Overland Shoes Responds to Market Gap with Bobcat Safety Footwear Women’s Collection

For years, tradeswomen have had no choice but to make-do with ill-fitting generic safety footwear that compromises on comfort and can actually get in the way of them doing their job safely. Today that changes as Overland Shoes, a global leader in footwear design, sourcing and wholesale, is closing this gap with the all-new Bobcat Safety Footwear women’s collection - engineered specifically to deliver the perfect mix of safety, comfort and style for women across all industries.

The dedicated women’s range, spanning over five distinct design handles, is purpose-built on anatomically correct, gender-specific lasts, offering proper fit, proportional safety and enduring comfort. Every model carries the signature Bobcat design language, with safety features tuned for real-world jobsite environments and the unique comfort advantage of Redbacks® Leaf Spring Technology at the core. Independently proven to improve shock absorption by up to 46% and outperform industry-leading insoles by up to 30%, this technology helps reduce impact and fatigue over long hours on the job.

"Women remain one of the fastest-growing segments in skilled trades, yet many footwear ranges are simply scaled-down versions of men’s boots," comments Peter Lawson, Brand Manager at Overland Shoes. "This can have significant real-world consequences, not just in terms of poor comfort but increased risk, with research showing women are more likely to experience accidents or injury due to wearing poorly fitting PPE. This is simply not good enough, and as an industry there is a clear duty of care to provide safety footwear that is designed from the ground up around women’s feet, not treated as an afterthought."

The Fantastic Four: A Complete Solution for Merchants

The Bobcat Safety Footwear women’s collection comprises four carefully curated designs shown over 5 SKUs, each engineered for a specific application and named after an iconic American industrial region:

  • Rockford – Combining lightweight form and a sport-inspired profile, the Rockford work trainer boasts a range of safety features, such as composite toe caps, puncture-resistant midsoles, and abrasion-resistant uppers, for enduring comfort. Ideal for first fix, logistics, warehouse or light assembly work.
  • Akron – When it comes to stylish performance, the Hiker-inspired Akron boot is hard to beat. Available in sleek All-Black or on-trend Sage, the Akron women’s design handle combines padded ankle protection, breathable lining, triple-density outsoles and sharp styling to deliver a versatile safety boot built for all-day comfort and durability.
  • Clinch – Lightweight in design but tough on performance, the athletic-inspired Clinch safety shoe is built to handle the hardest jobs while keeping feet comfortable and protected all day.
  • Virginia – An advanced dealer boot designed for high-heat, high-risk applications, the Virginia boot features waterproof leather and a reinforced scuff cap. Specified to HRO standard it offers a heat-resistant, triple density wedge outsole for high stability in outdoor, welding, fabrication and foundry settings.

The important PPE category launch comes as the latest research from the Women’s Engineering Institute reveals that 42% of the UK’s female engineering workforce still have to use PPE that is too big to fit correctly, resulting in women making modifications against HSE guidance. A separate study found that more than half of women workers (57%) say that their PPE sometimes or significantly hampers their work. At the same time, the UK continues to see a significant increase in women working in the trades.

"This isn’t just another women’s safety footwear collection - it’s a game changer," continues Peter at Overland Shoes. "Built from months of in-depth research into what tradeswomen really want and designed around the key differences in fit between women and men, this collection offers a broadly appealing range of styles that put comfort and safety first. It’s the step the industry has been waiting for to finally give women the footwear they deserve.”

All products are certified to EN ISO 20345:2022+A1:2024 and feature composite safety toe caps, non-metallic puncture-resistant midsoles, and non-marking, fuel oil-resistant outsoles. All women’s models are fully metal-free and designed to meet the growing demand for lighter, more wearable protection without compromise.

Unlike other insoles that flatten or degrade over time, the Leaf-Spring Technology mechanism retains its structure and performance for the life of the boot, helping reduce the risk of strain injuries, foot pain and long-term musculoskeletal issues.

To enquire about stocking Bobcat Safety Footwear contact Peter Lawson at Overland Shoes: peter.lawson@overlandshoes.co.uk  or 07887554205