The best safety trainers for walking on concrete all day

Being on your feet all day walking on hard surfaces can be tough on your body, but wearing good safety footwear like a pair of comfortable safety trainers can help keep pain and discomfort to a minimum.

Mark Fishwick talks us through what to look for when purchasing safety trainers for people who spend their day walking on concrete, tarmac and other hard surfaces.

Whether they’re getting their steps in walking the warehouse floor picking orders, shifting pallets around, or jumping in and out of a van making deliveries, you need your employees to be comfortable and protected against injury, whatever the surface underneath their feet.

Walking on hard surfaces: the risks

Unlike softer ground like grass, earth and man-made fabric-based materials, hard surfaces like concrete or tarmac have no ‘give’ in them.

Without good quality safety footwear with the appropriate level of protection, employees walking on these types of surfaces for extended periods of time are likely to experience considerable pain and discomfort.

As well as contributing to fatigue that can affect productivity, this discomfort may lead to development of a musculoskeletal disorder.

What is a musculoskeletal disorder?

A musculoskeletal disorder – often known simply as an MSD – is an injury or recurring pain in the legs, feet, neck, back, shoulders, arms or hands.

Pain can be located anywhere in the musculoskeletal system, which includes all the joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons and structures that support those areas of the body.

It can be caused by a variety of sudden or repetitive strains on the body, including repeated exposure to force or vibration such as that experienced when walking on a hard surface without good safety footwear.

The best safety trainers for walking on hard surfaces: what to look for

High-quality supportive and comfortable footwear with shock-absorbing properties will help to reduce the risk of developing an MSD. Look for safety trainers made with superior cushioning technology and design, including flexible soles, EVA or foam-padded footbeds promising advanced rebound, and antifatigue technology.

Some things to look out for include:

• Arch support insole – Designed to cup around the heel and underneath the arch of your foot for support, an arch support insole made from EVA or polyurethane cushioning foam will reduce fatigue and increase comfort.
• Cushioning outsole – Providing shock-absorption when your heel strikes the ground, and energy return when your toe touches down, an outsole made from several layers of cushioning foam with particular focus on the heel area and forefoot will help to reduce the risk of bone and muscle trauma over time.
• Heel counter – Shaped to the contours of the heel, a heel counter holds the heel firmly in place and supports the ankle, providing stability when the foot strikes the ground.
• Slip-resistant outsole – Footwear with non-slip properties will offer good grip when walking, allowing the feet to relax inside the shoe, reducing fatigue on the lower part of the body.

If you’re not sure if your safety footwear has these features, don’t be afraid to ask your supplier for more information. A good workwear supplier will be happy to answer questions and provide any reassurances you need.

Although these additions add up to a more expensive safety trainer, they are necessary to protect the wearer’s foot, ankle and lower limbs against impact-related stresses caused by their feet repeatedly striking hard ground. If taken care of, safety trainers with these features should last longer than cheaper alternatives, meaning you’ll save money in the long term by reducing the replacement cycle for your employees’ safety footwear.

The best safety trainers for walking on hard surfaces: our recommendations

All the safety trainers we at iSB Group supply to our customers – as with all our workwear and PPE – are tested, reviewed and approved by people working in logistics in the very roles that need them most.

Here are our recommendations for the best safety trainers for walking on hard surfaces like concrete and tarmac.

BEST FOR FEMALE EMPLOYEES – Mascara Mesh Safety Trainer

Rather than being a unisex shoe, this safety trainer is made on a woman’s last, resulting in a better fit for female employees whose feet are narrower. Its flexible, high-grade PU outsole offers a good level of cushioning for those on their feet all day.

BEST ALL-ROUNDER

Kei Slip-On Safety Trainer / MTS Curtis Leisure Safety Shoes

Both these options combine high comfort with fantastic durability. Although made using different technologies, the result is a similarly high-performing safety trainer.

BEST ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY OPTION – Carbon Neutral Island Safety Shoe

From a certified carbon neutral range, this safety shoe has patented antifatigue technology in its soft, expanded foam insole, meaning it will never condense with time and lose comfort.

BEST FOR UNEVEN SURFACES – MTS Power Leisure Safety Shoes

With a firmer sole unit than most, this is a better option for people in roles requiring them to walk on uneven hard ground. It offers good comfort and durability, and comes with the added benefit of an antibacterial insole.

Need more help to determine the best safety footwear for your business?

Our team are always on hand to answer any questions you may have, and you can also access further guidance on our website on what to look out for when purchasing safety footwear.