PHAM NEWS | OCTOBER 2026 30 Tools& Workwear


Putting your best foot forward


Investing in good footwear can make a big diff erence to comfort levels during the working day. Peter Lawson from Overland Shoes explores why the latest step-change in safety footwear could help busy plumbers and installers stay protected and keep comfortable, shift after shift.


T


ake a look at the mainstream footwear market and you’ll see a wealth of


innovation. From adaptive cushioning and wellness- focused design through to energy-return foams and personalised fi ts, the category continues to push the boundaries across everything from trainers to boots, shoes and everything in between. And it isn’t just about aesthetics, either. Some of the most signifi cant advances are focused on delivering practical benefi ts, including enhanced comfort, improved performance and greater durability. It was, perhaps, only a matter of time, then, before this wave of innovation reached the safety footwear market. And, to be blunt, it was much needed. As most busy plumbers and installers will know all too well, progress in the sector has been slow. Protection has often been prioritised at the expense of comfort, leaving tradespeople with little choice but to make do with clunky, basic, one-size-fi ts-all designs that feel as uncomfortable as they look. Fortunately, today, that’s all changed. The latest generation


of safety footwear marks huge leaps forward in comfort, wearability and design, giving workers options that work as hard as they do. The question is – how can you fi nd the perfect pair?


Built for the job


Peter Lawson Brand manager for Overland Shoes


Key features to look out for include


lightweight materials, flexible soles and ergonomic footbeds that support all-day wear without compromise


First of all, it’s important to consider the full scope of your working environment and hazards. Are you regularly working on wet, uneven or slippery surfaces? Do you tend to shift between indoor and outdoor work? Today’s safety footwear market is jam-packed with a host of innovative features and benefi ts tailored to the diverse environments modern tradespeople face. In the Bobcat Safety Footwear range, for example, each series has been designed with specifi c trade applications in mind. If you’re often working at height, the Forge series delivers precision performance with ladder grip technology to help provide stability when working from ladders. If your work takes you


between indoor and outdoor environments, the Rapid and Toledo series off er the versatility you need. For tougher conditions, the Keystone series provides heat- resistant protection, while the Bastion series delivers heavy- duty protection for the most demanding applications. In this way, the right fi t should always start with matching the shoe to the job.


Designed with busy plumbers and heating engineers in mind, the Summit Toledo is a hiker-inspired work boot that combines breathable industrial nylon with PU leather to deliver dependable protection and comfort


Comfort is non- negotiable It’s well documented that comfort-fi rst brands such as HOKA and On Running continue to raise the bar in the wider footwear market. Today, that same focus on all- day wearability is making its way into the safety footwear category, thanks to signifi cant advances in comfort technology. Key features to look out for include lightweight materials,


 Ideal for autumn and winter wear, when colder days can result in wet and slippery conditions, the Omaha shoe incorporates Redbacks Leaf Spring technology to absorb shock, reduce fatigue and provide all-day support for feet, knees, and back


fl exible soles and ergonomic footbeds that support all-day wear without compromise. Some more advanced safety footwear ranges, while still available at a mid-market price point, even include advanced technologies that have been scientifi cally proven to reduce strain on joints, tendons and the risk of plantar fasciitis, a condition all too common among tradespeople who spend hours on unforgiving surfaces.


The upshot is not just


all-day wearability, even for the longest workdays, but better posture, alignment and reduced injury risk with every step.


Female fi t Women are one of the fastest- growing demographics in plumbing and installation. It is also well documented that attracting more females into the sector is critical to bridging the skills gap and safeguarding the future workforce. It may appear surprising then that historically women’s safety footwear has followed a ‘shrink it and pink it’ approach that has overlooked the stark anatomical diff erences between men’s and women’s feet – leaving female workers with inadequate, poorly fi tting options.


That’s changing with leading manufacturers stepping up with women-specifi c designs built around female foot shapes – not simply scaled- down men’s styles. Bobcat Safety Footwear’s women’s collection, for example, uses anatomically correct, gender- specifi c lasts across fi ve equally stylish application- specifi c designs, combining worksite-ready protection with comfort and style.


Smart good looks It’s understandable that, back in the day, tradespeople might have chosen to swap their clunky, chunky safety footwear for something more comfortable before heading out after a long day at work. Now though, there’s no


longer any need. Designed to off er broad aesthetic appeal, today’s safety footwear market features streamlined silhouettes, edgy detailing and contemporary colourways – including popular neutral tones – that look just as at home in the mainstream footwear market. Many collections also embrace popular styles, from trainer- inspired designs to hiker- style boots that transition seamlessly from the worksite to everyday life. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/58


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