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What to do if my steel toe boots hurt my toes?

One of our customers had a question,

“The space between my toes and the steel toe is about 1.5cm. When used for about 6 hours straight, my toes begin to feel pain especially the 3rd and 4th digit. What should I do?”

We have a lot of customers with this question so we thought we would share Bob’s answer with you:

It sounds as if the side of the safety toe is rubbing the side of your toes. Remember, safety toe comfort comes in length, not width; you have to get the shoe long enough to accommodate the back and forth toe movement in the shoes. The proper fit occurs when the widest point of your foot (The Ball) is located exactly in the widest part of the shoe. When that happens the arch of your foot fits precisely with the arch of the shoe, giving you maximum support from the shoe.

So what is happening? Your arch has probably dropped some extending the toes of the shoes forward. Take your hand and put it on a table with the fingers going forward and the thumb back. That is the shape of your arch, Now move the fingers forward and you get the action of your arch and toes as you take a step. The arch of the foot drops as weight is placed on it, and the toes slide forward into the shoe. This back and forth motion of your toes is why you need to fit your shoes (not just safety shoes) using your arch measurement.

The arch measurement can be obtained with a Brannock Foot Measuring Device you should find in most good shoe stores. Without that measurement, you can get a pretty good idea how your arch is fitting in your current shoes by feeling for the ball of your foot while wearing your shoes. Rub the side of your foot and feel where the “ball” (bone) of the foot is located in your shoe. Turn the shoe over with the sole facing you, and you can see where the widest point of the sole is. That is where the “ball” of your foot should be. If it is slightly forward of that precise point, it is too far forward and you need a longer shoe.

Suggestion: Try to get your foot measured in a shoe store before you buy your next pair of safety shoes to see if your arch has dropped a little extending the toes further into your shoes to the point where they are rubbing the safety toe.

Over time, as you get older, weaker, weigh more, and your arch drops, your foot will get longer. It happens to everyone!

Now, your foot really hasn’t gotten any bigger, it’s just changed shape. The arch drops and the toes and arch extend further in the shoe. That means you need a longer shoe, may be a US 7.5 (8 is probably too big). Now unfortunately, when you go to a longer shoe, it is going to feel “bigger”. You should be getting a narrower shoe as you go up in shoe size to conform to your foot just getting longer, not bigger, but that isn’t possible because shoes today are made mostly in mediums and wides. That may require you to buy an insole for your shoes to “take up” the extra room. You can buy a thin flat insole that you can put under the shoe’s insole or a ¾ insole unit you put on top of the insole, or a high quality, full, replacement insole (thicker than the original insole) to replace the original. You are trying to make the insole slightly thicker to take up some of the additional room in the ½ size larger shoe. Try them on with the shoes you want to buy to see what works for you.

Also, you can look for and get a wider safety toe shoe. Safety toes come in lots of different sizes and shapes, and some come in a very wide shape, known as “oblique”. Regardless, you should try to find one with a larger toe box. When you turn the shoe over and look at the sole you get a better picture of the shape of the safety toe. If the toe or shoe fits tight, you just have to get a longer shoe.

One more tip: These bigger brands typically have their shoes made by several different manufacturers. Different styles within the same brand will fit differently because of this fact. Again, you just have to try the shoes on and test the location of the “ball” of your foot in the shoe to make sure you are getting the right fit.

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Steel Toe Wellington Boot Sizing

QUESTION:
I recently purchased a pair of WellingtonSteel toe boots from a boot truck. I am very happy with the quality and comfort of the boot, but the fit and slippage has made them not so comfortable. I got a size 7, and the boot was difficult to put on at first. I’ve had them about a week, and as the boot has loosened up, they now feel like they are a half size too big, and I can feel my foot slip as I walk. Is this normal?

ANSWER:
Sorry to say, but this is normal! Wellington boots have no laces and you almost have to get them too tight when they’re brand new to get them to fit! That’s because the longer you wear the boots, the more the leather on your instep area stretches from the moisture in the foot and pressure of the foot on the instep part of the boot. And of course, this makes the boots “loosen up” and become sloppy.

