Safety shoes are an essential part of workers' protective clothing, helping to protect their feet from potential dangers during work. As we often see, leather and mesh are often used to produce safety shoes. So which material is good, compare the advantages and disadvantages of these two materials through the article below.

Structure of safety shoes

Safety shoes are indispensable protective equipment in many working environments, especially in places with high risk of occupational accidents. A pair of shoes that meets the standards of protection must have the following structure:

 

• Shoe toe: Made from sturdy materials such as steel, composite or nano carbon, ensuring impact resistance of 200J. Able to protect toes from impact, crushing or piercing by sharp objects.
• Shoe body: Usually made from leather types such as genuine leather, synthetic leather or mesh fabric, high-quality canvas. Water-resistant, dirt-resistant and chemical-resistant or breathable. Provides a tight fit and protection for the instep and ankle.
• Shoe insole: includes insoles made from soft materials such as EVA or Polyurethane Foam that reduce shock to the heel and create a soft feeling when moving. And anti-puncture insoles are often made from steel or Kevlar to enhance the ability to protect the sole of the foot from being pierced by sharp objects such as nails and metal fragments.
• Shoe sole: The outsole is made from many layers of different materials such as PU or rubber, which can increase friction, prevent slipping, abrasion and depending on the design, the shoe will have anti-static or insulating properties.

 

Structure of safety shoes

You should refer to and use safety shoes that meet labor safety shoe standards such as EN ISO 20345, TCVN 7653, etc. to ensure full protection and suitability for your needs.

Comparison of safety shoes using leather and mesh fabric

Safety shoes are usually made from the main materials of leather or mesh fabric. They all contribute to providing safe protection for the feet. However, each type of material has different advantages and disadvantages.

Safety shoes using leather material

Advantage:

 

• Durability: Leather materials such as cowhide, suede, PU-coated synthetic leather, etc. are highly durable, resistant to abrasion, and suitable for harsh working environments.
• Water resistance: Specially treated leather is water resistant, keeping feet dry in humid environments or in environments where there is the possibility of splashing of solutions, chemicals with mild corrosive properties, etc.
• Protection: Thick leather helps protect feet well from external factors such as impact and sparks.
• Style: Leather shoes are often designed to be luxurious, polite, and professional, suitable for many different working environments.

 

Disadvantages:

 

• Weight: Leather shoes are usually heavier than mesh shoes.
• Care: Leather needs regular care to maintain its durability and beauty.

 

Comparison of safety shoes using leather and mesh fabric

Safety shoes using mesh material

Advantage:

 

• Lightweight: Shoes using mesh fabric are often lighter than leather shoes, giving a light feeling when moving.
• Breathable: Mesh fabric has good breathability, helps sweat evaporate quickly, keeping feet dry and cool.
• Easy to clean: Mesh fabric can be easily cleaned with clean water or detergent

 

Disadvantages:

 

• Water resistance: Mesh fabric is not as water resistant as leather, and can be permeated when walking in a humid environment. In addition, fine dust can fly into the shoe through defects on the fabric surface.
• Protection: Mesh fabric is a type of fabric that is usually woven from PVC or PP plastic, so it cannot withstand high temperatures. With a mesh structure, it cannot prevent sharp objects from piercing the foot as well as shoes made from leather.

 

Should choose shoes made from leather or mesh fabric

Choosing between leather or mesh safety shoes depends on your personal needs and preferences, as well as the specific work environment.

You should choose shoes using leather material if:

 

• Working in harsh environments such as high risk of impact, puncture or exposure to welding sparks, metal cutting sparks, etc.
• Requires good water resistance, prevents liquids from splashing onto the feet.
• You need a pair of durable shoes that can be used for a long time, preventing dust from falling into the shoes during work.
• You like a professional, polite style.

 

Should choose shoes made from leather or mesh fabric

You should choose shoes using mesh fabric if:

 

• Need a pair of light, comfortable shoes when moving like a driver's job, need to feel the force from the feet during work, or jobs that do not require water resistance, clean room.
• Working in a hot environment, need to move a lot, so need to use shoes with good ventilation.
• Easy to clean.

 

In addition, you should consider additional factors such as:

• Design: low-cut safety shoes, high-cut safety shoes, sports safety shoes, ...
• Shoe toe: Steel, composite, ...
• Shoe sole: single layer or double layer, rubber, PU or rubber and PU
• Shoe lining: Polyurethane Foam, EVA, ...
• Anti-slip ability: SRC, SRA, SRB.
• Oil resistance, anti-static or insulation
• Brand and reputation.

How to preserve shoes properly and simply

To keep your safety shoes durable and long-lasting, apply the following simple preservation methods:

1. Clean shoes regularly

 

• After each use, wipe off the dirt on the shoes with a soft damp cloth or use a soft brush to clean the dirt on the shoes.
• If the shoes are very dirty, you can use a specialized shoe cleaning solution diluted with water to clean, do not use chemicals with strong cleaning properties that will damage the shoe material, reducing its lifespan.
• Avoid washing shoes in the washing machine because it can damage the shape and material of the shoes.

 

2. Store shoes in a dry place

• After cleaning, dry your shoes in a cool place, away from direct sunlight.
• Do not store shoes in a humid environment, near chemicals because it can cause mold, odor and damage to the shoes quickly.
• Place shoes on a shoe rack or shoe rack with ventilation holes to ensure air circulation.
• Avoid storing shoes in sealed plastic bags because it can cause the shoes to become stuffy and smell bad.

How to preserve shoes properly and simply

3. Some other notes

• Avoid wearing shoes in water for too long.
• Do not expose shoes to direct sunlight.
• Do not dry shoes with a hair dryer.
• If shoes get wet from rain, stuff newspaper inside the shoes to absorb moisture.
• When not using shoes for a long time, wrap the shoes carefully in paper or cloth to preserve them.

By applying these simple preservation methods, you can keep your safety shoes longer, ensuring the quality and protective features of the shoes.

Conclude

Both leather and mesh safety shoes have their own advantages and disadvantages. Choosing leather or mesh shoes depends on preferences, work requirements, and the budget that the business or employee can afford to pay for the product. Contact An Nhien Company immediately for advice and to buy products at the best preferential prices on the market.