FOOTWEAR
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MATERIALS USED IN SAFETY FOOTWEAR & FOOTWEAR SIZE CONVERSION GUIDE
MATERIALS USED IN SAFETY FOOTWEAR
FOOTWEAR SIZE CONVERSION GUIDE
UPPER
Footwear Uppers (the part of the boots above the sole that encases 
your feet) comes in either Natural Leather or Synthetic materials.
Natural Leather
•	
Durable, hard wearing & breathable.
•	
Structurally Strong - offering great support.
•	
High water resistance.
•	
Able to stretch and mould to the shape of your feet.
•	
Drawbacks include: Higher cost to produce and can 
be less comfortable for some workers to wear for 
extended periods.
Man-Made Leather
•	
Vinyl & Urethane are most commonly used.
•	
More affordable.
•	
Drawbacks include: Poorer water resistance, allows 
moisture to pass through and no memory retention to 
the shape of your feet.
Nylon Mesh / Microfibre
•	
Strong and lightweight.
•	
More affordable.
•	
Drawbacks include: Not water resistant and more 
prone to quicker deterioration.
SAFETY TOE-CAP
The Safety Toe-Cap is the part at the front of the boots that protect 
your toes from crushing or damage, there are 2 types available:
Steel
•	 200 joule protection.
•	 High puncture resistance.
•	 More economical to produce.
•	 Do not weaken over time.
•	 Drawbacks include: heavier than composite materials, set off metal 
detectors at airports/secure facilities, poor insulation in extreme 
temperatures.
Composite
•	 Significantly lighter than steel caps.
•	 Non-metal materials do not set of metal detectors.
•	 Superior electrical resistance.
•	 Better thermal insulation.
•	 Drawbacks include: cannot withstand the same level of down force as 
steel caps, more expensive to produce, often thicker and take more 
space, can be weakened significantly after an impact.
SOLE
The sole encompasses lower part of the boots that are in direct 
contact with the ground. There are several options for the type of 
sole in safety footwear.
DDPU (Dual Density Polyurethane)
•	 A good general-purpose sole option.
•	 Good for low to mid-range temperatures (not suitable for high heat 
such as welding or foundry work).
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
•	 A good general-purpose sole option.
•	 Good for low to mid-range temperatures (not suitable for high heat 
such as welding or foundry work).
•	 More flexible than a DDPU.
•	 Lightweight, aiding comfort for all day wear.
•	 Slip resistant - good for spills and smooth surfaces.
PU Rubber
•	 Rubber outer sole and soft polyurethane inner sole.
•	 High abrasion protection.
•	 High slip resistance - good for spills and smooth surfaces.
•	 Chemical resistant.
•	 Heat protection up to 300°C - excellent for welding and engineering.
Nitrile Rubber
•	 High heat protection useful for fire fighting & foundry work.
•	 Slip & Acid resistant.
•	 Used in specialised footwear.
WATER RESISTANT OR WATERPROOF
Safety footwear can be either Water Resistant to protect against 
light liquid penetration or Waterproof where liquid penetration is 
stopped.
Water Resistant
•	 The footwear textile has been treated using a durable water repellent.
•	 Good for indoor environments with a risk of contact with spilt liquids.
•	 Protects against light rain.
Waterproof
•	 Waterproof footwear contains a waterproof liner which stops water 
that penetrates the leather.
•	 Seams also need to be waterproof (seam sealed) using a seam seal 
tape when constructing the upper.
•	 Can be used in harsh weather including torrential rain & snow.
•	 Can be submerged in water or snow (as long as the water does not go 
over the top of the boot).
AU / UK - MEN
3
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
12
13
14
15
USA -MEN
4
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
13
14
15
16
EUR
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
AU  - WOMEN
5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
11
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
USA - WOMEN
5/5.5 6/6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fitting Notes: These charts are based Australian/NZ standard sizing, but should used as a guide only. Style and fit often vary between brands. You will find brand specific 
sizing on product details pages. For best fit, all footwear should be tried on in person.

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