While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think “electrician,” quality work boots are an indispensable piece of equipment to own. Without the proper work boots, you’re constantly risking the possibility of an injury. If something heavy drops on your toe, or if you accidentally jam your foot on the machinery that often crowds a job site, you’re going to thank yourself for investing in a pair of safety certified work boots.
Work boots are not only a smart decision for investing in your safety, but they’re also often mandatory on professional work sites. But there’s a number of important factors to consider when purchasing a pair of boots. Since you’re going to be wearing these boots almost every day of your life, comfort is naturally a priority. Choosing a boot that not only keeps your feet cool and comfortable, but that supports good orthopedic health and posture, is critical. You should also feel good about wearing your boots—so don’t feel bad about choosing a pair that looks stylish. And while price is always important, since you’re investing in a product you will use virtually every day for years to come, things like durability, protective capacity, and weather-resistance should ultimately be the factors that steer your decision.
While finding the right work boot is imperative, with the wide variety of options out there, it can be a tedious process. That’s why we’ve done the research for you, so you can easily find the right pair for you. Here’s our comprehensive guide to the 7 best work boots for electricians in 2020.
Carhartt Men’s CMF6366 6 Inch Composite Toe Boot
These boots offer the whole package: stylish, comfortable, and a composite toe that makes then extremely safe without the weight of steel. They also come at a surprisingly low price point, especially for the value you get. These work boots are designed out of 100% full-grain leather, with a shock absorbing rubber sole and Carhartt’s signature Rugged Flex technology so this boot forms to the unique shape of your foot. These boots are also oil, slip, and chemical resistant so they can handle anything you throw at them. Finally, the composite toe on this boot makes them ANSI/ASTM safety compliant while being much lighter than other makes like steel or alloy toes. Unlike steel or alloy toes, composite does not transfer heat or cold making them all around more comfortable.
Pros
- Composite toe for lighter, more comfortable experience.
- Oil resistant.
- Water resistant.
- Chemical resistant.
- Highly durable for year-after-year use.
- ANSI/ASTM safety compliant certified.
- Economically priced
- Stylish.
- 100% full-grain leather
- Shock absorbing rubber sole.
Cons:
- Not insulated.
Thorogood Men’s Composite Safety Toe Gen Flex 6-Inch Work Boot
The Thorogood work boots are another great option for electricians looking for a high quality boot with lots of ankle support and a composite toe for a lighter weight feel. These boots come at a higher price point than certain competitors like the Carhartt boot, but also have a higher ankle profile for additional support. However, these boots are not water resistant. Still, the Thorogood work boots are an extremely high quality make with 100% leather, a removable single-density polyurethane footbed, EVA Cushion Flex Insole and a Gen-flex2 outsole. These advanced features makes for an extremely lightweight and comfortable feel that conforms to the shape of your foot. And as mentioned, the composite toe on these boots means a lighter weight than steel or alloy toe boots, while also being corrosion resistant and transmitting less hot and cold temperatures.
Pros
- Oil resistant.
- Slip resistant.
- Composite toe for a lighter feel, corrosion resistance, and less heat and cold transfer.
- High ankle profile for lots of support.
- EVA Cushion Flex Insole.
- Gen-flex2 outsole.
- Composite shank.
- Highly durable for year-after-year use.
- Light weight feel for extra comfort.
- removable single-density polyurethane footbed.
- 100% leather.
Cons
- Not insulated.
- Not water resistant.
Timberland PRO 6″ TiTAN Composite Safety-Toe Work Boot (B00D36AQES)
The Timberland PRO 6 TiTAN work boots is an extremely popular boot that gets consistently high ratings and reviews from customers online—and it’s not hard to see why. Made by one of the most trusted brands in the game, the PRO 6 TiTANs are crafted out of premium materials including soft full-grain leather, a composite safety toe, an Ortholite footbed, slip resistant outsole, and Timberland’s signature Dryz Intellitemp X-Static technology to prevent your foot from perspiring or overheating. While these work boots might be more expensive than other options like the Carhartt boot, they’re well worth the investment if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line option.
PROS
- Moisture-wicking lining.
- Composite safety toe for a more lightweight feel, and less heat and cold transfer.
- Dryz Intellitemp X-Static technology.
- Ortholite footbed.
- Soft full-grain leather.
- Composite safety toe.
- Premium soft full-grain leather.
- Consistently good online reviews.
- Water resistant.
- Comes with a 30 day guarantee.
- Slip resistant.
- Oil resistant.
- Durable for year-over-year use.
Cons:
- Not insulated.
- Made with plastic eyelets.
Caterpillar Men’s Diagnostic Waterproof Steel-Toe Work Boot
The Caterpillar steel-toe work boots from CAT are a fantastic all around boot, especially if you know that you’re going to be working in wet conditions. These boots are crafted out of waterproof leather to keep your feet dry in all conditions. They also include antiqued lacing hardware, Thinsulate insulation (200g) and a removable EVA foam insert that uses gel technology for additional comfort. In addition to these great features, CAT has also implemented their ERGO comfort system so these boots move with, and form to, the natural shape of your foot to increase stability, support, and overall comfort. If you’re an electrician who works in a region that receives a lot of snow or rain at certain parts of the year, these boots are a great option for you.
PROS
- Waterproof design.
- Durably built for reliable year-after-year use.
- Antique lacing hardware.
- Thinsulate insulation (200g).
