The traditional safety toe. A steel cap built into the toe of the boot protects your toes from falling objects and crushing loads.

• Very durable, with a thin profile
• Heavier than alloy, composite or carbon toes
• Conducts cold and heat, and will set off metal detectors

Safety toes rated to ASTM F2413 are tested for impact (I/75: 75 foot-pounds) and compression (C/75: 2,500 pounds).

A non-metal safety toe made from materials such as fiberglass, plastic, Kevlar or carbon fiber.

• Lighter than steel
• Doesn’t conduct cold, heat or electricity
• Won’t set off metal detectors, a good fit for airports, security and some manufacturing sites
• The toe cap is a little thicker, so the toe can look slightly bulkier

Safety toes rated to ASTM F2413 are tested for impact (I/75: 75 foot-pounds) and compression (C/75: 2,500 pounds).

A safety toe made from lightweight metals such as aluminum or titanium.

• Lighter than steel
• Thinner than composite, which often leaves more room for your toes
• Still metal: it conducts cold and heat and can set off metal detectors

Safety toes rated to ASTM F2413 are tested for impact (I/75: 75 foot-pounds) and compression (C/75: 2,500 pounds).

An alloy safety toe made from aluminum.

• Noticeably lighter than steel
• Thinner than composite, which often leaves more room for your toes
• Still metal: it conducts cold and heat and can set off metal detectors

Safety toes rated to ASTM F2413 are tested for impact (I/75: 75 foot-pounds) and compression (C/75: 2,500 pounds).

A non-metal safety toe made from carbon fiber.

• Lighter than steel, and typically thinner than other composite toes
• Doesn’t conduct cold, heat or electricity
• Won’t set off metal detectors

Safety toes rated to ASTM F2413 are tested for impact (I/75: 75 foot-pounds) and compression (C/75: 2,500 pounds).

An oversized toe box that gives your toes extra room to spread out and move. A good choice if you have wide feet or find standard safety toes pinch across the front of the foot.

A guard over the top of the foot that protects the metatarsal bones (the long bones between your toes and ankle) from falling and rolling objects. Safety toes only protect the toes; a met guard covers the area behind them.

• Internal met guards are built in under the upper, for a lower-profile boot
• External met guards sit on top of the boot’s laces and upper

Met guards rated to ASTM F2413 (Mt/75) are tested for an impact of 75 foot-pounds. Often required in steel mills, foundries, and heavy construction.

Electrical hazard (EH) rated footwear provides a secondary source of protection against accidental contact with live electrical circuits.

Under ASTM F2413, EH footwear is tested to withstand 18,000 volts at 60 Hz for one minute, with no more than 1.0 mA of current flow or leakage, under dry conditions.

EH protection is reduced by wet conditions and by wear to the outsole, and it is not a replacement for other electrical safety equipment.

Static dissipative (SD or ESD) footwear reduces the buildup of static electricity on your body by conducting it through the footwear to the ground, while keeping enough resistance to offer some protection against electrical shock.

Used where a static discharge could damage sensitive electronics or ignite flammable materials. It is a different rating from Electrical Hazard (EH).

A puncture-resistant plate built into the sole protects the bottom of your foot from nails, screws, glass and other sharp objects.

Footwear rated puncture resistant (PR) under ASTM F2413 is tested to withstand a puncture force of 270 pounds.

Waterproof boots use a waterproof membrane and/or sealed seams to keep water out, so your feet stay dry in rain, mud, puddles and wet job sites. Many waterproof membranes are also breathable, letting sweat vapor escape.

Insulation holds in warmth for cold-weather work. It is usually measured in grams: the higher the number, the warmer the boot.

• 200g: cool conditions, or when you are moving a lot
• 400g: cold conditions with moderate activity
• 600g and up: very cold conditions or long periods standing still

This boot’s insulation is listed in the Specs tab.

Slip-resistant outsoles combine a grippy rubber compound with a tread pattern designed to channel away water and oil, giving better traction on wet, oily or slick floors.

Manufacturers test their own outsoles, and no outsole is slip-proof on every surface.

Oil-resistant outsoles resist swelling, softening and breaking down when exposed to oil, fuel and other petroleum products, so they last longer in garages, shops and plants.

Heat-resistant outsoles are made from compounds that hold up to brief contact with hot surfaces such as asphalt, roofing and hot equipment without melting or deforming.

The maximum temperature varies by boot and brand.

Abrasion-resistant materials stand up to scuffing, scraping and wear on rough surfaces such as concrete, gravel and rebar, so the boot lasts longer.

Non-marking outsoles won’t leave black scuff marks on finished floors, which makes them a good choice for indoor work, warehouses, gyms and customers’ homes.

This footwear is made in the United States by the manufacturer.