Working on sloped, often-slippery rooftops can be dangerous without proper footwear. Between the slip-resistant outsoles, sturdy construction, safety toe, and supportive design, these five pairs of roofing boots will make every workday safer and more comfortable.

Best Overall: JK O.T. Safety Toe

• Top-notch handmade quality and stylish good looks
• Incredibly versatile “dual-sport” design
• A long-term investment that will pay off for years to come

Best on a Budget: Brunt Marin Comp Toe

• Affordable but great quality
• Comfortable, supportive wedge sole
• Easy to stand, crouch, bend, and kneel in

Best Work Boots for Roofing: Thorogood 8" MAXwear Safety Boot

• Extra-tall shaft offers good ankle support
• Moc toe style is excellent for both casual and work wear
• Heavy-duty build but nicely lightweight

Best for Shingle Roofing: Wolverine Overpass

• Rubber-and-synthetic sole is great for walking on asphalt shingles
• All-around great work boots
• Stable and supportive

Best Winter Roofing Boots: Carolina Elm

• 600g Thinsulate insulation plus waterproofing
• “Logger” style is ideal for climbing ladders
• Ultra-tough construction, made from horse leather

Roofing is hard work.

Long hours spent under the bright sun, crouching and kneeling on hot shingles, not to mention walking up and down steeply sloped and sometimes slick roofs.

It’s definitely not a job to take lightly, but rather a profession that requires the proper safety gear from head to toe.

With a good pair of roofing boots, you’ll guarantee sturdy, secure footing no matter where you’re stepping. Plus, all-day comfort and support for your feet so you end your long work shift just slightly less tired.

Best Overall: JK O.T. Safety Toe

In all my testing, I haven’t yet found a boot that can beat the quality, comfort, and performance of JK’s O.T. Safety Toe boots for on-the-job-site use.

The “dual sport” design makes them perfect for both sports (hunting, fishing, hiking) and work. The JK O.T.s offer OSHA-required protection—including an ASTM-rated composite safety toe, NFPA-rated materials, and an ultra-grippy Vibram 100 Honey sole—and excellent durability.

However, the O.T.s are also very comfortable, with excellent arch support, a thick outsole, and an ergonomic design that feels like they’re hugging my feet. Thanks to the addition of speed hooks, they’re easy to get off and on in a hurry.

Don’t get me wrong: JK boots are a pricey investment. But I consider the O.T.s a worthwhile one for the handmade quality. They’re both rebuildable and resoleable, so they’ll easily last at least ten years with proper care and maintenance.

What I Like

• The most comfortable work boots I’ve tested to date.

• “Dual sport” design makes them useful not just on the job site, but also for recreational activities.

• Handsome mix of roughout and smooth leather, very eye-catching.

• Handmade quality, excellent durability, and can be rebuilt/resoled to extend their longevity.

• Grippy, stable, supportive, and reliable—everything I look for in a pair of work boots.

What I Don’t Like

• The price tag is no joke. However, the fact that “you get what you pay for” with these boots makes it a smart long-term investment in my mind.

What Other Reviewers Say

With a 4.9 out of 5-star rating, it’s clear tradies are fans of JK O.T. Safety Toe. Reviewers rave about their light weight, sturdy construction, and great arch and heel support.

The only negative reviews I could find mentioned that the leather is a bit stiff and takes longer to break in than average (although this wasn’t the case for me). However, once broken in, there is no other cause for complaint that my research could turn up. 

Lots of people rave about their handsome fit and finish, too.

The Verdict

If you want to invest in a pair of boots that will last you for years of hard use on the job, I consider the JK O.T. Safety Toe a smart choice. Their handmade quality and top-of-the-line materials ensure they’ll hold up to wear and tear, and their excellent cushioning and support will keep you comfortable when kneeling, crouching, and hoofing it up and down roofs.

Best on a Budget: Brunt Marin Comp Toe

As a big, heavy guy (6’6”, 250 lbs.), I always appreciate a well-built wedge sole boot like the Brunt Marin Comp Toe. I like the extra support and cushioning the full-length sole offers, and the grippiness keeps me very stable, even on sloped or slippery rooftops.

The Brunt Marins are great for use on the job: they come with a composite safety toe, are ASTM-rated for electrical hazards, and have an oil- and slip-resistant rubber coating on the bottom of the wedge sole. Plus, they’re waterproof, so I never have to worry about my feet getting soaked in heavy rain.

The Marins‘ six-inch shaft makes them great for kneeling, crouching, and bending, but they still offer good ankle support when laced up tight. The moc-toe style pairs nicely with my weekend wear, and they’re comfortable enough that I’ll use them both on the job and around town.

