When working outside undertaking a construction project or while in a busy working environment, you'll want to make sure that your feet are protected by a good pair of safety shoes. It's important that they're comfortable, supportive and durable so you can avoid any potential injuries that could arise in an industrial, or hazardous, setting.
We've put together this guide as well as a list of the 10 best steel toe shoes, lightweight trainers and work boots available to buy online from reliable brands like Safety Jogger and Black Hammer. We've featured some of the best safety shoes for men and for women on Amazon so you can get on with your work without having to worry about hurting your feet.
Image | 1 ![]() Hitmars | 2 ![]() Blackrock | 3 ![]() Safety Jogger | 4 ![]() Zoe Ashely | 5 ![]() Whitin | 6 ![]() Black Hammer | 7 ![]() Suadex | 8 ![]() Gainsera | 9 ![]() Groundwork | 10 ![]() Oregon |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Safety Trainers | Work Safety Boots | Safety Boot | Safety Trainers | Safety Shoes | Men's Safety Boots | Safety Work Boots | Safety Boots | Women's Safety Boots | Yukon Class 1 Chainsaw Boots |
Features | The Overall Best for Versatility | Cheap and Effective Protection in a Wide Size Range | Strong, Sturdy Construction Boots for Men and Women | Safe, Stylish and Suitable for Almost Anywhere | A Hybrid Design Between Trainer and Work Boot | Extreme Protection for Hazardous Workspaces | A Supportive and Breathable Pair of Boots | Added Comfort When Standing for Hours on End | Women's Safety Boots That Are Great for the Garage | High Boots Offering Chainsaw Protection |
Price | £29.99 | £15.95 | £40.70 | £33.14 | £39.99 | £34.99 | £21.50 | £39.98 | £20.00 | £80.17 |
Protection | Steel toe cap, protective midsole, high voltage | Steel toe cap, shock absorbent, protective midsole | Steel toe cap, protective midsole | Steel toe cap, protective midsole | Steel toe, reflective strips, protective midsole | Steel toe cap, protective midsole, high voltage | Steel toe cap, protective midsole | Steel toe cap, protective midsole | Steel toe cap | Steel toe cap, chainsaw protection |
Style | Trainer | Boot | Boot | Trainer | Hybrid | Boot | Boot | Boot | Boots | Boot |
Material | Synthetic | Leather | Leather | Synthetic | Synthetic | Leather | Synthetic | Suede leather | Leather | Leather |
Grip | Anti-slip, anti-shock | Anti-shock, anti-slip | Anti-slip, anti-shock, oil-resistant sole | Non-slip | Anti-slip, anti-shock | Anti-slip | Anti-slip | Anti-skid, wear resistant | Anti-slip, anti-shock, chemical and petrol resistant sole | Anti-slip, anti-static |
Sizes | UK 3.5 - 14 | UK 3 - 13 | UK 3-13 | UK 5.5 - 12.5 | UK 6.5 - 13 | UK 5 - 14 | UK 4 - 12.5 | UK 3 - 11.5 | UK 3-8 | UK 5.5 - 12.5 |
Men/Women | Unisex | Unisex | Unisex | Unisex | Men | Men | Unisex | Unisex | Women | Unisex |
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The primary purpose of a safety shoe is to protect your feet from injury in case of an accident, and they do this by including strong materials to act as armour to your feet. You'll commonly see steel or carbon toe caps that protect the ends of your feet, as well as a hard-wearing and durable material to protect the top.
The level of protection you need will depend on the type of job you're doing as well as the work environment you'll be in. On a building site, where there are sharp objects, risks of things falling and other dangers, it's well worth opting for a strong pair of work boots.
If you're working in a less hazardous, yet demanding environment, like a busy kitchen or warehouse, a more lightweight option will suffice – and probably be more welcome if you're moving around a lot.
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The materials used in safety shoes are often related to the style and design of the shoe itself. You may be surprised to learn that not all safety shoes resemble chunky work boots but can also look like regular trainers, with some even being quite stylish.
While leather and faux leather are popular hard-wearing choices, synthetic fabric and mesh designs are also quite common. Choosing the material and design is something of a trade-off, however, with the lighter trainer options not quite having the same level of support and protection around the ankles as the more traditional boot designs.
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Grip plays an important part in keeping you safe when working in a wet or uneven environment. This can range from an outdoor building site to indoor plumbing work or even cleaning and kitchen settings. It's worth looking for anti-slip and anti-shock soles to ensure you have the best level of protection against falling.
Steel shanks are also found in certain types of safety shoe. These are small strips of metal that sit between the insole and outsole in order to help to maintain the shape of the shoe and reduce the load placed on your knees and lower legs. They also offer some added protection when stepping on sharp objects, such as nails, that could puncture the bottom of your feet.
Away from the soles, having enough ankle support is important when undertaking projects that involve heavy lifting, or moving bulky items around. Above all though, make sure your shoes are comfortable as you'll want to avoid painful blisters popping up while you're working.
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This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£29.99
Protection | Steel toe cap, protective midsole, high voltage |
---|---|
Style | Trainer |
Material | Synthetic |
Grip | Anti-slip, anti-shock |
Sizes | UK 3.5 - 14 |
Men/Women | Unisex |
£15.95
Protection | Steel toe cap, shock absorbent, protective midsole |
---|---|
Style | Boot |
Material | Leather |
Grip | Anti-shock, anti-slip |
Sizes | UK 3 - 13 |
Men/Women | Unisex |
£40.70
Protection | Steel toe cap, protective midsole |
---|---|
Style | Boot |
Material | Leather |
Grip | Anti-slip, anti-shock, oil-resistant sole |
Sizes | UK 3-13 |
Men/Women | Unisex |
£33.14
Protection | Steel toe cap, protective midsole |
---|---|
Style | Trainer |
Material | Synthetic |
Grip | Non-slip |
Sizes | UK 5.5 - 12.5 |
Men/Women | Unisex |
£39.99
Protection | Steel toe, reflective strips, protective midsole |
---|---|
Style | Hybrid |
Material | Synthetic |
Grip | Anti-slip, anti-shock |
Sizes | UK 6.5 - 13 |
Men/Women | Men |
£34.99
Protection | Steel toe cap, protective midsole, high voltage |
---|---|
Style | Boot |
Material | Leather |
Grip | Anti-slip |
Sizes | UK 5 - 14 |
Men/Women | Men |
£21.50
Protection | Steel toe cap, protective midsole |
---|---|
Style | Boot |
Material | Synthetic |
Grip | Anti-slip |
Sizes | UK 4 - 12.5 |
Men/Women | Unisex |
£39.98
Protection | Steel toe cap, protective midsole |
---|---|
Style | Boot |
Material | Suede leather |
Grip | Anti-skid, wear resistant |
Sizes | UK 3 - 11.5 |
Men/Women | Unisex |
Gr386
£20.00
Protection | Steel toe cap |
---|---|
Style | Boots |
Material | Leather |
Grip | Anti-slip, anti-shock, chemical and petrol resistant sole |
Sizes | UK 3-8 |
Men/Women | Women |
£80.17
Protection | Steel toe cap, chainsaw protection |
---|---|
Style | Boot |
Material | Leather |
Grip | Anti-slip, anti-static |
Sizes | UK 5.5 - 12.5 |
Men/Women | Unisex |
Written and researched by David Sexton
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