Steel toes and the winter

[wawireguy]

Decided I'm getting a pair of winter boots this year. Last year was to cold for me with normal work boots. Also decided to get steel or composite toes but am unsure about steel toes and the cold? In a insulated boot will steel toes make them noticeably colder or is composite the only way to go?

 

[zog]

Depends on what you call cold. Composite makes a difference.

 

[wawireguy]

10-30 degrees F is the norm around here for the most part.

 

[coulter]

... In a insulated boot will steel toes make them noticeably colder or is composite the only way to go?

Steel toes are cold - but how cold depends on your ambient and how bulky a boot you are willing to wear.

I've got some -70F rated ,steel toed paks (really bulky) that are okay down to -40F all day; and some insulated, composite toe, hi-tops that are okay to -20F for a couple of hours.

For cold weather, I get composite toes if they are available - or boots with no protection if regulations permit.


edit: Read your second post. I'd get insulated, composite toe, high tops.

carl

 

[wawireguy]

I wasn't meaning -30 in my above post. Just mild 10 to 30 degree weather. I'd like to get steel as Red Wing makes mostly steel toe boots. As far as no toe protection.. I've been doing that for the last 4 years. I think it's time to change over. Had some close calls on the feet.

 

[zog]

I have broken many, many bones over the years and I can tell you that breaking a toe hurts more than any of them and will never heal fully.

 

[LarryFine]

Years ago, I had the misfortune to be the Official Excavation Engineer for a ditch we had to dig in the middle of the winter. It was a lot of fun getting hit in the mouth by frozen clay chips with every swing of the pick-axe.

The first day left me with the worst case of froze-toes that I ever had. The guy I was slav, I mean, working under suggested that I try something he learned years before, when we was a sla, I mean the OEE.

Put on a pair of nice, heavy 100% cotton socks, then a pair of plastic bags, and then a pair of wool socks. (Of course, your boots must be roomy.) Yes, my feet were sweaty, but not a single bit cold. It really works, even with steel-toes.

 

[JohnJ0906]

Put on a pair of nice, heavy 100% cotton socks, then a pair of plastic bags, and then a pair of wool socks. (Of course, your boots must be roomy.) Yes, my feet were sweaty, but not a single bit cold. It really works, even with steel-toes.

Also, changing socks at least once a day helps a lot too.

 

[petersonra]

Also, changing socks at least once a day helps a lot too.

its a good idea to change your socks daily. also your underwear.

 

[Rockyd]

Make sure your head stays warm. If your head isn't warm enough, it won't matter how good of footwear you have on. Make sure you drink enough water too.

Last year it was MINUS fiffy-two at Pump station #4 at Atigun pass.

Bunny boots for me. Yaya, they don't have steel toes, not a whole lot of people have the footwear to tell you that you can't wear them when it's that **** cold!

 

[roger3829]

The best way to keep your feet warm is to stay inside where it's warm:smile: :smile:

 

[zog]

Or move south

 

[roger3829]

Or move south

I thought about that too.

But then I couldn't plow snow........

 

[petersonra]

Put on a pair of nice, heavy 100% cotton socks, then a pair of plastic bags, and then a pair of wool socks. (Of course, your boots must be roomy.) Yes, my feet were sweaty, but not a single bit cold. It really works, even with steel-toes.

An acquantaince of mine who likes cold weather activities swears by cotton socks next to the foot, and wool next to the shoes, with silk socks between them.

 

[electricalperson]

usually in the winter im frozen from the waist down december till about march 24 hours a day. as long as i keep working and dry theres not really a problem. if its going to be a really cold day i throw the thermals on but usually i end up working indoors anyway. steel toe boots make my feet colder but 2 pairs of socks usually help. larry had a really nice trick and ill make sure to try that this year. hopefully we have a big snowstorm since i love the snow

 

[celtic]

An acquantaince of mine who likes cold weather activities swears by cotton socks next to the foot, and wool next to the shoes, with silk socks between them.

Polypropylene Liner Sock
Wool socks

....and the right boot!

I have a variety of boots ranging from 400 - 800 (maybe 1000?) grams of thinsulate.

These Irish Setter 1826:

...probably get worn a few weeks per year.

A little bulky, no steel toe....but feet stay warm

 

[sgeers]

I was once told that electricians shouldnt wear steel toe, only composite toe

 

[djohns6]

I was once told that electricians shouldnt wear steel toe, only composite toe

Here we go again .

 

[cschmid]

Living in the brrrr country I use composite toes because of the temp difference on my toes..I have pac's and 2 sizes of redwings in winter I have found that the more layers on your feet are no better..I always wear only one pair of socks even in my pacs..I wear cotton normally and then the socks vary for different conditions..I also have a felt insole for my winter boots so it helps to insulate my feet from the ground temp as well..

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I was once told that electricians shouldnt wear steel toe, only composite toe

My work boots have steel toes and are EH (electrical hazard) rated. If we shouldn't wear steel toe boots, the why would they make a steel toe boot with an EH rating?