S2 and S1P protect against different hazards, not different amounts of the same one. S1P adds a puncture-resistant midsole; S2 adds a water-resistant upper. A shoe can do one job well and offer nothing for the other.
XNEXZ sells S1P certified safety shoes, not S2, so we have every reason to explain this honestly rather than blur the line. This guide covers what each rating requires under EN ISO 20345, why they get confused, and which one actually matches your job.
S1P adds puncture resistance. S2 adds water resistance. Neither includes both, only S3 does.
Why S2 and S1P Get Confused So Often
The confusion is understandable, because the labels look sequential. S1, then S1P, then S2, then S3: read left to right, it looks like a straight line of rising protection. It isn't.
The core ladder under EN ISO 20345 runs SB → S1 → S2 → S3 → S4 → S5 → S6 → S7, with each step adding requirements on top of the last. The letter P is not a step on that ladder. It's an additional property code that attaches to S1 to form the hybrid marking "S1P." S1P sits beside S2, not between S1 and S2, because it's S1 plus one extra feature, puncture resistance, while S2 is a separate step up the ladder that adds a different extra feature, a water-resistant upper.
That structural detail answers "which one is better" on its own: neither. They're both S1 with a different upgrade attached, aimed at two different hazards.
What Each Rating Actually Requires
The table below builds from the base rating upward, showing exactly what's added, and what's still missing, at each level relevant to this comparison.
| Rating | Builds on | Adds | Still missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB | Base level | 200-joule / 15kN toe cap, the baseline every rating below builds on | Anti-static, puncture resistance, water resistance |
| S1 | SB | Anti-static properties, energy-absorbing heel, closed-heel construction | Puncture resistance, water resistance |
| S1P | S1 | Puncture-resistant midsole insert | Water-resistant upper |
| S2 | S1 | Water-resistant upper, tested to the WRU/WPA method | Puncture-resistant midsole |
| S3 | S2 | Puncture-resistant midsole plus a cleated outsole | Nothing on this list; the most complete of the five |
A Quick Visual Comparison
Scanning left to right instead of reading paragraphs: here's exactly which core protections each rating includes.
| Rating | 200J toe impact | Anti-static + heel energy absorption | Puncture-resistant midsole | Water-resistant upper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| S1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| S1P | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| S2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ |
| S3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
What S1P Adds, and What It Leaves Out
S1P certification means a shoe has passed every S1 test: 200-joule toe impact, 15kN compression, anti-static performance, energy absorption in the heel, plus one more requirement, a penetration-resistant midsole insert designed to stop sharp objects such as nails, screws, or glass reaching the foot from underneath. Under EN ISO 20345, that insert has to withstand at least 1,100 newtons of force from a standard test nail before it can carry the "P" marking.
There are two ways a midsole can earn that marking. A metallic insert is tested with a sharpened steel nail. A non-metallic insert, increasingly common because it won't set off a metal detector, is tested with a blunter nail instead, since a thin metal nail can sometimes slip between the fibres of a non-metallic material without the material actually failing. That non-metallic version is marked "PL" when tested with a larger 4.5mm nail, or "PS" when tested with a smaller 3mm nail.
What S1P does not include is any water-resistance testing for the upper. Rain, wet floors, or standing water will reach the foot through an S1P shoe in much the same way they would through an ordinary trainer. That isn't a flaw in the certification; S1P was never designed to address moisture. It simply means an S1P shoe is the wrong tool for a consistently wet environment, no matter how good its puncture protection is.
What S2 Adds, and What It Leaves Out
S2 certification also builds on S1, but in the opposite direction. Instead of a puncture-resistant midsole, S2 requires the upper material to resist water penetration and absorption, usually marked WRU or WPA, for a defined test period under laboratory conditions. The test exposes the upper to water for a set time and measures how much moisture gets through and how much the material itself soaks up.
It's worth being precise here: water-resistant is not the same as waterproof. The WRU/WPA test measures resistance over a set testing window, not permanent submersion or continuous standing water. It's a genuine, useful upgrade for wet-floor and light-rain conditions; it isn't a guarantee that feet stay dry indefinitely.
What S2 does not include is any puncture-resistant midsole. An S2 shoe that keeps a wet floor out offers no more underfoot protection against a dropped screw or a stray nail than a standard S1 shoe.
S1P vs S2, Side by Side
| S1P | S2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Builds on | S1 | S1 |
| Main added protection | Puncture-resistant midsole | Water-resistant upper |
| Resists water? | No | Yes, to the tested WRU/WPA standard, not full waterproofing |
| Resists underfoot punctures? | Yes, to the tested P standard | No |
| Best suited to | Dry environments with underfoot sharp-object risk | Wet-floor or light-rain environments with low puncture risk |
| Typical settings | Warehouses, workshops, indoor fit-out, general trade work | Washdown areas, some food production, certain outdoor light-duty roles |
Which One Do You Actually Need?
Three questions settle this faster than any comparison table:
- Is the floor under your feet usually dry, or does it regularly get wet from washing, rain, or spills?
- What's the realistic risk of standing on something sharp: loose fixings, off-cuts, glass, metal swarf?
- Does your employer's PPE policy or risk assessment already specify a rating for your role?
If question three has a clear answer, that answer overrides everything else on this page. Under the UK's PPE at Work Regulations 2022, it's the employer's duty to assess workplace hazards and specify the correct footwear rating for each role. A general guide like this one is a starting point, not a substitute for that assessment.
