This is uncanny i was just chatting in pm with Gill Catton the other night saying i need steel toe caps for my new uni course and cant find any walking/hiking types that are waterproof.
I totally agree with what eeyore is saying.....there is a huge amount of waterproof trekking/walking boots out there but no one has thought to slip steel toes in some? and there is a huge selection of steel toe cap boots out there that are oil proof, hazardous chemical proof steel toe, steel midsole etc but none i could find in the uk are waterproof or have goretex inner lining etc? There is a HUGE gap in the market for countryside workers/managers who want the brasher leather hiking tyle with the lace ring hooks instead of holes and a decent walking soul...water proof and with a steel toe.
I have ended up compromising....picked a buy one get one half price deal on some leather hiking/walking style ( but not perfect) "Groundwork" boots with steel toe but not officially waterproof so i bought a huge tube of dubbin ( which i never heard of till now) and in the deal for half price i got a pair of steel toe leather rigger boots for when we are doing building style work at Uni.
In the states there seems to be a bunch of walking waterproof handsome looking boots with steel toes but not here...its either ugly black builders type boots or doc martin/brown suede timberland style or dealer boots...none of which look like hiking books and none are waterpoof.
Ill try to find a link to the groundworks hiking style ones i opted for ( Have searched and searched ? although the groundwork safety footware brand seems to be available in shops all over my area i cant find a single thing about them online?) which are very comfortable which is another point...nearly all the builder style ones i tried on had no inner contouring just a hard flat insole and a painful toe cap that always could be felt...these ones i got are no way like a brasher inside or outside but ARE comfortable so far. Thery were only £30 so dont expect them to last too long...
also the MAKITA EXPLORER is a nice looking steel toe but again its not waterproof.
ok seems i have found one...no tthe best looking but waterproof
Safety Footwear - Safetoes
make that 2 !! why couldnt i find all these last week? sods law.
LH Safety Footwear - CAPPS - LH828