Steel toecaps

stutterin' sam · Nova Slayer Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Karma :

As this is one of the biggest biker forums in the country I thought i'd ask has anyone on here has lost a foot or toes because they were wearing steel toecaps, or do you know personally anyone who has - (not hearsay friend of a friend or a cousin's girlfriends brother etc) or is this an urban myth and a figment of some instructor's imagination to keep his insurance company happy.
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stutterin' sam · Nova Slayer Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Karma :

Or, on the other hand do you know of amyone who lost a foot or toes while wearing motorcycle boots?
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Zeuky · Nova Slayer Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Karma :

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Skudd · Super Spammer Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :

I had a pair of shmans that had toecaps when I came off, I didn't lose any toes but I did have nasty cuts across them that could have been worse.
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iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

Well if the toe caps did cut your toes off......

Imagine what your toes would be like without the steelies there Sick

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.Chris. · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Karma :

This is a common misconception and applies equally to getting your toes run over by a forklift in a warehouse, etc. I think it is technically possible for the toecap to be overwhelmed by the force bearing down on it, if subjected to extreme force. However if the same thing happened and you weren't wearing them, your toes would be strawberry jam anyway.

I wear my steel toecaps quite a bit on the bike. I find them a good compromise as a shoe that looks normal off the bike and is easy to walk in, yet will (I hope) provide greater protection than trainers.
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Blackwolf · Burgerfist Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Karma :

Myth Busters tested this and it was busted, it was some stupid force for the steel to deform Thumbs Up

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stutterin' sam · Nova Slayer Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Karma :

stutterin' sam · Nova Slayer Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Karma :

I think that the fear is not that the toecap deforms, but that the sole of the boot would fold up and the toecap would guillotine your toes
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It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, some idiot on a sports bike would be stupid enough to try and pass them.

yambabe · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

https://kwc.org/mythbusters/2005/11/episode_42_steel_toe_amputatio.html

Wink

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kerr · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 May 2011 Karma :

when i done my cbt the young lad that was taking it with me arrived in trainers Rolling Eyes

i asked if it was ok to lend him my steelies i had in the van, instructor said they were spot on.
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stutterin' sam · Nova Slayer Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Karma :

Chalky. · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

It's sort of a myth but not as much of a myth as people here seem to think.

I used to work at a bike shop in Kings Cross and the boss there had a crash while wearing steel toe caps, the sole was bent back on itself and broke his foot in a line across several bones so although toe amputation is unlikely yes they can cause damage.

The Mythbusters referred to above tests the toe caps by dropping items on them not by bending the sole over itself so not strictly valid.

Skudd · Super Spammer Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :

With mine the steel toe bent back in the boot ( the toe cap kept it's shape) with the edge cutting my toes. The sole of the boot didn't stand up to it and bent.
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sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Howling TerrorOutOfOffice · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :

I dropped either an 8ft RSJ or an acetylene bottle on my boot. It dented the top edge and made a mark on my foot.

If i had to, i'd wear steel toecaps on my bike and be quite happy with them. ( Apart from the grippy soles.)
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Paulington · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Karma :

I think the easiest way of putting it is that in 99% of accidents, you will suffer significantly more damage by not wearing toe-capped boots as opposed to wearing them.
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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

A former friend of mine, crashed in steel toe caps, and broke a toe, he thought this didn't make sense, but if you think about it, the toe cap is rigid, and whereas a normal boot is like a sock and allows your foot to move into any position, the toe cap edge may well dig in, if the foot bends in an accident.

Basically steel toe caps are designed to protect you from things dropping onto your toes, thats a different kind of thing to what you would have in a motorbike accident.

I've ridden motorbikes in boots with toe caps, but wouldnt usually. Obviously better than trainers, but a bit of a hazard compared with motorbike boots.
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Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

I would think that its more important that motorcycle boots ave strengthening to stop the boot twisting and fucking your ankle in an accident.

nothing < trainers < stout shoes < general boots < steelies < M/C boots

PB's philosophy on bike footwear Cool

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sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

T.C · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

I have dealt with several crashes where the rider has lost their toes or parrt of their foot as a direct result of wearing steel toe caps, although to be fair it tnds to be the exception rather than the rule.

In a couple of crashes, the riders foot was pushed upwards causing the back edge of the steel toe cap to slice across all five toes a nd were found floating around inside the boot.

The most common injury is where the foot is forced the wrong way so in affect the foot tries to bend back on itself towards the heel but cannot return to its normal position.

In affect the foot breaks in half across the shank towards the front end.

So, to say it is a myth is not accurate, but it is also not a problem that happens everyday.
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