Best of all, like most Brunt boots, the price tag is low enough that I won’t think twice about replacing them when my current pair wears out.

What I Like

• Waterproof design is great for working even in the heavy British Columbia rainfall.

• Composite toe makes it lighter than steel-toe boots, and less friction against my toes.

• Premium insoles offer all-day comfort and support.

• The mesh lining keeps the boots breathable, so I can wear them even in the summer heat.

• Lightweight, shock-absorbing midsole and wedge sole are great for big, heavy guys like me.

What I Don’t Like

• The break-in time was a bit longer than I’d like. Before I wore them in fully, the leather gripped my ankle really tight and rubbed to the point of causing blisters. I had to wear extra-thick socks (like the Camel City Mill Heavyweights) for enough protection.

What Other Reviewers Say

Out of the nearly 3,500 reviews the Brunt Marin Comp Toe boots have garnered, the vast majority are highly positive. 

A few found that these boots suffer the same problem that many wedge sole boots do: the sole separating from the upper as the stitching wore out or tore.

Most tradies who wear them on the job, though, speak highly of their quality, comfort, style, and, of course, their value for the budget price.

The Verdict

The Brunt Marin Comp Toe is simply a great pair of hard-wearing, comfortable work boots that’ll suit you well on the job site. 

Their short shaft, cushioned insoles, and grippy, supportive wedge outsole make them ideal for long days of roofing, and their waterproof design will keep your feet dry. And no one can argue with that budget-friendly price tag.

Best Work Boots for Roofing: Thorogood 8” MAXwear Safety Toe Boot

If you’re looking for a heavier-duty pair of work boots for roofing, I recommend the Thorogood MAXwear Safety Boot. Specifically, the eight-inch boots.

The Thorogood boots have a lot of other features that will be suitable for roofers, including a composite shank (for support when climbing up and down ladders), a slip-resistant MAXWear wedge outsole (extra grippy), and an “Ultimate Shock Absorption” footbed that’ll reduce fatigue over long hours on your feet.

I also highly appreciate the fact that these boots are also rebuildable and resoleable, with top-quality materials and the work done right here in the USA.

What I Like

• American-made quality at a reasonable price tag.

• Heavy-duty construction without being overweight (for a work boot).

• Steel toe, composite shank, and slip-resistant outsole keep you stable and safe on the job.

• Shock-absorbing footbed does a great job of combatting fatigue.

• Extra-tall shaft offers good ankle support for standing on sloped roofs.

What I Don’t Like

• If I don’t hold the tongue when I’m sliding my foot into the boot, it ends up twisted and pretty uncomfortable, forcing me to re-adjust before I can lace up.

What Other Reviewers Say

A few negative reviews mentioned that the Thorogood 8” MAXwear Safety Toe Boot’s sole gets a little slick in heavy rain or on mud.  

However, they have earned a lot of reviews praising their comfort, true-to-size fit, reliability, and durability. The fact that they can be rebuilt/resoled makes them popular for wearers who want to keep the same boot for years to come, with regular maintenance as needed.

The Verdict

For a tough, reliable work boot for roofing, I recommend the Thorogood 8” MAXwear Safety Toe Boot. It’s got all the necessary safety features you need for your daily work, but aren’t so heavy they’ll drag on your feet. The addition of a shock-absorbing insole makes them nicely comfortable and the extra-tall shaft height hugs your ankles for more stability on sloped or slippery rooftops.

Best for Shingle Roofing: Wolverine Overpass

The Wolverine Overpass boots are my go-to for shingle roofing because the combination rubber-and-synthetic outsole offers fantastic footing on the asphalt material. Even if the day is scorching hot and the shingles are soft, the lugs are deep enough to offer steady footing but not so aggressive they’ll damage the asphalt.

The Overpass also has many other features that make it suitable for roofing: waterproof construction, a moisture-wicking mesh lining, a thick Ortholite cushioned footbed, a nylon shank for more stability, and a composite safety toe that can take a beating.

The Wolverine boots aren’t so pricey they’ll break the bank, but are built with quality materials and resilient construction, so they’ll last for years on the job. Just a great pair of all-around work boots well-suited to shingle roofing and most other construction jobs.

What I Like

• Versatile, great for everything from roofing to flooring to carpentry.

• Solidly built and will last a long time.

• Affordable price tag.

• Ultra-grippy sole, great for walking on asphalt shingles.

• Lightweight but excellent protection.

What I Don’t Like

• The composite toe feels a bit tight against my thick, long toes. I have to wear thin socks (the Camel City Mill Lightweights work wonderfully) for my feet to fit comfortably.

