HAIX

Evolution of trusted forestry boot, Protector Forest 2.0

Few work environments present such a variation of potential hazards as the forestry, arboriculture and outdoor work sectors. From extreme weather to difficult underfoot terrain, working with cutting tools to working at height, wearers in these industries demand more from their protective footwear than any other.

Specialist functional footwear manufacturer HAIX understands that the exceptional demands on forestry workers require exceptional footwear. That’s the reason why the Protector Forest 2.0 has been designed from the sole up to provide the comfort and protection that forestry workers and tree surgeons need, no matter the job.

Based on the tried and trusted design of the original, the Protector Forest 2.0 boasts the comfort and safety features wearers have come to expect along with upgraded and enhanced elements to provide even higher levels of protection, support and fit; all day, every day.

The Protector Forest 2.0 features the same Class 2 Cut protection as the original, protecting wearers operating chainsaws and cutting tools up to 24m/s, giving peace of mind when undertaking challenging felling and clearing tasks. The anatomically designed, Protective Toe Cap provides added protection from stubs and falling object hazards, while the sturdy VIBRAM/PU sole provides confident grip and traction in slippery underfoot environments, while ensuring excellent impact absorption and correct toe-to-heel movement.

Working in all weather conditions means forestry and outdoor workers need boots that can protect them from the elements, keeping feet dry and at an optimum temperature. The Protector Forest 2.0 includes a GORE-TEX® Performance inner lining which is water proof, abrasion proof and highly breathable. Offering enhanced climate comfort, no matter the weather conditions, it works with the hydrophobized, breathable suede-leather upper to keep feet dry.

The HAIX 2-zone lacing system enables separate adjustment of the fit around both foot and calf, allowing the wearer to adjust the boot to provide a personalised best fit. The HAIX Climate System uses the pumping movement of the wearer’s steps to permit air circulation through vents at the top of the boot, creating a consistently comfortable internal temperature.

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The addition of a full rubber rand around the boot ensures even greater protection and durability, and the updated red/fluorescent yellow colour scheme gives the boot a striking visual profile and works to keep wearers easily noticed and safe in poor-visibility environments like dense underbrush or low-light forests.

“Our forestry and arborist wearers really put HAIX boots through their paces, and it’s their feedback we turned to when evolving the Protector Forest 2.0,” says Simon Ash, HAIX UK Sales Manager.

“We’ve worked hard to increase levels of comfort, protection and durability while maintaining the features that wearers relied on from the original version. By using smart materials and enhanced design and manufacturing processes, we’ve made sure that the Protector Forest 2.0 will provide wearers with high levels of comfort and safety, not just this year, but for many years to come.”

All GORE-TEX footwear is specifically designed to protect against the most challenging forestry conditions. In cold and wet conditions, the GORE-TEX membrane enables feet to stay dry from the outside and inside by preventing water from penetrating into the boot while also allowing sweat to gently escape through the breathable layers.

The high breathability of GORE-TEX is equally useful in warm and dry conditions; given that the soles of our feet can produce around half a litre of sweat per day (more than any other part of the human body), it’s vital that footwear is as breathable as possible. The GORE-TEX layer allows sweat to evaporate out of the boot, stopping feet from becoming uncomfortably hot or wet, and is six times more breathable than the values outlined in EN ISO standards 20345/20347.

To ensure there is no weakness or vulnerability in products featuring the GORE-TEX membrane that may compromise performance, every product is stringently tested by GORE engineers in the company’s own laboratories, in a state-of-the-art chamber that can recreate up to 95% of the environments on the earth’s surface. These include Everest’s frigid conditions, Death Valley’s scorching sun and the stiflingly humid temperatures of the Amazonian rainforest. A rain tower can also simulate up to 3 inches of rainfall per hour in temperatures of 5 – 25C.

All HAIX boots featuring a GORE-TEX membrane are carefully designed to withstand the extremes of forestry work. This means they have a longer lifecycle, reducing the need for replacement, balancing cost efficiency with a high degree of protection.

In the HAIX range, forestry boots containing GORE-TEX include the Protector Forest 2.0, the Trekker Mountain 2.0 and the Protector Pro 2.0, with each boot designed to support wearers year round.

Including GORE-TEX membranes and linings in the design of each boot gives wearers peace of mind that, no matter the weather and no matter the season, HAIX forestry boots will work to keep feet dry, comfortable and at an optimum temperature. With forestry workers and arborists spending long periods of time from ‘boots on’ to ‘boots off’, boots that allow feet to become too hot, cold or wet lead to discomfort and distraction – something that can prove risky when wearers need to concentrate on tasks involving cutting equipment or working at height.

With GORE-TEX in the inner lining to provide waterproofing and breathability, the Protector Pro 2.0, Protector Forest 2.0 and Trekker Mountain 2.0 also feature the unique HAIX Climate System®, encouraging air circulation with every step through the vent holes at the top of the boot to keep feet cool. Both also feature sun reflect, which reduces the heating effect of the upper leather from direct sunlight, helping with temperature regulation to ensure wearer comfort.

All three boots have also been awarded the coveted test mark KWF Level-Standard, meaning they have been tested to demonstrate that they have reached important safety standards and can be worn safely by professional forestry workers over a period of several months. It’s a practical test that takes all four seasons into account and is conducted on a broad range of terrains.

The versatile roles of arborists, forestry and outdoor workers require footwear that can provide the protection and comfort they need year round, regardless of challenging weather conditions. By combining smart material choices like GORE-TEX membranes with innovative production processes and integrating wearer feedback, HAIX’s forestry boot range provides this flexibility year-round.

To find out more about the Protector Forest 2.0, or HAIX’s full range of safety and work footwear, head to www.haix.co.uk

Forest Machine Magazine is written and edited by a forest professional with over 40 years hands on experience. We are dedicated to keeping you informed with all the latest news, views and reviews from our industry.

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