When you start looking for new work shoes, you'll quickly notice that the selection is enormous. It's a misconception that there's one universal model that's the absolute winner for everyone. The best safety shoes are those that seamlessly match your specific work activities, the risks in your workplace, and the anatomy of your feet.
Choosing the right safety shoe is a combination of certified protection, ergonomics, and the environmental factors you're active in. As a PPE expert, Unishore Workwear is happy to help you bring structure to this process.
What exactly are safety shoes?
Fundamentally, safety shoes are designed to protect your feet from external hazards in the workplace. They fall under Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and are legally mandated in many sectors by the Dutch Working Conditions Act to minimize the risk of injury. Do you want to know more about the regulations? Read our article on the Dutch Working Conditions Act and safety shoes.
The basic protection of a certified safety shoe (according to the EN ISO 20345 standard) consists of a protective toe cap that can withstand an impact of at least 200 Joules. While this traditionally was always steel, nowadays you also see a lot of composite or aluminum. In addition, a full-fledged safety shoe offers protection against slipping (anti-slip) and, depending on the class, an anti-perforation sole that prevents sharp objects such as nails from penetrating the sole.
Safety classes explained: S1, S2, S3, S6 and S7
The level of protection is indicated by a letter and number combination. Understanding these classes helps you determine what you really need, because a higher class is not automatically better for your situation; it simply means that the shoe has other specific properties.
- S1 & S1P: These shoes have a protective toe cap and a closed, energy-absorbing heel. Choose breathable S1P work shoes if you work in a dry environment where there is a risk of sharp material lying around on the ground, thanks to the built-in anti-perforation sole.
- S2: Adds a water-repellent upper material to the S1 base. Ideal for environments where your feet occasionally come into contact with moisture. View our range of moisture-resistant S2 work shoes.
- S3: This is the most well-known and widely worn class in the industry. The all-round S3 work shoes combine the water-repellent properties of S2 with an impenetrable anti-perforation sole. Are you looking for the absolute top in this category? Then read our overview of the 5 best work shoe brands for the best S3 safety shoes.
- S6 & S7: These are the newer standards within the updated European standards. Where S2 and S3 are water-repellent, the fully waterproof S6 safety shoes and the maximally protective S7 safety shoes are guaranteed 100% waterproof (WR). Perfect for those who spend all day outside in pouring rain or deep mud.
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Which safety shoes do you need per work environment?
The conditions at your job determine which features are indispensable. We list a number of sectors:
- Construction & Heavy Industry: Rough terrain, sharp objects, and the risk of heavy materials falling. Here you invariably choose sturdy work shoes with a steel toe cap (or composite) in the S3 or S7 class. Often, a scuff cap is a smart addition if you work a lot on your knees.
- Logistics & Warehouse: You work in a dry environment, but you cover a lot of miles on a hard floor. A heavy construction boot is an unnecessary burden here. It's better to choose a flexible, lighter S1P model.
- Hospitality & Food Industry: Hygiene and extreme slip resistance are the main priorities here. Especially for these demanding environments, you can consult our selection of the best food safety shoes.
Comfort and fit: often more important than you think
A shoe can be ever so safe on paper, but if it hurts after two hours of wearing, it will quickly end up in the closet. Comfort and fit are essential to prevent fatigue, blisters, and, in the long term, chronic back and joint complaints. When trying them on, pay close attention to the width of the last and the support of the footbed.
Because men's and women's feet differ greatly anatomically, the market has fortunately changed significantly. Nowadays, there are specifically designed ergonomic safety shoes for men and excellently fitting fashionable safety shoes for women available, which take these anatomical differences into account. Are you curious about the absolute leaders in walking comfort? Then check out our top 5 most comfortable work shoes.
Are lightweight safety shoes better?
Lightweight models are extremely popular, and for good reason. Every gram you don't have to lift during a long workday saves energy and reduces fatigue in your legs. Manufacturers achieve this by replacing heavy steel components with materials such as carbon, aluminum, or composite. These metal-free work shoes are also ideal if you frequently pass through metal detectors.
However, lightweight safety shoes are not necessarily the best choice for everyone. In extremely rough environments, such as heavy demolition or metalworking, a heavier, robust leather shoe with a steel toe cap and steel sole plate can offer that extra bit of stability and resistance against sharp impact and wear. It's always about the balance between weight and the required sturdiness.
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Common mistakes when choosing safety shoes
Unfortunately, in practice, we still often see the wrong choice being made based on incorrect assumptions:
- Blindly choosing the S3 standard: It is often thought "just pick the highest class, then I'm always safe," causing people in a warm warehouse to unnecessarily wear heavy, hot, non-breathable shoes.
- Only selecting based on appearance: Modern sporty safety shoe sneakers look fantastic and are comfortable to walk in for logistics, but they sometimes lack the lateral ankle stability and the robust scuff cap that you desperately need on a rough construction site.
- Not considering the closure system: Traditional laces can come undone or get dirty. Therefore, consider the convenience of an innovative rotary system; read all about it in our blog article on the best brands of BOA work shoes.
Where to buy good safety shoes?
Making the right choice depends on a reliable partner who not only has the products but also the knowledge to advise you. As a total supplier in the field of workwear and personal protective equipment, Unishore Workwear is ready to assist you.
Whether you are looking for sporty sneakers, robust boots or specialist footwear for the food sector; in our extensive range you will always find a model that perfectly matches your workday. Do you want to directly buy safe, comfortable and certified safety shoes? Then view our complete range online and benefit from our expertise and fast delivery!
