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Properties

Below you can find more information on the most important properties of the safety shoes in our Proteq range. This information will help you choose the correct safety shoe to match your specific work situation. Our suppliers only use high quality materials that attribute to the shoe’s durability and comfort. You often have the choice between various types of materials that stand out through their unique properties and advantages, but they all have one thing in common: they meet the highest safety requirements.

Sole

The sole is an important part of a safety shoe. Proteq safety shoes all have outsoles with an innovative, slip resistant profile for better grip. In addition they are light, extremely elastic and therefore almost unbreakable. They are both heat resistant (short contact) and oil and petrol resistant. The Proteq outsoles are made of abrasion resistant, non-marking rubber, PU or TPU material.

  • Abrasion resistant rubber soles are sturdy and heat resistant upon short contact until 300 °C. They protect your feet from the penetration of sharp objects and are petrol, oil and chemical proof.
  • PU (polyurethane) ensures better grip and higher durability. These soles are abrasion and heat resistant upon short contact up to 130 °C. Like rubber soles, these are oil and petrol resistant. The major advantage of PU soles in comparison to rubber soles is that they are much lighter and especially supple which makes them more comfortable to wear.
  • TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) has elevated elastic and abrasion resistant properties. The properties of TPU soles are similar to those of PU soles but they have an even better abrasion resistance.

Lining

A shoe’s lining is not only important for user comfort, but also for moisture absorption. It absorbs among others sweat while keeping out any type of liquids. In addition, the lining ensures that your feet can breathe while working all day. The shoes in the Proteq range all have a durable and abrasion resistant lining. This lining is made of leather or textile (e.g. Plasmafeel® or Thinsulate™), which both have their advantages:

  • Leather is very comfortable and durable;
  • Textile has an even higher moisture absorption capacity than leather:
    - Plasmafeel® is very durable and even more abrasion resistant. Your feet remain cool and dry as this technology is well-known for its remarkably breathable capacity and its immediate moisture absorption.
    - ThinsulateTM lining has a superb insulating effect: it keeps your feet warm during cold weather conditions and keeps the heat out during warm days, the result: cool and dry feet.

Safety toecap

A safety toecap is one of the requirements for a shoe to be classified as safety footwear (‘S’ = Safety). The cap needs to be able to withstand an impact up to 200 joule in order to optimally protect your toes from the risks you may encounter in your workplace.

The protective cap can be made of different types of material, each with their own advantages.

  • The steel safety toe cap is a classic in the world of safety shoes. Steel safety toe caps offer a better protection against direct impact than composite noses and are more advantageous.
     
  • Composite’s biggest advantage is that it is much lighter than steel, which makes the shoe much more comfortable. Moreover, composite safety toecaps are non-conductive, which is an advantage if you work with electricity. Thanks to its good thermal insulation your feet stay better warm in winter and longer cool and dry during summer. Lastly, composite is non-magnetic which is useful if you work in areas where you often have to pass metal detectors.
     
  • A carbon cap is a composite toe cap made of carbon fibre. It offers the same advantages as a composite safety cap, but is a little lighter which guarantees a more comfortable fit and a better balance of the shoe. 

Upper

A safety shoe’s upper is the part that is most subject to the dangers in the workplace. It can be made of different types of materials which all have their advantages.

  • Leather has been used for centuries thanks to its durable and water resistant properties. It also gives the shoe a sturdy and robust look.
  • Textile has the advantage that it is light and more elastic than leather, which makes the shoe more flexible and therefore more comfortable. It also makes the shoe more breathable.
  • Synthetic material (microfibre) is water repellent, antibacterial and easily washable.
  • Rubber and PVC are waterproof and keep your feet dry.

Safety midsole

A safety midsole protects your foot soles against penetration of sharp objects like nails and pieces of broken glass. Nowadays, safety midsoles are made in such a way that they barely impact the walking comfort. They can be made of steel or synthetic materials:

  • The traditional steel safety midsole is more resistant against penetration.
  • The major advantage of synthetic safety midsoles is that they are lighter and offer more comfort.