Puncture resistant boots, steel vs. fabric midsoles

Safety footwear and its protective grade is best chosen after evaluation (risk assessment) of the potential dangers in the work environment. The footwear should always be used as a last resort, it is the final line of defense against hazards, after all other reasonable or practical measures have been taken to manage the risks of the workplace. Impact, compression and puncture are the most common types of foot injury.

Common dangers are related to the kind of materials that are handled by the worker, risks of objects falling on or rolling over the feet or sharp objects that could penetrate the outsole of the shoe.

Below we are going a little deeper into puncture resistant boots and the differences between steel midsoles and woven fabric midsoles in puncture resistant boots.

Do you need advice or do you still have a question about puncture resistant boots? Don’t hesitate to contact us right away, We're social!

 

Related puncture resistant boots

SRC slip resistance
SRC slip resistance

DAKAR S3

3D mesh
3D mesh

ABSOLUTE S1 P

S3
S3

EOS S3S

Puncture resistant boots

Steel vs. woven fabric midsoles

Puncture flesh wounds are particularly awful because screws, spikes, sharp scrap metal or the famous rusty nail puncturing the foot, can deposit bacteria and debris deep into the body, leading to dangerous infections and/or permanent foot damage.

The protective midsoles are embedded during the manufacturing process, between the insole and outsole of the puncture resistant boots. The standard specifies that the protective midsole of puncture resistant boots cannot be removed without damaging or destroying the boot. 2 main materials are used for protective midsoles: steel and Aramid (woven fabrics with high tenacity; eg. Kevlar by Dupont, Twaron by Akzo)

When puncture resistant boots have a woven fabrics midsole, they are most likely to have a composite toe cap too to create a metal-free, lightweight work boot. A crucial element on sites where metal detectors are used as employees enter and leave, for example high-security environments, such as airports, governmental buildings and military bases, where the scanning aims to prevent weapons from making their way in.

We made a list with all the differences you should know about a steel or woven fabric midsole in your search for the puncture resistant boot that suits your work.

Steel midsoles

Made from coated steel or stainless steel


More economic compared to textile/Aramid materials


Thinner than textile/Aramid midsoles


Embedded in the outsole construction, not visible when taking out the comfort insole


Conducting cold, heat and electricity


Recommended for protection against very sharp and tiny objects


Less flexible than textile midsoles, due to the characteristics of metal


Not protecting the full bottom surface of the footwear, few mm stay unprotected at the sides


Subject to corrosion after a period of time, when made in coated carbon steel, especially at the flexline area

Woven fabric midsoles

Made from Aramid fibers like Kevlar or Twaron


More flexible compared to steel midsoles


Less heavy than steel midsoles


Sewn onto the puncture resistant boots upper construction, visible when removing the comfort insole


Not conducting cold, heat and electricity


Recommended for people working in metal scanning environments


More comfort due to technical evolution towards thinner, more lightweight materials.


Protecting the full bottom surface of the shoe


Combined very high strength-to-weight properties, with excellent temperature, abrasion and cut resistance values


You might also like to read

Individual orthopedic solutions for safety shoes

Do you have special needs for your feet? With the help of Neskrid, you can replace the original Safety Jogger footbed with a footbed that is custom-made for you and still has the same safety certifications.

Neskrid

Waterproof work boots & shoes

More than likely you’re going to get caught up in the rain at some point on a regular workday. When you do get caught in a downpour, generally you’ll come home taking of those wet socks to spot a pair of wrinkled feet.

Waterproof

Heavy duty work boots

Looking for safe and strong heavy duty work boots? The Safety Jogger boots will fit your needs! Our boots are the combination of safety and comfort you are looking for.

Heavy duty boots

GROW YOUR BUSINESS & BECOME A DEALER

Safety Jogger is worldwide and always looking for people who trust our brand as much as we do! We have a team of expert's ready for you to help with questions about our brand, technologies or reselling our products. So, don’t hesitate to fill in this form, we usually get back to you within a day!

Further information?

Fill in the form and we’ll get in touch!