Picking up where Mythbusters left off --
The other night on Mythbusters Jamie and Adam put to test the myth that steel toed work shoes can do more harm than regular shoes if something is dropped on them. The theory is that the steel cup will curl over and cut off the toes.
The standard rating for steel toed shoes is I/l75 which means that the steel toe will retain the required clearance when a fifty pound weight is dropped on it from a height of 18 inches. [ Source.]
The Mythbusters demonstrated that their I/75 rated shoes passed the test. So they piled on the weight and raised the drop height until the toes were finally crushed. But there was one test that their viewers probably wanted to see more than any of the others: Would the steel toes hold up if run over by a car? But they didn't do that test!!
Most of us don't worry so much about a fifty pound weight falling on our toes. But getting the little piggies rolled over by a car, now that could happen. So lets find out what would happen.
Luckily the local Academy store is having a sale in which a pair of Brazos brand steel toed shoes can be bought with a mere $19.99 plus tax. And the shoes had the standard steel toe rating of Ansi Z41 PT99 I/75 C/75.
And test we did. The working title of this piece was "Curiosity Crushed the Shoe." But the shoe passed the test! The vehicle is supposed to weigh 3,600 pounds, and the tire rolled over the toe of the shoe ever so gently. But a dial caliper and a cardboard template showed that there was no discernable distortion. What a disappointment.
The C/75 rating means the steel toe is supposed to retain clearance under a compressive load of 2,500 pounds. But the full weight of the vehicle doesn't end up on each tire, so we don't know just how much weight the shoe actually had to endure. I wouldn't want to test it again with my foot in the shoe, but the shoe passed the test that time.
So I guess that pair of shoes is my Christmas present to myself this year. Shoes for Christmas. Darn. I wanted toys.
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