It is common knowledge that certain workplaces aren’t as conducive to the suit and tie as others would be. In certain professions, it’s common to see people walking around in crocs and not worry about a thing. The only they have to be afraid of is spilling their coffee on themselves and their laptops.
For you though, this all looks like child’s play. Where you work can sometimes look like the iron forges of Mordor. In these places, the slightest mishap could land you in hospital, or worse cause severe damage to parts of your body.
This is one reason why personal protective equipment is very important in your line of work, especially as a welder. You should always be protected from head to toe when preforming these processes.
The hazards of welding are very dangerous and can be life threatening. From the gloves that protect your hands, to the helmet that will stop the heat from burning a hole through your retina, down your optical nerve and through the spine. There is no discounting how important PPE is to your working environment, especially working with heavy metals.
Perhaps the one piece of equipment that will have you coming back to work every day, and still carry you to do other tasks is the kind of boots you wear. The best welding boots need to prevent a wide variety of injuries from affecting you and the work you do. That way, you get to enjoy your work, instead of queuing up to fill disability benefits. We have researched and decided our top work boots that will fit all your needs.
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Top Safety Footwear For Welders in 2023
1. Timberland PRO Powerwelt Wellington Boot
The Timberland Wellington Welding Boots is a pair of boots that have been made specifically to conquer a wide variety of environmental conditions that you may find yourself in as the job demands. These boots are absolutely waterproof. What’s more, the treads on the sole are heavy-duty, which means there is zero chance of you slipping in water, or oil.
The designers included two areas at the top where you can grip them with your hands to put on. Another important factor is how comfortable these welding boots are, they don't need to be broken into. The ventilation feels great and they're over all very tough, so these working boots are built to last.
However, if you're going to be working on a weld all day long; it's recommended to get insoles for maximum comfort.
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2. Rhino Metatarsal Work Boot 6MS01
Whether they were meant by the company to represent a rhino and leaving you to imagine the horn, or whether it was an accidental design, one thing is clear. This boot does have the tough exterior of a rhino. It's made from full-grain leather which is water and fire resistant without losing flexibility.
All jokes aside, the Rhino Metatarsal Welding Boots pair of boots is widely respected for having excellent qualities for an affordable price. Even though it lacks Kevlar stitching, it still holds up well in the hot environments of a welding workshop. The out-sole is also made with non-skid tread rubber that won't let you slip, regardless of the liquid.
The metal clips are known for going through several laces, but this can be solved by getting a high-quality pair of laces.
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3. Rock Rooster Men’s Welding Work Boots
Most of the shoes you will come across, whether on this list or elsewhere, will usually be in one color. They may be either in black, or very dark brown. This here is a step away from that and the desert brown can make one think it was made for the runway
That being said, the main focus of these boots is the water resistance and non-slip out-sole.
The Rock Rooster Men’s Work Boots features full-grain leather, a steel toe cap, and slip-resistant soles, which are made of rubber. Even if water does somehow manage to get into the boots, the insides are lined with a waterproof membrane system whose main job is to keep the insides dry, and also dry quickly when water does enter these boots.
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4. Caterpillar Second Shift Steel Toe Work Boot
Caterpillar is company known for producing quality equipment. IN this case, they didn’t try to do too much or complicate things. They kept things in a simple package, but a quality one. The shoes are built using full-grain leather and have slip-resistant traction soles.
The insides of the shoes, for those prone to developing a pungent pong, are layered with a Climasphere insole to keep them, well, not fresh, but not repulsive either. In this endeavor, the insole is aided by a nylon mesh lining that also adds to the comfortability factor. As is standard with work boots, a steel toe cap is added for that extra bit of protection.
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5. Timberland Pro 53530
The Timberland Pro 53530 is a boot that was built to meet the highest standards possible. The safety features that have gone into this boot are just enough to force you to close your eyes and purchase them, no questions asked.
The steel toe cap is a must for a boot to qualify as a work boot. From here, Timberland has included a met guard to protect your feet. The insoles are also built to be resistant to abrasion and slipping from both oil and water.
Also, there is an antimicrobial lining built into the inside of the shoe, to help deal with unwanted odors. The design is completed with a contoured footbed made of polyurethane.
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6. Dr. Marten’s Ironbridge MG
The Dr. Marten’s Ironbridge MG is a pair of boots that look like it wouldn’t be out of place in a zombie apocalypse, or other crazy situation like the Mad Max.
As usual, the steel toe cap is a must-have feature, but the game has been taken to another level of heavy-duty. The steel toe cap can withstand 200 joules of impact force, and 15 kilonewtons of compression force.
You also get full-grain leather that is resistant to both oil and water and yes, there is a metatarsal guard. On the inside is a cushioned Smartmask insole which is responsible for exceptional comfort while wearing this shoe, it feels as if you're walking on clouds.
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7. Michelin Sledge Steel Toe
Michelin only lends its name only to the highest quality products and establishments in the world. From building high-quality tires to providing a high-quality rating system for restaurants and now coming up with work boots that can only be of the highest quality.
In the same way that they judge how restaurants present their food, they have brought out a boot that is appealing to the eyes. But it’s not just a matter of how it looks, but how it operates. The soles of these boots are made of a rubber that is meant to be slip-resistant to both oil and water.
The metatarsal guard is designed to protect feet and laces. This is one of the most comfortable boots as a result of the shock-absorbing midsoles and comfortable inner soles that support the arch of the feet.
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8. Ariat Sierra Wide Square Steel Toe Work Boot
Have you already had a pair of work boots that felt a little too drab for you and you now want something more topical? Well, here’s something that will have you going to work feeling like you are a contemporary of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.
Even though they may make you look awesome, they don’t detract from any of the industry standards. The ASTM compliant steel toe cap will provide you the same protections as others. The soles are anti-slip, as well as offering electrical hazard protection.
The insides are constructed using a gel footbed to offer shock absorption for your feet and increase comfortability over extended periods of operation.
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Buying Guide For Welding Boots
After picking out welding gloves, a helmet and a coat, you can look into the different welding boots that are for sale. A lot of welders forget about this piece of equipment, but there can be a lot of material that falls down at your feet when you’re working. Welding boots can effectively keep your feet safe.
Sparks, splatters and sputters can all put you at risk of becoming seriously injured. There are other workplace injuries that you may encounter throughout the day as well, and your welding boots can be worn during that time frame as well. You can prevent ending up in the ER with a welding injury by considering these different factors that are included in the design of welding boots.
Appearance
If you’re going to be wearing a pair of welding boots around your shop or workplace, you want them to look aesthetically appealing. They should also look professional.
Comfort
If you’re wearing your welding boots for long periods of time or the entire work day, comfort is probably one of the most important features of welding boots aside from the safety level that they provide.
You can look into different features like the comfort of the insole, arch support, the ability to breathe and flexibility of the boot.
Heat Protection
The most important feature of welding boots is whether or not they can effectively protect you against heat. A cheaper boot is probably made with cheaper materials that will let more heat pass through.
You can read reviews online for a specific product to see if anyone has real world experience with that pair of boots regarding heat protection.
Price
You can buy a pair of welding boots that costs a few hundred dollars, but there are other options that will be somewhere around the $100 mark. This is usually enough money to provide ample protection while still allowing you to stick to a specific price point.
Frequently Asked Questions About Welding Boots
Q: Are welding boots expensive?
A lot of welders put off buying welding boots because they’re convinced that this is going to be a really expensive item.
As with any other piece of safety equipment for welding, you can shop around to get the deal that you need for your budget. You can usually find something that will provide you with protection without breaking the bank.
Q: Are there safety standards for welding boots?
There are ASTM standards that many welding boots will follow. If you’re looking at a good quality pair of boots, you may notice that this information is shared with you on the packaging or item description.
Q: Do welding boots provide protection against a heavy impact?
While the primary purpose of welding boots is to protect your feet from hot materials, most of these boots have a reinforced toe that will be beneficial if you drop something down onto your foot while working.
Conclusion
Out of a range of welding boots available, these are some of the best available. However, not everyone can comfortably wear Ariat’s Sierra and go to work, and be completely fine with it. For some, the basic bland looks are all that matter to them.
As such, only one shoe can come out on top of the rest, and that is the Timberland Pro 53530. The best welding boots offered in terms of value in protection, aesthetics, and price.
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