At TAMREX, we have remained committed to very good and premium quality when selecting our footwear range. While this means a higher price, it offers you far greater satisfaction. A wisely chosen pair of shoes combines comfort, lightness, protection, functionality and durability.
The first step in choosing suitable footwear is to speak to a specialist. We encourage you to talk to our knowledgeable in-store staff, who understand the products’ features and uses. Tell the specialist what kind of surface you spend most of your working day on, how physically active you are and which constrained postures you most often work in (squatting, kneeling, etc.). This will help them find the right footwear models for you.
The second important step is to try on the shortlisted models, because feet differ not only in size, but also in height, width and shape. A well-fitting model will feel comfortable as soon as you try it on in the shop. If anything feels uncomfortable, be sure to try other models. There is something for everyone in TAMREX’s wide selection.
The stars of the TAMREX footwear range
Most of our range is produced by two well-known, long-established manufacturers: SOLID GEAR, the Swedish premium footwear brand within the Hultafors Group, and COFRA, based in northern Italy with a history spanning over 80 years.
Our footwear range is designed for you if comfort at work is your top priority and you want lightweight, supportive footwear. Our customers value both stylish product design and the functionality offered by features such as the Boa® quick-fastening system or the Goretex® membrane.
SOLID GEAR safety shoes
Solid Gear, a Swedish developer of occupational and safety footwear, was founded in 2004. Its main aim was to modernise occupational and safety footwear.
Its very first model set an entirely new standard in the industry by introducing innovative, high-tech materials. This made it clear that a high level of safety does not have to mean heavy boots. Thanks to new, top-class technical materials, occupational footwear can also be lightweight, sporty and stylish.
The Solid Gear development team leads the way, staying one step ahead of the rest. When you choose Solid Gear footwear, you choose the best expertise the industry has to offer today.
COFRA safety shoes
With over 80 years in business, Cofra is now the largest manufacturer of occupational footwear in Europe and the best known worldwide. Cofra produces almost a thousand different models, totalling 5 million pairs a year.
Cofra has achieved the difficult task of offering uncompromising protection, comfort and high quality in footwear costing 90, 120 and 150 euros a pair alike.
The Cofra team approaches workplace safety, and footwear in particular, with typically Italian passion and enthusiasm. Combined with smart management and continuous technological development, this has earned the loyalty and trust of users.
Cofra’s development team is inspired by advances in materials and technology that have made safety footwear more comfortable, lighter, more flexible and more breathable over time, while ensuring uncompromising protection for your feet.
The convenience and simplicity of the Boa® quick fastening system
Boa® is here to stay! For many, the ease of use and durability of this fastening system are important factors when choosing occupational and safety footwear. Boa® also improves safety, as there are no laces to come undone and get caught.
Boa® is easy to use. Turning the Boa® dial (even with a gloved hand) tightens the tough cable evenly and precisely. This secures your footwear to the millimetre for the entire working day.
The strong cable consists of 49 fine stainless steel strands covered with a durable nylon sheath. It has been tested in extreme conditions: in water and sand, mud and dust, cold and heat. The Boa® quick fastening system comes with a guarantee for the lifetime of the footwear.
When choosing footwear, check that Boa® is correctly fitted, meaning that it secures the entire shoe. Some manufacturers have made a significant investment in adding Boa® to their footwear, but it only tightens around the middle of your foot. The ankle and heel areas are not properly secured. With Cofra and Solid Gear footwear, however, you need not worry: the correct design and fitting of Boa® are guaranteed.
Safety footwear with extra-soft, lightweight soles
If your work keeps you constantly on the move and you take tens of thousands of steps a day, choose softer, lighter footwear models. Their outsoles are largely made of a lighter, softer and more resilient material, covered with a thinner, durable layer to ensure good grip and slip resistance. This type of footwear lasts very well on even, smooth surfaces.
This choice also offers real comfort at work when walking on rougher, more uneven surfaces (gravel, crushed stone or similar), but you may need to replace your footwear more often. Many of our customers deliberately choose lighter, softer footwear, even though our initial recommendation would have been a model with a tougher but slightly heavier sole.
Safety footwear with extra-durable soles
If your work keeps you constantly on the move and you take tens of thousands of steps a day, choose softer, lighter footwear models. Their outsoles are largely made of a lighter, softer and more resilient material, covered with a thinner, durable layer to ensure good grip and slip resistance. On more even, smoother surfaces, this type of footwear lasts very well.
Occupational and leisure footwear without safety features
If your workplace does not require a toecap or a perforation-resistant midsole, or you are looking for top-quality leisure footwear, we also offer options without safety features. This means you can wear ergonomic, comfortable and functional footwear made to high standards at any time.
In our leisure footwear range, models with a Goretex® membrane are in high demand, offering 100% waterproof protection. The range includes comfortable, supportive and durable footwear with the Boa® quick fastening system.
SOLID GEAR Dynamo GTX Boa® waterproof occupational shoes O2 FO SRC WR
From 179,90 €257,00 €−30%In stock
If the waterproof protection offered by Goretex® is not your priority and you value greater breathability instead, you will find a suitable model in the following list. In selecting our range of footwear without safety features, we have also focused exclusively on top-class comfort, support and functionality.
Safety footwear with highly breathable uppers
When working indoors or outdoors in warm weather, you need footwear with particularly good ventilation. One option is to choose highly breathable closed footwear; another is to add safety sandals to your range of occupational footwear.
Highly breathable closed safety footwear usually has uppers made from durable mesh fabric and meets the requirements of safety footwear class S1P. Unlike S3 footwear, it is not water-repellent, but it allows excess body heat to escape from your footwear more quickly.
