DEWALT Men's Akron Side Zip Steel Toe Safety Boot

Product Information

I pulled out the grinder with the cutting disc and covered the boot in a barrage of sparking metal fragments. The heat from cutting so close to the boot (5cm-10cm) was substantial and would have burnt or melted an inferior boot. The DeWALT AKRON boots took the metal-cutting test in their stride with amazing results. As I was cutting on a slab with a thin layer of water covering its surface, we were working in and around high-slip areas and on a slippery surface. The non-slip outer sole didn’t feel like slipping at all, not at any stage. Finally, we come to the Camden, DeWalt’s answer to anyone looking for industrial footwear that doesn’t look too bulky or technical. Camden may be easy on the eyes, but they’re tough against the hazards which threaten your feet on or off the job. At the time of writing this Tough Test I’ve been wearing the boots for 2 weeks, and, if anything, they have only gotten more comfortable and are still looking amazing. If the first 2 weeks is anything to go by these boots are going to last well. If you’ve got wide feet, it is recommended to size up, as DeWalt’s Builder is a bit narrow at the toes. With a name like Poseidon, you’d expect something like a Wellington boot. While that’s certainly not the case here, DeWalt is still offering us a water-resistant safety boot, with a build rugged enough to live up to its namesake.

DeWalt Akron PROComfort Extreme Duty Leather Work Boots DeWalt Akron PROComfort Extreme Duty Leather Work Boots

Again, the fact these boots don’t seem to be as bulky or heavy as others seemed to dial up the comfort factor.

Heel Guard

The Hammer’s soft toe and EVA midsole allow for a lightweight boot (just 1.8kg), and you wouldn’t be uncomfortable walking 10 miles a day or more in these. The tough, full-grain leather does take a little bit of time to break in, but once they do you’ll never find a better fit. That said, if you’re a half size, you’ll probably want to size up; the crazy horse leather isn’t going to stretch a whole lot! Below, we review the seven best safety boots from industry leaders, DeWalt 1. DeWalt Titanium Safety Boot When it comes to your safety, nothing less than the best will do. You need the most durable materials, the best construction, and hard-wearing designs that will meet or exceed the safety standards your workplace demands. Outsole – This is, apart from the uppers, the most visible part of the boot, and certainly the most rugged. They’re typically made from PVC or proprietary rubber compounds, and are primarily designed to provide grip, alongside resistance to electricity and chemicals. Thermoplastic polyurethane is a miracle material which occupies the space somewhere between plastic and rubber. It’s flexible, strong, and has a good grip. It is most often found adorning work boots as a bumper along the heel or toe, but many models use it for their outsoles, as well. PVC

DEWALT Akron Side Zip Steel Toe Safety Boot

True to form for DeWalt, Poseidon features tough-as-nails full-grain leather uppers. These feature a heavy wax finish, which not only forms an effective hydrophobic barrier, but also adds to the extreme longevity these boots are famous for. But with Poseidon, durability goes hand-in-hand with comfort. Under the hood, there’s a sturdy, penetration-resistant steel midsole to complement the steel toe box. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about rolling the boot as there’s padded TPU heel support built right in. There’s more padding on the cuff for a comfortable fit, flanked by dual bootstraps for easy donning. DeWalt Rigger at a glance Cementing – Essentially, cemented construction boots glue the uppers between layers of the sole with a powerful bonding agent. This yields a lighter, more flexible boot that doesn’t cost as much as a Goodyear welt. They’re not as durable, and it’s less cost-effective to have a cobbler replace cemented soles that are past their prime. DeWALT has gone with its PROComfort system on the AKRON, designed with three innovative cushioning and support layers to provide ultimate comfort for those who are on their feet for long periods of time. An injection-moulded performance polyurethane midsole and insole, including state-of-the art memory foam, have also been included to offer optimum foot and arch support and cushioning. The dualdensity insole is removable, and the PU/ rubber outsole is non-slip to the highest slip-resistance ‘C’ rating. The sole also has a 300°C high-heat-resistance rating, making the DeWALT PROComfort safety footwear versatile for all situations. Be aware that the toe cap isn’t as spacious as some may like, so keep this in mind when choosing your safety boot.

Together with the outsole, the full-grain leather upper repels oil and water alike, and features superior chemical resistance. The tread also bears an SRA slip rating, which retains a good grip even on soapy ceramic floors. We’ve reviewed the seven best DeWalt work boots in depth according to their comfort, fit, build, looks, and of course, protective measures. Each one occupies its own niche, and will serve as the perfect tool for its job. What is your experience with DeWalt safety boots?

DEWALT Safety Toe Footwear – DeWalt Workwear UK

While this is a general term to describe how a boot is made, the industry often uses it as a term to specifically denote how the uppers join to the sole. There are three primary methods used in boot making: A work boot’s sole is literally where the rubber meets the road. Typically speaking, the soles will consist of three layers:

Toe Scuff Guard

We’ve mentioned that Camden meets with American safety standards, but sadly that doesn’t fully translate to European standards. You’ll be fine with the toe cap in most cases, but if your job requires a specific level of electrical, chemical, or slip resistance, best find something with the necessary qualifications to get through the red tape. Don’t forget there’s no steel midsole, either.

DEWALT Workwear UK | Guaranteed Tough – DeWalt Workwear UK DEWALT Workwear UK | Guaranteed Tough – DeWalt Workwear UK

Welts – There are several types of welts out there, but the most common is the Goodyear welt and its waterproofed variant, the Storm welt. The easiest way to explain a welt is that the upper and sole are stitched together. This provides a sturdy mechanical bond, and tends to increase the stiffness of the boot. A worn out, welted sole can be replaced by a cobbler as long as the uppers are in good shape. This is the material of choice for most safety boot uppers, due to the fact that it wears hard, requires little maintenance, and looks better with age. In fact, this is the best grade of leather for any purpose, as it makes use of the entire animal skin. Other grades, like top-grain or genuine leather, split the skin into its constituent layers as a cost-cutting measure.

These are great boots for when powerful protection is needed, but you can’t have metal weighing you down. DeWalt’s design for the Hammer is clearly rated for hard service, and it’s not unusual to get two or more years of life out of a single pair. Whether you’re a plumber, electrician, or mechanic, you’ll find ample resistance against the hazards of the job. Inside, your feet will enjoy maximum comfort thanks the layering of dual-density PU/memory foam insole upon EVA midsole. What’s more, the insole is anti-bacterial, helping you stave off athlete’s foot, fungus, and other nasty afflictions of busy feet. The Apprentice also helps you keep stable with a TPU heel support. All together, these features work to absorb the energy of impact from your feet hitting the ground, helping you work longer hours with less pain. DeWalt Apprentice at a glance As one of the best-selling safety boots on the market, DeWalt’s Titanium has plenty of people to vouch for their performance in the field. The consensus is that they’re easy to wear in, and extremely sturdy without being too heavy (just 2.4kg). Not every boot has a gusset, but those that do typically employ them as moisture barriers, which connect the tongue to the shaft. The AKRON has been designed for a wider foot and I could feel the absorption, comfort and support from the dual-density insole and PROComfort system. But I figured some testing conditions would be a better way to really get a feel for the boot. First I tried the boot in several crouching positions. Tradies can spend long hours crouching to complete tasks like measuring, finishing skirts, fitting pipes or fixing cables. I’ve personally owned boots that were amazing when walking or standing, but performed horribly when the crouching or requiring flexibility through the leather or outer sole. The DeWALT AKRON boot performed exceptionally in this crouching test, as they did climbing scaffolding and walking long distances.