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It’s easy to think about safety boots as having just one job – to protect feet. But at V12, we design, develop and produce our boots with comfort as well as safety at the fore

Afterall, comfort is much more than just padding and cushioning – and to give our wearers the highest level, we always step up and go the extra mile. In this blog, we’re going to show you how – and why – we do it.

COMFORT IS KEY 

We believe that our wearers shouldn’t have to put up with pain at work – but equally, we don’t think they should put up with a lack of comfort either, because they both have the same effect: they can negatively impact health and safety by distracting people from their safety focus, as well as cause short and long-term foot health injuries. 

So, it’s hardly surprising that when people look for safety boots, they look for comfort. In fact, in a survey from the University of Bath of over 500 safety boot wearers, when asked what factors they consider when buying their footwear, nearly 90% of respondents stated that comfort was ‘very important.’

And out of all the other factors that the respondents were asked to consider, comfort was by far the most popular answer. Compare this to other purchasing reasons such as ‘appearance,’ which only 21% of people said was a very important factor. Additionally, only 16% of respondents said that reading a review of a boot was an important part of their buying decision. Most interestingly, only 31% of respondents said that price was an important factor in their safety boot purchasing decision. So, what does all this data tell us? Well, it shows clearly that - as we often say at V12 Footwear - comfort is key.

"Without question the V12 Safety Boot I have been wearing is the lightest and most comfortable safety footwear I have ever worn." 

Kez Vellam, Director of HSEQ  

NEXT LEVEL COMFORT 

Just because wearers are looking for comfort, that doesn’t mean they always get it. Or at least, they don’t get V12 comfort. Many wearers who think they’ve been wearing comfy boots are struck by just how comfortable V12 safety boots and shoes are the first time they try them on. This is because we take comfort to the next level by focussing not just on the obvious comfort features, but by working on the smaller details and product innovations to give the wearer top-quality comfort in every area of the boot. Here’s how.  

COMFORT FEATURES 

THE V12 LAST 

Poorly fitting footwear isn’t just uncomfortable. It can create and worsen a range of painful and distracting foot health problems including:  

• Blisters 
• Corns and callouses
• Toenail damage  
• Plantar Fasciitis
  

Furthermore, poorly fitting shoes can worsen diabetic neuropathy. So, that’s why we spent over two years developing the V12 last. 

Working with the only remaining British lastmakers in the country, we combined their skills and experience with cutting-edge innovation, basing our last shape on data created from over 4,000 European foot scans.

And it’s this unique last shape that gives our wearers the most comfortable fit. How? Find out all about it here, and you’ll see how our last is a comfort game changer for our wearers. 

MALE AND FEMALE FIT 

Another key feature of comfort that is often overlooked by safety footwear manufacturers is male and female fit. The female foot is different from a man’s in several ways. The female foot is narrower with a smaller as well as higher Achilles tendon, and also, tends to feature a higher arch. And unfortunately, many women in safety-critical roles are still having to make do with wearing male boots in a smaller size, which can create a series of foot health problems. Not surprising then that in the same survey mentioned earlier, when asked about areas of discomfort when wearing safety boots, there were 36% more complaints about foot pain from females. 

This is why V12 developed the women’s specific range. Designed on a female-fit last to reflect the anatomical differences in women’s feet, this range of styles ensures bespoke comfort for female wearers. Find out more about how we developed this range here.   

COMFORT INSOLES 

A big part of why V12 boots feel so comfortable to our wearers is due to the insole.

Our VS150 Energyse II insoles have an innovative air flow system that ensures air can circulate around the boot. With every step the wearer makes, the heel pump in the insole compresses, pushing air through a network of channels underneath the insole.  

Coupled with breathable, moisture wicking and shock-absorbing contoured foam, these insoles take comfort to the next level.

Find out more here.  

COMFORT 2.0 WITH DYNAMIC ARCH^TM 

And to take comfort and support to an even more bespoke level, our Dynamic Arch^TM insole range comes in three different arch sizes – low, medium and high, and all three of these shock-absorbing specific arch-supporting insoles are available in male and female fit, so there’s comfort for all wearers without exception.   

Head to the blog here and find out all about Dynamic Arch^TM. 

STITCH-FREE FOR COMFORT 

Generally, insoles achieve their anti-static properties by having a line of raised stitching sitting under the ball of the foot. This however can rub, chafe or irritate the skin. Our insoles on the other hand are all about comfort, so we’ve taken out the stitching and built in the anti-static properties within the foam itself. This means wearers get the same protection and levels of anti-static compliance, but with a heightened level of comfort and safety.  

