When working outside undertaking a construction project or while in a busy working environment, you'll want to make sure that your feet are protected by a good pair of safety shoes. It's important that they're comfortable, supportive and durable so you can avoid any potential injuries that could arise in an industrial, or hazardous, setting.
We've put together this guide as well as a list of the 10 best steel toe shoes, lightweight trainers and work boots available to buy online from reliable brands like Safety Jogger and Black Hammer. We've featured some of the best safety shoes for men and for women on Amazon so you can get on with your work without having to worry about hurting your feet.
Quick List - Top Safety Shoes
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The primary purpose of a safety shoe is to protect your feet from injury in case of an accident, and they do this by including strong materials to act as armour to your feet. You'll commonly see steel or carbon toe caps that protect the ends of your feet, as well as a hard-wearing and durable material to protect the top.
The level of protection you need will depend on the type of job you're doing as well as the work environment you'll be in. On a building site, where there are sharp objects, risks of things falling and other dangers, it's well worth opting for a strong pair of work boots.
If you're working in a less hazardous, yet demanding environment, like a busy kitchen or warehouse, a more lightweight option will suffice – and probably be more welcome if you're moving around a lot.
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The materials used in safety shoes are often related to the style and design of the shoe itself. You may be surprised to learn that not all safety shoes resemble chunky work boots but can also look like regular trainers, with some even being quite stylish.
While leather and faux leather are popular hard-wearing choices, synthetic fabric and mesh designs are also quite common. Choosing the material and design is something of a trade-off, however, with the lighter trainer options not quite having the same level of support and protection around the ankles as the more traditional boot designs.
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Grip plays an important part in keeping you safe when working in a wet or uneven environment. This can range from an outdoor building site to indoor plumbing work or even cleaning and kitchen settings. It's worth looking for anti-slip and anti-shock soles to ensure you have the best level of protection against falling.
Steel shanks are also found in certain types of safety shoe. These are small strips of metal that sit between the insole and outsole in order to help to maintain the shape of the shoe and reduce the load placed on your knees and lower legs. They also offer some added protection when stepping on sharp objects, such as nails, that could puncture the bottom of your feet.
Away from the soles, having enough ankle support is important when undertaking projects that involve heavy lifting, or moving bulky items around. Above all though, make sure your shoes are comfortable as you'll want to avoid painful blisters popping up while you're working.
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Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hitmars Safety Trainers | ![]() | The Overall Best for Versatility | |
2 | Blackrock Work Safety Boots | ![]() | Cheap and Effective Protection in a Wide Size Range | |
3 | Safety Jogger Safety Boot | ![]() | Strong, Sturdy Construction Boots for Men and Women | |
4 | Zoe Ashely Safety Trainers | ![]() | Safe, Stylish and Suitable for Almost Anywhere | |
5 | Whitin Safety Shoes | ![]() | A Hybrid Design Between Trainer and Work Boot | |
6 | Black Hammer Men's Safety Boots | ![]() | Extreme Protection for Hazardous Workspaces | |
7 | Suadex Safety Work Boots | ![]() | A Supportive and Breathable Pair of Boots | |
8 | Gainsera Safety Boots | ![]() | Added Comfort When Standing for Hours on End | |
9 | Groundwork Women's Safety Boots|Gr386 | ![]() | Women's Safety Boots That Are Great for the Garage | |
10 | Oregon Yukon Class 1 Chainsaw Boots | ![]() | High Boots Offering Chainsaw Protection |
Our pick for the no. 1 spot are these excellent trainers from Hitmars which come in sixteen different colours and designs. As well as the various designs, they're also available in almost every size imaginable for both men and women.
While they may look like a stylish pair of trainers, these are safety shoes through and through, featuring the ever-present steel toe cap as well as a bulletproof Kevlar midsole to protect from puncture. Strong and stylish, these are a real winner.
If you had to imagine a pair of safety shoes, then you probably thought of something like this offering from Blackrock. These black leather boots have everything you need to stay safe in a hazardous outdoor workplace as they're waterproof and have anti-slip soles.
These are also the cheapest shoe on our list, representing fantastic value for money, plus they come in a full range of sizes for both men and women. If you're looking for a cheap but effective work boot, then you can't do much better than this.
Available in a full range of sizes for men and women, the Safety Jogger Safety Boots make for a strong and durable pair of shoes for construction sites and industrial environments. Don't be put off by the low price – these are an incredibly reliable pair of boots.
The steel toe caps are hard enough to protect against heavy tools and equipment falling, and on the other side, the steel sole is more than strong enough to prevent any nails or sharp objects from puncturing the bottom of your feet.
You may not realise it due to the design, but these trainers are actually an incredibly durable and protective pair of kicks. Featuring a Kevlar midsole, these trainers are also amazingly comfortable to move around in.
If you're looking for a pair of trainers that you can wear out and about as well as in the workplace, then these are a brilliant choice, especially in those hot summer months when wearing a thick pair of boots is just too uncomfortable.
We love the design of these safety shoes from Within. Sitting somewhere between a work shoe and a boot, these look good in any working environment from the building site to the service industry.
If you work multiple jobs in different environments, these are a fantastic choice, and the reflective strips are a nice touch for those who work in low light conditions or at night. The synthetic material also makes them a great option for those who want to avoid animal products.
If you're looking for the highest level of safety possible, then these boots from Black Hammer are well worth considering. They offer heavy-duty protection from sharp objects, high voltages, and wet and slippery environments.
They're also completely weatherproof and offer plenty of ankle support. They are only available in men's sizes, but we think they are well worth the investment if you work in a particularly hazardous environment or around live electrical wiring.
These safety boots from Suadex offer great support to your feet and have a breathable mesh to keep your feet cool while working. Their anti-slip rubber sole has a protective Kevlar bottom to prevent puncture injuries, too.
While the breathable mesh is great to stop your feet from getting sweaty, and potentially developing painful blisters, this does also mean that they aren't waterproof – something that is often desirable in a pair of boots.
The anti-fatigue comfort technology makes these boots a great choice for when you're on your feet for extended periods of time – particularly for those long hours working in the service industry without many breaks.
They may not be waterproof, but we think they're actually rather stylish and wouldn't look out of place with more casual attire. While unisex, the size range only goes up to 11.5, so this isn't one for men with larger feet, unfortunately.
These Groundwork safety boots for women feature an anti-slip, oil, petrol and chemical resistant sole that is also shock absorbent, making these a fantastic option for a garage or mechanical environment.
Unfortunately, there is no mention of a puncture-resistant midsole which should come as something of a standard for safety boots. You'll want to consider another option if you work in areas where there are sharp objects around the floor.
We're starting off our list with something a little different, and you shouldn't let the low placing deter you from these great boots. The only reason it's so low is because of their niche nature, but if you work with chainsaws, you should own a pair of these boots.
These are a little expensive and tall for the average worker, but for loggers or tree surgeons, the added cost is well worth the investment when considering the worst-case scenario if there's an accident.
No. 1: Hitmars|Safety Trainers
No. 2: Blackrock|Work Safety Boots
No. 3: Safety Jogger |Safety Boot
No. 4: Zoe Ashely|Safety Trainers
No. 5: Whitin|Safety Shoes
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