Union-made in Carolina's Martinsburg, Pennsylvania factory, the 508 is a 6" broad-toe steel-toe boot with a foam-lined external metatarsal guard, Kevlar® welt stitching, and a Vibram® Alpha heat-resisting outsole — the lower-cut sibling of the 505, built for foundry and welding work.
Key Features of the Carolina 508
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Steel Safety Toe, Broad Toe Last — Meets ASTM F2413 I-75/C-75 for impact and compression, with a generous toe box.
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Heavy Plastic-Dense Foam-Lined External Met Guard — Metatarsal protection meeting ASTM F2413 Class Mt75.
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Briar Pitstop Leather Upper — Rugged full-grain leather.
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Vibram® Alpha Heat-Resisting Outsole — Oil- and heat-resisting, with heel grooves that disperse fluids and raised ladder grips.
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Kevlar® Welt Stitching — Kevlar® thread resists flame and heat where ordinary thread burns through.
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DRi-LEX® Lining — Soft nylon lining with strong moisture-wicking.
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Removable DRYZ® Pillow Cushion™ Footbed & Radiantex® Insole Board — Memory-foam comfort over a supportive board.
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Electrical Hazard Rated — Tested to withstand up to 18,000 volts at 60Hz for one minute without leakage.
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Steel Shank & Welt Construction — Stable and fully resoleable.
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Union-Made in the USA with Global Parts — Built by UFCW Local 1776 in Martinsburg, PA.
Built for Heat
Ordinary welt thread burns through long before the sole wears out. The 508 stitches its welt with Kevlar®, and the Vibram® Alpha outsole is rated to hold its shape against surfaces up to 500°F. Heel grooves disperse fluids and raised ladder grips hold on rungs — details aimed squarely at foundry and industrial floors.
Mt75 Protection in a Lower Cut
The external met guard shields the metatarsal bones across the instep to ASTM Mt75, the same impact energy an I-75 toe absorbs. The 6" shaft trades the 505's ankle coverage for easier movement and a lighter boot.
Why Choose the 508?
Steel-toe and Mt75 metatarsal protection with real heat resistance, on a resoleable American-made welt — in a lower-cut, broad-toe last that fits wide feet.
Similar Styles to Consider
Want more ankle coverage? The 505 is the 8" version of this boot. Browse the full Carolina collection at Overlook Boots.
Frequently Asked Questions
The model is called “INT Lo” — is the met guard internal?
No, despite the name. The 508's met guard is a heavy plastic-dense foam-lined external guard, worn on the outside of the boot over the instep. Carolina's model naming is a legacy quirk; the boot is also sold as the Foundry. If you specifically need an internal guard, this isn't it.
What does “heat resistant” actually mean here?
Carolina rates the Vibram® Alpha outsole to withstand contact with surfaces up to 500°F without losing shape, and the Kevlar® welt thread resists flame and heat. It's built so that brief contact with hot metal or slag doesn't melt the sole off the boot — not a firefighting boot.
Do I actually need a met guard?
It depends on what's above your feet. Met guards are specified for foundries, welding, heavy manufacturing, and material handling, and your site's hazard assessment sets the requirement. A met guard cannot be added to a boot afterward — it's rated as part of the finished footwear or not at all.
Can it be resoled?
Yes. Welt construction stitches the outsole to the upper rather than bonding it, so the Vibram® sole can be replaced when it wears through.
Is it waterproof or insulated?
The 508 is an uninsulated boot whose DRi-LEX® lining wicks moisture from the foot, which keeps it comfortable near heat. If you need a waterproof membrane or winter warmth, Carolina builds both.
Does the EH rating still apply when the boots are wet?
Treat it as reduced. EH testing is conducted under dry conditions; moisture, worn outsoles, and conductive debris all degrade insulation. EH footwear is secondary protection and never replaces de-energizing a circuit or primary PPE.
