Product Care
Comfort & Fit
The most critical thing with purchasing a pair of safety shoes is finding one that is comfortable from the time you try it on; don’t expect shoes to stretch or shrink to fit later!
Most problems with the comfort of safety shoes is caused when the toes (usually the large toe or next to the smallest toe) comes in contact with safety toe leading to blisters, corns and calluses. Here are some tips from professionals on finding shoes that are comfortable and properly fit.
- Sizes may vary among shoe brands and styles. Don't select shoes by the size marked inside the shoe. The size measured by our professionals is a starting point. Judge the shoe by how it fits on your foot.
- Select a shoe with a toe cap area that conforms as nearly as possible to the shape of your foot. If you have a wide toe area you will require a shoe designed with a wide toe cap or a size larger. A wider safety shoe in the same size still uses the same size toe cap
- Have your feet measured regularly. The size of your feet changes as you grow older.
- Have both feet measured. Most people have one foot larger than the other. You must accommodate the largest foot.
- As you work on your feet throughout the day they swell. Fit at the end of the day when your feet are the largest.
- Stand during the fitting process and check that there is adequate space (3/8 to 1/2 inch) for your longest toe at the end of each shoe and that none of the foot or toes is touching the top and either side of the toe cap.
- Make sure the ball of your foot fits comfortably into the widest part of the shoe.
- Do not purchase shoes that feel too tight, expecting them to stretch to fit.
- Your heel should fit comfortably in the shoe with a minimum amount of slippage.
- Walk in the shoe to make sure it fits and feels right. Safety footwear can be comfortable. Remember "It's not how looks, but how the shoe fits"
- Finally, never wear a new pair of shoes to work before wearing them at home for a few hours and going through the motions you normally would at work. New footwear takes time to break-in and it is better to break them in at home first.
Care
Follow these steps to maximize the durability and longevity of your safety foot wear
- 1. Choose an appropriate style with the necessary features for your application. Some footwear is not designed for certain uses and environments.
- 2. Regularly rotate your pair of footwear with other pairs to allow proper drying in between uses. The average human foot sweats up to a pint a day and need time to air out. This can be accomplished by using an older pair or purchasing multiple pairs at the same time.
- 3. Clean your footwear regularly to remove contaminants and debris that may modify its properties or affect its performance.
- 4. When shoes get wet, you must allow them to dry properly, and treat them with a proper footwear polish or oil to keep the leather pliable. Footwear should not be dried near direct heat.
- 5. Inspect footwear regularly for wear and tear and treat accordingly if needed.
- 6. Replace footwear if leather covering steel toe becomes worn or cut. We do sell other products that are designed to patch or cover up the leather covering the safety toe if replacement is not an option.
- 6. Immediately replace footwear if an object of substantial weight falls onto the safety toe. Defective or damaged footwear must not be worn. This can significantly compromise the comfort and safety of the footwear.