What Other Reviewers Say

Combing over the reviews for the Wolverine Overpass, I’ve found a lot of wearers appreciate their supportive construction, thick cushioning, and accurate sizing.

Other reviewers apparently had the same problem I did (the composite toe being a bit too tight). Also, a few complaints mentioned quality control issues, with the boots’ side seams and wearing down/breaking faster than expected.  

But it was a winner for all-day comfort. One user even said he wears them eight to fifteen hours at a time with no issues.

The Verdict

Thanks to the combination of rubber and polyurethane used for the outsole, the Wolverine Overpass boots will be extra grippy on shingle rooftops, and offer you the traction you need to stay steady and secure even if the roof is deeply slanted. 

Add to this a comfortable, waterproof, breathable design and a reasonable price tag, and they’ve earned their place on my list.

Best Winter Roofing Boots: Carolina Elm

I chose the Carolina Elms as my ideal winter roofing boots for two reasons.

First, the 600-gram Thinsulate insulation can repel temperatures as low as -20F, making them ideal for working even in the brutal Canadian winters.

Second, their “logger” design (with a one-inch slanted heel and the addition of a triple-rib steel shank for support) makes them ideal for climbing up and down ladders.  

The oil- and slip-resistant outsole offers solid footing even if the roof is slick or steeply slanted, and the SCUBALINER waterproof layer ensures the boots stay dry even if rain’s pouring down.

The fact that the Carolina Elms are made from horse leather rather than cowhide means they’re even more resilient and capable of withstanding hard use.

What I Like

• Horse leather is naturally water-resilient and very tough.

• Waterproof and insulated against cold temperatures.

• Logger design offers fantastic comfort and support on ladder rungs.

• Sure-grip rubber soles provide excellent traction.

• Comfortable, thickly-padded Pillow Cushion memory foam footbed.

What I Don’t Like

• These are great winter boots, but they’re too hot to use in summer. My feet overheat before the day’s halfway done because of how thick the insulation is.

What Other Reviewers Say

The Carolina Elms get a lot of love from roofers, linemen, and tradies of all professions. Positive reviews highlight their comfort, rugged construction, excellent waterproofing, accurate fit, reliability, and affordability.

One reviewer mentioned that the insole felt a bit hard and didn’t offer the shock absorption the boots promised. Another noted the tread on the heels wore off a bit quicker than expected.

The Verdict

If you’re working in the cold, the Carolina Elms are my recommendation for winter roofing boots. Their logger design, nylon shank, and grippy outsole will provide your feet good support and traction whether you’re scrambling up and down ladders or walking across rooftops. 

Thanks to their ultra-tough horse leather and waterproof construction, you’ll find they last you a long time working in any weather conditions.

4 Key Things to Consider When Choosing a Roofing Boot

Grip

You’ll be walking on slanted rooftops, which may also be slippery from rain, dew, or ice melt. It’s imperative that your boots offer good traction, typically using rubber or a combination of rubber and polyurethane for the outsoles.

Note: In many cases, an ultra-aggressive lug may damage the roof, particularly asphalt shingle. You may want to consider boots with a less aggressive tread/lug pattern for roofing specifically.

Safety Features

OSHA requirements demand that you have at least the basic safety features necessary for any construction site, including:

• Oil- and slip-resistant sole
• Safety toe (either steel or composite)
• ASTM electrical hazard rating

Comfort

A heavier sole (like a wedge sole) is a good option for all-day comfort, especially when paired with a thick, cushioned footbed or shock-absorbing insoles.

Stability and Support

Boots with higher heels (anything over one inch) may compromise your footing and make you less stable, whereas lower heels (one inch or less) and wedge soles will give you more stable footing.

You need plenty of heel and arch support to reduce foot fatigue, but also consider your ankles. A boot with a higher shaft (eight inches) may grip your ankles more tightly and provide support as you stand on the slanted roof for long hours at a time.

Conclusion

With the right pair of roofing boots, you’ll not only have the necessary safety and stability for your job—you’ll be more comfortable, too.

The good news is that a wide range of work boot styles are compatible with roofing, so you have plenty of options to consider when shopping for the best roofing boots.

My top pick is the JK O.T. Safety Toe boots. They deliver the comfort and support a big, heavy guy like me needs, and their handmade quality ensures they’ll last for easily ten years on the job.

But if you’re on a tighter budget, the Brunt Marin Comp Toe boots are a solid pick. Though less pricey, they don’t compromise on construction or comfort.

And if you’re working in cold conditions, the insulation and waterproofing offered by the Carolina Elms will keep your feet dry, warm, and comfortable all winter long.