Alloy toes vs no protection boots? ***Edit

[branimal]

I need to get some new boots. The model I'm looking at offer both alloy toe and no protection. 10$ more for the alloy toe. I had a similar pair for 3 years which were STEEL toe b/c thats all that was in stock at the time.

I've never use the steel toe feature -except to put something heavy on my toe when i'm moving it..... like a heavy door I don't want to put on the floor. This technique leaves a little gap underneath to get my hands under it.

Boots will be used in my DIY remodeling projects.

Any opinion either way?


***Edited the thread... My options are alloy toe (aluminum??) vs no protection.

 

[mike93lx]

The hope is to never use a safety toe.

I go for composite and don't ever regret having them

 

[Chrisb62]

The hope is to never use a safety toe.

I go for composite and don't ever regret having them

I am of the same opinion........they are ever so slightly lighter also.

 

[Marsim]

If they're comfortable, go with the steel toes. Cheap insurance for $10 more.

 

[nadogail]

To the best of my knowledge they are equally effective. Are you doing any electrical work? If not I would choose the most comfortable ones.

if you are going to be in an electrical hazard area I would choose the non conducive, composition toe, shoes.

 

[zmotorsports]

I would say it also depends on your work environment.

I have had both in the past 30+ years as an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic and with steel toe boots in freezer applications it is miserable. With box temperatures in the 0 to -20 degrees the steel toe boots were not worth it in my opinion and after that pair wore out I did not go with the steel toe options after that.

That being said, I did have a motor armature roll off of a co-workers work bench about 25 years ago and land on my foot. It was not pleasant and my one toe nail is still damaged to this day due to it so in that case I wish I had my steel toe boots on but that was the only incident I can remember.

 

[vavet]

I wear steel/composite toes at work because I'm around heavy objects and forklifts. Hopefully I never reap the benefits of steel toes.
The only time I remember being thankful for them is when I was a counterman in the parts department of a BMW dealer. I dropped an X5 front rotor on my toe just a few days after I'd bought the boots and debated if I needed the steel toe.
To me, it's like wearing a seatbelt. Hope you never need it, but the minimal inconvenience thousands of times is well worth it if you ever need it.
For home remodeling - identify your hazards. For building a stacked stone fireplace, moving a furnace or water heater - might be nice. Crown molding, painting, minor plumbing? No. I guess it all depends on your scope of work.

 

[d9gdon]

I buy the composite safety boots for the cold weather that I have to work in around the country. They're a bit lighter than steel, like someone else mentioned.

 

[Zeke]

Composite can't be crushed to capture your toes. Enough weight can do this with steel.

 

[mike93lx]

Composite can't be crushed to capture your toes. Enough weight can do this with steel.

I've heard this claim a bunch and never seen anything to back it up. If something heavy enough to crush the composite toe lands on your feet, your toes are gone anyway, no?

 

[u2slow]

Always safety toe for me. What material exactly matters less, imho.

 

[rlitman]

...if you are going to be in an electrical hazard area I would choose the non conducive, composition toe, shoes.

I own a number of electrical hazard rated boots. They all have steel toes. The EH rating is for the insulating properties of the sole, and has nothing to do with the composition of the shank or internal toe box, as all of this is covered anyway.

-----

edit: to be fair, all safety toe boots have two issues in common. They don't breathe well, so the toe box can get sweaty, which means I'd expect your foot to be well connected electrically to that metal toe. And the leather over the "metal" is more easily damaged, because it's trapped by the safety toe (pinched between a hammer and an anvil as it is), so it's not uncommon to see holes worn through the leather and see exposed steel.

But EH boots are designed to interrupt a conductive path between your feet and the ground. They're not like rubber gloves designed to directly protect you from a conductor.

 

[nadogail]

Point Taken

 

[bdbecker]

If you don't mind wearing them, I'd go with the alloy toe. Better to have them and not need them versus the other way around.