Another reason they seem too big is that Wellingtons are typically a sloppier fit (after you wear them awhile) than a lace up oxford, athletic, or work shoe style boot. The laces in these styles allow you to tighten them as they get looser, which unfortunately is not the case with a Wellington style boot. I usually recommend customers only wear Wellingtons to work if they are used to wearing Wellingtons to work because the sloppier fit is bothersome and can cause the legs and feet to work more and be uncomfortable.

While this “sloppy fit” is normal with Wellingtons, this doesn’t help you much, so let me suggest that you get another insole from an old pair of athletic shoes or just another pair of old shoes you have and slip it under (or over) the insole in your new boot. This will take up some room in the instep area of the boot and help tighten them up. You can also purchase an after-market insole.

Dr. Scholl’s is another popular brand that Walmart carries, but I have never been a big fan of the “gel” insoles. They are typically heavier and don’t provide as much “cush”, if you know what I mean! I hope this helps! Contact me again if you need more help. Thanks. Bob

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How do you determine when safety toe shoes need to be replaced?

It’s generally accepted that when the toe of a safety shoe has the leather worn off the toe, regardless whether the shoe is Steel Toe, Alloy Toe, or Composite Toe, the safety shoe should be replaced.  It’s kind of like a tires that are worn to the warning tread, or a rope or belt that is getting “frayed”, or safety glasses that has scratched lenses.  In fact, my rule is that if there is any “hole” or crack in exterior leather of the safety boot, then the boot should be replaced because the integrity of the safety boot has been compromised potentially exposing the foot to external environmental conditions and substances.

Safety Shoes are tested for Electrical Hazard properties in a brand new state inside a clean laboratory.  As the boot is worn, the leather and linings harbor more moisture from perspiration, the soles get thinner, and it’s a given that safety shoes are significantly “weaker” the older they get.  So the question is, “how do you determine the point at which shoes need to be replaced?”  It’s certainly a “judgment call”, but typically the most obvious sign is when the safety toe is showing through a hole in the leather of the boot’s toe.  Another sign is when the pattern on the sole is worn down significantly (before it gets slick).  Additionally, if the integrity of the safety shoe is compromised by a crack in the leather at the sole or in the flex area of the front of the boot and this “hole” in the leather directly exposes the foot to the environment, then that shoe should be replaced.  sometimes the leather will show a lot of distress from the environment (welding burn marks, cuts in the leather, etc.) before the leather cracks and when that happens, the shoe should be replaced also.

If concerned that bare steel toe would expose you to a live wire hitting it, that same exposure would be there even with the same boot without the bare steel toe. The leather will still conduct electricity due to the moisture in the leather and linings, and the insulating properties of leather would be minimally better than the bare steel.  Regardless, in my opinion, you should replace safety toe shoes when the leather is worn.

That being said, there are several products on the market that allow you to either glue a reinforcement material to the toe of the boot or “paint” a scuff-resistant material on the toe of the boot to preserve the life of the leather covering the toe of the boot. Sometimes your job or tasks require you to be on your hands and knees, which can prematurely wear the leather off of the safety shoe toe.  When that happens, it’s a sign the shoes need to be replaced even though they are not “worn out”.  These products help prevent prematurely wearing the leather off the safety toe, and this can help you if that is the case with your safety toe shoes.

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Composite Toe vs Steel Toe: A helpful comparison

Composite Toe vs Steel Toe

There are advantages to both composite toe vs steel toe – Composite Toe (also known as “Comp Toe”) safety shoes are lighter weight, but Steel Toes are typically available in more toe styles, which enhance safety shoe styling.

Composite Toes are very popular because they are lightweight, but typically composite toes are more bulbous than the Steel Toe types.  Having said that, Composite Toes are constantly improving and the new Carbon Fiber safety toe is thinner and less bulbous.  The bulbous nature of Composite Toe Shoes is necessary to make them test to the same ASTM standard that Steel Toes do. Because composite materials of Composite Toe Shoes are not quite as strong as the steel used in Steel Toes Shoes, Composite Toes have to be thicker and more bulbous.  This limits the styles that can effectively use Composite Toes, especially for women’s and men’s dress, casual, and athletic styles.  The slimmer profile of women’s safety toes and other stylish men’s shoes like dress shoes and pointed-toe and square-toe western boots.  The bulbous toe shape of the Composite Toe just isn’t conducive to these type styles, yet; however, better materials, like Carbon Fiber materials, can change that in short order.

