Steel toe boots.

[Dan1982]

Hi all!
I start my forestry course on friday and have been informed that i require steel toe cap boots.

I am sure some of you either work within the industry or use steel toe caps in your line of work. i have been looking at Danner boots and they seem pretty good. I would also prefer them to be waterproof.

Any recomendations??

Cheers

Dan

 

[Greg]

Timberland do a pretty good work boot.

 

[andywinkk]

Hi Dan

My work is selling safety workwear and safety products, i can get all sorts of boots,
pm me if you want more info, cheep rates for folk on here

mods delete this post if im breaking any rules

Andy

 

[lou1661]

Hi all!
I start my forestry course on friday and have been informed that i require steel toe cap boots. Dan

Hi Dan,
It may be worth checking if they have any recomendations, and will your course include the use of chainsaws? as i beleve thet require a different level of protection to normal steel toe cap's, but im sure there is someone who knows better than me.

Cheers
Louis

 

[Dan1982]

Cheers for the quick replies guys! Yes the course does involve the use of chainsaws. (i will even have a license by the end of it)

Its the first day on friday so i'm sure there'll be no sharp stuff then. but i had an email today telling me what i needed to take/wear etc..

Just wondered what the best ones were. if there's one thing i've learnt, its that boots are worth a good bit of investment!

Dan

 

[saddle_tramp]

If youre likely to be using a saw a lot during the summer, then maybe its worth getting expensive leather boots, but if only occasionally, i wouldnt bother spending more than the cheap rubber ones. and by cheap, theyre 40/50 squid a pair

 

[Landy_Dom]

If youre likely to be using a saw a lot during the summer, then maybe its worth getting expensive leather boots, but if only occasionally, i wouldnt bother spending more than the cheap rubber ones. and by cheap, theyre 40/50 squid a pair

Wise words!

There are a number of options - as follows:

standard steel toecaps and chainsaw protective "spats" which go over the top. This is the cheapest option - and for only occasional use, probably the most appropriate. I started out felling with this setup (although changed it pretty quickly!)

"chainsaw wellies" as described above. good value, excellent in the wet. Suitable for gound work only (no climbing!) and can slop about on your feet a bit. Never used them myself.

Pukka leather chainsaw boots. These start at around £80 and go up into multiple hundreds of pounds. Mine are Haix climbing boots and are priced at £170 (OUCH) but then I use them for tree climbing and all sorts of tricky work so I consider the investment worthwhile.

horses for courses really....

Dom (ex- forester / tree surgeon)

 

[Peter_t]

haix boots are very good, i have a pair of haix blue ridge boots and would highly recomend them. these are their most basic chainsaw protective boots and they dont have any fancy gortex lineing etc. but they are still almost bombproof and mine are plenty waterproof enouth. i have used them for over a year now with no problems at all and waxing them every month or two keeps them in good nick.
other good makes are treemme, mendl and if you can afford them, Klima Air Boots which are suposed to be the nuts but these will set you back about £200

 

[Peter_t]

oh and my boots cost about £100 btw

 

[sharp88]

Im a plumbing student and I use DeWalt steet toe boots. Break in quick and there v. comfy. Mine were £50!

 

[sharp88]

Mighten I add they come in a cariety of widths too, so if you've got fat feet like me and find it difficult to find a good fitting boot I recommend them. You can also get gore-tex lined models.

 

[susi]

I've used these:

http://www.nokianfootwear.fi/eng/pro/


And yes, it used to be part of the same company that makes Nokia phones (the parts of the company that made boots and tyres changed their names to "Nokian" to make the distinction. "Nokian" means "Nokia's"

 

[Rebel]

Do the people who run the course provide any of your PPE? Definitely get steel toe cap boots as you'll be wearing them a lot but for stuff like chainsawing you might want to check before you invest money in the gear.

Of course if you're going to pursue a career in the industry then you'll need the gear anyway but your employer might also provide it for you.

Chainsaw PPE is pretty expensive so if money isn't abundant you might be able to get away without buying it yourself.

On the other hand if you bought chainsaw boots right away they do have steel toe caps so you'd have boots that can double up for both uses. The nice leather ones with Gore-Tex lining are expensive though.

Steel toe cap boots can be really cheap if money is tight, Dickies work boots can be as low as around 16 quid and they are very water resistant, especially if you coat them with beeswax.

I've used the chainsaw wellies that were mentioned and they are pretty awful, the times I've used them I couldn't wait to take them off.

 

[saddle_tramp]

standard steel toecaps and chainsaw protective "spats" which go over the top. This is the cheapest option - and for only occasional use, probably the most appropriate. I started out felling with this setup (although changed it pretty quickly!)

Are those spats still legal?

 

[Mike Ameling]

My steel-toe work boots are by Carolina - called Builtrite. But they have that extra padded steel plate on top of the shoe covering over the laces - from the toe plate up to the ankle. (Can't remember what the appropriate term/name is for it.) This padded plate protects the top of your foot and arch - from things that fall just behind that steel toe!

They are great for working around metal. But also for carpentry work. And I always use them when I am felling trees and cutting firewood. The steel toe is great, but that extra plate has saved me a lot of pain on top of my foot over the years! Dropped 2x4's and large chunks of firewood have a way of falling just behind that steel toe!

In most cases, they simply "require" steel toe shoes - for all the usual safety/insurance reasons. And normal steel toe work boots fit the bill nicely. But logging/forestry/chainsaw work has it's own extra level of concern and safety. It would help you a lot to talk with the people running the course to get some idea of the ... level ... of safety and concern necessary. Most likely the standard steel toe work boot will do. After that it is a matter of your personal concern, and how much farther you expect to progress with the "logging" side of things.

Just my humble thoughts to share. Take them as such.

Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

 

[saddle_tramp]

Most likely the standard steel toe work boot will do. After that it is a matter of your personal concern, and how much farther you expect to progress with the "logging" side of things

Things are a little more stringent in the UK Mike. If youre using a saw in your back garden then you can wear shorts and flipflops but the second you use one on land other than your own, or in any kind of professional sense, a whole world of health and safety kicks in.

I worked as a cutter in forestry years ago. We had to have tickets to do just about everything other than taking a ****. When working on Fc or most any of the bigger companies lands, you could be ordered off site if your saftey gear werent to exact guidelines, and when your felling flat out on piece-rate in July and sweating like a pig, you would dearly love to lose some of that gear. And im talking about 10/12 year ago, things are probably even stricter now.

I think Rebel made a good point in saying not to buy anything until you see what they provide on the course

 

[Mike Ameling]

lol Yeah, I've run into many of those ... safety rules. Some are mandated by the Federal gov, some by the State gov, and far more by the "insurance company"! And most in an attempt to protect clueless bozo's from themselves. That "gotta make the whole world as safe as a padded cell" syndrome. And too often those "regs/guidelines" cause more concern/danger than they address. But even "experienced" people will occasionally have moments of thankfulness for some of those regs/guidelines.

The best advice is to talk with the people putting on the course. Find out just what they are expecting, what they will supply, and what they recommend. Know the standards and expectations before going out to buy.

Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

p.s. Who has safety prescription glasses, often also uses the safety goggles over them, but can't stand that face shield no matter how good it is!

 

[Tengu]

What size are your feet, are they 8s?

I got my father some steel toecapped boots but he wont use them; prefers shoes.

PM me if you think they would fit; you can have them.

 

[Dan1982]

Thats a lovely gesture Tengu, thankyou very much!
Unfortunately i am a size 9 so i will have to decline.

Thanks again!:You_Rock_

Dan