I dropped a relatively short chunk of 2x4 on my toes not that long ago. The corner/edge of the board hit my toes in just a way that I swore I broke something. I had to stop what I was doing and take my shoe off to check. Luckily I was fine, but my foot was sore for a few days. After that, I tried to make a point of wearing my old met-guard boots from work while in my shop, but they are too worn out to be tolerable for more than a few hours at a time. With winter approaching, I've been shopping around for new boots that can be my daily shoes for the season and will be getting something with a safety toe - might as well knock out two birds with one stone.

 

[jack stand]

@branimal I'm like you and often use the steel toe to rest materials on momentarily. Been doing it so long that it's just 2nd natural to me.
FWIW I bought some very lightweight Keen barely boots for the hot summer weather with composite toe and it works just as well. I also had a 45' manlift (pneumatic tires on dirt) cross my toe briefly freaking me out until I realized quickly that it was working.
I assumed that "composite" was some sort of plastic, but it worked.

 

[eejack]

I only wear composite toe shoes, but if the choice was nothing or alloy I would go with alloy.

It is almost silly how easy it is to break a toe.

 

[iamhomeless]

I have alloy, steel, and composite toe boots, the only footwear I have without a safety toe are my Chuck Taylor's. The new pair are my nice pair, when I start noticing the cuts and dents in the toes, they become work boots, and second pair of work boots get relegated to work around the homestead.

Years ago in diesel school, I was rebuilding a Mack 2 speed rear end and had the ring gear come off its blocking and roll off the bench. It put a half inch deep dent in the concrete not too far from where the toes of my Chuck Taylor's were, I haven't worn a non safety toe into a shop environment since.

 

[brownbagg]

buy what you want

 

[nadogail]

I wore Red Wings for years. My employer once put me into another brand of shoes and I wore them for a year. As soon as they announced that the Safety shoe truck was coming back to the plant I requested they allow me to wear my Podiatrist recommended Red Wings as a “reasonable accommodation (under the ADA) for my foot problems. I also asked for a check equal to what they would pay for the shoes off the truck.

As soon as they read my request for “Reasonable Accommodation” they were quick to answer that when they receive the receipt for the shoes I bought, my check will be processed.

Sometimes It’s not what you ask for, but the way you ask that gets management’s attention.

 

[Monza Harry]

Green Label CSA shoes are required in most/all of Canada for any factory, construction and warehouse environment, So we have no choice for work, here, I don't believe there is a direct equivalent in the USA, but green label has an instep steel brace and steel sole protection [think stepping on a screw or nail], as well as a higher crush rating than the American counterpart.
Zeke as for the toe cap crushing/severing your toes Mythbusters did a segment on this and the highest rating US steel toes required something in the order of 6000#'s with a chisel point [placed near the opening to the cap and as I recall they had numerous failed attempts at that] to crush them, so think a 10000# (+) 2 wheeled trolley/train type wheel in just the right spot! They weren't really able to flatten the steel toe with their H frame press either. And the composite would more than likely shatter sending plastic and glass shards into your foot/toes, neither sounds like fun! I've grown attached to my toes Harry

Annotated Mythbusters: Episode 42: Steel Toe Amputation, Bottle Rocket Blast Off

You maybe able to find it to watch with this info: https://www.discovery.com/shows/mythbusters/episodes/steel-toe-amputation

 

[infinite97]

And the leather over the "metal" is more easily damaged, because it's trapped by the safety toe (pinched between a hammer and an anvil as it is), so it's not uncommon to see holes worn through the leather and see exposed steel.

yup. I just threw away a year old pair of $250 red wings because the toe lining inside had worn away, exposing sharp edges of the steel toe. Cuts through socks, doesn’t feel good on the edges of my feet.

New boots are composite toe, we’ll see if they hold up better. My last ones did.

 

[vavet]

I'm a big fan of these shoes:

Amazon.com | Skechers for Work Men's Hartan Steel Toe Slip-On Shoe | Loafers & Slip-Ons

Buy Skechers for Work Men's Hartan Steel Toe Slip-On Shoe and other Loafers & Slip-Ons at Amazon.com. Our wide selection is eligible for free shipping and free returns.

www.amazon.com

I buy one pair a year and my employer reimburses $50. They don't really stand up to a full year of wear, but I alternate between these and my red wing boots. These are super comfortable, includes a safety toe, and slip-on/slip-off.

