What's the difference between types of safety toe boots?

Georgia Boots work boot standing in front of a roll of fencing on a job site

Categories: Apparel

Posted: July 26, 2019

The debate on what type of toe is best in “safety-toe” boots has persisted ever since options outside of “steel toe” hit the market. Are these options really the same in terms of performance? What is the difference between each material? What is the real story?

Just like anything else, each material has its benefits and tradeoffs. A combination of the user’s personal preferences, budget, and intended use will, ultimately, guide a person to the right choice.

The Materials in Safety Toe Boots

In the safety-toe world, most toes are made of steel, composite, and, in a distant third, aluminum. The latter two—known colloquially as “comp” and “alloy”—are newer entrants to the market. The comp boot is extremely popular and is commonplace with many brands.

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We have even seen some brands completely or significantly eliminate their steel-toe offerings due to the popularity in comp toes. Alloy toes are far rarer, probably due to the high material cost, but they are out there to be found with select brands.

The Comparisons between Different Toes

Composite toes outperform steel and alloy in a couple different areas. The main draw for a comp toe is the weight factor, as they typically weigh 30% less than steel toes—this increases comfort and decreases fatigue. Alloy toes are also known for being lightweight and up to 50% lighter than steel. But, typically, they’re quite expensive, thus the reason comp tends to be a bit more popular. Additionally, comp toes outperform both alloy and steel in cold weather as composite materials just don’t hold the cold like their metal counterparts.

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That said, comp toes just aren’t as strong as steel or alloy toes… period. This isn’t, technically, a safety issue as comp toes pass the required safety ratings. But com toes typically require a great deal more material in the toe to meet these standards. This is why comp toes have a more “bulbous” look in comparison to steel or alloy toe styles. However, many brands have started to use carbon fiber in their comp toes, which allows for less material in the toe. For that reason, I foresee the aesthetics becoming less of an issue as brands continue to innovate comp toe materials.

While comp toes do hold up to ATSM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards for initial impact and compression, and area of concern is that tests show that they could fail after successive impacts as comp toes weaken after a single impact. That means if you have an event where your comp toe boots protect you from a compression or impact, you will need to replace the boots afterward to ensure you are protected in the future.

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Safety-Toe Myths

So, we have talked about the real differences in safety toes, but there is a commonly held belief about the safety of steel/alloy vs comp in electrical environments that is a myth—and needs be to touched on.

Believe it or not, the toe material has nothing to do with the electrical hazard rating of a boot. While it may seem logical to believe boots with metal toes would conduct electricity and be unsafe, this is inaccurate and, furthermore, the ATSM standards don’t even address the toe material as being a factor.

Why is that? Because the actual toe insert sits on the top of the outsole, which insulates it from the floor. There are a handful of specs and requirements that a boot must meet in order to be EH (Electrical Hazard) rated, but toe material is not one of them.

Summary

A main point of consideration is that your safety-toe boots should meet the ATSM safety requirements, and that they fit your foot properly.

After that, you must make decisions based on which factors matter the most to you:

If you want a safety-toe boot in the moderate- to high budget range that’s lightweight, and/or you want warmer boots for winter, you’ll want to buy a boot with a comp toe.
If you’re on a budget and/or longevity and a slimmer toe profile is your main concern, you’ll want to buy a steel-toe boot.
With a generous budget, and when coldness in winter is not a major concern, and if you’re looking for the lightest boots on the market… you’ll want to buy a boot with an alloy safety toe.