We scoured through the internet to bring you the best safety boots for automotive mechanics on the market. This article highlights a few factors you need to consider when looking for these work boots and the different types available from different brands.
Read on.
Best Safety Boots for Automotive Mechanics
Here’s a round-up of some of the best safety boots for automotive mechanics;
1. Timberland Pro Pitt Boss Work Boots
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Automotive mechanics need to wear safety boots with steel toe caps to protect their feet and toes. And this is where the Timberland Pro Pitt Boss Work Boots come into play. These boots feature slip resistant rubber soles with better grip and great traction especially on slippery surfaces. That’s why they are an excellent choice for automotive mechanics who are always dealing with greasy and oily surfaces due to spillage.
Timberland Pro Pitt Boss Work Boots are slightly heavy meaning your feet might suffer fatigue if you work for long hours. These boots might be heavy but they offer ultimate support and comport without compromising on style. Plus, it takes a while for these boots to break in. These boots are a typical example of it gets better with time because you’ll fall in love with them once they break in.
Timberland Pro Pitt Boss Work Boots steel toe caps are roomy enough to allow you to comfortably wiggle your toes every so often.
Pros
- Have steel toe caps for security and extra protection
- Have anti-fatigue features
- Slip and oil resistant outsoles
- Have leather uppers for long-lasting durability
Cons
- Are a little bit heavy
2. Danner Vicious Work Boots
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Danner Vicious is one of the best safety boots for automotive mechanics on the market. The best thing about these safety boots is that they have an electrical hazard protection feature that helps prevent mechanics from getting electrocuted. Better safe than sorry, they say! These work boots are metal-free which means your safety is guaranteed when dealing with electrical machinery and appliances since they can’t conduct electricity.
Danner Vicious Work Boots additionally feature composite toe caps which means they are lightweight as compared to their steel toe cap counterparts. What’s more, these boots are super comfortable, ideal for everyday wear right from the start. This typically means that they don’t need a break in period as in the case with other safety boots for automotive mechanics.
Pros
- Feature composite toe caps for safety and protection from external elements and falling objects.
- Have an electrical hazard protection feature
- The outsoles have great traction as they are oil and slip resistant
- Made of Gore-Tex and leather to provide long-lasting durability and sturdiness
Cons
- Tend to start squeaking after some time.
3. Wolverine Overpass Work Boots
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Wolverine Overpass Work Boots feature a composite safety toe cap that helps protect your feet and toes against external elements, falling objects and equipment laying around the worksite. What’s more, they are super lightweight meaning you can comfortably move around without feeling like the boots are adding bulk to your feet. They are made from textile and leather guaranteeing sturdiness and long-lasting durability.
Wolverine Overpass Work Boots additionally features Goodyear Welt Construction method. These safety boots bend and flex in targeted areas when you are squatting or kneeling as they conform to the shape of your feet as you go about your business.
Pros
- Are super lightweight
- Comfortable
- Feature composite toe caps to help protect your feet and keep you comfortable as you work
- Flexible
Cons
- Relatively expensive, especially for automotive mechanics working on a budget
4. Sketchers Burgin Safety Work Boots
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Sketchers Burgin Safety Work Boots are relatively cheap which makes them an excellent choice for automotive mechanics working on a budget. They have steel toe caps that help protect your feet and toes from heavy falling objects, external objects and equipment laying around the worksite. Besides, they come in a range of sizes and widths to accommodate different feet shapes and sizes. The memory foam insoles provide all day comfort.
In addition, the memory foam insoles conform to your feet contours and retain their shape once you take off the boots. The only downside is that these Sketchers Burgin are water resistant and not waterproof. Also, you can apply mink oil to make them water repellent and that’s why they are one of the best safety boots for automotive mechanics.
Pros
- Are relatively cheap
- Feature steel toe caps that help protect your feet and toes
- Have an electrical hazard protection feature
Cons
- Not durable, especially when used daily
5. Carhartt Energy CME6351 Work Boots
Carhartt Energy Work Boots are metal-free and feature composite cap toes to keep your feet secure and well protected while you are working. They are equally lightweight as compared to their work boots counterparts with steel toe caps. The best thing about these boots is that they have been designed with the latest technology which means they have a number of great protective and comfort features. They have an extremely comfortable footbed to support your feet and prevent them from getting fatigued especially if you stand for long hours.
Carhartt Energy Work Boots additionally feature oil-tanned leather uppers that’s not only water resistant but also provides long-lasting durability. Remember, these boots are not waterproof.
