Finding a pair of safety boots that provide reliable protection in a role that features driving is a positive. But getting a pair designed to actively promote foot health and comfort when operating a vehicle through the course of your work? Now that's a real win. 

If you’re a work boot wearer and get behind the wheel as part of your role - whether you operate a delivery van, heavy machinery, a fleet vehicle or a fork lift - this blog will outline the safety footwear that could help you get the right levels of foot health and protection when you’re in or outside of your vehicle. Also, you’ll learn how innovation is making work footwear more driver-friendly than ever.

WORK Boots FOR comfort AND SAFETY when Driving 

Key Features: 

Cutaway/scooped collar 

A common issue for work boot wearers who drive as part of their role is the back of the boot’s upper (the collar) rubbing against the calf when the feet are angled to operate the pedals. To prevent this, getting safety boots with a cut-away or 'scooped' collar is a wise choice. The other benefit of this feature is that it tends to make getting the foot into the boot quicker and more comfortable.

To really consolidate the comfort of a scooped collar, a padded collar material will bring that extra element of cushioning.

LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN

Sturdy work boots - particularly with the weight of safety components and a potentially chunky outsole - can make it tricky to operate and feel the pedals, so opting for safety boots designed with weight-reduction in mind is key. Boots made with non-metal composite protective components such as fibreglass offer strong and reliable protection from impact and penetration - and are lighter than steel.

But are composite toecaps and anti-penetration inserts as strong as steel? Yes! And here's why.

Lastly, the material of a boot can affect the weight considerably. While rubber has been the favoured material, soles and midlayers made of EVA, TPU and ETPU are becoming increasingly common in safety boot manufacturing, as they are lighter than rubber. This ensures workers spending long hours in their safety boots - behind the wheel or during regular activity – stay comfortable and happy.

Pictured: 

Flexibility 

Stiff and rigid soles can limit foot movement when operating pedals, so when driving in a work boot, it’s advisable to have a sole that flexes more freely when feet are angled to the pedals.

All safety boots at and above the S3 standard (unless you have a boot at a lower spec with a +P symbol on it) have a protective anti-penetration midsole - sometimes called an ‘insert.’ While this is vital in stopping sharp objects from penetrating the wearer's sole and underfoot, it can make performing more subtle tasks where flexibility is required - such as operating pedals - a bit trickier. A solution is to opt for a boot with a flexible anti-penetration insert, often achieved with a composite rather than steel material. And as mentioned above, this can be a weight-saver too.

The other element worth considering is that a sole made of PU will give a little more flexibility than one made of rubber, as this tends to be a slightly more rigid material.

Slip-Resistance

Slip resistance is important when operating vehicles, but this isn’t so much so the user can grip the pedals: a more important safety concern is the grip needed when stepping up into the vehicle.

This grip is particularly critical if you have to climb up into a cabin - especially in wet or oily conditions - as this is essentially working from height.

As a result, you should always look for boots with high-quality slip-resistance and ladder grips to ensure maximum traction when transitioning between driving and working environments.

Heat-reducing materials and design 

Combating hot feet is a big challenge for safety boot wearers, but an important one - and not just for comfort. It's also crucial for long-term foot health and well-being. A breathable and moisture-wicking lining will help the foot stay cool by sending sweat away and letting air in, which not only optimises comfort, but crucially keeps those operating machinery focused and alert.

Nowadays, safety footwear features all sorts of inner-boot climate control innovations such as breathable mesh uppers, inner-temperature regulating waterproof membranes plus cooling, breathable materials.

Also, don't rule out the power of a high quality insole. A well-designed and made foot bed should feature a moisture-wicking material, which can go a long way in keeping the heat down.

Low-Profile Heel 

A boot with chunky or protruding cleats in the heel can be good for balance and grip on more natural or looser surfaces such as sand, ballast or earth. However, this type of sole unit can make it difficult to maintain foot placement on the pedals, where space is tight and things can get a bit cramped and cluttered. To avoid your boot getting caught on or bumping against the pedals adjacent to the ones you're operating, a boot with a slimmer tread is best.

Driver-Friendly Safety Boots - We’ve Got You Covered 

At V12 Footwear, we are continuously innovating to design safety footwear as comfortable as possible, and if driving is a significant part of your job role, this spells good news for you.

Reducing Weight  

We use ultra-light yet durable protective materials such as fibreglass toecaps and composite midsoles, and incorporate materials such as EVA, TPU and ETPU in many styles to reduce weight, increase flexibility, and enhance comfort and shock-absorbance. 

Want to find out more about our weight-reducing safety innovations? Read our blog here.  

Scooped/cut-away collar 

The scooped collar is a signature feature of many V12 boots, as it's key in reducing potential rubbing to the calf when driving.

Pictured: V12 Footwear's construction BoB boot features a cut-away collar for driving comfort

Slimmed-down outsole 

Boots like our Cotswold STS safety dealer have been redesigned with a slimmer outsole, which not only gives a sleek look, but it also reduced the heftiness of the sole, which could be a benefit if you want to avoid clipping adjacent pedals while driving.

Slip-safety as standard 

When V12 Footwear developed their two industry-leading sole units, STS^TM and IGS^TM, safety when working at height was built into the design.   

The STS^TM (Stability Traction System) features wide, non-clogging tread channels for loose, natural and uneven surfaces, and the IGS^TM (Intelligent Grip System) was developed with a water-dispersing hexagonal grip for traction on man-made slippery surfaces. While their tread pattern differs, they've both been designed with four strong and deep ladder grips for safety when on the rungs.

Want to find out more about the best way to stay safe when working from height? Read this blog.

Inner-Boot Climate Control 

Keeping feet cool and dry is good safety boot practice regardless of the nature of your job.

But what if you’re a safety boot wearer who uses their footwear frequently and rigorously? Well, particularly during the warmer months, you might well feel the negative effects of heat build-up while inside the vehicle, so you'll get an even greater foot health and comfort benefit from a boot with heat-reducing innovation.

And we've got plenty...

From air-channel insoles, climate-control linings, breathable mesh uppers to moisture-wicking materials, the V12 Range features a host of heat-reducing innovations to optimise comfort. Find out more here.  

Reducing snagging 

Some wearers like things as neat and snag-free as possible when operating pedals in an enclosed space. Due to this, many wearers find a boot featuring a dial-based system such as the BOA^® Fit System a big help.

Pictured: The Vanguard and Valiant safety boots feature the BOA^® Fit System for a micro-adjustable precision fit

SO… 

If you’re a safety boot wearer and you drive as part of your role, it’s key to avoid rubbing and rigidity, and do all you can to optimise grip and good foot health.

By selecting boots that are light, flexible, cool and supportive, you can stay safe and comfortable throughout your shift.

GET IN GEAR - WITH THE RIGHT GEAR 

Looking for the perfect driving-friendly safety boots? Explore our latest collection designed for maximum protection and comfort!