Safety footwear is an essential piece of PPE that you can’t even walk on to a worksite without. Sometimes we forget how important it is to protect our toes. I feel vulnerable without a suitable pair of safety shoes, however, choosing the correct ones can be confusing especially in a crowded market.
I got my hands on, or in this case, feet in, a pair of Totectors Williams AT WP Safety Boots. It’s the first time I’ve come across Totectors, although they’re a British brand that has been walking the walk since 1944, so I’d imagine they’ve got a lot of experience. The box itself is a clean and clever design, with a string handle going through a notch in the side, created to close and carry them if required. This built up high expectations for the shoes.
My first impression of the boots was how smart and stylish they look, which explains the ‘Keep your look’ strapline. Next, although they look every bit a heavy-duty design they are surprisingly light in weight.
The main reason for being lighter than expected is because they’re made from Clarino Microfibre, which is an alternative to leather. Having looked further into this, I was extremely impressed by this innovation. The advanced engineering means it outperforms standard leather. It’s 30% lighter, more durable at thinner gauges, the material won’t dry out over time and yet is stable in wet conditions. In addition, it is more sustainable, as well as environmentally- and animal-friendly, so clearer on the conscience too. This is just to list a few of its many properties and advantages over other materials. Clarino still has that luxurious leather-like feel with vibrant colour capabilities. I do love these stone colour variants, which is unique to Totectors, but these shoes are also available in wheat or black.
Another reason that makes them lightweight is that they have an aluminium toecap and anti-penetration plate. Traditionally, safety shoes used to be called steel toe cap boots and I remember when they used to get worn out at the toe,
and you’d start to see the cap. It’s an area that can quickly wear out, especially when you’re on your knees. By contrast, Totectors benefit from scuff cap technology, which provides extra protection in that area when they rub against a surface.
My work consists of indoor and outdoor tasks so it’s great to know that these are also 100% waterproof and breathable, keeping your feet dry whatever the British weather throws at you. The thick sole provides superior comfort with minimal weight, due to a TECT FOAM lightweight high rebound EVA midsole. This is ideal if you’re on your feet all day or do a lot of walking. Additionally, they have PU removable insoles for underfoot cushioning. I was fascinated to see the detail on the grip to make them oil resistant, and the ladder grip design improves the traction for optimal grip and safety performance.
Totectors also supply Shoemates, which are over shoe covers, ideal for you’re going from outdoors to a cleaner indoor environment, you can just cover your shoes without compromising on safety. These are also slip resistant and washable, which also makes them reuseable.
For further information on Toetectors visit totectors.co.uk.
