Roofing is a dangerous job between the elements, electricity, and the high risks of slips and falls. In fact, it’s the third most dangerous job in the world. In this profession, you must do what you can to minimize risks while on the job site. You might think of OSHA safety precautions like hard hats and safety harnesses, but what about your roofing shoes?
The shoes you wear while roofing can play a huge role in your job safety and success. Wear the wrong shoes, and your feet can get tired, cramped, and overheated. Worse, you can get stabbed by a loose nail or even lose traction on a steep roof incline.
To protect yourself from all sorts of injuries, you’ve got to have good roofing shoes. We polled real roofers like you to find some of the best shoes for roofing, as well as boots, to help you pick out a pair that will keep you safe and comfortable.
Let’s get started!
What Are the Key Features of Good Roofing Shoes?
While there are many roofing shoes on the market, not all of them are good roofing shoes. As you pick out the best shoes for your roofing jobs, consider the following factors to help you find a good pair.
- Toe Impact Resistance: With so many tools and supplies on a roof during a job, things can easily drop on your toes. The best roofing shoes help offset some of the impact to prevent broken bones.
- Electric Hazard Protection: At the job site, you and your crew are exposed to overhead power lines, extension cords, and electrical equipment all the time. You need good roofing shoes that can help protect your feet from electrical shocks.
- Puncture Resistance: Roofs have all sorts of sharp objects on them while you’re working: nails, hammers, etc. You need good roofing shoes to prevent those objects from hurting your feet.
- Grip: As a roofer, you need shoes with unparalleled traction to keep you from slipping and falling off the roof, especially on steep and slippery rooftops.
- Comfort: An uncomfortable roofing shoe is a lousy roofing shoe. The best shoes for roofing are comfortable to wear for long periods.
- Weight: Heavy roofer’s shoes will slow you down and make you tired faster, so you need to find the right weight.
- Flexibility: The best roofing shoes can withstand steep roof inclines and move with your foot around tight spaces.
7 Best Shoes for Roofing
Many types of shoes can work for roofing, including running, CrossFit, hiking, and climbing shoes. Here are some of the best roofing shoes.
Nike Free Run Shoes
The Nike Free shoe series has centered around giving you comfort without weighing you down. That mentality explains the lightweight and breathable material that keeps your feet from heating up on a roof in the summertime.
Nike Free Run shoes have deep grooves in the sole that provide unmatched flexibility, so you can make quick turns. The sole also has a cushion for better stability on rough roofs.
No Bull CrossFit® Trainer+
CrossFit and roofing aren’t the same, but they follow some of the same principles: carrying heavy weights, squatting, and more.
The No Bull CrossFit® Trainer+ has a lower base, so you can keep your balance better and improve your stability, which is essential on a high rooftop. These roofing shoes also have a generous toe box, so your toes don’t feel cramped.
Reebok Nano
The Reebok Nano collection provides just the right balance of stability and cushion to keep your feet from feeling fatigued after a long day of roofing.
Reebok Nanos make for great roofing shoes because of their strong rubber outsoles. The soles have a lot of treads to give you traction, even on metal roofs. Additionally, some Nanos have a TPU shell on the heel to provide heel support while keeping the shoe light.
Nike MetCon 8
Roofers love the Nike MetCon shoe series. Designed for heavy lifting, this CrossFit-friendly shoe has a heel insert that adds stability. That stability comes in handy when you’re balancing on a roof.
The Nike MetCon 8 has more breathability and comfort than the previous MetCon iterations, but they all provide excellent traction. You can even design your own Nike MetCon to be the exact roofing shoe you want.
Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail Running Shoes
These trail running shoes are perfect for climbing on shingles and navigating around obstacles on the roof. Under Armour Charged Bandit shoes absorb shock and have a molded collar to keep your heel comfortably in place without hindering your mobility.
The Charged Bandit has a high-abrasion outsole made of rubber that gives you traction and prevents objects from puncturing your shoe. Next time you step on a nail at the job site, you’ll be glad you had these roofing shoes to protect your feet.
Danner Trail 2650 Hiking Shoes
Hiking shoes are designed to secure your footing on uneven surfaces, and roofs certainly fall into that category.
