It’s vital to keep your feet safe during work. However, to do that, you’ll need the right women’s work footwear. There are many types of safety footwear, and although that’s beneficial, sometimes it can be confusing.
That’s why you should familiarize yourself with the main types of women’s work footwear and their features, and choose the best for you and your job.
What Is Work Footwear?
Work or safety footwear is designed to keep your feet protected when working in industries that impose particular dangers on your feet, such as extreme temperatures. They can reduce the severity of injuries that can happen during your work, and even prevent them.
Work footwear protects your entire foot through its design, including your ankles, soles, and toes. Below are several circumstances safety footwear can protect you from.
Extreme temperatures (hot and cold)
Electricity
Absorption of water, oil, and other liquids
Sharp or heavy objects that may fall
Sharp objects that you may step on
Types of Women’s Work Footwear
There are three main types of women’s work footwear - boots, shoes, and sneakers. Each has various safety features and provides different levels of protection to suit myriad situations and professions.
Work Boots for Women
Work boots are most common among safety footwear. They usually have safety toe caps and other protective features, including waterproofness, insulation, slip resistance, and others. Safety boots for women help protect your feet during work in various industries, preventing injuries and keeping your feet safe and healthy.
Usually, these boots feature protective reinforcement at the front, making them more durable. That also helps protect feet from falling objects and compression. Moreover, women’s work boots often have a plate in the outsole to protect against punctures from beneath your foot.
For example, Wellingtons are unique work boots famous for their waterproof properties. Women’s Wellington boots are perfect for you if you work in wet conditions or outside. They typically feature toe caps and sole protection and are easy to clean.
Work Shoes for Women
Women’s work shoes are perfect for people who work in warehouses, healthcare, shops, and even for office workers who need to go into risk areas. Safety shoes also often have protective toe caps.
They aren’t as heavy as work boots but can protect you from chemicals, heat, electric shocks, water, etc. Typically, the soles are well padded, offering comfort and reducing fatigue. Often, safety shoes are lined with moisture retention materials to help keep your feet warm and dry.
Safety Trainers
Work trainers are like safety shoes but look more casual. Their relaxed style makes them perfect for delivery drivers and tradesmen, but can be used in many other professions. They also often include toe caps and other protective features to keep your feet safe while you work.
What Makes a Quality Work Footwear?
Quality work boots and shoes are different than substandard ones. Apart from lasting longer and looking better, they are also more comfortable. Check the details below.
Durability
High-quality women’s work footwear must be durable. Typically, boots and shoes made from quality materials tend to last longer, so be extra attentive to the materials used in their production. Safety footwear made from poor materials isn’t durable, and it is best to avoid it. Otherwise, you risk spending more money in the long run because you will have to change them often. That is not sustainable for you, and neither the planet.
Full-grain leather is one of the best materials for work footwear, especially safety boots. Nylon, rubber, and neoprene are also excellent materials for work boots for women.
All materials offer different levels of protection. That’s why it’s crucial to know the safety requirements of your workplace. Note that the best safety footwear typically features several materials to provide a synergy of comfort, protection, and durability.
Comfort
Your work footwear needs to be comfortable, whether women’s western work boots, Wellingtons, slip-resistant shoes for women, or something else. Comfort is vital since you will be wearing them for at least eight hours a day, five days a week.
Materials impact the overall comfort of work footwear, but how boots and shoes fit you determines how comfortable they will be. That’s why it’s crucial to buy work footwear that fits perfectly.
Safety Features of Women’s Work Footwear
Have you ever thought of why work footwear is often called safety footwear? This type of footwear is primarily made to protect you from injuries that could happen at your worksite. That’s why it’s essential to know the safety measures of your workplace.
Some jobs require light waterproof shoes for women, while others demand tougher, 8-inch work boots. Regardless of your work environment, safety should be your first concern. So, buy a pair of work shoes for women with the safety features your job demands.
Safety Toes
Work environments where heavy or sharp objects may fall and injure your foot require wearing work footwear with safety toes. There are three types of protective toes:
Steel toes offer unparalleled protection but can be heavy. They are best for heavy-duty jobs.
Composite toes deliver less protection but are light. They don’t conduct cold, heat, and electricity.
Alloy toes provide similar protection as steel but are lighter (and more expensive).
Again, base your decision on the safety requirements of your worksite.
Waterproofness
If your work involves muddy or wet surfaces, you will need waterproof shoes for women, maybe even boots. Waterproofness comes in varying degrees. So, consider how wet your work environment is and choose accordingly.
Insulation
Working in cold conditions demands wearing insulated work footwear, typically 8 or 6-inch work boots. Insulation also comes in varying degrees to suit different levels of cold. The lightest insulation is 200g. It offers high mobility and fair warmth but isn’t suitable for extreme cold. Protection from cold increases with the growing insulation thickness, while mobility decreases.
Slip Resistance
Trips and falls on slippery surfaces are very common in various jobs. To prevent injuries caused by falls, you will need a pair of slip-resistant shoes for women. You can also find slip-resistant work boots. This type of footwear has outsoles that provide exceptional traction along with oil and abrasion resistance.
Many jobs require wearing slip-resistant footwear. That’s why you will find many brands offering such footwear. For example, Timberland women’s work boots are famous for delivering outstanding traction keeping their wearers safe in and outside work.
Choose the Best Work Footwear for Your Job
We cannot stress enough how crucial it is to choose according to your worksite’s safety measures. Safety on the job should always be your top priority. For instance, if you work in wet conditions, you can go for women’s Wellington boots. If your work involves freezing weather, you will need a pair of insulated safety boots.
Quality comes at a price but saves money in the long run because quality lasts. So, ensure you get high-quality footwear instead of cheap, substandard ones that you will have to throw away soon after.
Long is gone time when work footwear looked ugly. It’s pretty stylish nowadays, and people wear it even outside work. Check our collection and find a perfect pair for you!
