Choosing safety footwear can get complicated surprisingly quickly. There are different styles, materials, ratings and features, and it’s easy to end up comparing specifications without first asking the most important question: what does the person wearing them actually need protection from?
That’s always where I’d start.
Start with the risk, not the style
Before I looked at a particular boot, shoe or safety trainer, I’d look at the job itself.
Is there a risk of impact or compression? Could the wearer step on something sharp? Are they working outdoors in wet or cold conditions? Are slippery floors an issue? Is there heat, electrical risk or another specialist hazard to consider?
Your workplace risk assessment should ultimately determine the level of protection required.
It sounds obvious, but I wouldn’t choose safety footwear because a particular model has the longest list of features. I’d choose it because it has the right features for the job.
What do the safety ratings actually mean?
This is where the labels can start to look more complicated than they really are. If somebody tells me they need an “S3 boot”, I’d still want to know where they’re working and what the actual risks are. The rating is useful, but it should confirm the choice rather than replace the risk assessment.
Under EN ISO 20345:2022, safety footwear is grouped into protection classes. In practical terms, here’s how I’d think about the main ones you’re likely to come across:
SB gives you the basic safety-toe protection and required basic slip resistance. It’s the starting point rather than the rating I’d automatically specify for a typical industrial workplace.
S1 adds a closed heel, antistatic properties and energy absorption at the heel. For dry indoor environments such as warehousing, logistics, assembly and light manufacturing, this is often the sort of category I’d start looking at.
S1P, S1PL and S1PS add penetration resistance underfoot, which matters where nails, screws, swarf or other sharp objects could be present. The letters tell you about the penetration-resistant insert: P is metallic, PL is non-metallic tested with a 4.5 mm nail, and PS is non-metallic tested with a smaller 3.0 mm nail.
S2 builds on S1 and adds water penetration and absorption requirements for the upper. I’d consider it where occasional wet conditions are part of the job but underfoot penetration protection isn’t required.
S3, S3L and S3S combine the S2-type features with penetration resistance and a cleated outsole. That makes this family of ratings particularly relevant for construction, maintenance, engineering and outdoor work where sharp objects underfoot may be part of the risk. Again, S3 uses a metallic penetration-resistant insert, while S3L and S3S identify the two types of non-metallic protection.
S6 is worth looking at when keeping water out of the whole shoe or boot is important. It broadly takes the S2 level and adds the more demanding WR whole-footwear water-resistance requirement.
S7, S7L and S7S combine that whole-footwear water resistance with penetration protection. For wet outdoor environments where there is also a risk from sharp objects underfoot, this is where I’d be looking particularly closely.
You may also see extra markings such as SR for additional slip resistance, HRO for heat-resistant outsoles, CI for cold insulation, FO for fuel/oil resistance and LG for ladder grip. Those can be every bit as important as the headline S-rating if the particular hazard exists in your workplace.
One other point I’d watch: there is still footwear in use and in the market certified under the older EN ISO 20345:2011 standard, so you may see older markings such as SRA, SRB or SRC. Under the 2022 standard, basic slip resistance is built into the main requirements and the additional slip test is identified by SR.
My advice is simple: don’t buy the highest-looking rating just because it sounds safer. Identify the hazards first, then choose the rating and additional protections that actually address them.
Boot, shoe or safety trainer?
This is partly about protection and partly about the environment in which the footwear will be worn.
For construction, landscaping and outdoor work, I’d normally start by looking at safety boots because of the additional ankle coverage and the types of protection available.
In warehouses, manufacturing and lighter industrial environments, a safety shoe may be perfectly appropriate and can feel less cumbersome over a long shift.
And I certainly wouldn’t dismiss safety trainers. Where people are on their feet all day, their lower weight and comfort can be a real advantage. The important proviso is that they must still provide the protection the job requires.
Steel or composite?
This is another area where I wouldn’t get too distracted by one material automatically being “better” than another.
Steel toe caps and midsoles remain a proven choice. Composite alternatives can reduce weight and contain less metal, which may be useful in some working environments.
My priority would be the protection offered by the complete piece of footwear rather than choosing purely because the toe cap happens to be steel or composite.
Don’t underestimate comfort
Protection comes first, but comfort matters more than people sometimes realise.
If somebody is wearing safety footwear for eight or ten hours a day, I’d be looking at fit, cushioning, breathability and weight as well as the headline safety features.
For people working outdoors, I’d also give serious consideration to water resistance. There is a considerable difference between wearing comfortable, dry footwear all day and spending a shift with cold, wet feet.
There’s also a practical safety point here: PPE that is uncomfortable or badly fitted is less likely to be worn consistently.
So what would I choose?
There isn’t one safety boot or shoe that I’d recommend for everybody — and I’d be suspicious of anyone who suggested there was.
I’d narrow the choice down in this order:
What are the hazards? What level of protection is required? Where will the footwear be worn? How long will it be worn each day? And then, within those requirements, what gives the best combination of comfort and value?
That usually makes the decision considerably easier.
At Avendi, we stock safety footwear for a wide range of working environments and budgets. You can browse our safety footwear, including safety boots and safety shoes.
If you’re buying for a workforce rather than just choosing a pair for yourself, speak to us. Tell us about the job roles, working conditions, hazards and budget, and we’ll help you narrow down the options rather than simply pointing you towards a catalogue of products.
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