Safety sandals
Safety sandals offer even greater breathability. When choosing safety sandals, pay attention to the sole composition, taking into account the surfaces you work on throughout the day. Also check whether the risk assessment for your workplace allows you to wear S1P footwear.
Indoor occupational shoes
If you work in the service sector, catering, healthcare or a similar field, mainly indoors on smooth floors, and your workplace does not require a toecap or a perforation-resistant midsole, you still need to wear professional occupational footwear.
Work that keeps you on the move or requires prolonged standing puts strain on your feet first, then on your whole body. Specially designed ergonomic footwear provides support, slip resistance and durability.
Our range of indoor occupational shoes includes models both with and without safety features.
ABEBA lace-up enclosed stretch textile indoor occupational shoes ESD SRC O1 FO
From 82,60 €118,00 €−30%In stock
Insoles and when to replace them
The insoles in footwear you wear every day need to be replaced regularly. For optimal support, healthy feet and better hygiene, we recommend replacing your insoles every four months.
When buying new footwear, consider buying an extra pair of insoles too. You will probably replace your insoles once or twice before you need new footwear.
Clean socks, clean footwear
TAMREX offers a wide range of functional socks for both indoor use and colder conditions.
If your feet sweat during the day, choose thin, breathable, quick-drying technical socks in summer, and wear only merino wool socks when active in colder conditions.
Please note: functional work socks are effective in your leisure time too.
Key questions
How long does occupational and safety footwear last?
The lifespan of your footwear depends first and foremost on whether the model you choose suits your work and working environment. The second factor is how often you wear that particular pair, and the third is how well you look after it.
Any footwear wears out faster with more intensive work and in harsh conditions. You can extend its service life by choosing footwear with particularly durable soles.
The average expected lifespan of occupational footwear worn daily is 6–12 months. However, much also depends on you as the wearer. For example, there have been cases where the durability of the same footwear model has varied considerably even among members of the same team doing the same work.
You might wear your footwear out in 4–6 months if your work involves more movement, more abrasive surfaces or more damage to your shoes. Even so, you may be very satisfied and have no wish for shoes with tougher soles because you value lightweight footwear and soft cushioning underfoot. Alternatively, your footwear might last a couple of years. In this case, you will usually be alternating between several pairs, moving around less or working in less demanding conditions.
Unfortunately, footwear is all too often used as an all-purpose tool: to tap things into place, push soil around, lift heavy objects on the toecaps and so on. This is the main reason why footwear does not last as long as it should and needs replacing more often. Occupational and safety footwear is not designed to be used as a tool. Its purpose is to support and protect your feet.
Footwear is a complex product category: it is relatively expensive, so your expectations are naturally high. Yet advice is rarely sought.
Friendly, helpful sales staff are ready to welcome you at every TAMREX store. Our years of experience have taught us which footwear suits which conditions. Expert advice also helps you set realistic expectations for your footwear and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of different models in your particular working environment. That is why we recommend taking up the conversation when a member of our team approaches you: tell us about your work, your working environment, your working methods and the positions you work in. Also tell us which footwear you have already used and what you have noticed about it.
Working together and sharing information helps you choose occupational footwear that lasts, feels comfortable and protects your feet.
Does more expensive footwear last longer?
As a general rule, the more functionality a pair of shoes offers, the higher the price. At TAMREX, a step up in price always means added functional value.
More expensive footwear uses materials that have performed better in tests, along with proven technologies. These may include premium leather or high-performance synthetic materials, tough Cordura® reinforcements, a waterproof and breathable Goretex® membrane, a convenient Boa® fastening system, effective Thinsulate™ insulation, a durable Vibram® outsole, an extra-soft EDPU midsole, better support, ergonomic construction, shock absorption, breathability, a more comfortable last, a moisture-absorbing insole, additional reinforcements at the heel and toe, or similar features.
Higher-priced footwear also comes in different models: strong, durable options that are comfortable to wear, as well as lighter, more breathable and softer models made from thinner materials. If you choose a lightweight model when you actually need a tougher one, you will wear it out faster. Footwear durability is therefore directly linked to the nature of your work and choosing the right model.
You may find basic, lower-priced footwear made from particularly strong, thick and rigid materials that lasts a long time but is uncomfortable to wear. It tends to be heavy and stiff, with no support, poor weight distribution, no shock absorption and so on. Wearing this kind of footwear for long periods causes discomfort first in your feet, then in your knees and hips, and may eventually lead to seemingly unexplained headaches. You are unlikely to want to put up with this discomfort every day and will probably soon start looking for lighter, more comfortable alternatives.
Well-chosen premium footwear is a pleasure to wear throughout its service life. You feel comfortable, and your feet can breathe and stay dry, well protected and supported.
Is worn or damaged footwear defective?
A defective product is one with a fault. This means that a mistake was made during the manufacture of the footwear. A seam may have been sewn incorrectly, a component may be missing, a joint may not have enough adhesive, the inner lining may be loose, or there may be a similar issue.
Manufacturing defects usually become apparent in the shop or during the first few uses, as you notice straight away that something is wrong. In this case, you must stop using the footwear immediately, clean it and return it. If you continue wearing it, wear can make a manufacturing defect very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to identify.
TAMREX takes responsibility for the quality of its goods, and we replace defective products immediately. Footwear that has been worn out, shows wear or has been damaged, however, is not classed as having a manufacturing defect. We can only address any resulting dissatisfaction by providing thorough advice when you buy your next pair.