S3 is the highest protection class within the EN ISO 20345 standard for safety footwear. Those who need S3 safety shoes work in environments where the risks are greatest, such as construction, heavy industry, logistics, or work environments with wet and unpaved surfaces. An S3 safety shoe offers protection that goes beyond any other safety class and is therefore the most chosen safety shoe for professionals who work daily in challenging conditions.
All Neskrid safety shoes are S3 certified. This means that at Shaped4, you never have to doubt the level of protection; every model meets the strictest European standards for safety footwear. Neskrid has been developing professional footwear since 1924, combining maximum protection with the comfort you need when you are on your feet all day.
What are S3 safety shoes?
S3 safety shoes meet the highest protection requirements within the EN ISO 20345 standard and combine all features of S1 and S2 with two additional requirements that make the shoe suitable for the toughest work environments:
- A penetration-resistant sole that protects against nails and sharp objects on the work floor.
- A profiled sole that offers maximum grip on slippery and unpaved surfaces.
All other features; the protective toe cap, closed heel with energy absorption, antistatic properties, oil-resistant sole, and water-resistant upper, are also mandatory for S1 and S2 and thus form the basis of all certified safety footwear.
When are S3 safety shoes mandatory?
S3 safety shoes are mandatory in work environments where the risk assessment shows a risk of multiple hazards simultaneously; falling objects, wet surfaces, and sharp materials on the floor. This is the case in construction, earthmoving, heavy industry, slaughterhouses, fish processing, and outdoor work environments where the surface is unpredictable.
In practice, many employers deliberately choose S3 as standard, even in environments where S1 or S2 would technically suffice. The reason is simple: S3 always offers more protection than necessary, never less. For professionals who work daily in varying conditions, S3 is therefore the safest and most versatile choice.
S3 safety shoes with ESD or antistatic properties
Some Neskrid safety shoes are also available with ESD or antistatic properties, for work environments where electrostatic discharge poses an additional risk, such as laboratories, the electronics industry, and chemical factories.
See [ESD safety shoes] and [antistatic safety shoes] for a complete overview of the right models per application.
S3 safety shoes: low model or high model?
Neskrid S3 safety shoes are available as low and high models. The low model is lighter in weight and offers more freedom of movement, suitable for work environments with a relatively flat surface such as production halls and warehouses. The high model offers extra ankle protection and stability on uneven terrain, the standard choice for construction sites, earthmoving, and outdoor work environments where the risk of sprains is greater.
See [S3 low model safety shoes] and [S3 high model safety shoes] for a filtered overview by type.
S3 safety shoes for men and women
The Neskrid S3 safety shoe collection is available for both men and women. All models are available in multiple width sizes so that the shoe always fits well, even for a wide foot. Wide S3 safety shoes are a regular part of the assortment, not an exception.
See [S3 safety shoes for women] and [S3 safety shoes for men] for a filtered overview by target group.
S3 safety shoes with insoles
Even in S3 safety shoes, extra foot support is possible without losing the S3 certification. The [4Allbrands insoles] are specially developed and certified for use in work and safety footwear. Because 4Allbrands was developed by Neskrid, these insoles have been specifically tested and approved for use in Neskrid S3 safety shoes, so that the EN ISO 20345 standard is fully maintained.
Want to know more? Read our article [Insoles in work shoes: do you lose your certification?]
S3 safety shoes size advice
Due to the protective toe cap and sturdier construction, S3 safety shoes have slightly less room in the forefoot than regular shoes. Choose your normal shoe size as a starting point and select the width size that matches the width of your foot. If in doubt, we recommend half a size larger for optimal wearing comfort. Do you have a wide foot? Then choose wide S3 safety shoes in the wider width size.
See the products at the top of this page for a complete overview of all Neskrid S3 safety shoes in different models and colors. Or view the entire collection of [safety shoes] on Shaped4.
