There are various advantages to consider when choosing shoes with a toe cap. There are also different types of toe caps, described below.
Steel toe caps
Steel protective toe caps have been the obvious choice for manufacturing safety shoes since the mid-1900s.
Advantages of steel toe caps:
- The strength and properties of steel make it possible to manufacture the protective toe cap with a thin layer of steel, which does not encroach on the inner dimensions of the shoe.
- The protective properties of the steel toe cap are not affected by age or external factors such as cold and heat. The properties of the steel toe cap are well-known, making it a reliable form of protection.
Aluminum toe caps
The demand for lighter safety shoes has driven the development of alternative materials for protective toe caps, such as aluminum.
Advantages of aluminum toe caps:
- The lightweight design means that safety shoes with an aluminum toe cap weigh around 50 grams less than those with a steel toe cap.
- The reduction in weight is in the front of the shoe, providing better balance, reducing pressure, and increasing comfort.
- The protective properties of the aluminum toe cap are not affected by age or external factors such as heat and cold.
Plastic toe caps
Advantages of plastic toe caps:
- Plastic toe caps have the strength and properties required to meet the EN standard (EN ISO 20345) for safety shoes.
- The plastic toe cap is approximately 40% lighter than a steel toe cap.
- Plastic toe caps make it possible to have completely metal-free safety shoes on the market.
- Plastic does not conduct heat or cold.
Composite toe caps
Composite is a material made up of different components with various functions or properties, such as composite plastic, which is a lightweight protective toe cap made of foam plastic, epoxy resin, and carbon fiber.
Advantages of composite toe caps:
- They are very lightweight.
- They are insulating.
- Composite toe caps do not conduct electricity.
- They are non-magnetic.
- They do not contain metal.
