Foot safety for the homeowner - aka "Boots".

[hawk45]

Sorry for hitting you guys up with so many questions, but go to the experts when you have a question. So I have all the other equipment here or on the way for safety with my new-to-me saw. The boots I planned to use aren't steel toe (thought they were, and they are too small now.. damn falling arches). So since I'm not in the "business", will any decent steel toe boot be enough protection for any accidents? I'll treat my saw like I do my guns. My brain is safety #1, my finger is the safety #2, but fallback is nice to have for "just in case".

So will any quality steel toe work boot be good for a few hours in the backyard or woods every few weeks? Won't be traveling far in these boots, strictly for protection. Was looking at just some Caterpiller or Timberland boots would be good enough?

 

[fearofpavement]

In my opinion, yes you will want steel toe boots. For two reasons, one is cut protection even though the protected area on a steel toe boot is small and the other is for injury protection. A piece of firewood is heavy and the boots will help with that.
A note would be to make sure the boots actually have a "steel toe" as many boots nowadays use a composite material toe cap that meets the ANSI standards for injury protection but wouldn't have the cut protection of actual steel. I recently acquired a pair of boots from TSC that are slip on wellington type and I like them a lot. They are really comfortable. They ran about $100 on sale. A regular chainsaw protected boot is pretty specialized and expensive. So while ordinary steel toed boots don't offer the same level of protection, they're a lot better than flip flops or tennis shoes. I also like boots that have a tough enough shaft to minimize the chance a snake will get its fangs through it. Whether that's important depends on what part of the world you live in. In OH, not as much of an issue for you.

 

[zogger]

In my opinion, yes you will want steel toe boots. For two reasons, one is cut protection even though the protected area on a steel toe boot is small and the other is for injury protection. A piece of firewood is heavy and the boots will help with that.
A note would be to make sure the boots actually have a "steel toe" as many boots nowadays use a composite material toe cap that meets the ANSI standards for injury protection but wouldn't have the cut protection of actual steel. I recently acquired a pair of boots from TSC that are slip on wellington type and I like them a lot. They are really comfortable. They ran about $100 on sale. A regular chiansaw protected boot is pretty specialized and expensive. So while ordinary steel toed boots don't offer the same level of protection, they're a lot better than flip flops or tennis shoes. I also like boots that have a tough enough shaft to minimize the chance a snake will get its fangs through it. Whether that's important depends on what part of the world you live in. In OH, not as much of an issue for you.

The Husky chainsaw boots are the same hundred bucks.

 

[Shagbark]

Husqvarna chainsaw boots are what I have for me and my 13yr old. Seem great for winter with the optional felt liner. I don't know about in the heat without the liner yet. Steel toe and instep kevlar, well made besides.

 

[farmer steve]

just don't ask about oil.ANY oil.. any decent made steel toe should work for your cutting situation.like was said before don't get composite toe.Oh, and welcome to AS.

 

[zogger]

Husqvarna chainsaw boots are what I have for me and my 13yr old. Seem great for winter with the optional felt liner. I don't know about in the heat without the liner yet. Steel toe and instep kevlar, well made besides.

They are warm. No way around chaps/pants or kevlar and rubber boots being warm.

 

[hawk45]

just don't ask about oil.ANY oil.. any decent made steel toe should work for your cutting situation.like was said before don't get composite toe.Oh, and welcome to AS.

No worries there brother.. oil is covered already. Hahaha!
I'll check out the Huskys. Seems like my arches are dropping the older I get and my shoe size keeps growing every year, even though I'm 40. Sasquatch genes maybe??

 

[zogger]

No worries there brother.. oil is covered already. Hahaha!
I'll check out the Huskys. Seems like my arches are dropping the older I get and my shoe size keeps growing every year, even though I'm 40. Sasquatch genes maybe??

If you have ever worn the army black rubber arctic mickey mouse boots..they feel similar to that. You get used to them pretty quick though. First day using them I felt pretty clumsy and awkward, after that, got used to it.