Another issue with Composite Toe Safety Shoes is that the Composite Toe passes the initial impact and compression ASTM tests, but subsequent impact or compression events to the same Toe are less than adequate.  Apparently, the composite materials tend to weaken significantly after the first tests or first occurrence of a significant impact or compression.  Therefore, it is recommended that Composite Toe Safety Shoes be replaced after an accident or event that causes stress to the Composite Safety Toe.  Note:  The fact is that Composite Toe Safety Shoes many times show little or no signs of damage after a significant event impacting the Composite Toe because Composite materials have much resilience and hide physical damage.  While no signs of damage may be visible, tests show that subsequent impacts to the Composite Toe shoes could be less resistant to impacts and compression.

Many people believe Composite Toe Shoes are best for Electrical Hazard environments, but that is not the case.  And it would seem that having Composite Toes in the Electrical Hazard safety shoes would be safer than Steel Toes; however, Steel Toe Safety Shoes pass the Electrical Hazard ASTM Tests as easily as Composite Toe Safety Shoes.  There is no difference in the safety of Composite Toe and Steel Toe Electrical Hazard Safety Shoes.

Steel and other Alloy materials are stronger than Composite materials so this allows the Steel Toe (and Alloy Toes) in Steel Toe Shoes to be thinner and have a lower profile (less bulbous) than Composite Toe Safety Shoes and still pass the ASTM Safety Toe tests.  This gives Steel Toe Safety Shoes the ability to be nicer looking, lower profile shoes like what is used for pointed-toe and square-toe Western Boots, as well as men’s and women’s dress and casual shoes.

Safety Toes (Steel Toes, Alloy Toes, and Composite Toes) are constantly evolving and getting better.  There is no doubt that the trend is toward Composite Safety Toes, and the new Graphite Fiber Safety Toes (the new age Composite Toe) are going to make even more inroads into the Safety Shoe marketplace.

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Electrical Hazard, Steel Toe and Composite Toe Shoe Information

Can Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes have a Steel Toe? And are Composite Safety Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH), Safety Shoes better, or safer than, Steel Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH), Safety Shoes?

Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes can be made with either a Steel Toe, a Composite Toe, or an Aluminum Toe…actually, any type material safety toe is safe, as long as it meets the ASTM safety toe standard.   The safety toe material has nothing to do with the Electrical Hazard (EH) properties of a safety shoe.  The reason is that the safety toe sits on top of the outsole of the shoe, which insulates it from the floor.  The ASTM Standards (ASTM F2412-05 and ASTM F2413-05) that specify the shoe specifications and testing procedures do not require the safety toe to be any particular material.

Very Important to Understand:      Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes are only supposed to be used only as a secondary source of protection in an Electrical Hazard (EH) environment, where employees may be subject to open electrical circuits.  (ASTM F2413-05 Sec. 5.5.4 & Sec 5.5.2)

About the only way that a Steel Toe could be hazardous is if the person wearing them was standing on his toes, which would bring the steel toe in contact with the floor.  If the person is kneeling, his steel toes may be touching the floor; but the knee is touching, too.  An accidental, electrocuting circuit probably would go through the knees into ground since that would be the path of least resistance for the electrical circuit. 

Believe me when I tell you that if the very intelligent researchers, who designed the ASTM tests and specifications for Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes, believed that there was any chance that Steel Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes were not as safe as a Composite Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoe, they would not allow them to be made.  The tests show that the Steel Toe Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes pass the ASTM Standard Electrical Hazard (EH) Test just as well and are just as safe as the Composite Toe, Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes.

Electrical Hazard (EH) Safety Shoes can be made with any type safety toe as long as the safety shoe passes the Impact and Compression safety toe tests and the Electrical Hazard (EH) test.