Abstract: A toe cap is a reinforcement member made of thermoset structural composite material with a tensile strength of 30,000 psi, a tensile modulus of 2.5×106 psi, a compression strength of 35,800 psi, a specific gravity of 1.85, and a Barcol hardness of 65. More preferably, the material has a tensile strength of at least 50,000 psi, a tensile modulus of at least 3.8×106 psi, a compression strength of at least 42,000 psi, a specific gravity of at least 1.90, and a Barcol hardness of at least 70. A suitable family of materials is a thermoset vinyl ester based sheet molding compound reinforced with glass fiber and/or carbon fiber. The sheet molding compound has fiber content of about 63% and a typical fiber length of one inch. The maximum wall thickness of the upper portion of the toe cap is in the range of between 0.100 inch and 0.250 inch.