Metal vs metal-free penetration resistant midsoles

If you're wearing work boots for long periods of time, you want them to feel like a cloud on your feet. But just because they're comfy doesn't mean they're going to keep you safe. 

When it comes to shoe comfort, it's all about the kind of protection lurking inside. Midsoles come in two forms: steel and metal-free. So, which one will be best for you?

What's the difference between steel and metal-free midsoles?

Well, let's kick things off by talking about how they're put together with the boot. Steel midsoles are basically sliced from a sheet of steel, usually about 0.5mm thick. They make sure to smooth out the edges to avoid wrecking your boots. But here's the thing – steel midsoles don't wrap around the edges of your footwear because they can chew up the material and stick out.

Next up, they slap that steel midsole onto the upper part of the boot, shaping it to match your foot's contours. In most cases, they toss the upper into a PU/PU or PU/Rubber mould and inject the sole in there with some heat, turning it into a complete shoe.

Now, composite midsoles are a bit different. They're made up of layers of woven materials bonded together. Then, they sew them to the bottom of the upper, covering every nook and cranny under your foot. Just like steel midsoles, they often end up in a PU/PU or PU/rubber mould, where the sole gets injected at the right temperature to create the whole shoe.

Here's the kicker: unlike steel midsoles, composite ones play nice with your entire foot because they're sewn all around the edges. They won't rough up the material, so your footwear stay intact.

Are steel or metal-free midsoles better?

Each of these midsoles has its own strengths and weaknesses, and they kind of balance each other out.

Composite midsoles might hit your wallet a bit harder because they involve more materials and manual labour, making them pricier. But they're like the featherweights of the midsole world – lighter and bendier. Plus, they won't set off those pesky metal detectors, which is a win for personnel working in places with security scanners.

But there's this myth that metal-free midsoles won't shield you from nails like steel ones can. That's just not true. Both steel and composite midsoles are tested to the same force standards under the EN20345 and EN20347, so they've got your back (and feet) when it comes to nail protection.

Steel, old-school midsoles are the budget-friendly option. They're like armour against needles – they can't get through steel without a fight. But here's the catch, if cheap steel is used, they can rust when water sneaks in through punctures, causing some nasty corrosion. Also, steel midsoles don't wrap around your foot completely, leaving some spots exposed.

And one more thing, steel midsoles aren't as limber as their composite competitors, so they won't bend as much. In the end, it really depends on what you need. Both have their ups and downs, so pick the one that suits your style!

Who should wear penetration resistant midsole protection?

Every industry has its own footwear needs.

If you're out there on a construction site or rummaging through a scrapyard, you'd better have that midsole protection ready to go. There's a good chance you'll run into some nasty surprises like nails, screws, and shattered glass.

If you're working in risky environments like paramedics, the police, prisons, public order and fire and rescue, you should definitely have technical footwear that features protective midsoles. 

Conquer your day with confidence and comfort

Yaffy's technical footwear range has been carefully curated with hardworking emergency service heroes in mind. Featuring high-performance tested and certified footwear for blue light personnel who are on their feet for long periods. Browse Yaffy's footwear range and trust every step you take.