 

[nadogail]

Differences of opinion are why we have Horse Races.

If you are required to wear CSA Green Label as a condition of employment, make your choice; Green Label or no job.

If your options are open your choices are expanded.

Safety Shoes are a form of insurance, if you are paying you can select the insurance coverage you want and the premium you are comfortable paying.

 

[fitter30]

Need more protection metatarsal boots. Keeps top of foot crushed protected.

 

[65Goat]

I know this is a niche scenario but you mentioned doing various DIY jobs.

A steel toe will offer protection against a chainsaw, where a composite toe won't.

One tidbit for your pro/con list.

 

[jwilson645]

I've heard this claim a bunch and never seen anything to back it up. If something heavy enough to crush the composite toe lands on your feet, your toes are gone anyway, no?

A few years ago I was moving my 180lb anvil when it and the stump it is secured to fell over onto my foot. I had on my steel toe Georgia boots and the anvil bent the steel portion down and it was touching my toes. Luckily my foot survived with no injury. Something heavier may have been a different story.

 

[Zeke]

I've heard this claim a bunch and never seen anything to back it up. If something heavy enough to crush the composite toe lands on your feet, your toes are gone anyway, no?

Well, I haven't seen the Mythbusters episode but that's impressive. AFA steel crushing vs. composite, yes I'm sure the injury would be severe. But the ER won't have to cut so much as to remove the boot.

Sounds like steel is the way to go anyway.

 

[branimal]

I'm going to get the alloy toe version. Thanks for the injury stories and injuries avoided stories to convince me as much.

 

[Death Row Dave]

I worked 36 years in pipeline industry , nothing but steel toe boots for , me . After a year or so I’d look at the toes and I could see the “ safety “ in the toes of my boots . My suggestion , buy the best , don’t suffer like all the rest , that didn’t .

 

[jonesg]

I've heard this claim a bunch and never seen anything to back it up. If something heavy enough to crush the composite toe lands on your feet, your toes are gone anyway, no?

steel tipped can chop your toes off, its better to flatten the toes.

 

[mike93lx]

steel tipped can chop your toes off, its better to flatten the toes.

I'll take urban legends for a thousand, please Alex. But I'll gladly eat crow if there is any evidence of modern steel toe boots causing more damage than they prevented.

If something hits a steel cap hard enough to chop off your toes, I would bet the material doesn't matter

 

[cherokee]

Story time:

Many moons ago when I still turned wrenches for a living I went to the parts counter to get a new flywheel, clutch and pressure plate for a job. I get my stuff, three flat boxes, a little like a small pizza box. I am walking back to my stall and someone says HAY CHEROKEE, I turn around and I guess I must have tilted up the boxes. ( anyone see what is coming next) I assume the flywheel slid out of the box and landed edge first on my big toe, busted it clean in half. Well hell. I hobble back to the stall, take off my boot and sock and already my toe is the size of my wrist. Guy next to me goes and gets the service mgr. Off to the "company Dr" again. On the ride to his office, over every bump I can see my toe move where your toe generally does not move. You know that Joe Theismann video....yup that. Now I am not sure but I think the Dr studied under Dr Mengele. He looks at my toe and says yup broken. He takes an exacto knife and cuts my big toe right under the nail, the blood really starts to flow. Then he takes a pair of needle knows pliers grabs the end of the toe nail and just pulls it off. I remember the sound of tearing to this day. He then sent me back to work the next day. I could not do a single thing and the idiot service manager said you got cleared by the Dr. I pull off my "boot" that I had take off the sock and rip off the bandage, does this look like I am fit to work you stupid mother fucker. The female service writer ran away. I ended up writing service for about a month. Nail never did grow back correctly, I had it removed at least three times after that, with anesthetic this time however, finally a new foot Dr said, you know this better then I do but I highly doubt this will ever grow back correctly, I can take it off again, kill the nail root and it will not bother you anymore. Ok what is the down side, it will be pretty tender from now on. Kill it. I have no big toe nail on the left foot and it is tender to this day.

I still don't wear steel toe boots, some of us are stupit.