Pros
- Feature slip and oil resistant outsoles with better grip and great traction
- Have composite toe caps for protection and safety
- Have an electrical hazard protection feature to protect mechanics from getting electrocuted
Cons
- Are only water resistant but not waterproof
6. Blundstone BI990 Safety Boots
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Blundstone BI990 are hands down the best safety boots for automotive mechanics. These slip-on design safety boots are not only stylish and super comfortable but also easy to wear and take off. The best thing about these safety boots is that they offer a solid arch support in all the right places. This helps prevent your feet from getting fatigued especially if you spend long hours on your feet which is quite the norm with automotive mechanics. This a great feature for those with flat feet and regular arches.
Blundstone BI990 Safety Boots come with a cushioned insole that’s not only removable but also extremely comfortable. The outsoles are oil and slip resistant with better grip and excellent traction even on slippery surfaces. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you can walk on oil all day every day when you are at work because your safety boots will eventually break. They will serve you longer as compared to safety boots without the oil resistance feature.
Pros
- Feature a slip-on design which makes wearing and taking them off easy and convenient.
- Provide ultimate arch support
- Have the electrical hazard protection feature that helps prevent automotive mechanics from getting electrocuted
- Feature an anti-slip outsole with better grip and excellent traction on slippery surfaces
Cons
- Quite expensive
7. Timberland Pro Boondock Safety Boots
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Timberland Pro Boondock Safety Boots are the most stylish safety boots for automotive mechanics on our list. They are rugged and have several amazing features ideal for those working with heavy machinery and equipment. These safety boots feature abrasion-resistant leather uppers that guarantee sturdiness and long-lasting durability even under the toughest of conditions.
Since mechanics spend long hours on their feet, they need something comfortable with dynamic anti-fatigue features. Enter Timberland Pro Boondock Safety Boots! The anti-fatigue technology helps absorb shock and re-energize your feet on targeted areas leaving you with healthy feet at the end of your working day. These safety boots additionally feature composite toe caps that help keep your feet and toes secure and protected from external elements and heavy objects falling on them.
Timberland Pro Boondock Safety Boots are equally lightweight thanks to the composite toe caps. Plus, they’ll keep your feet and toes nice and toasty warm when the temperatures run low. This is because composite toe caps don’t get cold as compared to their steel toe counterparts. Steel is a conductor, which means that the toe caps can easily pass cold to your toes. This is a rare occurrence when it comes to safety boots with composite toe caps.
Pros
- Are rugged, best suited for heavy-duty
- Have composite toe caps for protection
- 8-inch tall
- Feature anti-fatigue technology
Cons
- Are slightly tall and this can make them a bit uncomfortable especially if you have to flex and bend
Buying Safety Boots for Automotive Mechanics
Here are some of the features you need to look out for when shopping for the best safety boots for automotive mechanics:
Slip Resistant Outsoles
Automotive mechanics are always advised to go for safety boots with slip and oil resistant outsoles. This is because the worksite floor can be hazardous once oil spills making you more susceptible to slips and falls. And this is where an anti-slip outsole comes into play since they have excellent traction and better grip even on slippery surfaces.
Toe Protection
Most automotive mechanics usually prefer wearing trainers and sneakers as opposed to safety work boots. But we are here to tell you that things can change drastically when a heavy object or equipment falls on your feet. For this reason, you need safety boots with toe protection as you work to protect your feet and toes. Mechanics should avoid wearing boots with soft toes.
Safety boots with toe protection play a significant role. There are different types of toe protection depending on the boots including steel toe caps, composite toe caps and alloy toe caps.
Comfort
Comfort is very important for automotive mechanics since they spend long hours on their feet in their line of duty. The last thing you want is struggling with uncomfortable boots that tend to squash your toes. Those with flat feet can go for work boots with rigid soles for proper support. On the flip side, their counterparts with high arches can go for safety boots with soft soles to eliminate any pressure points as you go about your duties.
Automotive mechanics with regular feet should look for safety boots with cushioned footbeds as they need semi-rigid support for the arches. Comfort is a given when it comes to safety boots, it cannot be compromised. You can buy the insoles separately if you can’t get hold of these specific configurations. There’s something for everyone on the market when it comes to insoles.
Oil Resistant
Safety work boots being oil resistant usually refers to the outsole and not necessarily the upper part. However, in some cases, the manufacturer usually specifies the exact part of the boots that’s oil resistant. Boots being oil resistant means that it has better grip and excellent traction on slippery surfaces due to oil spillage or other related chemicals.
Oil tends to break down a lot of things eventually. However, wearing the right pair of work boots with oil resistant outsoles guarantees long-lasting durability.
Flexibility
Automotive mechanics should always go for safety boots that are flexible to prevent their feet from getting fatigued. Flexible uppers and outsoles come in handy especially if you spend long hours on your feet, squatting and kneeling because:
- The work boots feel extremely comfortable as they conform to the contours of your feet in different positions, even the weirdest of all.
