The 
leather 
vs. 
rubber 
boot 
debate 
lands 
squarely 
on 
the 
side 
of
 leather in this piece for FireRescue1.

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Home > Fire Products > Fire Boots > For firefighter feet, comfort is king
May 10, 2012
For firefighter feet, comfort is king
The leather vs rubber boot debate lands squarely on the side of leather
By Sarah M. Smart
FireRescue1 Staff
Firefighters often have to think on their feet during an emergency, but they also think about their
feet. Because, frankly, are there many things worse than sore feet on the fireground?
In the debate over which boot material is superior, a pretty clear winner has emerged.
Thorogood, maker of both rubber and leather boots, offers almost twice as many models of leather
structural boot as it does of rubber structural (seven and four, respectively). Its top two sellers are
both leather structural boots, according to Jeff Burns, vice president Uniform/Fire Division of
Weinbrenner, Thorogood's parent company.
Fan base
FireRescue1 Facebook fans also
overwhelmingly prefer leather: Only 7 percent
of respondents said rubber was their first
choice.
Deputy Fire Marshal Jon Williams of Union
County, N.C., is also a Captain at Unionville
Volunteer Fire Department. His preference
goes further than material: He's a "huge fan"
of leather Globe Magnums.
"I have a lace­up/zip set at work as fire
marshal and a traditional pull­on leather for
my volunteer department," Marshal Williams
said, citing the comfort as his defining
criterion.
"They wear like a tennis shoe," he said.
Studies have shown that leather boots help
reduce physical injuries in firefighters.
A NIOSH study still in progress has suggested
that because leather boots are about three pounds lighter than rubber boots, they allow more
mobility in the feet, ankles, knees and hips.
It also says that in a lighter boot, the firefighter has a better sense of footing and a smaller risk of
injury to lower limbs.
So why do some firefighters still choose rubber?
Cost matters
Some Facebook respondents said rubber boots were easier to pull on during quick­dress drills. Others
liked that they were naturally waterproof, and still others said they were more durable than leather.
They're also a good deal cheaper.
Thorogood's two top sellers, both of which are leather structural boots, cost up to twice as much as
rubber boots, Burns said.
"About the only positive thing about rubber is that it's relatively inexpensive," Burns said, adding that
it doesn't breathe well and is heavy and uncomfortable.
Some firefighters also believe that rubber boots are easier to clean when involved in a hazmat
situation.
"The prevailing thought from everybody is if you get into a contaminant, you could rinse off the
rubber and throw away the leather," Burns said.
But a study by W.L. Gore proved the opposite. The cellular structure of rubber actually traps
hazardous materials, it said, whereas leather sheds most chemicals by just being hosed off.
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2. 10/2/12 For firefighter feet, comfort is king
2/3www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/apparel/boots/articles/1284917-For-firefighter-feet-comfort-is-king/
Rubber boots also come with a bit of tradition. Many departments have used rubber boots since the
1930s.
Firefighter Hunter Knight of the Moody Fire Department in Birmingham, Ala., said the firefighters
with longer tenure in his department at first honored tradition by sticking to rubber boots. But now
they have mostly switched to leather.
And what is the basis for this? Newer leather boots are more rigid, providing a similar rigid support to
rubber, Firefighter Knight said, especially for firefighters with ankle issues.
Plus Firefighter Knight believes the comfort of leather is superior.
"You don't want to be somewhere where you're supposed to concentrate on the scene but you're
focused on your feet hurting," he added. "If you're more comfortable, you're more safe."
As FireRescue1's PPE columnists Jeff and Grace Stull outlined in a previous article, the important
aspect of choosing between rubber and leather footwear is weigh your organization's needs and
decide which characteristics are more important — weight, comfort/fit, performance, durability,
contamination resistance and cost.
"Some of these characteristics can be determined by understanding other departments' experiences
with specific styles of footwear and the relative service provided by the footwear," they said.
"As with any type of personal protective equipment, it is difficult to achieve 100 percent satisfaction
between all firefighters. However, it is important that all firefighters be afforded proper fitting
footwear that provides an acceptable level of protection without compromising their safety."
Comments
The comments below are member­generated and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of
FrieRescue1.com or its staff.
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