Boot Advisor | Bekina Boots

Checklist: How to choose the best farming wellies?

Are you a farmer and looking for a new pair of wellies? But you don’t know which ones to choose from the wide range on offer? Then you've found the right page, because this checklist will help you find out which farming wellies are best suited to your day-to-day work on the farm.

Checklist question 1: Do you want tight-fitting farming wellies or do you prefer wide ones?

A good fit means something different for everyone. That is why the Bekina Boots range includes farming wellies with a narrower fit as well as wellies with a wider shaft. So decide whether you need a little more room for sturdy calves or thick winter overalls, or if you prefer a narrower fit.

Steplite EasyGrip: standard fit
StepliteX SolidGrip: wider fit
StepliteX ThermoProtec: wider fit
Thermolite IceShield: standard fit

Checklist question 2: What safety level do you need?

In addition to their fit, the different Bekina Boots farming wellies vary in terms of safety level. This refers to the safety material incorporated into the wellie that protects you from, for example, falling objects, a kick from a cow or sharp materials on the ground. Choose a safety level according to what you, as a farmer, will encounter.

Level O4: work wellies without safety toe cap and midsole
Level S4: farming wellies with a steel or non-metallic toe cap
Level S5: safety wellies with a steel or non-metallic toe cap and anti-perforation midsole

Good to know: with Bekina Boots, the safety material is always incorporated into the wellie in such a way that you don’t notice it at all. So the steel toe cap and/or sole won’t give your feet an unpleasant cold feeling, but you will still be fully protected.

Checklist question 3: How to prevent slips, trips and falls?

When talking about safety, slip resistance is also very important. All Bekina Boots are SRC-certified. This means that they are slip-resistant and therefore guarantee better grip on slippery surfaces. Wellies with a firm grip keep you safe and prevent you from falling.

Checklist question 4: What are your thermal insulation requirements?

The thermal insulation of your farming wellies is also crucial. You may well be working long hours in a cold, wet field or in a shed with a concrete floor. Then you need something more to keep your feet warm and comfortable. The Bekina Boots range of farming wellies features wellies with optimal thermal insulation:

Steplite EasyGrip: -20 °C
StepliteX SolidGrip: -30 °C
StepliteX ThermoProtec: -40 °C
Thermolite IceShield: -50 °C

You can’t get any better protection against the cold!

Checklist question 5: Are the wellies certified?

Looking for safety wellies of the best quality? Then be sure to choose wellies that have been certified by globally recognised Accredited Test Institutes. That way you can be sure of their quality and safety, because these wellies have passed severe tests and are constantly checked for quality. Bekina Boots wellies meet

European Standards
Australian Standard
Canadian Standard
American ASTM

certificates

Steplite EasyGrip - StepliteX SolidGrip food boots

Buying work wellies for the food processing industry

Whether you are responsible for buying work wellies for the whole company or have to buy your own work wellies as an independent butcher, today there is a wide choice of different kinds of work wellies for the food processing industry. There are rubber wellies, PVC wellies and polyurethane wellies. We will help you choose the right work wellies for your employees or for yourself.

1. Choice of material: do I go for wellies made of rubber, PVC or polyurethane?

When you think of work wellies for the food processing industry, you probably think of rubber or PVC wellies. But have you heard of polyurethane? At Bekina Boots, we work exclusively with NEOTANE, a high-quality polyurethane developed and tested in our own lab.

The 5 main advantages of NEOTANE wellies versus rubber and PVC wellies:

40% lighter in weight thanks to the polyurethane structure consisting of small air bubbles. You experience more comfort while wearing them and are less likely to suffer from tired legs at the end of a hard work day.
A flexible material that offers great freedom of movement and comfort.
Extra protection against cold temperatures. NEOTANE has a high thermal insulation value, which keeps your feet warm even in extremely cold conditions. The optimal air circulation in the wellie also ensures you don’t get sweaty feet.
Stronger and more durable so you don’t have to replace our NEOTANE work wellies as often, which means you don’t have to buy wellies as often. Good for your wallet and more sustainable for the planet.
Made from 100% safe components.

Did you know that: Every pair of Bekina Boots work wellies is fitted with an RFID tag in the right boot? This allows you to scan, identify and track the wellies.

2. Food safety: is colour coding desirable?

In the food processing industry, you want to avoid contamination or contaminated food at all costs. Multiple control systems and a hygiene lock are therefore standard in many food processing companies today. Does your company consist of different departments where cross-contamination has to be avoided? Then go for efficient colour coding with our Steplite EasyGrip and StepliteX SolidGrip, available in different colours like white, blue, green and yellow. Assign each department its own colour and avoid cross-contamination.

Are you a self-employed butcher with your own shop? Then a good pair of Bekina Boots work wellies in one colour will suffice. Go for white so you can check if your work wellies are really clean after cleaning.

Did you know that: the shaft and sole of our wellies for the food processing industry fit seamlessly together so that no dirt can get stuck behind an edge? And the sole profile of our wellies is designed to be very easy to clean? Two extra assets in a sector where safety and hygiene go hand in hand.

3. Thermal insulation value: how cold is the working environment?

Men and women working in a food processing plant or a butchery often work in refrigerated areas all day. Dressing warmly is a must, and that includes a good pair of thermally insulating wellies. After all, cold feet cause your body to cool down faster, which is anything but comfortable.

