There’s no love lost between a man and a snake.
Both harbour distrust for the other.
When a snake senses your presence too close for its comfort, its defence strategy is to go on offence and bite with all its might.
That’s not even the least bit of an appealing way to check whether snakes can bite through your rubber-made work boots or not.
Rubber boots are durable enough to endure the harshness of the outdoors, but their capability to safeguard against all types of fangs is debatable.
It is best to wear fang-proof shoes when walking around a snake-infested territory.
Snakes are good at hiding, which puts you more at risk of sudden fang strike if you unknowingly step foot in their personal space.
That is why it is vital to know if your rubber boots are tough enough to ward off the attack.
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Can Snakes Bite Through Rubber Boots?
The simple answer is, No, most snakes cannot bite through rubber boots. The reason is their super-tough and durable exterior that doesn’t allow the fangs to go far.
Even if the fangs manage to puncture through the material, they don’t go beyond the outer sturdy layer, definitely not your skin.
You are safe whether you’re wearing rubber hunting boots or snake-proof boots because a snake doesn’t stick around long enough to check whether it has punctured the boots or human skin. It just strikes and flees.
However, a powerful venomous snake is a different story. The poisonous types have the sharpest fangs, not to mention they strike with ferocity.
There’s a chance that they might get lucky to inject the venom into your skin then. That’s why it is imperative to armour your feet and lower legs in quality snake-proof boots.
Composition & Use of Rubber Boots
Rubber boots are composed of a combination: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and a halogenated polymer. The blend of these two makes them durable and waterproof. This manufacturing keeps them hard from the outside and dry and warm from the inside.
As a result, they keep your feet toasty in chilly weather.
These rubber boots are ideal for people who work in mines, industries, farms and the agricultural sector because their toughness protects the toes and limbs from accidents and hazardous chemicals.
Similarly, the waterproof quality doesn’t allow the liquid to seep through the shoe, making it easier to work in muddy and wet areas.
Hikers and hunters also prefer rubber boots as these keep animals and snake fangs from wounding their feet and ankles. Usually, this footwear has a longer shaft, which means it offers protection up to the knee.
How are Rubber Boots Different From Snakeproof Boots?
When they say rubber boots are durable, the underlying meaning is that the shoes are sturdy and durable enough to resist wear and tear.
That’s how they are capable of protecting one from normal snakebites. However, if you step foot near a really vicious venomous snake, may God help you!
Tear-resistant doesn’t always mean puncture-resistant. This trait can help you differentiate between regular rubber shoes for work and snakeproof boots.
How Snakeproof Boots Protect from Snakebites?
Experts believe that snakes respond to body heat. That’s how they distinguish between a living human or animal and a dead body.
When a person steps within their proximity, they read his body heat and think of him as a threat.
Intentionally or unintentionally, whenever you come near it, you’re an invader for it who is threatening its peace. As a result, it strikes and flees the crime scene.
Rubber boots are good at hiding the body heat, but snakeproof boots are best at blocking it completely.
Moreover, they are made of a combination of ultra-durable materials, including rubber, leather, kevlar, neoprene, denim with additional synthetic texture. This composition makes them puncture-resistant.
In addition to that, they have a special snake guard membrane inserted between the insole and outsole, thus granting a maximum level of protection against even the strongest fang bites.
Unlike regular rubber boots, the weaker points, such as regions around the ankle and metatarsal, in snakeproof shoes are made impenetrable, thereby leaving no room for poisonous rattlers to come close to your flesh. These boots offer a 360-degree shield from toe to knee.
You don’t have to worry about comfort too. Impenetrable doesn’t mean armour-like stiffness. The material used in their construction is flexible enough to keep them from becoming uncomfortably hard.
How Will You Know the Boots Work for Sure?
Settling for less than 100% guaranteed protection against snakebites isn’t an option, at least not an option without the probability of pain.
There are companies, such as Lacrosse, Thorogood and Muck Boots, that go a step further to achieve absolute safety.
They allow real rattlesnakes to sink fangs in their snakeproof boots to observe whether they ward off the venom or not.
They introduced their products in the market after the test results show 100% results. Since you’re already spending money on snakeproof footwear, it will give you absolute peace of mind to pick those that have undergone such testing.
Conclusion
Rubberboots are good at averting the threat of snakebites, but they often fail to protect from snakebites capable of injecting venom. I tried to make you understand how and when rubber boots offer protection and when and why they fall short of the task. If you visit wilderness frequently, investing in reliable snakeproof hunting boots is essential. Knowing the difference between ordinary rubber boots and snake-resistant boots will help you make the right choice.
