Roofs are one of the toughest surfaces to tread on!
They are sloppy, wet, uneven and slippery. You need boots that offer very good traction and comfort at the same time.
Wedged sole boots are considered the best when it comes to roofing because they offer the maximum traction and contact area on the roofing surfaces. This will help you to hold your grip tightly on the challenging roofs.
Also, wedged sole boots come with numerous safety features such as steel toe caps, EH protection, heat resistant and anti-slip rubberized outsoles that are essential for a roofing boot.
Down this article, I will explain you in details all about the essential features of a roofing boot and why are wedged sole boots considered the best for roofing.
Also, you will get to know why should you avoid heeled boost on roofs and what types of shoes are the best for roofing. To top it all, there is a list of top 3 wedged sole boots recommended by our experts for you!
So, shall we head straight to the details?
Overall qualities of a good roofing boot:
Metal roofs are hard, wet, slippery and sloping surfaces. Therefore, you need boots that have the following features in order to withstand the mentioned conditions:
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- They should not have high heels or else you will get the required balance to walk in the roofs
- The outsoles must not have lugs in them
- The lacing system should be very good so that the boots hold tight to your feet and do not cause tripping or falling over
- They should have steel toes for the protection of your toes from getting cut or hit by sharp metals of the roofs
- They must have steel shanks in order to prevent puncture from extended or protruding nails in the roofs
- The outsoles of the boots should be anti-slip and abrasion resistant. Better if they are resistant to heat as well as the metal surfaces are very hot to step on
- The boots should be EH rated because there are chances of getting electric shock while you work with the electrical appliances in the metal surfaces of the roofs
- The boots must be built with an anti-fatigue technology in order to deliver the utmost comfort that is required while walking on the roofs
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How do roofers walk on steep roofs?
Walking on steep roofs is not an easy task at all. You need experience as well as favorable conditions for doing so.
In case the weather is not suitable, like say its too windy or snowy or the roof is covered with ice or the roof is too slippery, you should refrain yourself from working on the roof for the day.
When the roof is dry and safe for working, you can plan to climb on it and start your work on it. You need to wear protective clothing designed for working on roofs and make sure that you have worn rubberized outsole boots because they hold the best grip on the roof surfaces.
While walking on the roof, you must bend your body slightly forward and continue to walk in the forward bent motion on the roof. This will help you to maintain proper balance even if the roof is inclined.
Another tip that comes from the experienced roofers is to walk sideways in the roofs by placing both your feet together in small steps. This will help to prevent tripping and falling by maintaining a proper balance on the roofs.
What kind of shoes should you wear with a metal roof?
Metal roofs are supposed to be very slippery, wet and hot. Therefore, you need to wear boots whose outsoles offer a very good grip.
The rubberized outsoles are best for the metal roofs since they are best known for their traction. Also, look for the anti-slip and abrasion resistant outsoles because in the rainy season the metal roofs become quite slippery as they remain wet for most of the times.
Likewise, in the summers the metal roofs become quite hot and therefore, you need boots that have heat resistant outsoles so that the outsoles do not melt due to stepping or standing on the hot metal surfaces.
Issues with heel boots on roofs:
Heel boots are not a good option for roofing! In fact, they are the worst companions on roofs!
Heel boots will make you lose balance while walking on the roofs and the heels might be the cause of your tripping over and falling on from roofs. The heels on the other hand, will exert excess pressure on the roofs and might cause damage to the roofs.
The heels are not able to hold a good grip on the roof surfaces and in case the roofs are slippery and wet, the heels might cause you a slip and you might get severely injured.
Also, walking in heels will not be very comfortable for your feet as you will experience unnecessary pressure on the balls of the heels and this might cause you feet and back pain later.
Why are wedge sole boots recommended for roofing?
Wedged sole boots are the best choice when it comes to roofing and there are solid reasons for it. The wedged soles provide the most surface contact area to the ground to your feet as the outsole runs equally throughout the entire length of the boost without any heels or bents in the arches.
This helps to provide the just the right amount of traction as well as friction that is required to walk on the roofs.
Moreover, wedged sole boots also come with numerous special features that you will require to walk in the roofs such as they are built with anti-fatigue technology that returns the energy back to the feet.
They are EH rated to prevent electrical shocks, and they also come with rubberized outsoles tant help to hold the grip tightly on wet and slippery roof surfaces.
And at last, the body balance that you get to maintain by wearing a wedged sole boot is unmatched for walking on roofs.
Recommended wedge sole boots for roofing
Here’s a list of the top 3 wedged sole boost that are just perfect for roofing and are recommended by our experts because of their special features suited for roofing:
1. Timberland pro men’s wedge sole 6” boot
- Lace-up ankle boot with rolled moccasin-toe stitching and contrasting platform sole
- EVA midsole for comfort
- Looped heel pull
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Walking in these boots on roofs is an ease with the soft cushioned insole and the EVA midsole that not only provides cushioning to the middle part of your feet, but also releases pressure from the feet.
The ankle length of these boost will save your ankles from any twists and turns on the roofs and the rubberized outsoles will hold the grip firmly on the slippery or wet roof surfaces.
Also, the lace-up system is quite good and sturdy to enable you to hold a perfect balance while you walk on the roofs.
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon2. Irish setter men’s 6” 83605 work boot
- 6 lace-up work boot with USA-made full grain leather
- Electrical Hazard - meets ASTM F2413-11 Safety Standards,Outsole:Rubber-EVA Traction Tred.
- Heat-Resistant outsole - resistant to melting at a minimum of 475 Fahrenheit
- Lining (Vamp):Non-Woven Nylon. Texon insole
- Footbed: Removable Polyurethane
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
These are one of the best boots you can ask for a roofer! It didn’t fail to impress me, our experts and so do it will definitely impress you too.
It has got all the essential features that must be present in a roofing boot. Firstly, the lining of the boots ensures that your feet can breathe all day long while you are working in the heat.
Secondly, the boost will protect you from electrical hazards. Thirdly, the outsoles are not only rubberized and are built with EVA traction tred to provide the utmost traction on the wet roofs, but they are heat-resistant too so that the outsoles won’t melt while you walk on the hot metal roofs.
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon3. Wolverine men’s moc toe 6” work boot
- Moc-toe boot featuring lace-up vamp and contrast stitching
- Padded collar, Breathable fabric linings for comfort
- Crepe outsole
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
If you seek for comfort on the roofs, then look no further and these most comfortable boots! The goodyear welt construction ensures of the durability of the boots and the fully cushioned insoles along with the springy midsole delivers you the utmost comfort that is needed while walking on the steep, hard and uneven roof surfaces.
Another good feature that makes these boots suitable for roofing is the presence of the nylon shanks that absorbs the shock and lets your feet remain fatigue-free the entire day.
Lastly, the crepe outsole is resistant to oil, slip and abrasion which means you get the best grip irrespective of the roof condition.
Check Price and Reviews on AmazonIt’s a Wrap!
therefore, in a nutshell, we can conclude that wedged sole boots are not only good, but the best choice for roofing!
The next time you plan to buy boots for roofing, choose one of the above recommended wedged sole boots and you will not regret it.
That’s all for today. Wrapping up with a note of note of thanks for reading my article!
