SAFETY TOE BOOTS OR NOT.

[s219]

There are special boots for chainsaw work.

I had a pair years ago. Only tolerable in winter in my part of the US. The rest of the year they were so darn hot I couldn't tolerate them. Same problem with wearing chaps in the peak of summer here.

I came across a logging safety video that mentioned striking a balance between protective equipment and dehydration/heat-exhaustion in hot climates, and it made me realize it's all about managing the risks.

 

[Redlands Okie]

I do not even own a pair of tennis shoes

Steel toe boots worn 99.9 % of the time. Do have some western dress boots, not sure when I last wore them.

 

[Citydude]

I’ve had a 750# box blade fall on the tip of my steel toed boot. Imprinted the edge on it. Another time, a 4x8 sheet of osb fell off a Sheetrock jack from 9 feet up the wall, slid down and hit the same toe. Saved my toes again.

If your on the klutzy side like myself, wear em.

 

[3930dave]

Last 2 bought - insulated with Composite armour, above ankle height. A bit warm in Summer, but I live with it for Winter performance. I don't throw money around lightly, but will continue to pay extra for non-steel protection. Worn on tractor duty.

For the guys wearing them 24/7...... my wife indulges my hobbies, but that would get me kicked out of bed !

Depends on your background..... if you've had structured industrial safety training, you're more likely to wear safety boots on a tractor. Most sane people don't plan on having accidents, and too many stories start with "I was about to go out, and just went to quickly move/do/shift _____________________ before I left....".

After a while, it's just a reflex. To pick another example, I'd sooner be wearing only a thong in public (and, I'm not a beach guy) than get on my MC w/o wearing ALL my armour. MC riders should get it w/o explanation, but once in a while, protection ankle-up matters on a tractor too.

Rgds, D.

 

[CobyRupert]

I had a pair years ago. Only tolerable in winter in my part of the US. The rest of the year they were so darn hot I couldn't tolerate them. Same problem with wearing chaps in the peak of summer here.

The key to wearing chaps in summer is to just not wear any under layers for better ventilation.
Just make sure the chainsaw has a long bar as the neighbors tend to complain if you have to bend over to make cuts.

 

[Jstpssng]

I had a pair years ago. Only tolerable in winter in my part of the US. The rest of the year they were so darn hot I couldn't tolerate them. Same problem with wearing chaps in the peak of summer here.

I came across a logging safety video that mentioned striking a balance between protective equipment and dehydration/heat-exhaustion in hot climates, and it made me realize it's all about managing the risks.

Safety boots have come a long ways in the last 10 years. They are a lot lighter and more comfortable. I know what you mean though; I have a pair of the big heavy rubber boots with Kevlar, and they hurt my feet so badly that I don't wear them. Yet 30 years ago a college kid worked with us cruising timber while on break...we would go 4-6 miles per day and he wore those same heavy boots every day all summer long. He would freeze a couple of 2 litre soda bottles at night and wrap them in towels, carrying them in 2 fanny packs with one strapped on front and the other behind him.

 

[Redlands Okie]

The key to wearing chaps in summer is to just not wear any under layers for better ventilation.
Just make sure the chainsaw has a long bar as the neighbors tend to complain if you have to bend over to make cuts.

 

[ruffdog]

The key to wearing chaps in summer is to just not wear any under layers for better ventilation.
Just make sure the chainsaw has a long bar as the neighbors tend to complain if you have to bend over to make cuts.

Yeah, but then it takes at least a few showers to get all them saw chips out from who knows where.

 

[Cat_Driver]

My wife sometimes helps me in the shop. I have many, many, many discussions with her about safety. In one ear out the other.
I offered to buy her steel toe shes/boots, but she gave me every excuse there is.
Then one day she dropped a heavy steel base on her toes. Her toes darn near exploded in her sneakers.
They turned black and blue for almost a month. Losing the nail on ner big toe.
Guess who wears steel toe boots when she helps me now?

 

[Ford850]

Keen and steel all the way. Keen makes some light vented steel toe boots very nice for mowing in the heat

My son wears Keen steel toe boots, and loves the big toe box area compared to most others.

 

[ruffdog]

My son wears Keen steel toe boots, and loves the big toe box area compared to most others.

^^ Yes, not all steel toe cups are shaped the same. I have had STB's that are nice and comfy, others may be tight on the side/top and I hate wearing them. Try different make boots and get something that feels great.

 

[lman]

I wear steel toe insulated work boots all the time 24/7 ...

I bet your wife loves them in bed.

 

[Wagtail]

I bet your wife loves them in bed.

Traction.

 

[mikester]

I try to wear my steel toe shoes or boots, especially when changing implements on the loader or 3ph. Always when running the mower.

On my old tractor I had a lot of slop on the loader pins. When I reached over to unlatch the SSQA the boom dropped unexpectedly on my rubber booted foot - no steel toes. Pinched my foot good and I had a hard time getting the boot out from under it. I was lucky my foot wasnt completely under the boom knuckle.

Its easy to get your foot under something when reaching for the far lever on the SSQA.

Consider getting boots with metatarsal protection if you risk dropping heavy stuff. Regular steel toes boots dont work very well if something falls on the top of your laces.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^
An old timer near here was wearing his steel toes while cutting firewood one day... and ran the saw right across his foot above the protective toe. He never fully recovered from the injury, which most likely contributed to his death a while later.

 

[AWSubie]

Cowboy boots with a Kevlar layer for protection from snake bites.

 

[John Skull]

Thorogood safety toe boots 6", leather gloves, ear and eye protection, long work pants, cell for 911, sidearm, filthy Yeti hat. ATGATT

 

[shaeff]

I feel naked without some sort of safety toe boot on. I wear them when operating the zero-turn, tractor, weed whacking, working on vehicles, etc... I have to wear them at work every day anyway so now I feel quite naked without them. Any time I put regular shoes on I feel vulnerable.

 

[Rebeldad1]

Also look for a steel insole. Maybe more important if just for tractor use. You never know what you are steeping on in a field.

 

[ruffdog]

Also look for a steel insole. Maybe more important if just for tractor use. You never know what you are steeping on in a field.

Yes, that sure saves my arch when using a shovel or lots of ladder work.