Light work shoe with maximum protection
In the past, almost all work boots were bulky and quite heavy. That sounds like a disadvantage, but at the time it was also a sign that the safety shoes had many protective properties. Especially if the protective parts were made of plastic, much more material was often required than, for example, work boots with steel toes. Nowadays, a plastic work shoe can be kept much more compact and lighter by using materials such as carbonite and Kevlar. In addition, these plastics have a number of important advantages over steel.
Apart from the fact that plastic moves more easily with your foot and is therefore more comfortable, it also protects a larger part of your feet. In addition, plastics are less sensitive to temperature changes than metal. If you wear your plastic light work shoes or metal-free work shoes in a cold environment, your feet will remain warmer than with metal protective parts. You also don't have to worry about rust, because both carbonite and Kevlar do not oxidize. You can also wear the lightweight work shoes from Unishore Workwear when your workplace is damp or even wet!
Types of light work boots
Plastic protects just as well as metal, as long as the right materials are used. The EN ISO 20345 standard clearly states what work shoes must protect against, for example, to be called S3 work shoes. If the toe does not dent after an impact of 200 J, the work shoe is suitable for an S standard. Anti-perforation soles can only be found in S1P work shoes and S3 work shoes, but they can withstand a force of 1100 N, regardless of whether they are made of steel or Kevlar. Because of the comfort, more and more people are choosing lightweight work shoes with plastic parts.
This development has of course not passed us by. At Unishore Workwear you will find a wide range of lightweight work sneakers from the largest brands. Some are part of popular work sneaker collections, such as the Grisport Bionik collection, the Redbrick Motion collection and the Grisport Cross Safety collection. Per pair, these work shoes can be a few ounces lighter than traditional work shoes. This way you can work not only safely, but also comfortably.
Examples of lightweight work shoes
Some examples of lightweight work shoes are the Cross Safety collection introduced in 2017 or the ultra-light Bioniks from the well-known shoe manufacturer Grisport, launched in 2015, or the safety sneakers from, for example, Redbrick and 2Work4 women's work shoes.
The Grisport Cross Safety Collection offers the safety of S3 safety shoes but looks like sporty sneakers. They are very comfortable to wear and are lightweight thanks to the fiberglass protective toe cap and the Kevlar midsole. Compared to the Grisport 801, size 42 is about 300 grams lighter! We therefore warn you in advance: Will you try this safety shoe? Then you won't take them off again!
In the ultra-light Grisport Bioniks work shoes you will find all the good features of the beautiful Italian brand Grisport, but considerably lighter than their predecessors. Compared to the popular Grisport 803 work shoe, a high model work shoe from the Bionik collection is at least 200 grams lighter! If you take an average of about 6,000 steps per day (a person with a physically demanding job probably takes more), then you quickly have to move 1,200 kilos less per day with the new Bioniks!
Carbonite toe cap makes work shoes lighter
Previously, work boots had a stiff, heavy steel toe cap. The new Carbonite protective toe caps are much lighter and, like steel protective toe caps, they can withstand a force of 200 Joules, the minimum requirement that work shoes must meet. Carbonite consists of very thin fibers of carbon and is just as strong as steel but many times lighter. An additional advantage of carbon fiber is that it does not oxidize when it comes into contact with water and oxygen and you no longer have problems with squeaking detection gates. Partly thanks to this development, it is possible to make ultra-light work shoes.
Light and flexible midsoles in work shoes
The metal midsoles in lightweight work shoes have also been replaced by plastic. Nowadays, Kevlar midsoles are no longer more expensive than metal midsoles and offer the same protection according to EN ISO 20345.
- Kevlar is extremely flexible, soft and supple, rust-free, chemically neutral, indestructible and non-magnetic
- Kevlar is neither conductive of heat nor cold. In cold working conditions, your feet will stay warmer with Kevlar than with metal midsoles.
- Kevlar adapts better to your feet, so you have increased contact with the ground surface. Light work shoes with Kevlar midsoles therefore have more grip than the heavier ones with steel midsoles.
- A Kevlar midsole protects your entire sole surface because it is sewn to the shaft, while a metal midsole is inserted between the outsole and the midsole during the production process. A metal sole only protects 85% of the foot surface instead of the necessary 100%.
Lightweight outsoles
The midsoles of ultra-lightweight work shoes are generally made of strong and light Poly Urethane (PU) and the outsoles are, depending on the required protection, made of Polyurethane, Thermoplastic Urethane, Nitrile or Vibram respectively. Despite their low weight, all these lightweight soles are oil and acid resistant, antistatic, wear and slip resistant and have good shock absorption.
Other properties of lightweight plastic outsoles:
- PU/PU outsoles are insulating against cold down to -20ºC and heat-resistant up to 140ºC
- TPU outsoles are more durable than PU and heat resistant up to 110ºC
- Nitrile and Vibram outsoles are resistant to extreme heat up to approximately 200 ºC and short-term contact heat up to 300 ºC
- Vibram outsoles have a longer lifespan than a standard outsole
Lightweight liners
Lightweight work shoes remain waterproof with the help of lightweight water-repellent and breathable membranes such as Gritex, Spo-Tex and Sympatex, which are incorporated between the different layers in sporty Grisport work shoes. Cambrelle is a light inner lining that keeps your feet dry and fresh for a long time in your sporty work shoes. Cambrelle® is a synthetic non-woven textile that is highly moisture-absorbing, odor-resistant and breathable. Unlike leather, Cambrelle® dries faster, making it less susceptible to mold formation.
