• Product Ranges
      Product Ranges
    • Clothing Clothing
    • Safety Gloves Safety Gloves
    • Safety Footwear Safety Footwear
    • PPE PPE
    • First Aid First Aid
    • Site Safety Site Safety
    • Hygiene & Cleaning Hygiene & Cleaning
    • Safety Signs Signage
        • Clothing View all
          • Disposable
          • Hi Vis
          • Office Wear
          • Outdoor Clothing
          • Special Hazard
          • Thermal
          • Workwear
        • Safety Gloves View all
          • Anti Vibration
          • Chemical Resistant
          • Cold Protection
          • Cut Protection
          • Disposable
          • ESD
          • General Handling
          • Precise Handling
        • Safety Footwear View all
          • MTS Safety Footwear
          • Overshoes
          • Safety Boots
          • Safety Shoes
          • Safety Trainers
          • Womens Footwear
        • PPE View all
          • Disposable
          • Eye Protection
          • Face Protection
          • Head Protection
          • Hearing Protection
        • First Aid View all
          • AED & Resuscitation
          • Kits
          • Refills
          • Signage
          • Supplies
        • Site Safety View all
          • Fire Safety
          • Holdalls & Kits
          • Ladders & Access
          • Material Handling
          • Pedestrian & Traffic
          • Safety Knives
          • Spill Control
        • Hygiene & Cleaning View all
          • Janitorial & Cleaning
          • Sanitisation
          • Skin Care
        • Signage View all
          • Fire Safety
          • First Aid
          • Pedestrian & Traffic
  • Solutions
    Work with us
    About Us Raise The Bar™ Trade Account Online Store
    Sectors
    Parcel Couriers 3PL and Fulfilment Cold Storage Pallet Distribution
    Technology
    Control-iT®
    Innovations
    MTS Slice EarthPro® Tiger Grip Ramsol
    Case Studies
    Palletline Premier Paper Group GSF Car Parts
  • Resources
    Blog
    Products Health & Safety Cost Control News Technology Sustainability View all
    Guides
    Safety Footwear PPE Hand Protection Workplace Safety Corporate Clothing View all
    Downloads
    Infographics eBooks Checklists Datasheets View all
    Infographic / PPE
    Stay Safe at Work
    Download
  • Contact Us
  • Product Ranges
    Clothing Clothing
    Safety Gloves Safety Gloves
    Safety Footwear Safety Footwear
    PPE PPE
    First Aid First Aid
    Site Safety Site Safety
    Hygiene & Cleaning Hygiene & Cleaning
    Safety Signs Signage
    Customer Satisfaction

    A service backed by our guarantee
    Don’t know where to start?

    Browse all Contact us

        • Clothing View all

          • Disposable
          • Hi Vis
          • Office Wear
          • Outdoor Clothing
          • Special Hazard
          • Thermal
          • Workwear
          • A
          • B
          • C
          • D
          • E
          • F
          • G
          • H
          • I
          • J
          • K
          • L
          • M
          • N
          • O
          • P
          • Q
          • R
          • S
          • T
          • U
          • V
          • W
          • X
          • Y
          • Z
        • Safety Gloves View all

          • Anti Vibration
          • Chemical Resistant
          • Cold Protection
          • Cut Protection
          • Disposable
          • ESD
          • General Handling
          • Precise Handling
          • A
          • B
          • C
          • D
          • E
          • F
          • G
          • H
          • I
          • J
          • K
          • L
          • M
          • N
          • O
          • P
          • Q
          • R
          • S
          • T
          • U
          • V
          • W
          • X
          • Y
          • Z
        • Safety Footwear View all

          • MTS Safety Footwear
          • Overshoes
          • Safety Boots
          • Safety Shoes
          • Safety Trainers
          • Womens Footwear
          • A
          • B
          • C
          • D
          • E
          • F
          • G
          • H
          • I
          • J
          • K
          • L
          • M
          • N
          • O
          • P
          • Q
          • R
          • S
          • T
          • U
          • V
          • W
          • X
          • Y
          • Z
        • PPE View all

