If you
want to protect your toes at work, finding a pair of boots to get the job done
isn’t difficult. With the introduction of composite materials and asymmetrical
designs, most modern safety toes are barely noticeable.
If you
want to protect your metatarsal bones, however, that’s a different story. Met
guards have come a long way in recent years but most are still overly
restrictive and cumbersome.
As a result, met guard boots are generally only worn by those who really need them
i.e. miners, welders, and those who simply aren’t given a choice by their local
health and safety department.
Today,
I’ll be reviewing a met guard boot by Keen, the Mt Vernon. Is it possible to
protect your met bones without sacrificing comfort?
Comfort
I like
me, you’ve never worn met guard boots before, the first thing that you’ll
notice is that the lacing system is a little bit more complicated.
The good
news is that’s actually pretty much it. There’s no noticeable addition to the
weight of the boots. And there’s still plenty of room for your ankle to bend
before the guard comes in contact with your shin.
In other
words, the only time that you’ll notice the guard is when you’re lacing it up.
Like most
Keen boots, break-in time is minimal, slightly stiff the first day but nothing
that will stop you wearing them immediately. Size-wise, I ordered my usual size
and they fit as expected.
The
safety toe is made from steel rather than composite. But it’s cut
asymmetrically so there’s still plenty of room in the toe box.
Below
your feet, there’s a TPU stability shank, an EVA footbed (insole) designed to
match the contours of your feet, and a PU outsole. I’ve worn a number of Keen
boots with this combination and all I can say is that it works.
Shock
absorption is some of the best in the industry. And this translates into a boot
that should keep foot fatigue at bay regardless of the length of your shift.
Safety Features
Both the
steel toe and met guard meets ASTM F2413-11 standards. This means that whether
you feel it or not, your metatarsal bones are well-protected. The sole/heel
provides electrical hazard protection. And the outsole has enough slip
resistance to pass ASTM F1677-96 Mark 11 testing standards. There’s also a
well-defined heel in case you spend time on ladders. Basically, they have
everything except a puncture-proof sole.
Insulation/Waterproofing
The
uppers on the Mt Vernon utilize a waterproof membrane called Keen. Dry. It’s
designed to repel water while still allowing your feet to breathe. The upside
of this technology is that it will keep your feet dry in wet conditions without
overheating them. The downside is that they’re not waterproof enough to stand
submerged in water and they offer little to no insulation against the cold.