13 Best Shoes for Roofers

Roofing is one of the most dangerous jobs you can ever do in your home. Besides the elevation, any maintenance work on the roof itself needs great attention so as not to harm yourself. If you’re a roofer or it happened that you need to do any roof improvements on your home roof, consider having one of these best shoes for roofers. We’ve used and tested them, and we can proudly say that they’re safety precautions any roofer must consider. They’re non-slipping and can protect your feet from hard objects that might accidentally fall on your feet.

Below, you’ll find the 13 best products available in the market that are perfect for roofers and anyone who does any small work on the roof. Have a look below and pick your favorite now!

Lowa Men’s Tibet GTX Trekking Boot

13

It isn’t the easiest thing to find special footwear for roofers, so, when searching for the best options, we went for the closest thing which happens to be hiking and trekking foot apparel. Lowa Men’s Tibet GTX Trekking Boot is the first one we’re gonna recommend for roofers who need protection and comfort. These shoes are also suitable for winter, they passed the waterproofing test and got 10/10.

Moreover, the soles including the insoles, outsoles, and midsoles are all designed with great care and professionalism. The midsoles provide great arch support as we walked with these shoes for hours and we didn’t experience any fatigue. As for the insoles, they were contoured in a way that fit our feet seamlessly. These boots are very expensive, yet, very durable and high quality. So, it all depends on your budget.

Columbia Newton Ridge Plus

12

No matter what kind of job you want to do on the roof, you need a pair of shoes with the best traction to prevent slipping. Columbia Newton Ridge Plus is a great option to choose with Omni-Grip technology to guarantee you’ll never slip off the roof. If you want to do a quick job on the roof like mounting something or so, these shoes will be perfect to choose. By the way, check out these cheap cameras for home security as they might be mounted on the roof as well.

Also, being a pair of Columbia shoes, they’re made with the highest quality. So, they’ll last for years. Using mesh, leather, and suede, Columbia managed to design great shoes at an affordable price considering the features. You might also wear these shoes for other outdoor activities.

Roper Women’s Horseshoe Kiltie Western Boot

11

Roper Women’s Horseshoe Kiltie Western Boot is among our favorites. We liked the design so much but we think these shoes are also great in terms of functionality. We might use the shoes for roof maintenance but we’ll also hang out with these shoes comfortably and style them with different outfits because they’re really chic.

The shoes have very durable soles. Besides, they come with a forged steel shank for maximum arch support. Actually, these shoes were designed for horse riders, not roof workers. However, we found them great shoes with high levels of durability and traction, so, why not use them for stepping on the roof? If you’re a horse rider, you might go for these shoes and wear them when you need to do some maintenance on the roof as well. You can also check this review of the best massagers for horses as these might help.

ARIAT Women’s Terrain Shoes

10

Some of the shoes we mention in this list have options for men and women but others are designed for women or men only. Anyways, we made sure that we consider all the options, so, both men and women can find what they were looking for. ARIAT Women’s Terrain Shoes are one of these women’s best shoes that also double as hiking and trekking shoes. We found them very comfortable, so, we can really pick those shoes for normal outings as well.

Aside from that, the shoes are made of full-grain leather. Most people think that this material is winter material, but we actually believe it’s an all-seasons material. We have worn leather shoes in fall and spring and they were great provided that they have moisture-wicking features. Before you ask, the shoes from ARIAT have moisture-wicking features, so, you can easily use them at any time of year.

Timberland PRO Direct Attach Industrial Boot

9

Who doesn’t know Timberland? This brand that engraved its name among industrial and work boots over the past years. Today, we’re introducing one of its masterpieces we believe roofers will love a lot. Timberland PRO Direct Attach Industrial Boot has the same design known for Timberland shoes. Besides, there are options for men and women from the same boots.