Note: removing raised stitching from an insole is particularly important to protect the feet of those living with diabetes. Find out more here.   

WALKING THE EXTRA MILE FOR COMFORT 

We don’t stop at these features to offer our wearers ultimate comfort. Here are some of our other comfort innovations that set us apart from the competition.

"V12 footwear has had a very positive effect. Operators report the footwear to be very comfortable and issues of ankle and knee discomfort have all but disappeared." 

Alan Brookes, Trainee SHE Advisor 

COLLAR COMFORT 

PADDED COLLAR 

Several of our styles feature a thick, cushioned padded collar to promote ankle comfort and give the wearer an elevated safety boot experience.

As well as padding in the collar, we also ensure that there is substantial padding in the tongue, which covers an area that is more vulnerable to rubbing because there is less muscle to protect it. This is another example of how we stitch comfort into every aspect of our boots.

Pictured: E1300.01 Defiant IGS features a padded collar, providing additional comfort for the wearer. 

SCOOPED COLLAR 

We try to factor in as many comfort benefits as we can for the wearer, and we’ve taken this a step further by developing a scooped collar for some of our styles such as our V2150 BoB IGS boot. This ensures increased comfort when driving and carrying out ladder work - see for yourself here.  

Want more info on the BoB boot? Watch below to see all the benefits for the wearer.

SHANK 

The shank (pictured) is something of an unsung hero in a safety boot. This modest component isn’t visible as it’s usually hidden in a boot’s mid-layer, but it carries out a vital comfort role. Want to find out what it is? Head to this blog. 

COMPOSITE COMPONENTS 

Many of our styles provide comfort to the wearer by virtue of their weight – or rather their lack of it. We use composite toecaps and midsoles (which are lighter than steel) in many styles; this reduces the boots’ weight and therefore wearer fatigue. This change in material from steel or other metals leads to a lighter-weight design and can be imperative for those walking or standing for shifts of 8+ hours a day to ease tired and heavy legs.

Pictured: The best selling V1501.01 Caiman IGS offers wearers total comfort with a fatigue-reducing lightweight composite toecap and midsole.  

BREATHABILITY 

A waterproof lining is key to keeping feet dry, but to be truly effective, it must be breathable.

There’s nothing more uncomfortable and distracting than hot, sweaty feet, so that’s why our waterproof styles feature a breathable lining which means feet don’t become compromised by perspiration.

Take the Lynx range – it uses the V-Dri, our most effective waterproof membrane to date. Its advanced microscopic material ensures that water can’t get in, but sweat can get out. (see image)

Find out how it works here.

SMALL DETAILS, BIG COMFORT

SEAMS 

We design our footwear to ensure no stitching seams from any internal lining ends up being close to areas of the foot that have less skin or protective muscle padding. These areas include the inner and outer joints of the foot and the front/metatarsal area.  

EYELETS 

The underside of our boots’ eyelets are reinforced in order to prevent 'feel through' on to the wearer’s foot, which is when the wearer can feel either subtle rubbing or more problematic chaffing of material on their feet. 

COUNTER STIFFENERS 

In production, we use thermoplastic stiffeners for the counter (the heel area) between the lining and the leather to ensure our boots hold their form. So, when the upper of our boots are put on the last, the stiffener keeps the shape of the boot after going through manufacturing processes that can often stretch the heel shape outwards. If a cheaper stiffener was used, then the shape could bulge and no longer match the shape of the original last, leading to heel slipping and a reduction of that feeling that we pride ourselves on – that our footwear completely contours and cradles the wearer’s foot. 

After all, having a good last is one thing, but ensuring the boots replicate and retain this original shape by the time it leaves the factory is just as important. 

In short, we are constantly searching for ways to improve wearer experience for our customers, because we believe they deserve to face the challenges and hazards of their role with the highest level of comfort. 

STEP UP IN COMFORT

So, hopefully you’ve seen in this piece that it’s not just a case of being either uncomfortable or comfortable. There are levels of comfort depending on the quality of design, the materials used and the level of passion that a manufacturer has for good foot health for its wearers. And with a V12 product, you can be sure that you won’t just get maximum safety – you’ll get the top level of comfort too.

Because you don’t know what comfort is until you’ve had V12 comfort. 

Explore our range below to find the best comfort solutions for you or your team.