Lineman Boots: 5 Must-Haves For Your Boots

Being a lineman is not an easy profession. In fact, it requires a lot of tasks that may pose danger and hazard. And since the job largely deals with electrical wires (both live and de-energized), lineman use personal protective equipment including, especially, lineman boots.

These boots are made especially for this profession. They are equipped with several dedicated features to protect the lineworkers from accidents, and to help get the job done efficiently.

Hence, it’s important for every lineman to have a pair of quality and reliable lineman’s boots. We have done several lineman boots reviews for you as well, so please check those out.

Lineman Boots Today

Generally, a lineman is responsible for outdoor maintenance and installation of different power lines. While the job may not be for everyone, many companies are still known to manufacture different personal protective equipment. So, the selection of gloves, goggles, suits, and safety shoes or boots on the market is quite huge.

Here’s a quick video comparing two lineman boots and their features:

With this at hand and lineman boots being one of the most important personal protection equipment for a lineworker, it is quite challenging to find the most appropriate pair of boots.

Nevertheless, a lineman could still find the best pair as long as the factors that affect the overall quality of the boots are very well considered.

The Must-Haves: Factors To Consider When Choosing and Buying

In choosing a pair of lineman boots, it must have the best qualities and features that will fit accordingly to a lineman’s needs and requirements.

Here the 5 things that a pair of lineman boots must have:

1. Great Ankle Support

   Lineworkers are largely on their feet during working hours. The daily tasks involve climbing poles and metal towers. So, the boots shouldn’t be a hindrance to mobility. Hence, comfortability is a huge factor to consider when choosing or buying lineman boots.

   Now, genuine comfortability is essentially provided by a great ankle support. If the ankle support is not built efficiently, it may not only be uncomfortable but, it could pose much greater risks and danger as well.

   A pair of lineman boots have a great ankle support when:
   – The pair of boots is tall
   – It features full lacing
   – It has a reinforced support
   – Safety caps

   It is essential to note that safety caps are largely optional. This feature is only required when tasks require an ultimate climbing activity.

2. Good Traction and Treading

   The quality of the soles plays an important role as well on the daily life of a  lineman. It must be durable and ergonomic as these contribute to comfortability too.

   Moreover, the sole must provide a good traction and aggressive treading. These features are significantly important since they are the ones responsible for safe and effective climbing.

   Having an aggressive treading ensures the boots to take a grip on different surfaces. As for having good traction, it will keep the boots, rather the feet, in place, especially when conditions are not of the best type.

   
   

3. Quality Shank

   A pair of lineman boots must also possess a good quality of shank. The shank acts as a support structure for the insole and outsole. It is essential to the functionality of lineman boots.

   The reason behind is that shank supports the additional load that happens during a climb. When the boots do not possess a good quality of shank, it may result in accidents like a fall.

   Traditionally, it is best to have a full steel shank as it provides additional stiffness to the boots. But since technology made it possible to produce materials that can mimic the functions of steel to the boots, some manufacturers today began to use carbon fibers.

4. Insulation and Waterproofing

   As mentioned, lineworkers normally deal with electrical wires and power lines. And they will always be dangerous. So, it is a must for lineman boots to have proper insulation.

   This will provide extra safety from different electrical hazards. Also, a quality pair of lineman boots are well-insulated when it has an electrical hazard certification.

   Aside from being well-insulated, lineman boots must also be waterproof-ready.

   Linemen work outdoors on a daily basis and rainy days are unavoidable. If there are power lines that must be checked and fixed during the wet seasons, then the assigned lineworkers must still work on it. So, it is only fitting for the boots to be waterproof.

   In addition, having a pair of lineman boots that is waterproof can comfort and safety from electrical hazards as well.

5. Durable Materials

Lineman boots are not really easy to come by. Also, they pretty much posses a hefty price. And it is not like every day that a lineman can buy one pair. In fact, they are considered to be an investment.

Hence, it is only suitable to look for lineman boots that are made out of quality and durable materials.

While leather is the most common material used for the outer layer of the boots, there are different kinds and types of leather. And each of these provides different durability capacities.

But, it is important to note that durability does not revolve alone on the outer layer. It includes the other parts as well. So, considerations and observations are a must before making a decision.

Moreover, lineman boots, in principle, must last for years. And what every lineman would want is a protective shoe that can provide the ultimate safety. If the boots would break due to minimal usage, then it won’t count as a protective gear at all.

In a Nutshell

Lineman boots primarily provide safety for lineworkers. And the last thing that every lineworker needs to consider is the cost.

Although cost can play a huge role in a buying decision, it is important to note that safety and security don’t go side by side with price and cost.

In the end, choosing lineman boots will largely depend on personal preferences. One pair may be comfortable for some, but it doesn’t mean that it can provide comfort to others as well. It’s a matter of choice. And these factors will help lineworkers to get the most appropriate pairs for their respective uses.

I have shared many Lineman boot reviews on the website which you may find useful.