          • Disposable
          • Eye Protection
          • Face Protection
          • Head Protection
          • Hearing Protection
          • A
          • B
          • C
          • D
          • E
          • F
          • G
          • H
          • I
          • J
          • K
          • L
          • M
          • N
          • O
          • P
          • Q
          • R
          • S
          • T
          • U
          • V
          • W
          • X
          • Y
          • Z
        • First Aid View all

          • AED & Resuscitation
          • Kits
          • Refills
          • Signage
          • Supplies
          • A
          • B
          • C
          • D
          • E
          • F
          • G
          • H
          • I
          • J
          • K
          • L
          • M
          • N
          • O
          • P
          • Q
          • R
          • S
          • T
          • U
          • V
          • W
          • X
          • Y
          • Z
        • Site Safety View all

          • Fire Safety
          • Holdalls & Kits
          • Ladders & Access
          • Material Handling
          • Pedestrian & Traffic
          • Safety Knives
          • Spill Control
          • A
          • B
          • C
          • D
          • E
          • F
          • G
          • H
          • I
          • J
          • K
          • L
          • M
          • N
          • O
          • P
          • Q
          • R
          • S
          • T
          • U
          • V
          • W
          • X
          • Y
          • Z
        • Hygiene & Cleaning View all

          • Janitorial & Cleaning
          • Sanitisation
          • Skin Care
          • A
          • B
          • C
          • D
          • E
          • F
          • G
          • H
          • I
          • J
          • K
          • L
          • M
          • N
          • O
          • P
          • Q
          • R
          • S
          • T
          • U
          • V
          • W
          • X
          • Y
          • Z
        • Signage View all

          • Fire Safety
          • First Aid
          • Pedestrian & Traffic
          • A
          • B
          • C
          • D
          • E
          • F
          • G
          • H
          • I
          • J
          • K
          • L
          • M
          • N
          • O
          • P
          • Q
          • R
          • S
          • T
          • U
          • V
          • W
          • X
          • Y
          • Z
  • Solutions
    Work with us
    About Us Raise The Bar™ Trade Account Online Store
    Sectors
    Parcel Couriers 3PL and Fulfilment Cold Storage Pallet Distribution
    Technology
    Control-iT®
    Innovations
    MTS Slice EarthPro® Tiger Grip Ramsol
    Case Studies
    Palletline Premier Paper Group GSF Car Parts
  • Resources
    Blog
    Products Health & Safety Cost Control News Technology Sustainability View all
    Guides
    Safety Footwear PPE Hand Protection Workplace Safety Corporate Clothing View all
    Downloads
    Infographics eBooks Checklists Datasheets View all
    Infographic / PPE
    Stay Safe at Work
    Download
  • Contact Us

Trade Login

Store Login

Don't have an account?
Request trade account

Steel toe cap trainers vs alternatives
Health and Safety, Products

Steel toe cap trainers vs alternatives

clock-circular-outline Posted 30 Dec 2022

share

Twitter Facebook
null

When it comes to safety trainers, it’s easy to stick with what you know, but are steel toe cap trainers always the best, or should you go for aluminium or composite instead? Nick Grinnell investigates the options…

The tried-and-tested traditional steel toe cap vs newer innovations like aluminium or composite – the debate continues. In fact, our earlier article on this very subject remains one of the most popular posts on our website.
So, which make for the better safety trainers – steel toe caps, aluminium toe caps, or composite toe caps?

The answer? No option is ‘better’ than the others, although there will be one that is more suitable for certain types of roles and work environments. Ultimately, though, it comes down to wearer choice and preference.

So, feel free to stick with what you know best, or to choose to try something different – just make sure you know what you’re choosing and why.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a quick guide to the main pros and cons of each type of safety trainer toe cap.


Steel vs aluminium vs composite: An honest review

The below guide will help you understand your options when choosing safety trainers. We’ve included the benefits and drawbacks of each type of toe cap to help you make an informed decision on the best choice for your needs.

