Footwear Insight

footwearinsight.com August 2020 ~ Footwear Insight • 27 Thorogood / American Union These waterproof boots feature a seam-sealed upper and waterproof leather, with a lug outsole offering reliable traction. American Union series safety toe work boots are Union Made in Wisconsin, and backed by the Union Sportsman's Alliance. Available Fall '20 / MSRP $160. Impacto / Metguard Pro Not a boot, but rather a safety footwear attachment, the Metguard Pro protects the metatarsal area of the foot with an extended design that compliments steel toe cap and regular safety footwear. The lip of the Metguard Pro sits on top of the foot at load point and secures to footwear with existing laces or optional straps. It helps protect the upper foot by deflecting and dispersing the impact of falling loads. Available Now / MSRP $44. Iron Age / Solidifier This full-grain leather, waterproof work boot features a lightweight polyurethane outsole for durability in outdoor elements, along with a defined heel for added traction and stability. Solidifier is perfect for masons, concrete workers, landscapers, utility workers, and oil and gas workers who want the look and cleanability of a wedge outsole plus the functionality of a defined heel and waterproof liner. Available Fall '20 / MSRP $143. Wolverine/ Hellcat UltraSpring Wedge Combining the classic style and durability of a work boot with modern performance cushioning, the Hellcat UltraSpring Wedge delivers a springy, lightweight ride. The upper is locked to the outsole using Goodyear welt construction for added durability. The waterproof leather design is available in safety (CarbonMAX composite toe) and soft toe. Available Spring '21 / MSRP $165. Xena Workwear / Omega EH Safety Boot Seeking st ylish safet y footwear for women? New brand Xena, a Milwaukee-based startup, delivers with offerings such as the Omega Safety EH Boot, a lightweight style that is slip-resistant and has Electrical Hazard certification. It also features an almond shape steel-toe design. Available Now / MSRP $180. Red Wing / EXOS Lite The brand's lightest work boot ever, Red Wing's EXOS Lite is designed for indoor and outdoor medium-duty jobs in warehousing, distribution, construction, light manufacturing and service environments. The boot's SwitchBack Support System requires less material and avoids unnecessary layers of leather found in a traditional work boot, reducing the boot's weight without sacrificing support, comfort or durability. Available Now / MSRP $ 209.99. Hytest / Annex Metatarsal Guard Athletic Shoe Part of Hytest's FootRests 2.0 collection, the Annex Athletic shoe features an Xergy anti-fatigue foam midsole, an oil-and-slip resistant rubber outsole, and the Hytest-exclusive Terrapin internal met-guard technology, which deflects energy and absorbs shock. A limited run of 48 pairs of this shoe were made available in August with a full launch set for the spring. Available Spring '21 / MSRP $130. "Our company continues to see a growing trend, escalated by COVID-19, of the need for athletic safety footwear that performs like sneakers with added safety features. As warehousing and logistics continue to become a larger share of the US workforce due to e-commerce increases, workers in these industries need lightweight, protective shoes that can provide extreme cushion on concrete floors and the ability to log a lot of hours of walking and flexing." Brent Jennings VP of Marketing, Warson Brands "Athletic-inspired safety styles continue to be sought after by the work consumer." Karry Johnson VP/GM, Hytest "Professional women want workwear that will allow them to dress for success in a meeting while having the flexibility to seamlessly transition to the facility floor or a construction site afterwards… Our versatile products allow women to look and perform their very best no matter the circumstance." Anastasia Kraft Founder and CEO, Xena Workwear Impacto / Metguard Pro / MSRP $44

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