Is steel toe boots better than composite safety toe?

Question

i want to know if a composite safety toe boot would provide better or worse protection. It would be useful to also know the reasons why

Answer 1

If a weight heavy enough to deform a steel toe falls, the steel will trap the toe.  A composite will absorb most of the energy and shatter.  In both cases you could loose a portion of the foot.  The chances that your foot will survive are slightly better with the composite.

Answer 2

I do not remember where i saw this on discovery, but the impact of a weight on steel toe boots and ceramic(composite ones) were compared. The steel one fared much badly because the steel toe tends to resist the force and subsequently your toe will have to take all the burnt of the force(and in some cases yyour toe may be damaged).

The composite   ones tend to dissipate the force by breaking down which is good. remember the F1 cars ,their composite  bodies break down to peices to on impact there by dissipating the force and saving the drivers life.

Answer 3

I worked at an independant testing lab that certified reinforced toe safty shoes for Red Wing and a few other boot companies.  Composite toes are way better that steel for many resons.  When the toe is impacted the steel will deform that is how the impact energy is absorbed, after a measured impact a deformation reading is taken on a fake toe.  Almost all impacts big enough to bend the toe will basically crush your toe maybe it won't break but is will be very badly brused plus it will be stuck in the boot and the boot won't come off unless its cut off!!  

The compsite toes DO NOT Shatter like someone else said they will deflect and rebound back into shape, the impact is the same as far as deflection so the toe will still be hurt but you feet won't be stuck in the boot by bent steel.

Plus here is some extra credit steel will tranfer hot and cold composites tend to do it at 1/10th that of steel so on a hot or cold day your feet wont be hot from the sun or freezing cold!  Then there is weight is not much but there is a difference!

Answer 4

Non metallics are better. That's all i ever wear anymore.