Steel cap vs composite cap safety toe:

What's the difference?

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The term “steel cap” has been around for decades and is still what many people think of when it comes to safety boots or work shoes .. especially in industries dealing with heavy machinery, tools, or materials.

But there’s often confusion about what’s actually required. Many assume that steel caps are the only option, when in reality this isn’t always the case .. especially with the advancement of materials. In fact, composite safety toe caps are approved in most workplaces, offering the same level of protection while being significantly lighter .. reducing fatigue and making them far more comfortable for long days on your feet.

Make sure to check your company’s specific requirements, but don’t rule out composite .. they’re often the smarter choice. Read the differences below!

Key differences between steel cap and composite cap boots

At she wear, we offer both steel toe caps and composite toe caps. Both are fully tested and certified to Australian and American standards by BSI, a third party authentication company. There are 2 formal tests that both safety caps must perform to - impact testing to 200 joules, and compression testing 15kn pressure at a set speed - making both caps an extremely safe option.

Outside of the certified safety features^, there are a few key features that distinguish a composite toe cap from a steel cap:

Key features of a composite toe cap:

  • lightweight - significantly lighter than steel 
  • metal free
  • airport friendly
  • electrically non conductive (more suited for electrical use) 
  • extreme temperature resistant - insulative against heat and cold 

Key features of a steel toe cap:

  • increased puncture resistance (eg. nail gun)*
  • increased cut resistant (eg. power saw)* 
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* Both composite cap and steel cap boots are puncture and cut resistant, however steel caps provide added protection beyond the minimum safety requirements.

^ For more detailed specs, visit the "specifications" tab on the product page

Women's steel cap boot range

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Women's composite cap safety boot range

Side view of composite cap mesh sneakers.
side view of breathable multi-layered fabric and mesh safety sneaker
Birds-eye-view of multi-layered mesh lace up safety sneaker
Side view of black composite cap safety sneaker
Rear view of she wear Thrives women's black safety shoe with heel loop and mesh-textured upper
black slip resistant rubber outsole
Feet braced against a stone wall, wearing black safety sneakers
Side view of composite cap mesh sneakers.
side view of breathable multi-layered fabric and mesh safety sneaker
Birds-eye-view of multi-layered mesh lace up safety sneaker
Side view of black composite cap safety sneaker
Rear view of she wear Thrives women's black safety shoe with heel loop and mesh-textured upper
black slip resistant rubber outsole
Feet braced against a stone wall, wearing black safety sneakers
Thrives: women's safety shoe

Thrives: women's safety shoe

$214.00
Brown women's safety boot
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
brown safety work boots for women
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
brown womens safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Brown women's safety boot
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
brown safety work boots for women
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
brown womens safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots
Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots

Pursues: women's zip up safety work boots

$249.00
Woman standing in garden wearing black vegan friendly, zip-up safety boots.
womens black zip work boot
Considers: women's vegan work boot
vegan womens work boots in black
womens designed work boot black uniform
durable work boot sole slip resistant
Woman standing in garden wearing black vegan friendly, zip-up safety boots.
womens black zip work boot
Considers: women's vegan work boot
vegan womens work boots in black
womens designed work boot black uniform
durable work boot sole slip resistant
Considers: women's vegan work boot

Considers: women's vegan work boot

$249.00
Women's leopard print pull on work boot
A woman wears black shortalls and leopard print pull-on boots
Pull-on safety boots with easy-pull tabs, black elastic sides, and leather printed with a leopard pattern
elastic side of a leopard print pull-on safety boot
strives leopard print work boots
walking up ladder in strives work boots
Leopard print safety cap boots for women
TPU abrasive resistant outsole on Strives women's safety boot
Women's leopard print pull on work boot
A woman wears black shortalls and leopard print pull-on boots
Pull-on safety boots with easy-pull tabs, black elastic sides, and leather printed with a leopard pattern
elastic side of a leopard print pull-on safety boot
strives leopard print work boots
walking up ladder in strives work boots
Leopard print safety cap boots for women
TPU abrasive resistant outsole on Strives women's safety boot
Strives: womens limited edition safety boots

Strives: womens limited edition safety boots

$239.00
Person wearing tan lace-up work boots with black soles and navy pants featuring reflective stripes, standing on a concrete surface in front of a wooden frame.
Woman doing construction work in wheat coloured safety boots.
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
she wear PR work boots for women penetration resistant
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
she wear PR safety boots for women penetration resistant
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
Person wearing tan lace-up work boots with black soles and navy pants featuring reflective stripes, standing on a concrete surface in front of a wooden frame.
Woman doing construction work in wheat coloured safety boots.
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
she wear PR work boots for women penetration resistant
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
she wear PR safety boots for women penetration resistant
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots
Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots

Excels: women's zip penetration resistant PR safety work boots

$259.00
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
Standing in garden legs crossed wearing long blue workpants, and green zip-up work boots.
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
Person wearing green lace-up safety boots in grass.
Woman standing out front of a paddock wearing green Achieves zip-up safety boot.
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
A woman in workwear is carrying a wooden palette while wearing purple zip-up safety boots.
Woman standing in pottery studio in tan jumpsuit and purple lace-up safety boots.
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
she wear women's safety work boots lace up purple
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
she wear women's safety boots lace up wheat
Black lace-up composite boots with red interior lining.
Legs with blue cargo shorts, black socks, and black lace-up work boots featuring a red interior lining.
she wear she achieves black women's safety work boots
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
achieves womens work boots infographic
she wear women's safety work boots lace up black
she wear women's safety work boots lace up black
she wear women's safety work boots zip up black
she wear women's safety work boots lace up black
Person sitting on worksite in pink lace-up composite work boots, covered in mud.
she wear women's safety work boots lace up pink
she wear she achieves women's pink work boots safety
she wear women's safety work boots lace up pink
she wear women's safety work boots lace up pink
she wear she achieves pink women's work boots
she wear women's work boots lace up pink safety toe
she wear women's safety work boots lace up pink
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
Woman working in brewery wearing pink lace-up composite boots.
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
Standing in garden legs crossed wearing long blue workpants, and green zip-up work boots.
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
Person wearing green lace-up safety boots in grass.
Woman standing out front of a paddock wearing green Achieves zip-up safety boot.
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
A woman in workwear is carrying a wooden palette while wearing purple zip-up safety boots.
Woman standing in pottery studio in tan jumpsuit and purple lace-up safety boots.
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
she wear women's safety boots lace up purple
she wear women's safety work boots lace up purple
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
she wear women's safety boots lace up wheat
Black lace-up composite boots with red interior lining.
Legs with blue cargo shorts, black socks, and black lace-up work boots featuring a red interior lining.
she wear she achieves black women's safety work boots
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
achieves womens work boots infographic
she wear women's safety work boots lace up black
she wear women's safety work boots lace up black
she wear women's safety work boots zip up black
she wear women's safety work boots lace up black
Person sitting on worksite in pink lace-up composite work boots, covered in mud.
she wear women's safety work boots lace up pink
she wear she achieves women's pink work boots safety
she wear women's safety work boots lace up pink
she wear women's safety work boots lace up pink
she wear she achieves pink women's work boots
she wear women's work boots lace up pink safety toe
she wear women's safety work boots lace up pink
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots
Woman working in brewery wearing pink lace-up composite boots.
Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots

Achieves: women's lightweight zip safety work boots

$249.00