Gumboot with integral metatarsal guard

This invention relates to a protective shoe or boot, preferably a gumboot 10 that is integrally moulded from injection moulded plastics. An externally facing, resiliently deformable metatarsal impact absorption guard 28 is integrally moulded with the instep of the boot. The metatarsal guard band 28 is made up of a number of in-line, open-sided arches 28.1, 28.2, 28.3 extending across the instep of the boot upper. By virtue of being open-sided, the arches 28.1, 28.2, 28.3 can be formed integrally and simultaneously with the boot 10 in a single injection moulding process by means of appropriately shaped mould formations that are integral with the mould parts.