What are the differences between steel toe shoes and boots and aluminum or composite toe ?

At Mister Safety Shoes, we believe in providing workers, health & safety managers and employers with all the facts to find the right safety footwear for themselves and their workforce.

Customers often ask us for steel toe shoes or steel toe boots because that’s what they think of when they think of “safety shoes”. However, CSA-approved toe protection is comprised of 3 main materials now. Some may be better suited than others to your work environment or the needs of employees in your company. Each of them provides CSA approved safety protection.

To begin with, the Canadian Standards Council (CSA)  has created standards for protective footwear in Canadian business with work environments where feet may be injured. These include booth toe and plate protection for feet. To get your copy of the CSA Z915-14 codes and standards for protective footwear you will find them here

All safety footwear include CSA safety symbols attached to safety footwear so you can easily identify the types of protection they provide. View the complete guide to CSA symbols for safety shoes and work boots here

Here’s a quick breakdown of the differences between the various materials used for toe protection:

 Steel Toe, Aluminum Toe, and Composite (Metal-free) Toe.

Here are the pros and cons of each type:

Steel Toe Shoes and Steel Toe Boots

Pro:

• The grandfather of safety footwear protection. Steel is well known for its protection and a great option for many work environments.

Con:

• Steel can hold the cold longer and may make feet colder if the work environment includes cold conditions and/or extreme weather
• Not an option for those who work around metal detectors

Aluminum Toe Work Shoes and Work Boots

Pros:

• Lighter than steel and may have a slimmer profile (but ultimately the overall design and weight of the shoe will dictate the weight of the footwear)

Cons:

• Not metal-free so not an option for those who work around metal detectors

Composite Toe Work Shoes and Work Boots

Pros:

• Generally the lightest option – up to 30% lighter than steel toe

Con:

• The material tends to be thicker, which may result in an overall bulkier safety shoe

Selecting safety footwear for yourself or your employees can sometimes be overwhelming but remember that all toe protection today from good brands provide fully CSA-approved protection.

Check out our collections of steel toe boots and shoes and compare them to our metal-free footwear options. 

Whether you are a worker looking for your next pair of safety shoes or work boots or an employer making sure you understand the CSA requirements for the job, Mister Safety Shoes is committed to providing the best safety footwear. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have or contact our business solutions team to look for your company’s safety footwear program.

You can also shop at any of our retail locations in Ontario and Alberta. We are strictly adhering to the guidelines necessary to keep you safe and ensure all our stores and mobile services remain safe for our customers and staff’s safety during this pandemic. We are all in this together!