How to choose the best Sievi safety shoes for the job

The right choice is about much more than size and appearance. If the footwear doesn’t match the task, it can have serious consequences for the user. The wrong choice can lead to tired feet, sore knees, and back pain, which in the worst case may result in long-term injuries or sick leave. At the same time, the risk of accidents increases if the shoe doesn’t provide the proper grip or necessary protection.

To ensure optimal comfort, maximum safety, and the best value for money, you can use this guide as your benchmark. It equips you to ask the right questions, so you can find the safety shoes that perfectly match your work situation and your body. You can use it as a checklist for safety, comfort, and responsible purchasing.

This article was created in collaboration with Sievi.

1. Work Environment and Safety Class

The first and most important question is: What risks do I encounter doing the day? Your workday determines the specifications of the shoe. The well-being of your feet depends on a precise balance between external protection and a healthy internal climate inside the shoe.

Here, you should distinguish between the most common classifications:

2. Surfaces and Slip Resistance

Smooth surfaces cause most accidents, while hard floors can wear on your body over time if the wrong soles are used. The choice of sole depends on whether you need grip, cushioning, or extra stability on ladders:

Maximum Grip (TractionPro®):
Do you work outdoors in frost, snow, or on wet and oily surfaces? Here, a sole with a deep tread and a soft rubber compound is essential. It grips the ground firmly and remains flexible in cold conditions, minimizing the risk of slip accidents.

Shock Absorption for Hard Floors (FlexStep®):
Do you spend many hours on concrete or asphalt? The challenge here is the constant impact that travels to your knees and back. A cushioned sole neutralizes this strain and helps prevent fatigue and long-term joint injuries.

Safety at Height (Ladder Grip):
Do you often climb ladders or scaffolding? Make sure to choose a model with pronounced ladder grip. This is the cut in the sole (in front of the heel) that prevents your foot from slipping on ladder rungs. It provides stability and confidence every time you work at height.

3. Ergonomics and Fit

A safety shoe should fit perfectly from the moment you put it on, it should never need “breaking in.” If the shoe pinches or provides incorrect support, the discomfort quickly travels from your feet to your knees, hips, and back.

Width: Do you need an XL last?
Many make the mistake of buying a shoe a size too large to get extra width, but this causes the foot to slide around. Nordic feet are often wider, and an XL last is the solution here. It provides extra volume and room for your toes to move naturally. Remember that your feet swell during the day, a proper width ensures blood circulation remains intact, preventing numb toes and fatigue.

Stability: Protect your joints
If you work on uneven terrain or ladders, the risk of twisting injuries is high. You need a built-in support shank in the arch of the shoe. It stiffens the shoe in the right areas, keeping your foot in a healthy position. This relieves the plantar fascia and helps prevent micro-injuries that over time can lead to heel spurs or other overuse injuries. You’ll find this kind of support in shoes like Sievi Balance®.

Insoles: Personalized fit
No two feet are the same. Consider whether you need insoles with different arch heights (e.g., Sievi Dual Comfort). This elevates the ergonomics from standard to customized, which is crucial if you have flat feet or high arches.

4. Closure System: Speed vs. Traditional

How you fasten your shoe has a significant impact on both your safety and comfort throughout a long day. It’s not just about convenience it’s about ensuring the shoe fits exactly as it should, no matter the task.

BOA® Fit System – Fast and Secure:
BOA® is the modern choice for those who want maximum ease of use. By turning the dial, the shoe tightens evenly across the entire instep in a single motion.

• You avoid loose laces that can get caught in machinery or branches (enhanced safety). At the same time, the system doesn’t loosen throughout the day, and it’s incredibly quick to get in and out of the shoe, ideal if you often move between indoor and outdoor areas or between office and production.
  In addition to the easy and fast closure, BOA® also provides better stability, as the system tightens the shoe evenly and correctly. This means the shoe fits your foot more securely, offering increased support and stability throughout the entire workday.

Laces – The Classic and Adjustable Fit:
Traditional laces are still the best choice for those with a very specific foot shape or who need to adjust the tightness in different areas.

• Advantages: With laces, you can choose to tighten the shoe firmly across the instep while leaving it looser at the ankle (or vice versa). This provides a unique level of customization, which can be essential if you have previous injuries, a very high instep, or need to “lock in” your foot for demanding work on uneven terrain.

5. Sustainability and Environmental Impact

In 2026, the “best” shoe is not only the one that fits your foot but also the one with the lowest environmental impact. Companies today demand far greater transparency, and your personal protective equipment is an important part of the overall climate footprint.

Durability is the Best Environmental Strategy:
The most sustainable shoe is the one you don’t have to replace after three months. By choosing high technical quality and the right materials, you extend the product’s lifespan. The fewer pairs of shoes you use over time, the lower your overall resource consumption. This not only reduces your environmental impact but also provides an economic benefit, as quality shoes often turn out to be the most cost-effective solution in the long run.

CO2 Footprint as a Decision-Making Tool:
It’s no longer enough to call a shoe “green.” At ccbsafety, we choose suppliers who document their footprint—one of the leading producers, Sievi, sets the industry standard by documenting the precise CO2 footprint of each model. A strong example is Racer EcoTech®, which combines recycled materials with uncompromising safety, resulting in a CO2 footprint of only 12.54 kgCO2e per pair. For comparison, a beef burger produces about 3.4 kgCO2. If your company works with ESG reporting or green accounting, choosing shoes with a documented low footprint is a concrete tool to help achieve your climate goals.

Local Production and EU Standards:
When you choose footwear produced in Europe, as in Sievi’s case, at their own state-of-the-art factories in Finland, you get much more than just a solid safety shoe. You receive a guarantee that the entire manufacturing process complies with the strictest EU environmental standards and ensures ethically correct working conditions for employees.

European production also means strict control over chemical use (REACH), resulting in a healthier product for both you and the environment. At the same time, the geographic proximity ensures shorter transport routes, reducing the overall CO2 footprint. This provides peace of mind, knowing that your footwear is made under proper conditions, with care for both the people behind the product and the world around us.

Checklist: 7 Questions for Your Next Safety Shoe Choice

Here is a summary along with seven critical questions you should ask before choosing safety shoes or boots: