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Buy rigger boots online now at Cromwell. Choose from a comprehensive range of high-performance safety footwear from brand leaders, like Himalayan®, CAT®, V12 Footwear®, Ambler's Safety® and more. For more insights and guidance on safety footwear, visit our comprehensive guide.

What are rigger boots?

Worn to insulate and protect the feet and ankles, rigger boots are fur-lined safety boots that are pulled on in the same manner as a wellington boot. Traditionally made with a leather upper, these practical boots offer a range of comfort and safety features, including anti-slip soles, cut and impact resistance and protection against crushing injuries.

Their design is typified by the lack of laces or zippers, making them easy to slip on and off, especially in jobs where workers need to remove boots frequently, as well as their high shaft and loops; they often have a mid-calf height with pull loops, offering added ankle support and protection. The loops help with putting on the boots quickly.

The name "rigger boots" originated from the boots traditional use in the offshore oil-rigging industry. They're popular in various trades and industries for their convenience, durability, and protective features. They are commonly worn in construction, farming, and industrial settings where workers require sturdy, easy-to-wear, slip-resistant footwear.

Why rigger boots?

Rigger boots are an adaptable design that has evolved to cover a wide range of job roles. The fur lining protects against cold working environments, while ankle support options are now available to promote stability and prevent ankle strain. Along with their slip-resistance features, rigger boots provide the whole package when working in harsh and slippery environments.

When are rigger boots used?

Rigger boots were originally designed for workers on offshore oil rigs, who needed warm and protective footwear in slippery conditions. Due to the advances in design and safety, rigger boots have become the choice of footwear in construction, warehousing, agriculture and more.

Rigger boot types

Rigger boots maintain a classic design, with additional safety features setting one brand apart from another. Each safety feature is labelled on the packaging and technical datasheet to allow for the clear identification of the protection each boot offers...

• SB-S7   -   The Safety Classifications as per EN ISO 20345:2011 and 2022 classify all safety footwear to a rating between SB (Safety Basic) and S7 (the most robust). Each level has different features and types of protection, which are detailed further down this guide.

• A   -   This safety rating is for anti-static protection that ranges between 0.1 and 1000 MegaOhms.

• E   -   This safety rating is for energy absorption to protect the foot against impact strain of up to 20 Joules.

• FO   -   This abbreviation means the rigger boot is resistant to fuel oil.

• HRO   -   This rating is for Heat Resistant Outsole that can protect the wearer up to 300°C temperatures.

• P   -   This indicates that the boots protect against penetration of up to 1100Nm of force.

• WR   -   This stands for Water Resistant, which means the whole boot is resistant to water and keeps feet dry.

• WRU   -   This indicates that the boot has a Water Resistant Upper and will withstand splash.

• SRA, SRB and SRC   -   These are slip resistance ratings, with A, B or C indicative of the testing carried out on each boot. SRA demonstrates slip resistance on ceramic tile coated with lauryl sulphate, while SRB demonstrates slip resistance on steel flooring coated with glycerol. SRC has been tested on both surfaces and lubricants to give the best slip resistance.

Considerations when choosing rigger boots

• Fitting - Well-fitted footwear will provide the protection needed in rough conditions, so ensure you try on your boots wearing the same work socks you'd normally wear. Make sure they don't slip on the ankle to avoid painful rubbing and that they're a comfortable weight for wearing during a full shift.

• Upper - Most rigger boots feature a leather upper which is breathable and durable. However, some cheaper versions are prone to crack and wear heavily in harsh conditions. Invest in quality to save money in the long run, or opt for a vegan-friendly or eco-friendly alternative.

• Insole - A breathable and moisture-wicking insole is of the utmost importance in manual jobs. Choose a rigger boot with a removable insole for easy replacement. Insoles can also help to bolster the comfort of a rigger boot, especially if it has a high arch, an essential if on your feet for long periods of time.

• Sole - Choose a durable sole with anti-slip characteristics to keep you on your feet in all kinds of weather.

• Midsole - An almost standard feature in most safety boots, a strong midsole protects the foot against penetration injuries from sharps, such as nails and glass.

• Toe fitting - Toes shouldn't be able to touch the toe cap and shouldn't feel squished or hemmed in. Ensure toes can move freely, and for a lighter-weight boot consider a composite toe cap.

Rigger boots jargon buster

To help you to make the best purchasing decision, we've outlined an applicable safety standard so you can better understand what our range has to offer...

What does safety standard EN ISO 20345 mean?

This safety standard, Personal protective equipment - Safety footwear outlines the basic safety requirements of safety footwear suitable for general purpose work. This includes slip-resistance properties, heat resistance and more.

Let's break it down...

• EN- The currently applicable standard across Europe

• ISO - The International Organisation for Standardisation define international safety standards

• 20345 - The assigned legislation number

• 2011 and 2022 - The year this safety standard was updated.

