A question we get asked frequently is whether wearers or teams can or should put insoles that aren't made by V12 Footwear into existing V12 safety boots.
The answer is simple - no! But the reasons behind why we don't advise this is a bit more complex. Here's why we don't recommend non-V12 branded insoles being used in our footwear, and some of the benefits of staying consistent with your foot heath and safety gear.
STAYING complianT
Avoiding using non-V12 insoles in V12 safety footwear is critical due to the implications this has on voiding the standards a boot passed or met when it was originally tested.
To start with, let’s look at comfort.
ENERGY ABSORPTION
For a safety boot to be labelled 'S1' or higher in the EN ISO 20345 safety footwear standards, it must feature energy-absorption (E).
If an item of footwear has energy-absorption, it means it has been designed and built with materials which can absorb the impact or 'shock' that occurs when walking, and dissipate it around the footwear, away from the lower limbs. This also reduces fatigue for those standing on hard surfaces by offering additional cushioning. This standard is only achieved if the boot absorbs 20 Joules of energy during testing. But critically, it can achieve this absorption with one, some or all of its components.
A manufacturer can get the required energy-absorption from a boot’s sole compound, or they can achieve it through say the EVA midlayer. But, if a boot – particularly if it's built for increased durability – is made with a higher density of material, it could contain less shock-absorption. So, the required ‘sponginess’ is often compensated for with the cushioning properties of the insole. This insole could make up the exact amount of energy absorption required to pass the test. And this is the case with V12's footwear.
If an insole is taken out of a V12 boot and a different brand’s insole used, you'll essentially have a non-compliant boot, because the insole will very likely have been part of the energy-absorption test. If you're responsible for procuring and administering safety footwear to a team of wearers, this could be a big problem, but as well as avoiding non-compliance, insufficient cushioning, particularly for wearers walking several thousand steps per day on hard surfaces can cause serious discomfort after only a short while.
ANTI-STATIC
The same thing is also true of anti-static testing. Say a V12 safety boot is paired with a non-anti-static insole, it very likely will no longer be anti-static, because when it would have been tested on its electrostatic performance originally, the insole - which is also anti-static - would have provided a percentage of those properties. And in say an explosive environment or a setting with a lot of sensitive electrical equipment, compromising anti-static protection is very unwise.
COMFORT
Finally, V12 insoles are simply designed to fit into V12 boots, so staying with V12 foot beds always means better fit and comfort. And of course, when it comes to comfort, V12's Dynamic ArchTM insoles have specifically designed benefits, including the all-important arch-support...
Dynamic ArchTM Insoles - DESIGNED FOR COMFORT
We developed the Dynamic ArchTM insole by collaborating with industry leaders in motion analysis and renowned podiatrists to reduce or prevent foot-related pain and strain such as:
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Corns and calluses
- Joint pain
- Knee, hip, back and musculoskeletal problems
NEED ARCH-SUPPORTING INSOLES FOR YOURSELF?
You can measure your own foot arch height with our super simple home test - click here. 👣
THE BEST fit for your OFFERING:
If you’re a safety distributor and are interested in adding this industry-leading foot health insole solution to your range, get in touch and we can work with you to boost your business and enhance your offering.
the BEST fit for your team:
If you're in charge of or work in Health and Safety and your workforce has at least 100 employees, you can book a free session for V12 Footwear to visit your workplace and measure everyone’s soles and arches with our Dynamic Pressure Map foot scan. We’ll make sure each member of staff can carry out their job with a bespoke, supportive and injury-reducing boot that takes performance to the pinnacle, and kicks discomfort to the kerb. Click below to get started.
