Steel or Composite Toe shoes

[foxx]

Glad you like your Keen's. I just wore my Keen Atlanta Cool's all week at work, on my feet most of the time. It's a new job, so I'm a bit sore and tired, but I'm loving these shoes! It's not hot at my work, so my feet aren't sweating much, but they are also quite vented. And they seem to dry out within an hour after I'm home, I take the insoles out to let them dry faster.
I guess it's the asymmetrical steel toe shape, or maybe just the way they fit ME, but I forget they are steel toes! My company pays $110 a year towards my steel toes, and I found mine for $111 + $6 in tax, so these will cost me $7. As long as they last for a year, I think they will be worth the $7.
I'm going to try to wear thicker socks during the winter, since my job isn't outside. Most guys are wearing boots, but most of them are overkill for manufacturing, IMO. To each his own, and wear what fits.

[Sid Post]

I tried just about every brand suggested, visited four different stores and bounced packages back and forth from Amazon, ShoeBuy and Zappos. The winner was...

Keen Detroit Lows with steel toe. I was able to snag a 13 in EE for just over my initial budget but the difference in comfort over any other breathable sneaker type shoe was well worth the price. Runner up was a pair of Redwings, very comfortable but solid leather so not as good for the heat. Might pick up a pair in the Fall, the shop owner was a great guy and I would love to give him my business.

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice everybody, I hope this thread can be of use to others in the future.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sure it will be useful in the future when I look for some lighterweight "sneaker" type safety shoes.

[SOLEIL]

I wear steel toes 10 hours daily on concrete and steel surfaces. Climbing and scrambling on epoxy coated steel components (12 to 60 tons) in an environment that has grease, oil and solvents in any given area. A cheap pair of Walmart Herman Survivors work well for me. I always have high tops for the extra support. The lug soles are good and soft enough for traction on slick surfaces. Vibram or any hard lug soles are great for hiking and climbing but suck for smooth slick surfaces. I have been wearing steel toes for close to 30 years in some harsh working conditions. They almost never last for more than a year, no matter the cost or quality. And I do not baby them as they are always a half size larger than my foot in case I need to kick the crap out of something. My basic requirement has always been that if I could not forcibly kick any empty 55 gal. drum without bruising my toes then the shoe was not serving it's purpose. Doc Martin also makes a great boot. They are very nice, too nice for work. I use my Doc Martins for hiking and camping where the only things I kick are rocks or wood, not steel. They are made of good materials and scuffs clean up easily. My hiking boots will last me for minimum 5 to 10 years as I take care of them better in an easier environment.