- Removable EVA foam insert with gel technology.
- ERGO comfort system
- Great for electricians working in cold and wet conditions.
- Slip resistant design.
CONS
- Steel toe (heavier than composite)
Timberland PRO Men’s 6″ Pit Boss Steel Toe
The Timberland PRO Pit Boss work boot is another high quality make from one of the most trusted brands in the industry. While these boots come with a steel-toe make, which is heavier than their composite counterparts, the Pit Boss boots still offer a number of highly attractive features to consider. For starters, these boots are slip, oil, and abrasion resistant. They’re also designed with comfortable, padded top collars. And even though these boots are steel-toed, they’re also heat resistant. With Timberland’s Comfort Suspension technology, these boots help to reduce foot fatigue and offer optimal arch support.
PROS
- Meet ANSI safety standards.
- Slip resistant.
- Oil resistant.
- Abrasion resistant.
- Padded top collar.
- Comfort Suspension technology to reduce foot fatigue.
- Optimal arch support.
- Amazon choice pick boot.
- Heat resistant.
- Extremely durable for long-lasting use.
- Metal hooks and eyelets.
- Crafted with odor control technology.
CONS
- Steel toe.
- Not insulated.
- Not water resistant.
Be sure to check out our full Timberland PRO Pit Boss Steel Toe Review here.
Caterpillar Men’s Second Shift Steel Toe Work Boot
The Caterpillar Second Shift work boots are a fantastic option for those looking for a highly rated and reviewed boot that comes at a great value. These padded ankle-cut designed boots are made from 100% leather, with an oil-resistant outsole, and a synthetic sole. The Second Shift boots also include a steel shank for even more support. Overall, these boots are breathable, comfortable, and built to last. Still, it’s worth mentioning that unlike some of their competitors, these boots are steel-toed. Regardless, if you’re looking for great value, these boots are an excellent option.
PROS:
- Great value.
- Padded ankles.
- Ankle-cut.
- Made with 100% leather.
- Oil resistant outsole.
- Steel shank for more support.
- Highly breathable.
- Durably built for reliable, year-after-year use.
- Slip resistant.
- Available in five different colours.
CONS:
- Steel-toe.
- Not insulated.
- Laces are cheaply made.
Dr. Martens Unisex Calamus Electrical Hazard ST 7 Eye Mesh, Rubber Boots
These boots by Dr. Martens are specifically designed to handle potential electrical hazards, and are an all around great boot. Designed with 7-eyes so you can tie them up extra tight, these work boots offer a high level of support and protection. Like some of the other products on this list, one major advantage that this boot offers is its composite toe—a much lighter material than steel, that also prevents cold and heat transfer. The rubber compound outsole on these boots are also heat-resistant and non-marking, for extra comfort, and so you can wear them inside without fear of scuffing up the floor.
PROS
- Designed to handle electrical hazards.
- 7-eyes for an extra tight, supportive fit.
- Composite toe.
- Non-marking rubber compound outsole.
- Heat resistant.
Cons:
- Not insulated.
What factors define a good work boot worth investing in?
While finding a stylish boot you’re confident wearing is important, the top three factors to consider when choosing a boot is safety, comfort, and durability. While it sounds obvious, before choosing a boot to do electrical work in, make sure that it has a certified safety toe. Work boots typically come with either a steel, composite, or alloy toe. The material we recommend for your work boot is composite, because it’s lighter and doesn’t transfer heat or cold to the foot like steel does. The lack of heat transfer allows for composite work boots to be worn form the spring into autumn, even in the winter months. That being said, if you find a steel toe boot that you love—go for it! A composite toe isn’t a make or break factor, it’s just nice to have. The next factor to consider is comfort. This will mean checking for water resistance if you live in a snowy or rainy region, as well as design components like supportive insoles, and a quality leather build. You’re going to be wearing these boots almost every day of your life, so make sure they’re designed to be comfortable. Lastly, we recommend choosing a boot that provides long-lasting durability. You want a boot that will form to your foot and become more comfortable over the years, not something that is going to succumb to wear and tear and eventually fall apart.
What safety toe is right for you?
Choosing a work boot that has a certified safety toe is essential for electricians, who work on job sites where accidents can happen. The last thing you want is for a heavy tool or piece of equipment to fall on your toe, and put you out of commission for the next few weeks. That’s why you should always make sure that your work boot comes with either steel, composite, or alloy toes. Here’s the difference between those three materials:
Steel Toe
The steel toe work boot is a time honoured classic that you will find on most job sites around America. While they’re heavier than composite toes, steel toes are also less bulky, and have more flexibility. You can never go wrong with a good pair of steel toe boots.
Composite Toes
Composite toes are growing in popularity due to being more light weight and comfortable, and for preventing temperature transfer to the foot in hot and cold conditions. In other words, if you’re walking around in the snow, your toes will likely stay warmer in a pair of composite toe boots than steel toe boots. Like steel toes, the composite safety toes also comply with ANSI/ASTM standards, meaning you’re free to wear them on all job sites.
Alloy Toe
While less common than steel and composite toes, alloy toed boots are another great option due to being 50% lighter than steel. The toe part of the boot will be a bit thicker with alloy makes, but the extra bulk is balanced out by weighing less. Alloy toes are also more flexible than other makes and can bend much easier than steel or composite.
Here is the full list of boots sorted by price:
Image Credit: “Site Visit” by Jonathan Lin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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