The Difference Between Steel and Composite Toe Boots
Nearly any job in the heavy-duty industry will require workers to wear some sort of protective footwear.
ugg shoes , Steel toe boots are most commonly required, but are not always the most ideal option for everyone. Boots with a steel insert provide protection to the wearer toes should an accident happen that could potentially crush their feet. Composite toe footwear provides the same protection, but is made out of a different material.
Steel toe work boots are a bit heavier than composite toe styles, as steel is a heavier material than those mixed for the latter option. Boots featuring a composite toe have an insert that can be comprised of kevlar, carbon fiber, and plastic. Some boot aficionados prefer to stick with a pair containing steel, as they feel it provides better protection. Both steel and composite toe styles, however, comply with ANSI/ASTM safety requirements. The composite style is ideal for anyone looking for a lighter boot. However, the difference in weight is not very significant.
Materials in a composite boot are non-metallic and non-magnetic. Because of this, workers who frequently pass through metal detectors may fare better with a composite toe. Nuclear workers, security personnel, and airport workers are prime candidates for routinely walking through metal detectors, and can make that process much easier with a composite toe pair of boots.
Another factor to consider when trying to decide between steel or composite toe is the type of environment yoube working in. Most people have felt cold steel. While your feet won be directly exposed to the steel insert, they may still feel colder and hold in the cold more than a composite style would.
Workers opting for composite toe and planning to wear an add-on for extra safety may run in to some roadblocks. ANSI and ASTM standards require protection to be an internal and permanent feature. OSHA does, however, allow add-ons as long as they can be tested and proven to meet the equivalent of ANSI standards. It may just be easier to have an all in one boot, but that doesn mean options aren possible.