What’s better is that these boots were very trendy and they’ll always be, so, pick one of those shoes for work and casual outings as well. The shoes are so durable, so, we expected that the upper part will be tough as well. Surprisingly, we found that the upper leather part was so soft and flexible which made the boots very comfortable to wear. Moreover, the inner part was moisture-wicking, so, they aren’t just for winter.

Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid Gore-tex Shoes

8

Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid Gore-tex Shoes are one of the lightweight shoes we have tried while preparing this list. This pair is designed to suit roofers who don’t need very professional ones but still have a minimum level of protection and durability. If you’re one of those who do lightweight work on the roof like cleaning or maintenance, these shoes will be the best for you.
Speaking of cleaning, here are the best vacuum cleaner brands.

When we were trying on these shoes, apart from the lightweight, we also loved that they were flexible. The mesh and textile parts on the shoes offer this flexibility. In addition, we felt good airflow with these shoes on. They were breathable, so, we could wear them on spring and summer days without smelling any bad odors or feeling any moisture.

KEEN Utility Men’s Flint Low Steel Toe Work Shoe

7

Best for professional roofers. At first glance, we thought KEEN Utility Men’s Flint Low Steel Toe Work Shoes are normal sneakers with a bold design. When we had the chance to try the shoes, we figured out why these shoes are one of the best for those who do daily or frequent work. The shoes have steel toes, if you don’t know, these are protective caps made of steel that surround your toes for protection. So, even if a hard object fell on your feet, you won’t feel it.

The shoes felt a bit heavy even before we wore them. When worn, we found a bit of difficulty moving around with the shoes, but once we got used to them, things went better. Moreover, we knew that these shoes have electrical-hazard protection. This means they’re insulated for doing electric work on roofs. Thus, these are the best for professional roofers. Need more convincing? Watch this video from ASH Construction & Excavation!

NORTIV 8 Men’s Waterproof Hiking Boots

6

Sometimes, all we need is a pair of good quality boots to do roof works that emerge every now and then. So, it doesn’t make sense to pay that much for such shoes. NORTIV 8 Men’s Waterproof Hiking Boots are so much recommended if this is the case. These shoes are mainly designed for hikers and mountain climbers, however, they make one of the best shoes for roofers.

From our side, we already invested in a pair of these shoes because they seemed a good bargain for us. We could easily use them for other outdoor activities rather than roof works. Considering that they aren’t very expensive, this was what we were looking for. Also, the boots are so comfortable, we could easily feel the memory foam cushioning whenever we walk in these boots. Check out this video from Ultimate Survival Gear to get more information about the boots.

Thorogood Men’s American Heritage Moc Toe Boot

5

Best quality. Whenever we talk about workboots, Thorogood Men’s American Heritage Moc Toe Boot should be mentioned. These boots are one of the best you’ll ever find. They’re designed to be work boots. So, quality and durability are unbeatable here. When we got the boots, the first thing we checked was the outsoles. The patterns were made exactly as they should be. So, these boots are guaranteed to be slip-resistant.

On the side, the material is leather stitched perfectly to the soles of the boots. We have already tested these boots on concrete and metal surfaces. They worked the best on both. Also, ankle support was great and the shoes were extremely comfortable when worn for long hours. Check out Thorogood’s official website to get all the information you need about these boots.

Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Vent Hiking Shoe

4

Best lightweight. Apart from heavyweight shoes, that do work well but they’re heavy on the feet, here is Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Vent Hiking Shoe. This is one of a kind shoe that is extremely durable but lightweight and comfortable. These shoes were our best in terms of walking and going here and there as we didn’t feel them on our feet like other shoes. However, they didn’t provide the best arch support ever.

The shoes are, again, made for hikers. Those people need the comfiest thing but they can’t compensate for quality and slip-resistance. That’s what these shoes offer and that’s why we have included them here on this list. We also noticed that these shoes have some mesh parts that don’t downgrade the durability but provide some breathability.

