We explain to you why shoes that fall into the "work" category can be safely purchased for everyday use in everyday life.
What is usually appreciated in shoes?
First of all, their qualities: resistance to damage, reliable protection, comfort, materials that are as natural as possible. When buying a pair of shoes, it is customary to always hope that they will last at least more than one season and that, at the same time, they will keep their original appearance even after use.
If you are a fan of durable, solid and reliable things, if your hobbies involve activities close to professional ones, or if you lead an active lifestyle (like even just long walks with children or animals)… in a word, if you believe that your feet need careful support and adequate protection, you can only appreciate safety shoes for everyday use too.
At UFO, we select and produce models that undergo painstaking physical and mechanical property tests. Our safety shoes are made of high quality materials and their design is always thought out to the smallest detail, taking into account the anatomical features of the foot.
WEAR RESISTANCE
The increased durability of work shoes is mainly due to the use of high-quality and thicker leather uppers, together with the use of a multi-layered polyurethane sole (or polyurethane in combination with TPU) which is generally better than to that of the shoe models used every day.
The sole is one of the most important parts of the shoe, it protects against wear and tear and largely determines its durability. It is the sole that undergoes the intense mechanical stresses, the effects of the various substances present on the ground and on the surfaces on which you walk, as well as the usual abrasions and possible deformations. Therefore, the materials used to manufacture the soles of safety shoes are designed to be extremely resistant to various types of influences.
Polyurethane (PU) has a low weight due to its porous structure and boasts high abrasion resistance; it is flexible, absorbs well when walking and has thermal insulation properties. The polyurethane soles are light and flexible, an excellent solution for shoes for summer and mid-season use. This material in its pure form is not suitable for winter models: having a low coefficient of adhesion with snow and ice, winter shoes with a PU sole usually tend to favor slipping in such conditions. For the manufacture of the soles of the insulated models, polyurethane is used in combination with TPU or sometimes entirely replaced by the latter.
Thermopolyurethane (TPU) is a high-density material used to make deep tread soles that provide excellent traction. Another advantage of TPU is its high resistance to wear and deformation, including cuts and punctures.
The membrane is a multi-layered material with such small pores that not even liquid moisture can penetrate it, even if the vapor passes perfectly. Thus, a kind of microclimate is formed inside such shoes: the feet do not sweat all the time they are worn and, accordingly, do not freeze.
The membrane makes the shoe versatile: the same pair can be worn in both hot and cold weather, even in light rain. It is this property of footwear with a membrane that gives them an important value in the eyes of buyers as well as, of course, the opportunity to save on purchases: the shoes will serve the owner for more than one season.
APPLICATION OF SPECIAL TECHNOLOGIES
Work shoes have a high safety margin, as they are designed to protect a person's feet from possible dangers present in the workplace: water, oils and chemicals, bumps, cuts, punctures, slips, etc.In everyday life, albeit with significantly lower loads and less aggressive impacts, safety shoes can also be useful to avoid getting your feet wet, to avoid possible bruising of the fingers, to promote stability on ice, etc.
Work shoes have the following characteristics, which will come in handy if you lead an active lifestyle:
- anti-shock insert in the heel - a special insert that absorbs impact energy during walking and distributes it evenly over the entire surface of the foot. It also protects the legs from fatigue;
- toe cap in lightweight materials (composite, thermoplastic, polycarbonate, fiberglass or aluminum): provides protection to the toes against impacts, while also helping to maintain the shape of the shoe;
- insole in "Kevlar" (para-aramid fiber, resistant to cuts and punctures): protects against punctures;
- special sole treatment: provides resistance to acids, alkalis, petrol, and helps against slipping;
- lining with a membrane - contributes to the removal of excess moisture and maintaining comfort in the space of the shoe.
DESIGN
The rapid development of the workwear market has meant that fashion dictates its own laws in this sector too. Sports, trekking or casual style shoes: everyone will find a model for their tastes and suitable for their tasks. The use of fashionable colors and the presence of accessories with bright inserts have long become familiar and usual design elements of safety shoes, making each model unique and less and less standardized.Reflective elements are a mandatory attribute of almost all models: they provide greater safety for the user even at night and give the shoes that special touch, making them more captivating even normally during the day.
