If you're raking leaves in the backyard, just about any boot will do; however, if your job requires safety features such as protective toes, resistance to electric shock, acid-resistant soles, or chain saw cut resistance, just any old boot will not do. In fact, many employers have standards that your footwear must meet before you can step one foot on the job.

Author: Frank Ross

Comfortable work boots can change the way you feel about your job.

Years ago, my father worked as a lineman for a municipal power company, climbing high power poles and working with high-voltage lines. In the '60s, there wasn't much in the way of high-tech footwear compared with today's modern innovations. While working a hot line, his boot and leg came into contact with a line that carried 19,000 volts. It went in through the bottom of his boot and came out the top, where his leg was touching a ground source. The resulting shock blew out the side of his boot and almost knocked him off of the pole he was strapped to. Fortunately, the damage was limited to his boot, foot and lower leg, but it was a milestone event in his life.

Depending on the circumstances, and footwear involved, that incident today might not have produced even a noticeable tingle.

When you need a pair of work boots, don't take your buying decision lightly. Choosing the right pair of boots can mean the difference between enjoying your work and being miserable, but it could also make the difference between breathing and an unplanned family gathering.

Considering the amount of time your feet will spend inside a pair of boots, and the impact they will have on your ankles, knees and back, a few minutes invested in making sure you pick the right pair will pay dividends with every hour of a workweek. In an unfortunate accident, safety boots can be priceless, so don't focus on cost alone!

Laminate fabrics are treated with a DWR, and it's actually the DWR coating that makes the rain bead up and shed away. The down side is that no DWR is permanent. With extended wear and many cycles through the laundry, the effectiveness fades; however, it is possible to use a spray-on product to restore the waterproofness. When the DWR coating has lost its effectiveness, the laminate will still keep you dry, but you feel clammy because the outer layer becomes damp. A regular care regimen will ensure that your rainwear lasts for many years.

Construction
Construction techniques have an impact on the initial cost, as well as a boot's comfort and longevity. Goodyear® welt construction is the most durable technique in use today, and boots made this way can be resoled, if that's important to you. A welt is a double-edged strip or insert for ornament or reinforcement. The Goodyear process involves double stitching for maximum durability and the upper, outsole and innersole are securely stitched together through a leather welt. Another common technique, the direct attach method, uses a mold that attaches to the upper part of the boot and is injected with molten rubber to form the sole. Direct-attach boots are really comfortable, lightweight and shock absorbing. Cementing is the third most used construction process. While cementing and direct attach work well, both lack the rugged durability of double-stitched welt construction.

Cabela's S.A.W. boot has a sophisticated system for absorbing shock.

Comfort
One of the big issues everyone is interested in is comfort, especially if you spend a lot of time standing on concrete floors. Compression pads are the latest improvement in comfort aids. These pads are built into the sole of the boot or shoe and are made of a material that compresses when weight is applied to absorb shock and reduce fatigue. Wolverine's DuraShocks® are a popular choice with a very effective compression pad system. Cabela's also has introduced a new concept that improves on the compression pad theory. The Roughneck S.A.W. (Shock Absorbing Work boot) features a footbed that has been cut out to expose the compression pads more directly to the foot, without a thick bed that is often made of a hard material. By exposing the pad, the effect is magnified.

Other manufacturers have their own technology, and if you have a preference for a particular brand of boot, chances are they have one or more that includes some type of compression pad. Certainly, the thicker the pad, or the more direct the contact, the happier your feet will be.

If you work in a hazardous site, where things have the potential of being dropped on your toes, you'll need an OSHA-approved boot that will ensure you retire with 10 toes. While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets requirements for job safety, it's American Society of Testing and Materials International (ASTM) that sets worldwide standards for testing, materials and construction techniques of safety boots.

The most often required safety feature for boots was heretofore a steel toe, however, today other materials work as well, if not better when you consider the entire scope of protection, weight and comfort. A composite toe is one of the most popular alternatives to the traditional steel toe. They're lighter, and weight reduction can be a big factor at the end of the day. A variety of materials are used to achieve the same level of protection required by OSHA, and the thickness of the material can make a boot toe slightly larger, but you won't be wearing them at a dance or fashion show, so that shouldn't be as important as the overall benefit. The only limitation to composite toes is that some are limited to one strike, so check to make sure a composite toe will work for you. An aluminum alloy is another option that is lightweight and just as strong as steel, offering the protection without weight or bulk. The cost of these various safety toes is very similar, with the aluminum alloy running around $5.00 more than steel or composites.

Electrical issues
Several types of safety shoes/boots are available for specific situations involving electricity. Boots that protect the wearer from shock are the most commonly required; however, with the computer industry and others that involve sensitive technology, preventing static discharges can be just as important. The ultimate in protection from electrical shock is achieved when all components are nonconductive. ASTM tests boots for resistance to electrical conductivity, resistance to electric shock and static dissipative performance. A boot can be rated for EH use, or for its static dissipating abilities; however, a boot will not necessarily have both properties at the same time. Make sure you select the boot that meets your job requirements as directed by OSHA.

Soles come into play with jobs that involve water or caustic chemicals. Acid-resistant soles are available, and slip-resistant soles should be a high priority even if you don't come into daily contact with wet surfaces. Unexpected rain, snow and sleet can cause slips on the way to work as well.

Other safety issues are the puncture resistance of outsoles and chain saw cut resistance, and specialty boots are available for both hazards. Puncture resistance is a must for builders and especially roofers. If your job involves exposure to either of these hazards, the right boot will offer protection. Just remember that caution and common sense should prevail, because the term used is resistance, not total protection. The weight of a boot that would offer total freedom from mindless moments would weigh 30 pounds, if at all possible.

Finally, consider the height of the ultimate boot for your job. Jobs that require ankle support, such as railroad workers, should consider at least a 9-inch boot that will lace up tight to support the ankle and lower calf. Workers who climb ladders or towers should pick a boot with a minimum heel height of 3/4" and a 45-degree bevel for sure footing on every climb. Heels that are beveled too much can cause a boot to slip off a rung.

Once you've narrowed down the required safety issues, sole, construction, boot height and padding, standard features like insulation and waterproofing fabrics are the last options to consider. Cabela's carries a wide selection of boots that are designed and built to stand up to the toughest workday on any job site. The time spent in the selection process will be most appreciated long before the 5 o'clock whistle blows.

Click this link to see all of Cabela's Work Boots.