Zip it good: Why tradies love our zipped work boots

• Steel Blue uses high-quality molded zips from the renowned Italian manufacturer Riri that are designed to withstand heavy use and exposure to dirt and grit.
• Extensive testing is done on our zips at the factory and during boot production.
• Get the most out of your boots by keeping them free of dirt and not yanking or forcing the zipper.

Tradies who have to take their boots off and on frequently throughout the day can waste a lot of time fiddling with laces. That’s why Steel Blue introduced our zippered work boots—because zips save a lot of time and hassle.

It was an innovation tradesmen and tradeswomen all over the world fell in love with. Steel Blue’s zippered work boots now account for around 80 percent of our work boot sales globally.

But a tradies’ work boot gets a heavy-duty workout every day, so we couldn’t add just any old zip into our boot design. Zips can fault when the zip type isn’t a good fit for the environment in which it’s being used. Steel Blue had to select a zip that was fit for purpose, so we turned to the best zip maker in the world.

The best zips in the world

Rob de Barro, Steel Blue’s Head of Research and Development, said the zips Steel Blue uses in its boots are sourced from Riri, an Italian company renowned as one of the best zipper manufacturers in the world.

“Riri also produces zips for high-end brands like Louis Vuitton and Hermes,” he said.

“The zips in our boots are molded zips that were originally developed for wetsuits, where they need to withstand a lot of sand and grit.”

Rob has been in the footwear industry for more than 40 years and knows everything there is to know about boots. He said choosing the highest quality zip available has been key to the success of Steel Blue’s zipped boot ranges.

“We’ve tested these zips against other major brands’ zips, and these zips come up better by about 20 percent,” he said.

Extensive testing and quality control

So, what makes the Riri zips used in Steel Blue’s work boots so superior? Extensive testing and quality control processes are major factors. Steel Blue gets the zips batch tested at the factory for burst strength, pull strength, and tab strength before approving them for use.

The testing then continues at Steel Blue’s manufacturing facility.

“We do break-seam sewing tests to check the zip is sewn in properly, as well as adhesion testing between the sole and upper,” Rob said.

While the high-quality zips are extremely durable, Rob said it is still important for tradies to take good care of their boots during daily use.

“Make sure the zips are free of major dirt,” he said, “If there’s a crease in the zip and it jams, don’t go pulling it up too hard. Move your leg around a bit to remove the crease and the zip will come straight back up.”

Convenience and efficiency

The Steel Blue team prides ourselves on the quality and uncompromising safety standards of our work boots across our entire range, so using the world’s best zips in our designs was an obvious decision. It means tradies all over the world can not only rely on the support their Steel Blue boots give them, but they can enjoy the convenience and efficiency of being able to get those boots on and off quickly as often as required.

Head to your local Steel Blue stockist to discover work boots that are a mark of true skill, or shop online.