How to choose safety boots for site
You'll spend more hours in your boots than in any other bit of kit. Get the rating right for the site, then buy for comfort.
Check before you buy. If boots are required PPE for your job, your employer has to provide them free of charge. Ask what you're given and what the site rules are.
What the ratings mean
Safety footwear sold in the UK is rated under EN ISO 20345. The common ratings build on each other:
- SB: the basic standard, with a protective toe cap.
- S1: adds a closed heel, antistatic properties and an energy-absorbing heel.
- S1P: S1 plus a midsole that resists nails and sharp objects from below.
- S3: S1P plus a water-resistant upper and a cleated sole.
Many construction sites ask for a protective midsole, so S1P or S3 is the usual choice. The rules are set by the site, so check rather than assume. Newer boots may show updated codes such as S3S or S3L, which describe the type of midsole.
What matters for comfort
- Fit. Try them on late in the day with your work socks. Your toes shouldn't touch the cap.
- Weight. Composite toe caps and midsoles are lighter than steel and don't get as cold.
- Waterproofing. Worth it if you're on new-build sites or outdoors. Less important if you're indoors on fit-out.
- Ankle support. Boots over trainers if you're on rough ground or ladders a lot.
Two options
Check the safety rating on the retailer's page matches what your site requires before you order.
Make them last
Let them dry naturally, not on a radiator. Swap the insoles when they flatten. Replace the boots when the tread has gone, the toe cap is showing, or the sole is splitting; a worn-out safety boot isn't one.
More site gear is in the workwear section.