Our Steplite EasyGrip and StepliteX SolidGrip guarantee warm feet down to -20 °C and -30 °C respectively. They are therefore very popular as standard work wellies for the food processing industry. For those who have to brave even colder temperatures, StepliteX ThermoProtec (-40 °C) and Thermolite IceShield (-50 °C) offer extra warmth.

4. Safety: is extra protection a must?

No problem! Our work wellies are extensively tested in accredited test labs. They meet the latest international standards in terms of both hygiene and safety and are SRC-certified. SRC stands for Slip Resistant Certified and this test involves testing the non-slip performance of the sole on a ceramic tile moistened with diluted soap solution and on a smooth steel plate with glycerol. Our work wellies meet and even exceed all requirements!

All our wellies have excellent grip (SRC) to prevent slips and falls. Not only do you feel safer, the number of work accidents due to slipping is effectively reduced when everyone on the shop floor wears slip-resistant work wellies. Important, because as many as 25% of all accidents with serious injuries are caused by slips resulting in incapacity for work. Non-slip Bekina wellies prevent this, saving the company additional costs.

All our work wellies for the food processing industry also feature a safety toe cap, which provides protection against sharp or heavy falling objects. The Steplite EasyGrip is also available in a version without safety toe cap (O4).

Depending on the colour choice, the Steplite EasyGrip and StepliteX SolidGrip are available with a steel toe cap (S4) and sometimes also with a steel toe cap and steel safety sole. The Thermolite IceShield even has this safety toe cap and sole as standard. Only the white StepliteX ThermoProtec is not available with a safety sole, but it does have a composite toe cap as standard (S4). Here the steel safety material is replaced by composite because this material does not interfere at all with the metal detectors used in the food processing industry.

5. Comfort: how do I avoid sore feet and tired legs?

When you work in the food processing industry, you often wear your work wellies all day long. So they need to fit just as well as a comfortable pair of shoes, because you don’t want to end up with sore feet and tired legs at the end of or half-way through your working day.

We mentioned above that our Bekina Boots work wellies are 40% lighter than rubber or PVC wellies. This makes your legs less likely to get tired and makes your working day a lot more enjoyable.

The removable insole also provides extra comfort for your feet. The sole feels soft and provides good shock absorption. Do you need to replace your insoles, but your wellies are still in good condition? Then you can just replace the sole.

The feel of the wellie around your calf is also very important. This should not be too loose, but not too tight either. The shaft of the Steplite EasyGrip is slightly narrower, making it one of the most popular work wellies for women. Men with wider calves may prefer the StepliteX SolidGrip, StepliteX ThermoProtec or Thermolite IceShield. Their wider shaft is also perfect for those who wear several layers to protect themselves from cold temperatures. This way, your socks, trousers, overalls, etc. don’t pinch in your work wellies and don’t cause discomfort.

Finally, the kick-off spur at the back provides extra convenience when you need to remove your wellies during a break or at the end of the working day.

What should you look for when choosing outdoor boots?

There are various outdoor activities that require a sturdy, waterproof and warm pair of outdoor boots. Growing vegetables in the garden, for example or mowing the lawn or cleaning the patio. But also walks in the forest, by the sea, through muddy fields and through rain or snow. Whether you're getting some fresh air, taking a weekend off with the family or going hunting with your friends. Every outdoor activity requires the right footwear!

When choosing your outdoor boots, first pay attention to the material. Bekina Boots makes outdoor boots out of NEOTANE polyurethane: a material that is lighter, stronger and more durable than rubber and PVC. Bekina Boots has a boot for every outdoor activity, whether you are originally looking for ultra-light walking shoes or heavy-duty winter boots.

Secondly, fit is important. Every pair of feet (and calves) is unique and some people prefer a close-fitting boot, while others want a bit more space around the legs. Decide whether you are looking for a close fit, prefer rugged boots or might even consider calf boots.

Also look at the level of thermal insulation you need. This depends on what you are going to use your boots for. Will you only be working in the garden in summer? Do you also want to go for a walk in the snow in winter? Or are you a hunter standing for hours on end and could therefore use an extra layer of warmth? Based on that, you can choose boots with a thermal insulation value of down to -20 or -30 °C.

Please note: thermally insulating boots not only provide extra comfort in winter. For example, the outdoor boots from Bekina Boots have a breathable, self-regulating thermal inner layer that prevents sweaty feet even in warm temperatures.

Want to put everything together? Compare the different Bekina Boots outdoor boots in the table below and find out which one suits you best.

Litefield	Steplite EasyGrip	StepliteX SolidGrip	MidliteX SolidGrip
NEOTANE polyurethane	NEOTANE polyurethane	NEOTANE polyurethane	NEOTANE polyurethane
Close fit	Standard fit	Wider fit	Wider fit (calf boot)
Thermally insulating	Thermally insulating down to -20 °C	Thermally insulating down to -30 °C	Thermally insulating down to -30 °C
Non-slip sole	SRC-certified sole	SRC-certified sole	SRC-certified sole
Shock-absorbing heel	Shock-absorbing heel	Shock-absorbing heel	Shock-absorbing heel
Supplied with 1 pair of insoles	Supplied with 1 pair of insoles	Supplied with 1 pair of ergonomic footbeds	Supplied with 1 pair of ergonomic footbeds

Europe

North America

South America

Middle East

Africa

South Asia and Pacific

Southeast Asia

Food-processing wellies

Comfortable, hygienic and economical: safety wellies for the food-processing sector

Food-processing wellies

Comfortable, hygienic and economical: safety wellies for the food-processing sector

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