Steel toe cap trainers

Pros: Often cheaper, excellent protection
Cons: Heavy, may be uncomfortable, conduct heat and cold

Made from heavy duty steel, steel toe cap trainers offer excellent protection from falling objects and crushing. The traditional choice, steel toe cap trainers tend to be less expensive than their alternatives but are much heavier – between 30% and 50% weightier than aluminium and composite. They also tend to have a smaller toe box, which can be uncomfortable for some people, and will set off metal detectors, making them less ideal for those required to go in and out of secure areas for work. Steel conducts and retains both heat and cold, which may cause discomfort for those working in hot or cold temperatures.


Aluminium toe cap trainers

Pros: Lightweight, thinner than steel but just as strong
Cons: More expensive, conduct heat and cold

Increasingly popular, aluminium toe caps are up to 50% lighter than steel and yet just as strong. A thinner and more versatile material, choosing aluminium over steel also allows more room in the toe box for the wearer’s feet, resulting in improved comfort. However, safety trainers with aluminium toe caps will still set off metal detectors and react to different temperature environments, which is something to consider. They can also be a little more expensive to purchase than their steel toe cap equivalents.


Composite toe cap trainers

Pros: Lightweight, non-metal
Cons: Makes for a wider toe cap, which can affect the aesthetics of the trainer design

A lightweight, versatile alternative to aluminium and steel toe caps, composite toe caps are made from materials including Kevlar, carbon fibre, plastic or fibreglass. As well as being around 30% lighter than steel toe caps, composite toe caps may be a more suitable option for those required to enter and exit secure areas or working in hot or cold environments. The only downside of composite toe caps is that they can be wider than metal equivalents, which can lead to a bulkier-looking trainer. However, with safety a more important consideration than aesthetics, there is nothing to fault them.

 

One more thing to consider…

If stressed beyond what they are designed to withstand, steel toe caps will bend, while composite toe caps could shatter. Both would result in injury to the foot, but a shattered toe cap may allow for the foot to be removed from the trainer for treatment more easily than a misshapen one.

Metal toe caps vs composite: Conclusion

Under normal working conditions, aluminium, composite and steel toe caps all provide similar levels of protection against impacts and crushing.

While composite toe cap trainers may be more suitable for some environments, the decision of which type to choose ultimately comes down to wearer preference.

As with all safety workwear and PPE, safety trainers should be purchased from a reputable supplier that can evidence good quality materials and manufacturing processes throughout its supply chain. Read our recommendations of top questions to ask your PPE supplier.

 

Visit our online store here to view our full range of Safety Trainers.

By Nick Grinnell

share

Twitter Facebook

You Might Like...

    BX380-2 1
    Lightyear Ozone Safety Trainers- BX380

    Composite toe cap - designed for general protection, performance and durability

    U2006-2 2
    U-Power Ryder Safety Trainers- U2006

    Aluminium toe cap - prioritising all round protection and comfort

    E9000 3
    Cador Fabric Safety Trainers- E9000

    Steel toe cap - with composite midsole for ease of movement and flexibility

    Gravity Jupiter Safety Trainers- E3200 4
    Gravity Jupiter Safety Trainers- E3200

    Aluminium toe cap - extra comfort, lightweight and water resistant

You might also like

By
clock-circular-outline Posted 1 Oct 2024

By
clock-circular-outline Posted 1 Oct 2024

You might also like

    1
    Read article
    2
    Read article
tiger-grip-ebook

Raising the bar

Single source supplier of high-quality workwear, PPE, safety equipment and hygiene products for the UK logistics, warehousing and distribution sector.

ISO 9001
Help & Information
About Us Resources Returns Policy Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy
Product Ranges
Clothing Safety Gloves Safety Footwear PPE First Aid Site Safety Hygiene & Cleaning Signage
Sectors
Parcel Couriers 3PL and Fulfilment Cold Storage Pallet Distribution
Resources
Blog Guides Downloads
Get In Touch
Contact Us Request Trade Account
Socialise With Us
Sign up to our newsletter

© 2025 iSB Group. Cookie Policy | Privacy Policy | Quality Policy | ISO9001 Registered
Site By Veycom