- The safety work boots tend to wear out prematurely if they are not flexible and you subject them to these positions. They might even start to break on a specific area that bends when you squat or kneel.
Get flexible safety boots if you are looking for long-lasting durability as it also guarantees value for money. In this case, the Wolverine Overpass Work Boots fits the bill.
Anti-Puncture
This is also an important feature you nee to look out for when shopping for the best safety boots for automotive mechanics. There’s nothing that beats the comfort and peace of mind that comes with knowing that your feet are secure and well protected while you are working. Your feet and toes will be safe and secure when you accidentally step on sharp objects if your work boots have the anti-puncture feature.
Choosing the Best Safety Boots for Automotive Mechanics
There’s a wide variety of safety boots on the market best suited for automotive mechanics. However, choosing the best one among the different types can be an uphill task especially since they work differently for different people. This is because some mechanics need more protection than others so they have to go for those with more protective features according to their personal specifications.
Here are some general things you need to put into consideration when looking for the best safety boots for automotive mechanics:
1. How prone are you to heavy objects and equipment falling on your feet and toes?
Depending on the level of the risk, you can go for safety boots with a few protective features to help keep your feet and toes protected. Electrical mechanics can go for work boots that are not rugged since they are less susceptible to serious injuries compared to other mechanics especially those that deal with heavy equipment on their worksite daily.
2. Type of Feet
When buying safety boots, you also need to know your type of feet. This not only makes the shopping process easy but also ensures you get the right work boots best suited for the type of feet you have. Here are a few things you need to put in mind:
Automotive mechanics with high arches can go for safety boots with cushioned footbeds for ultimate support
Automotive mechanics with flat feet or fallen arches need to look for safety boots with rigid and hard support
Automotive mechanics with normal feet, the arches are neither high nor fallen should look for safety boots with arch support. This is because, we all need arch support regardless of the type of feet.
3. Weather
Weather typically narrows down to the hotness or coolness of the working environment. You can get different pairs of safety boots depending on the weather conditions. For instance, you can but a pair for cold winter seasons and another one for hot summer days. Insulated safety boots are best suited for winter to help keep your feet warm and dry throughout the day without compromising on comfort.
For summer, you can go for safety boots with ventilation panels and breathability properties to help wick moisture away from your feet to keep them dry and comfortable. Automotive mechanics should have at least two pairs of safety boots. However, if you can only afford a pair of safety boots, go for one with composite toe caps as opposed to steel toe caps. This helps prevent the boots from transferring air from external environment to the toes from the toe box.
4. Expensive Versus Cheap
You need to be smart about the price when looking for the best safety boots for automotive mechanics. Don’t dig deeper into your pockets to buy a big brand if you can’t afford and vice versa is true, don’t go too cheap either. Always but something that you can comfortably afford.
Remember, sometimes the price doesn’t guarantee quality. This means that expensive doesn’t always equate to top quality. For the most part, the high price tag is because the safety boots are usually American-made. So quality is a given. However, you can find other cheaper alternatives a few bucks less but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality is compromised.
What to Avoid When Buying Best Safety Boots for Automotive Mechanics
1. Avoid Safety Boots with Wedge Soles
Safety boots with wedge soles are not only stylish but also super comfortable especially on concrete floors. However, they tend to be slippery when the floor is wet or oily.
2. Avoid Brightly Colored Safety Boots
Brightly colored safety boots tend to get dirty quite fast. A combination of oil, grease, dirt and dust is the last thing you want to deal with when it comes to safety boots. Plus, they might even change color in a few weeks to something unrecognizable. Some work boots are machine washable while others can only be hand washed but once oil is involved, they can never be the same again.
Always go for safety boots in solid colors like brown, black or grey.
Where to Buy the Best Safety Boots for Automotive Mechanics
There are many places where you can buy the best safety boots for automotive mechanics in your locality. However, some of the best places that sell top quality safety boots for mechanics is usually at online stores.
This is because you can easily access different renowned brands and models at the comfort of your home. The best thing about shopping for the best safety boots for automotive mechanics online is that for the most part, the stores usually offer free delivery. You can check some of these online stores:
- Walmart
- Amazon
- Payless
- Zappos
- Sears
Conclusion
Choosing the best safety boots for automotive mechanics is quite challenging. Most mechanics usually buy safety boots basing on their looks ignoring important things like protective features, support and durability. Some of these boots are relatively expensive, you don’t want to spend your money on something that will only last you a few months.
When looking for the best safety boots for automotive mechanics, you should also remember that there are different types of boots on the market to serve different purposes. Different work environments require different protective features.
