Electricians, construction workers, loaders and other on-field workers are always concerned about their safety. Sometimes the safety concerns are depicted clearly in their attire.
They can wear a harness when they are working on high altitude or put on a helmet over the head to protect it from the debris and instruments from falling over the skull. But what about the feet?
They can’t wear a helmet to avoid sharp edges, instruments, stones, and bricks from hurting the toes. What they can do is wear a pair of boots that works like a helmet but actually are shoes.
We call them steel toe boots.
How Steel Toe Boots Work?
Steel Toe is used to describe the shoes that have a steel-like construction in the toe region. This means they can prevent any sharp edges from piercing through the rugged toe-region if the sharp edges are just accidentally falling from above.
Comfort Factor: Choosing The Right Socks, Cushion, Arch Support, Breathability
With such rigidity and toughness, one can simply think that these steel toe boots are tough and harsh to feet and they are somewhat right.
However, there are few basic tips that might come in handy for making the steel toe boot more comfortable.
- Wear the right socks with your steel toe boots.
- Ensure the upper is equipped with proper cushioning
- The pair should have proper arch support
- Upper should have enough space for air to enter
First, let’s talk about the best work socks for steel toe boots that will make a great pair with the rugged boots.
To find the compatible pair of steel toe boots and socks, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Thickness of the socks & Stiffness of the upper
I’ll be honest with you, American made boots are one of the toughest ones out there. However, being this stiff can come with a price and most of the time we have to pay the price by sacrificing comfort.
The sacrifice of comfort can happen in 2 ways.
Either the upper of the steel toe is super tough and it hurts every time your feet rubs against it or the material of the socks are so thin that even the soft upper can constantly rub against your skin.
Either way, you are bound to get blisters with those pair of socks and Steel Toe boots.
To ensure you choose the right pair of steel toe boots and socks, it is important that we put together the material of socks and the upper rigidness into play.
Wool, Marino Wool, and Cotton made socks offer most fluffiness. These socks can be paired with even the roughest uppers.
But if the boots are already soft and a bit damp in the inside, pairing them with synthetic fabric socks might be the best thing to do as they are lightweight and smooth on the skin.
The toe region should have enough space for toes to wiggle around
Another thing you should keep in mind while putting together a pair of socks for the right steel toe boots is the space in the toe region.
It is best to keep enough space in the toe region so that the toes can comfortably move around.
Pair these spacious boots with Marino Wool socks or Cotton socks which will offer breathability.
The height of the socks should be higher than the collar of steel toe boots
These days, boots come in many heights and so does the socks.
The different heights of boots indicate their suitability for different work environments.
But whatever the height is, it is important that the height of the socks is higher than the collars of the boots. Otherwise, the collar may come in contact with your skin directly and cause irritation and blisters.
Conclusion
Boots and socks are inseparable from one another. Without a good pair of socks, you are compromising with comfort and without a pair of good steel toe boots for work, the pair of socks will most likely lie in your drawer.
So, whichever pair of steel toe boots or socks you pick, make sure they go with each other. Otherwise, you won’t get the full support and comfort from the shoes or the socks that you need in your long working hours.