XPETI Men’s Thermator Mid-Rise Outdoor Boots

3

Best value for money. XPETI Men’s Thermator Mid-Rise Outdoor Boots aren’t as famous as Timberland, Keen, and other brands we reviewed, yet, for those looking for durable shoes, those ones have a good reputation. The shoes are insulated from the inner side to wear in winter. Plus, they’re waterproof as it normally rains and snows in winter. So, they’re 100% winter shoes.

We wanted to make sure of these features as they’re the main selling points of these shoes. The insulation didn’t provide a toasty warm feeling as expected. However, the shoes were really waterproof. Apart from these features, we didn’t forget that we were searching for the best shoes for working on roofs. So, checking durability, traction, and ankle support, all of these features were the best in these shoes.

CAT Echo Steel Toe Work Boot

2

CAT Echo Steel Toe Work Boots are a bit similar to Timberland shoes in style but there are great differences in construction. If you’re after the best shoes for roof work in general, CAT Echo Steel Toe Work Boot is the best. These shoes are so comfortable that you won’t feel you’re wearing steel-toe boots. In fact, we kept those boots after trying them for the review because we believe this is a bargain we don’t want to miss.

Moreover, the shoes look durable. They also felt durable with some features made specially for workers in general. The shoes have electrical hazard protection and ERGO technology for stability. Want more? We didn’t need to wear socks with these shoes because they have Nylex sock liners to wick away moisture.

Fila Men’s Memory Workshift-m Shoes

1

Fila Men’s Memory Workshift-m Shoes are very flexible shoes you can buy for different purposes. These shoes look like sneakers, so, we could easily wear those to the shopping mall to try them on normal terrains. Later, we had to try them on concrete and metal floors, they were very gripping and traction is approved here.

“Getting a pair of shoes that feels comfortable, provides great traction, looks good, and above all, doesn’t cost a lot, was what we were looking for! This is the best purchase ever. “

Dizzzi

Moving to the cushioning and the quality of the footbed, the shoes were cushioned with memory foam, and the midsoles are also provided for extra comfort. There are a lot of sizes including wide and X-wide sizes of these shoes, so, take your time checking the size chart to get a suitable size.

Our Verdict!

The shoes below are one of the best shoes you can wear on the roof. This choice is based on some considerations as we have tried and found out.

• Best value for money: XPETI Men’s Thermator Mid-Rise Outdoor Boots
• Best quality: Thorogood Men’s American Heritage Moc Toe Boot
• Best for professionals: KEEN Utility Men’s Flint Low Steel Toe Work Shoes
• Best lightweight: Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Vent Hiking Shoe

How To Choose The Best Shoes for Roofers?

Roofers need special features that would make their job easier and protect them. Even if you don’t work as a roofer and want to have one of these products for any emergency job on your home roof, make sure to consider these features.

Grip

Needless to say, the most important feature we were looking for is the grip. Given that working on the roof requires carrying and doing hand jobs, you need to have your feet secured on the roof. That’s why traction and grip are very important. So, when picking a pair of shoes, ensure that they have tread patterns on the outsoles, these grip the best.

Arch support

This is also important in any shoes and it was one of the features we considered while searching and reviewing. We could find a great difference between shoes with proper arch support and those without. The difference was so obvious, especially after a long time wearing the shoes. Hence, always go for arch-supported shoes. It’s something related to your comfort, so, don’t compensate for it.

Material

Although there are different materials that could be used for designing these shoes, some materials are more practical than others. We always bear in mind that working on a roof might expose us to falling objects and walking on nails and nuts, so, we went for high-quality and durable materials. Leather and suede are the best in this case. In addition, the outsoles should be rubber that doesn’t wear out quickly.

What should I wear when walking on a roof?

Besides wearing a good pair of shoes suitable for this, you should also take other safety precautions as wearing a harness.

What are the best boots for roofers?

Roofers need durable and comfortable boots similar to those worn by hikers. So, hiking boots can be used by roofers.

Can I walk on wet roofs?

You can do so provided that you’re wearing proper non-slipping shoes designed for this purpose.