I know there are a variety of other chainsaw boots out there, at like around 3 bills or something, so I thought for being both waterproof rubber plus safety boots, a hundred wasn't too bad.

 

[KenJax Tree]

I just wear Wesco Jobmaster logger boots


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[Marshy]

Keep in mind, steel toe boots only protect your toes and not the rest of your foot. You can choose the level of protection you feel is necessary to keep you safe but IMO its a moot point to say "I damn near cut off my foot but hey, at least I have all 5 toes still".

The Husky boots can be worn without the felt liners if you buy the appropriate size. They are a good bang for the buck. Mine are sized to wear the liner but I typically throw on a very thick pair of wool socks and skip the liner to go outside and snow blow or dump the ashes. Even if its warm out I use the liners when running the saw b/c your foot is going to sweat no matter what so you might as well have the boot fit properly IMO. As perviously stated, they will feel like a cross between the Mickey Mouse winter boots and ski boots, very stiff and bulky at first. If you start getting lazy walkin around the yard and not picking up your feet then you will get tripped up with these and bite it, it makes you slow down a little bit.

 

[KenJax Tree]

I can't climb in moon boots.


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[Philbert]

Steel toe boots provide more cut protection than plastic 'hard-toe' boots, or boots with only leather toes. They do not protect against a chain riding up to your instep or along the side of your foot. OSHA requires chainsaw resistant footwear (has fibers similar to those used in chaps) for occupational use.

I consider steel toes to be a minimum. Work boots with 'metatarsal guards' provide some additional protection to the instep area of your foot, depending on how the guards are made.

This is the 'classic' YouTube video:


Search for 'chainsaw boot test' for other videos on YouTube.

Philbert

 

[z71mike]

Normal, affordable steel toes will be fine for a weekend warrior who uses his brain.

 

[hawk45]

I'll see what the local stores have as far as steel toe boots and if I can find a pair of the Husky boots around local also.
Thanks everyone.

 

[hawk45]

What do you guys think of these? Hope it's ok to post a link (if not I can remove). They are called S3 Chainsaw Boots (http://workwearsavings.sportsmansgu...E-WWS-15-PLA&gclid=CIP-6Km8570CFaw-MgodUHoAFQ). Second picture and specs below the S2 Foresters.

 

[nmurph]

Normal, affordable steel toes will be fine for a weekend warrior who uses his brain.

I don't buy this argument, and I hope others give serious consideration.

Though my wife might argue with me about using my brain, but I'm pretty safety conscious. I grew up on a farm and have worked around machinery all of my life.

Here's what a ported 346 running full-tilt does when it gets spit out of the cut by a limb under tension. A steel toe-only boot would have meant that I lost first third of my foot.

Thankfully I didn't lose any toes, but I did have a blue toe for weeks. It's unbelievable how violent that impact was.

Before - Matterhorn CS boots w/steel toe and 7-layer Kevlar


Notice how the chain impacted the steel toe first and found its way to the soft meat.

 

[z71mike]

Neal, you're much more than a weekend warrior homeowner removing storm-fallen branches.

 

[hawk45]

After reading all of the reviews, I'm getting the Huskys. I was looking for a rubber boot for camping when we are doing lots of creek crossings in the winter, so this may kill w birds with 1 stone.

 

[nmurph]

Neal, you're much more than a weekend warrior homeowner removing storm-fallen branches.

To me, a weekend warrior and a homeowner cutting up the odd limb in the yard are two different users. If you are cutting firewood for heat, you need serious chainsaw boots. Me, I'm just a hack with a saw and plenty of land to play lumberjack on.

 

[Little Al]

As other posters have said; steel toe cap boots are OK until the blade rides off the steel & up towards the bottom of the laced part if it is only leather with no kevlar or other protection, you then run the risk of losing 1/3 of your foot. the Class 2 or better usually have some form of protection up beyond the end of the steel cap you really need this( Do not ask how I know this, I have all my digits on my left foot but they would not win a beauty contest)for the sake of a few $s it is not worth the risk.