Once you've answered honestly, the rating usually picks itself:
- Mostly dry floor, sharp-object risk underfoot: S1P.
- Regularly wet floor, low puncture risk: S2.
- Both hazards present at once, which describes a lot of construction and groundworks: S3, covered in more depth in S1P vs S3 safety shoes.
Two Quick, Real Examples
Warehouse picker on a dry unit floor
The floor is polished concrete and stays dry. The realistic hazard is loose banding wire, box staples, and the occasional dropped fixing. Water simply isn't a factor here.
S1P is the correct rating. S2 would add a feature this role never actually uses.
Catering prep area with regular washdown
The floor gets hosed and mopped several times a shift, and staff can stand in shallow surface water for short stretches. The floor itself is smooth tile, so underfoot puncture risk is low.
S2 is the correct rating. The water-resistant upper is doing real work, while a puncture-resistant midsole would be guarding against a hazard that barely exists in this kitchen.
Where XNEXZ Fits Into This, Honestly
XNEXZ's current range, PulseX and StrideX, is certified S1P, not S2. On the current EN ISO 20345:2022+A1:2024 test certificate, both models are listed under category S1PL FO SR: S1P protection delivered through a non-metallic penetration-resistant insert (the "PL" element), plus a fuel-and-oil-resistant outsole (FO) and slip resistance (SR). The certificate records no water-resistant upper, no WRU or WPA marking, so we don't, and won't, describe these shoes as water-resistant or suitable for wet-floor work.
If your job is genuinely dry underfoot and the hazard is sharp debris, that's exactly the gap PulseX and StrideX are built for. The full detail on what S1P certification covers is in our S1P safety shoes guide. If your job regularly puts your feet in water, on a washdown floor, or outdoors in the rain, XNEXZ isn't the right choice for that role, and we'd rather tell you that now than have you find out on shift.
Suitable For / Choose Differently
May suit S1P, like PulseX or StrideX
- Painters and decorators working indoors
- Interior fit-out and light trade work
- Car mechanics and garage workers
- Warehouse pickers, packers and forklift operators
- Delivery and depot staff working mostly indoors
- Facilities and light-maintenance teams
- Retail stockroom workers
- Security staff on dry premises
Choose S2 or S3 instead
- Washdown areas or food-processing lines with standing water: S2
- Outdoor roles with regular rain exposure: S2 or S3
- Construction, groundworks and demolition: S3
- Roofing, scaffolding and civil engineering: S3
- Sites with wet ground and sharp debris together: S3
- Any workplace policy that specifically requires S2/S3: follow the policy
A Brief, Honest Word on Other Brands
Several of the established names in this market, brands such as Puma Safety, uvex, Timberland PRO, Cofra and Portwest among others, carry S2 and S3 options within wider product ranges, alongside their S1P lines. That range is a genuine advantage if your work moves between different hazard types across the week, or if your site has a pre-approved brand list that already includes them.
We're not trying to out-range brands that have been doing this for decades. XNEXZ's angle is a modern, trainer-style S1P shoe for the specific everyday jobs where S1P is the correct call, not a claim to cover every hazard a workplace might present.
The Honest Verdict
S2 is not an upgrade on S1P, and S1P is not an upgrade on S2. They solve different problems. The only real mistake is assuming one code quietly includes the other's protection: check what your job actually exposes your feet to, then match the rating to that, not to which number looks higher.
Try XNEXZ Where It Genuinely Fits
If your workplace accepts S1P footwear and your feet stay mostly dry on shift, we'd like you to try PulseX or StrideX and tell us honestly how the fit, comfort and daily performance hold up. We're a new brand building trust through real feedback, not claims, good or bad, we want to hear it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is S1P waterproof?
No. S1P certification tests toe protection, anti-static performance, energy absorption and puncture resistance; it doesn't test the upper for water resistance at all. Wet floors and rain will reach the foot through an S1P shoe.
Is S2 better than S1P overall?
Neither is "better" in general, they protect against different hazards. S2 is the stronger choice for wet-floor or light-rain work with low puncture risk; S1P is the stronger choice for dry environments with sharp-object risk underfoot.
Can a safety shoe be both S1P and S2 at once?
Not under those two labels together. A shoe that combines a water-resistant upper with a puncture-resistant midsole is classified S3, not "S1P and S2." S3 is effectively S2 plus puncture resistance, plus a cleated outsole.
What does the "FO" marking mean next to S1P?
FO stands for fuel and oil resistant outsole. It's an optional marking under the current standard, tested by checking how the outsole material holds up after contact with diesel and mineral oil. It has nothing to do with puncture or water resistance.
Is S1P more common than S2 in the UK?
S1P is generally the more widely stocked rating for indoor and light-duty trade footwear in the UK, since most everyday workplaces are dry underfoot with occasional sharp-object risk. S2 tends to be more of a specialist choice for wet-floor and washdown roles.
Do I need S2 safety shoes for a commercial kitchen job?
It depends on your specific floor conditions and your employer's risk assessment. Some kitchen and food-service roles specify S2 for washdown areas, while others accept S1P where floors stay largely dry. Check your workplace's PPE policy rather than assuming either way.
Does XNEXZ offer an S2 safety shoe?
Not currently. PulseX and StrideX are both certified S1P, with no water-resistant upper on the test certificate. If your role needs certified water resistance, look for an S2 or S3 rated shoe from a brand that offers one.
