i wear steel toe "sneakers" [yes, that's what they are called] because i have peripheral nephropathy, and my feet feel like they are "asleep" most of the time.
when i kick stuff, i don't want to mash my toes, or cause any damage to my feet.
i also wear a face shield when using cutoff wheels and other items that can fling stuff into places on my mug that would not enhance my "good looks".