Upper part of the boot
The upper part of the boot is the portion that wraps around the foot and can sometimes reach up to the ankle or even higher, depending on the height of the high, medium, or low shaft. It is made from various materials to meet the specific needs of each service or use. Here are some upper materials to consider when choosing your boots:
- Suede: it is the most commonly used material, made from treated animal or synthetic leather with great durability.
- Leather, whether natural or artificial: it can be combined with a waterproof membrane as is the case with Crispi boots, it is often used in police boots.
- Cordura: a durable textile material used in high-wear areas.
- Waterproof membranes: the most used and popular is Gore-tex, but there are also other waterproof membranes like the eVent from 5.11.
Midsole
The midsole is the part of the boot just below the removable insole and its material directly influences its level of comfort, it will help with cushioning, fatigue, and many more factors. From this area, frames or structures can also extend that wrap around the boot to give it greater torsional resistance as is the case with some models of Lowa, Crispi, Salomon, etc. Here are some common midsole materials:
- EVA: EVA foam is one of the most used materials for the production of insoles due to its mechanical properties, it increases cushioning and reduces fatigue.
- Polyurethane (PU): It is used to enhance the integrity of the midsole, usually mixed with EVA to form a more complete midsole.
- Reinforcement plates (Shanks): sometimes the midsole is reinforced with puncture protection, and other types of protection as needed. For police and military use, it is recommended to use boots with puncture protection.
Sole
The sole is the part that makes direct contact with the ground and provides protection, traction, and comfort. There are well-known brands of soles such as Vibram, Continental, Contagrip, etc., they are neither better nor worse than the soles from manufacturers, they simply have different characteristics. Some features of the outsoles include:
- Rubber: material with which the sole is made.
- Lug pattern: it is an important point for the choice of the sole, it is not the same to use the sole for trekking or mountaineering, as for asphalt or all-in-one. The pattern should be adjusted to the use we are going to give to the boot.
- Fast rope capability: There are boots that allow for fast rope, this is a very important point to consider for those professionals who use this technique in their work.
Certifications
This feature is a point that we must take into account especially if we are going to use it for professional environments, we must check that the boot is certified as work footwear in accordance with the EN ISO 20347:2012 standard. With this certificate, we ensure that the footwear has antistatic properties (Antistatic footwear helps protect the user and the environment from potential electric discharges that could generate sparks).
It also assures us that the sole is insulating against cold and heat. In addition, the outer sole must be non-slip, (this is very important for police officers working in wet environments, such as asphalt) and resistant to oil, gasoline, and heat by contact.
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