Birkenstock Qo 700, Men's Closed-Toe

Product Information

The material used for the bellows tongue construction, a piece of fabric that is attached between the tongue and the rest of the upper to keep out grit, seems to be of quite poor quality. This is a minor piece of the entire shoe, but I can tell that it is something that is most likely not going to hold up when put into daily use. The QS700 is presented as a modern ankle sneaker with 7-hole lacing and a heel loop. The nonslip, metal-free, and oil- and petrol-resistant outsole provides for energy absorption around the heel and is penetration-resistant. A 200-joule steel toe with a scratch-resistant toe cap protects the forefoot. The upper is made from water-resistant microfiber (WRU) and offers antistatic protection. They are "water resistant", but not waterproof, which perhaps will be an issue in some cases, depending on the kind of work you are going to do in them.

I loved how the toe box still managed to stay comfortably spacious even with the presence of the safety toe cap. The toe box was roomy enough to allow my toes to spread out in a natural way, preventing cramping and the painful feeling that occurs when the metallic toe cap presses into the toes. The shoe is certified in accordance with EN ISO 20345:2011 and meets the requirements of protection category S3. That being said, these are the best option I've been able to find, so I intend on keeping them and hopefully, within a couple of years, some of the barefoot shoe brands are going to make a safety shoe as well, as I'm sure the demand is growing. (I've heard Xeroshoes are looking into making a barefoot safety shoe - fingers crossed :) ).

The design of the sole of the shoes are made to look like a goodyear welt (where the sole is stitched to the rest of the shoe), but this is just molded in plastic to look like real stitches. Not a fan. Personally I would much rather prefer an honest design that is not trying to make the construction of the shoes appear to be something different than what it actually is.

The footbed had a microfiber lining that offered a soothing kind of softness, preventing blisters from forming even when I walked and moved around continuously for long periods. Unlike other work boots I previously tried that bit into my toes, Here we examine 9 different options that come as close to the ideal as possible, so you can choose what’s best for you. Let’s dig in. Minimalist Work Boots Comparison Table A barefoot shoe like the one on the left is the goal. But depending on your work requirements, you many need to make some compromises. Shoe brands have yet to step up to the challenge of truly healthy minimalist work boots that are also safety rated (Want to change that? Vote with your dollars for minimalist footwear and share this message!). In the meantime, I’ve scoured the web for the best alternatives.Here at Bstore, we know that the best shopping experience (and life) comes from being fun, ambitious, authentic and responsive, and having the confidence to know your identity and wear it with pride. 'Keeping it Real' is in our DNA, and we challenge ourselves every day to do just that - keep it real. We embrace our Australian heritage, seek to actively appreciate the awesome lifestyle we get to experience in this part of the world, and fit you out with the perfect shoes – for wherever your feet take you. With this single thought, we opened Bstore in 2001. We have made it our mission to find you stylish footwear that feels awesome to wear. It has meant scouring the world to discover the best brands in each category that deliver on our strict criteria of delivering style, genuine comfort and the perfect fit for healthy, happy feet. After all, our whole purpose is 'to make feet smile'! I loved the spacious toe box that accommodated my toes so they were allowed to spread out naturally. I liked how the curved edge of the footbed worked to protect my foot from falling flat onto the base, preventing uncomfortable fallen arches that may occur with long hours of walking or standing on hard floors.