’s bothersome to work with oversized shoes. So, measure your feet accurately to know the size of boots you should order. If you’re purchasing from a brick-and-mortar store, try several boots until you find the one that fits you perfectly.
- Design
Some people wish to remain fashionable and sleek while at work. If you’re one of them, choose boots that you deem attractive. These stylish boots can raise your self-esteem and improve your mood during workdays. This, in turn, will increase your productivity.
Conclusion
To sum everything up, while choosing the right kind of boots, make sure that you know the various types of work boots, their design and safety features, and whether they’re appropriate for your workplace. Remember these three things: comfort, safety, and style. Once you have these three aspects covered, you can rest assured that you’ve purchased the right work boots.
Recent Comments