It's important to note that safety footwear products come with a five year certification as of the date they were tested. As a result of this, both the EN ISO 20345:2011 and EN ISO 20345:2022 are valid, as long as the certification of the safety footwear has not surpassed the five year certification date.

FAQs

Can you get rigger boots without steel toe caps?
To be classified as safety shoes or safety boots, all personal protective footwear must feature a toe cap with minimum impact protection of up to 200 Joules. However, if you're looking for a lighter-weight rigger boot, composite toe caps are now widely used by manufacturers, and, while a little more expensive, they don't conduct the heat or cold the way steel does.

Can I wear my rigger boots that are tested to EN ISO 20345:2011 still?
Rigger boots, like all safety footwear, come with a five year certificate marked with the date of purchase. This certificate is valid for five years, meaning that as long as the certification is still in date, rigger boots that meet the older standard EN ISO 20345:2011 can still be worn.

The EN ISO 20345:2022 and EN ISO 20345:2011 will co-exist until 2028, by which point all footwear to the 2011 iteration of the standard have expired certification, meaning the 2022 version of the standard will supersede the 2011 version.

What does the EN ISO 20345 standard test for?
Within the EN ISO 20345 standard, safety footwear can be tested against numerous hazards, and given what is known as a safety classification dependent on the outcome of each test.

Safety classification ranges from SB to S5 as per the 2011 iteration of the standard. The 2022 update to the standard introduced new safety classifications, which go up to S7.
All safety classifications include mandatory presence of a protective toecap that protects up to 200J.

As well as this, all safety classifications also require a level of mandatory slip resistance, which can be rated from SRA to SRC as per the 2011 standard.

The 2022 iteration of the EN ISO 20345 standard added a minimum requirement for slip-resistance. If the safety footwear surpasses this basic requirement and is also tested for slip-resistance on a ceramic tile with glycerol, under the updated standard, it is rated as SR. This is a more rigorous level of slip-resistance than the new basic requirement.

What other markings or tests are included in the EN ISO 20345 standard?
Besides the mandatory basic tests and the more robust additional tests as safety footwear moves up in safety classification, there are also optional, additional tests that safety footwear can be tested against.

There are 18 in total, as detailed and outlined below:

• PL   -   Safety footwear marked with PL signifies that the footwear has been tested for perforation resistance in a non-metallic insert, tested with a 4.5 mm test nail. This is a new addition as per the EN ISO 20345:2022 standard.

• PS   -   Similarly to the above, the marking PS refers to perforation resistance except this time with a non-metallic insert, tested with a 3.0 mm test nail. This is also a new marking as per the EN ISO 20345:2022 standard.

• P   -   Part of the EN ISO 20345:2011 standard, P signifies that the safety footwear has been tested for perforation resistance (metal insert).

• C   -   A C marking denotes that the safety footwear has been marked categorised as partly conductive footwear.

• A   -   The letter A denotes that the safety footwear has been marked as anti-static.

• HI   -   Safety footwear with the marking HI means that it has been tested for heat insulation of the sole complex.

• CI   -   Similarly to the above, CI denotes that the safety footwear possesses cold insulation of the sole complex.

• E   -   Refers to energy absorption of the seat region of the safety footwear.

• WR   -   Signifies that the footwear has been tested for water resistance. This is the new marking as per the EN ISO 20345:2022 standard, and means that no water penetration inside the footwear shall be detected for the footwear to achieve this marking.

WR is also used as per the 2011 iteration of the standard, but the 2011 test allows for 3cm cubed of water to penetrate the footwear. This means that the 2022 standard is more strict in defining safety footwear as water resistant.

• WRU   -   Part of the 2011 standard, WRU refers to water resistance of the upper part of the safety footwear only.

• WPA   -   Used to essentially replace the above marking WRU, as per the 2022 standard, footwear marked as WPA denotes that some water penetration and absorption of the footwear can occur.

• M   -   Refers to footwear with metatarsal protection.

• AN   -   Refers to footwear with ankle protection.

• CR   -   States that the footwear has cut resistance of the upper part.

• SC   -   A new optional requirement as per the 2022 standard, SC signifies that there is abrasion resistance of optional overcaps/scuff caps.

• SR   -   As mentioned previously, under the updated EN ISO 20345 standard, SR will be an optional slip-resistance test on top of the new minimum requirement of basic slip-resistance.

• HRO   -   Heat resistance of the outsole.

• FO   -   Fuel resistance and oil resistance.

• LG   -   The safety footwear has outsoles which provide hold on ladders, or 'ladder grip'. This is a new optional test as per the 2022 standard.

For more information on safety boots see our Safety Footwear Guide... https://www.cromwell.co.uk/info/safety-technical-safety-footwear