Oliver’s women’s zip-sided steel-capped boots review

The design and technology that go into a pair of shoes nowadays is incredible.

A pair of sports shoes, for example, might contain memory foam that moulds to your feet for extra comfort, shock-absorbing soles, water resistant material on the outside and breathable material on the inside, or extra lightweight material that make them weigh nothing.

Designing a pair of shoes meant for hard work in harsh conditions that still ooze style and provide comfort is no easy feat. Safety footwear specialist, Oliver, part of the Honeywell group, recently launched its women’s range of work shoes after recognising that women in industry aren’t as spoilt for choice when it comes to safety compliant work boots.

I have to agree. I bought a pair of steel-capped boots from a hardware store some time ago, and realised there really wasn’t a huge variety of styles or even sizes to choose from. The pair I bought was the cheapest one on offer (about $50 - big mistake!), hardly stylish, and gave me blisters and cuts above the heels due to the top lining of the shoe scuffing against my skin. And that was just after one day of use.

Being a member of the fairer sex, I have had multiple feet injuries relating to inappropriate footwear in my lifetime, but as far as I’m concerned when it comes to work boots, they should offer safety, traction and plenty of comfort in one stylish package.

Oliver was kind enough to send me a pair of its 49-432Z zip-sided ankle work boots to test, which arrived just in time for a media event at a construction site.

Specifically for women

Oliver’s women’s safety footwear range offers a variety of styles and designs to cover all sorts of applications, including mining, construction, storage, warehousing, food servicing and more.

The range comes in lace-up, zip-side and slip-on styles to cater to different industry needs.

The first thought that popped into my mind when I pulled the boots out of the box was how stylish they were. The boots are made of top quality water resistant nubuck leather, which is lush and soft to the touch.

The colour of my boots is wheat, which is a light yellow colour that I think looks much better than my previous black pair that became all dirty and dusty in a matter of minutes out on site. As the colour of my boots matched the colour of the sand on the construction site, my shoes still looked brand new after a full day out.

To give the tough looking boots a feminine touch, Oliver fitted pink laces to them, which I liked. There were black laces included as well for those who aren’t fans of pink ones.

The Oliver 49-432Z zip-sided ankle work boots retail for about $150 and can be found in specialty workwear stores across the country, or online.

Oliver also offers a 6-month manufacturer's warranty with their products.

Only the best

To say that the 49-432Z zip-sided boots are well-designed is an understatement. The number of patented technology and quality material that go into making the shoes are mind-boggling, designed to offer utmost comfort, safety and durability to the wearer.

At the toe of the shoe is a steel cap which complies with Australian and New Zealand safety standards. It is wide enough to accommodate different foot shapes and sizes and is padded with a latex cushion liner to ensure toes are comfortable and not in contact with the steel cap.

Its patented comfort system consists of high performance cushioning and cellular urethane to absorb impact stride after stride and provide all-day comfort.

The foot bed and linings are designed to absorb moisture and odour for optimum freshness and hygiene.

A lightweight polyurethane midsole serves to absorb impact and shock, and the outsole is made of hardwearing rubber that Oliver said is heat resistant to temperatures of up to 300 degrees Celsius, and resistant to a variety of materials including mineral oils, acids and alkalies.

The tread pattern and material used for the outsole also ensure excellent slip resistance.

Comfort factor

The boots are easy to slip on and are secured around the ankles with a sturdy zip on and a Velcro strap. Despite the steel toecaps, the boots did not feel clunky or heavy to the point where walking became a chore.

I had to traverse slopes and walk on uneven ground when out and about, so traction and stability was of utmost importance – which my Oliver 49-432Z boots delivered in spades. Not once did I feel like I was losing my balance or about to twist an ankle due to the undulating terrain.

There were clumps of rocks and soil at the site as well but the sturdy construction of the soles shielded my feet from feeling any discomfort.

It was a hot summer’s day when I slipped on the pair of boots, and by the end of the day my feet were still fresh and not clammy with sweat, thanks in part to a good pair of cotton socks and also the moisture-wicking properties of the lining in the boots.

As the event wrapped up after a long and productive day, a colleague of mine, who also had on a pair of brand new boots, complained about blisters on his feet. Blisters on the feet as a result of wearing new shoes is not uncommon, as it usually takes a bit of time to wear them in but my feet were unscathed. In fact, I hadn’t felt like I’ve just done about 10,000 steps around the site.

The cuff of the boots, which fits around the back of my ankles, were made of a material so soft that there were no cuts or even signs of any rubbing.

It goes to show that spending some money on a good pair of work boots is a no brainer, especially if you will be wearing them day in, day out. $150 is no doubt a worthy investment to ensure you and your feet are well looked after, in the most demanding of conditions.

For more information on Oliver's footwear range, visit oliver.com.au