Before you buy work boots, there are two things that you should remember.
First, the nature of your work. This should be your primary focus area and the major decision maker for buying the boots; and second, general preferences. The color, style, brand and all these things should be the secondary reasons for investing in a model of the boots.
Every workplace has its own set of requirements when it comes to uniforms or clothes in general. While the white-collar jobs do not really need special protection, a few workplaces have very specific requirements when it comes to boots.
These workplaces pose a certain threat to the safety of the employee and hence it is important to know what kind of boots you would need at work. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind while buying work boots.
1. If you are in a construction company, you need boots with protective covering over toes for obvious reasons. Now, protective toe caps are of two types: composite and steel.
While both the toe caps are highly durable and can protect you from sudden shocks, it is important to know that steel, being a metal alloy, is a very good conductor of electricity and thus should not be used in certain situations. On the other hand, composite toes are safe irrespective of the kind of construction going on.
2. If your work includes being in a liquid for a long period of time, you should probably go for boots that are waterproof and allow you to walk in the liquid without slipping.
The liquid can be harmful for the health and in such cases, it is best to not let the skin meets the liquid. Go for the boots that provide good traction and protect your feet from the liquid. Plus, you can also buy such work boots if your work involves staying out in a harsh weather.
3. Insulation also plays an important part in the selection of work boots. If your job involves staying in the harsh climate for a longer duration, you need to focus on finding boots that can protect your feet from the outside temperature and conditions.
4. For people who have long working hours like carpenters, electricians or mail carriers, there is nothing more important than the comfort. These people should invest in work boots that provide a certain level of comfort and support to the feet. In case the boots have all the protection and zero comfort, the wearer might soon feel the unwanted pain and fatigue. The trick is to find a balance between protection, comfort and budget.
If you are looking for a list of recommended work boots, here is a great list of work boots for carpenters. Those boots offer all the qualities we mentioned before, and area great for blue collar workers.
Most of the work boots available in the market are all-rounder boots. This means that they have a little of everything which suits the need of most professionals.
However, if you want to ensure that you have more protection than comfort or more insulation that strength, you still have a lot of other options. Many work boots come with special features which add extra security and protection.
For example, there are boots that do not conduct electricity at all and then there are boots which have a puncture plate which is nothing but a metal sheet inside the sole that protects your feet from sharp objects like nails while you work.
That being said, protection and strength are not the only things you should be looking at. Consider buying boots that are durable, comfortable and in budget while ensuring the safety of your feet.
