Posted: 10/16/2008 7:55:57 AM EDT
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Time for a new set of work boots (Red Wings), and have never had steel toed before and was wondering what the general consensus was. Do most of you guys go with the steel? Do your toes feel colder when the steel get's cold? Thanks Shoot. |
Wow, that's weird. Being an ex-Iron Worker, I never knew another that wore steel toed boots. Mostly because the steel was so heavy, that should a beam/column come down on your toes/foot, the "steel toe" becomes a guillotine, where as non steel toed boots would just leave you with crushed toes. 
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+1 to this. If you are around very heavy objects, do NOT wear steel toes. If not, they are useful. |
Wasn't this disproved on Mythbusters? |
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Crushed or cut off cleanly..... Hm..... Let's see.......  Still, I'd rather they be cut off cleanly. At least them you have a better chance of reattachment, right? Of course, some "safety" consideration are just nuts. Yeah, wearing a hardhat is really going to help you if a 20-ton beam comes crashing down on your head. 
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depends on what you're going to be doing in them... when I was 17, I a chain broke while we were moving a big flatbed for a truck and it fell right on my foot. Had I not been wearing steel toed boots I'd have lost a few toes, probably. I never bitched about having to wear that kind of boot again. Similarly, I got hit in the head by a 3" washer (1/4" thick) on a construction site. As much as I hated wearing a hard hat, I'm glad I did. When you work in a hazardous environment, bad shit can happen. That's why they make protective gear. If you're talking about buying them for when you weed-eat the lawn, I wouldn't bother. |
As far as I'm concerned, this is like the "I never wear a seat belt because I heard of a guy who lived because he was thrown clear of the accident" stories. I've heard the stories, but in practice I never knew anyone who got hurt because they wore steel toes (and knew several folks including myself who saved themselves from crushed feet with them). |
Found a link read and draw your own conclusion. I have worn safety toe boots almost every day for the past four years, they do protect your toes especially when moving heavy objects like furniture, steel no experience. kwc.org/mythbusters/2005/11/episode_42_steel_toe_amputatio.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(season_3)#Episode_42_.E2.80.94_.22Steel_Toe-Cap_Amputation.2C_Bottle_Rocket_Blast-off.22 |
That's true.. Then again, we didn't wear those or safety harnesses either.
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As to the question as what they'll be used for; mainly construction and around the house. I'm no longer an Iron worker. Do you guys that go with the steel toe find that the front of the boot wears out any faster due to there being less forgiveness in the front? |
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I wear steel-toe boots all year round...no problem. I have 2 pair of boots. Uninsulated for summer and insulated in winter. I'd rather have the steel toe and not need them than crush my toes. If it was a proven fact(high statistically) about having your toes cut off with steel toe boots then why do they make them? I think it's just an urban legend. YMMV. ETA: Used all the time around my house(gardening, general yard work) and at my parent's farm where tractors and attachments etc. are in use. |
I have worn steel toe red wings every day for 10 years. Very comfortable and they saved my feet a few times. IIRC they are not steel and I havn't had any cold toe experiences. I haven't worked a job where I needed them in over 2 years and still put them on every day. My next pair will have them also. |
Yes, if something heavy enough to crush the steel toe falls on your foot, you would lose your toes from the damage from that kind of force anyway. |
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If something falls on your toes heavy enough to crush the steel, then you're toes are gone regardless. I don't know why anyone believes that a toe crushed by something heavy enough to trash a steel toed boot is going to heal. If you work around heavy stuff it's worth having. Just because you work with something heavy enough to crush the steel toe doesn't mean it's the only thing that might fall on your foot. It's the same with hardhats- that girder isn't the only thing that might fall. I wear them daily, mostly because I'm kind of clumsy and the steel saves me from a lot of stubbed toes. I've never noticed my toes being cold because of the steel, although it did take a day or two to get accustomed to the extra weight. The leather on the toe of the boot does wear out faster, but in my case only on my right foot. I tend to lead and kick with that foot, so I guess thats why. In any case the soles wore out before the toe did. -Local |
| I wear an off brand (because no brand lasts long where i work) and also have metatarsal gards on mine, i work in a steel mill and believe it or not it gets freakin cold in about January and no I cant tell the toes make any difference, They dont hold heat any more than anything else either. Our temp swings from about 40 in winter to 130 in summer. |
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Yes. I even wear metatarsal guards. The company I work for mandates steel toe or whatever meets the spec. The boots I have now use aluminum in the toe rather than steel and plastic type material for the metatarsal guard. They aren't as heavy as the older ones. Those who don't like "cold toes" can layer socks. That's what I do outside in the winter. Keep your feet dry! |