Workers in heavy-duty jobs are usually mandated to put their safety first. Due to the nature of their jobs, it is easier for them to sustain an injury or get involved in an accident. As a result, several methods and accessories have been put in place to ensure they are protected from injuries of any kind.
Some of the accessories used by these heavy-duty workers include gloves, overalls, and safety boots. Safety boots, in general, will help protect the feet from injuries, especially in the construction sector. However, safety boots have a better upgrade known as “Steel Toe Boots.”
As the name implies, Steel toe boots are safety boots with steel craft at the toe region. The purpose of the steel is to protect the feet from injuries caused by accidental contact with sharp objects. These boots are usually worn in manufacturing, construction, and other industrial workplaces.
Steel-toe boots come in different sizes and weights. As a construction worker, you might want to know how much steel toe boots weigh, to help make better decisions. You should be aware that the weight of these boots will directly impact the rate at which work is being done.
How much do Steel toe boots weigh? On average, Steel toe boots weigh around 1.9kg, equivalent to about 4 pounds. Several factors affect the gross weight of steel-toe boots. Let’s find out what these factors are.
You should always remember that Steel toe boots come in different sizes, which directly impacts the total weight of the boot. The larger the size of the toe boot, the more it weighs. Therefore, if you use a larger shoe size, you might find lifting steel-toe boots of your size challenging.
Another factor that affects the weight of steel-toe boots is the sole of the boot. Some shoes have thick and wide soles, while others have less thick soles. The boots with thicker and broader soles are expected to have a greater weight than the latter.
Also, the brand affects weight. There are several brands of steel-toe boots today, and these brands have distinct production methods. Some brands utilize lower weight as their Unique Selling Point (USP). They are well known for producing steel-toe boots with lower weights.
However, other brands produce boots with greater weight but better advantages in other areas. If you are to consider these factors before purchasing your steel toe boot, you have to list several brands and the individual weights of boots they produce.
Are steel-toe boots heavy to lift?
This question has no direct answer, as you can only determine an answer by comparing it with other options. Steel toe boots can be heavy to lift, and in some cases, they are not heavy. Let me give you instances of why it can be indeed heavy to lift.
If you compare a normal safety boot made of leather with a steel-toe boot, you should expect the former to weigh less. Leather is a material with low weight but offers protection when used in making accessories. However, leather boots can only protect your feet to an extent when in use.
The potential of accidents will vary depending on where a person works, be it in construction, manufacturing, or any other industry. If you wear leather boots in the construction industry, you only give yourself half protection. There could be accidents that will damage the toes due to the delicate nature of leather.
On the other hand, steel boots are well-designed for heavy-duty jobs like this. It can help prevent injuries or, in some cases, reduce the effect of an accident, thanks to the rigid nature of steel. So, even if leather boots are lighter than steel-toe boots, they are unsafe.
Many steel boot brands are now taking the opinions of their consumers into production. No one would want to make a product that will solve a problem and create another problem. Over the years, the average weight of steel boots has reduced drastically.
If you compare two steel-toe boots of the same brand made in two different years, you will notice that the recent one would weigh far less than the older model. Hence, one of the reasons a lot of industries are adopting the use of steel toe boots for their workers.
What are the alternatives to Steel toe boots?
Safety boots have several variations. These variations are implemented in the toe caps. For example, a steel toe boot has its toe cap made with steel material. In other variations, the toe cap is made with a different material. Let’s take a lot at some of these alternatives.
There is the aluminum toe cap. Unlike steel, which has a high composition of iron metal, aluminum does not contain iron. Iron is the main ingredient in making steel and accounts for its weight. Due to the absence of iron in aluminum, aluminum toe boots weigh less than steel toe boots.
The next on the line is the composite toe cap. Composite toe boots are not as heavy as aluminum toe boots; hence they are easier to lift. The lightest are the leather-toe boots. Leather-toe boots are the easiest to lift because they are incredibly lightweight.
However, it would help if you remembered that the degree of safety drops with the decrease in weight. You should not expect a leather toe boot to be safer to wear than a steel boot and vice versa.
Conclusion
In general, steel-toe boots can be so discomforting to wear. However, this happens when you are just starting to wear it. If it becomes a habit and a day-to-day activity, it becomes easier to wear and lift. Starters are the ones who complain most about the weights of steel-toe boots.
Even at that, I will not advise that you wear a steel boot throughout the day. If you wear it for a long time, you might begin to feel pain in your heels, toes, and probably your back region. These are the areas that work together to lift your boots.