The Danner Trail 2650 hiking shoe is lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. You’ll find cushioning in the midsole for better weight distribution and overall feel. The Megagrip technology outsole also grips well in dry and wet conditions, so you can roof even if the rooftop isn’t dry.
Timberland PRO® Setra Comp-Toe Athletic Work Sneakers
Want roofing shoes, not boots, that will protect your toes? Timberland has athletic work sneakers that combine the best of both worlds.
These roof shoes have composite safety toes, TPU heel clips for better stability, and electrical protection. For those long days on the roof, these Timberland PRO® work sneakers are imbued with “Anti-Fatigue Technology” that absorbs shock and returns energy to keep you going all day.
7 Best Boots for Roofing
Boots are typically less flexible and heavier than roof shoes, but they offer more coverage and protection . If you’re after durability, quality, and superior foot safety, roofing boots are for you.
Cougar Paws Performer Boot
When you ask someone about the best roofing shoes, you’ll undoubtedly hear Cougar Paws. Cougar Paws are made by a roofer with the roof in mind. These heavy-duty boots emphasize traction and foot protection while you’re up on the rooftop.
While Cougar Paws does have three different boot styles, the Performer is the original, patented for its unique grip. The Performer roofing boot keeps your feet cool and comfortable.
Wolverine Overpass Carbonmax® 6” Work Boot
The Wolverine Overpass Carbonmax® work boot offers stellar toe protection and shock prevention. This roofing shoe notably has a dual outsole, giving you double the grip you need to work on a roof.
This Wolverine boot for roofers also sticks out from the crowd with its waterproof capabilities. Some purchasers have even noted they can wear the boot in standing water without their feet getting wet.
Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boot
Roofers will love how waterproof the Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex hiking boot is. This roofing shoe has a cord that you can use to tighten the boot for a tight fit, making it perfect for working on steep roofs. It also has anti-debris mesh to keep small pieces of asphalt shingle out of your shoe.
If you’d rather have a shorter shoe than a boot, Salomon can deliver on that too. You can get the X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex style in hiking shoes. And if you’re roofing in the snow, you can pick up a pair of Salomon X Ultra 4 Gore-Tex winter boots.
Merrell® Moab 3 Mid Hiking Boot
Built for rugged terrain, the Merrell® Moab 3 Mid hiking boot is durable and grippy. The soles are strong enough to keep you comfortable but don’t compress shingles when you stand on them. These roofing boots have a cushioned midsole for a more comfortable fit.
Additionally, you can find the right Merrell® Moab to fit your tastes with their choice of GORE-TEX®, waterproof, and wide-width styles.
Red Wing Classic Moc Boot
The Red Wing Classic Moc boot looks impressive on or off the roof with a moccasin toe and a trendy leather exterior. The leather is incredibly durable but very comfortable, even when breaking them in.
Red Wing’s proprietary Traction Tred outsole gives you superior grip for any roofing job. And with its six-inch coverage, your ankles have extra protection from workplace injuries.
White’s Perry 6” Select Boot
Another classy work boot, the Perry 6” Select boot looks nice while getting the job done. The crepe sole protects your feet from stray nails and keeps you comfortable for hours.
Although this sole can wear down quickly on steep slopes, this roofing boot is resoleable, so you can get back to it without buying a whole new pair.
ROCKROOSTER 6” Pull-on Work Boot
You want a roofing shoe that can do it all? The ROCKROOSTER 6” Pull-on Work Boot is resistant to chemicals, oil, heat, acid, slips, and electrical shocks. This workhorse boot is also moisture-wicking to help regulate your temperature and keep you comfortable in all working conditions.
The ROCKROOSTER pull-on boot makes our list of best roofing shoes specifically for its Kevlar midsole that protects your feet from nails and other sharp objects.
Find the Best Roofing Shoes for You
When it comes to roofing shoes, you have options. Whether you like boots or a more athletic-looking shoe, you can find something comfortable and functional for your roofing work.
Our list isn’t all-inclusive—many other good roofing shoe brands are out there. But we hope this list can help jumpstart your search for your next pair of roofing shoes.
What are your favorite roof shoes? Let us know in the comments below!
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