Best tradie boots, as told to us by tradies

More than almost any other piece of equipment, one thing we need to get right is what we pull onto our feet every day – our work boots. For safety and compliance, tradie boots and shoes are at the top of the list – you simply won’t be let on most sites without the right PPE on your feet – but more importantly it’s all about comfort.

Your boots go on as you head out the door and are the first thing you take off after a long day walking, carrying loads and just standing on all sorts of surfaces, so you need to get it right. But what is right? 

Thinking of buying new boots? Start here  

There’s more to consider than you’d expect when it comes to forking out cash for a decent pair of boots. Here are some pointers to think about:

• Will your tradie boots stay on all day? If you need to take your boots off and, on a lot, then elastic-sided boots could be the way to go. Only a few times? Try zips. Wear them all day? Laces will give better support.
• Do you need protective toe caps? Steel or composite caps can add to a workboot’s weight but are mandatory for some trades.
• What type of sole do you need? Almost all work boots have slip- and heat-resistant soles, but while a chunky tread will give better grip on messy surfaces, a flatter sole can be better for those who work mostly on hard, flat surfaces like warehouses, garages or footpaths.
• How high should your boots be? Low-cut work trainers are perfect for light duties, mid-cut boots might be more comfortable if you have to kneel down a lot during your work, high cut gives more support around your ankle and achilles tendon. And then there are gumboots for wet or muddy environments.
• How much do you want to spend? The most expensive aren’t always best for your particular needs, but ask yourself how often you’ll go through boots, even the expensive ones. Work out those economies of scale.

The tradie boot reviews

Whether they rate affordable slip-ons, comfy composite-toe runners or the more traditional site boots, a bunch of tradies tell us which footwear they recommend.

Great tradie boots for… concreters

Hard Yakka 3056 Side Zip 5 Inch Water Resistant Leather Work Boot

Noah More, concreter, Concrete City Construction

“These are the most comfortable boots I’ve found,” Noah says. “And when you’re on your feet all day like we are, that’s super important. Also – and this is great for concreters – the boot has a flatter sole than a lot of the others so if I have to walk over concrete it’s not going to leave a big footprint. That saves me time!”

Great tradie boots for… muddy plumbing jobs

Bata Industrials Jobmaster Knee Length Steel Cap Safety Gumboots

Tom Calleja, plumber and roofer, TRC Plumbing and Roofing

“Most of the time I’m running around from job to job so I’m in trainers, but when it gets muddy – and it does when you’re a plumber – you can’t go past a pair of gumboots. If they’re steel caps that just makes it easier from the PPE side of things when you’re on a site. Plus, you can just hose them down and throw them in the ute at the end of the day!”

Great tradie boots for… comfort and taking on and off easily

Bata Meteor Steel Cap Boot

Mark Whittaker, building maintenance, Mark Whittaker Property

“Running in and out of houses, it really helps to have a boot I can take off easily if I need to. Elastic sides are a big plus,” Mark says. “These have steel caps in case something slips while I’m working with heavy items but they’re still light compared to a lot of other boots so they’re comfortable enough that I don’t have to change into runners when I drive to the next job.”

Great tradie boots for… onsite protection and support

Hard Yakka Wheat Side Zip Safety Boot

Matthew Stephens, carpenter, MWS Carpentry and Construction

“To be honest, when I can get away with it, I love a pair of runners, but usually on sites you need something more protective. I like a lace-up boot; the slip-ons don’t give me enough support and although I usually prefer without a zip so there’s nothing that can jam, at the moment I’m wearing Hard Yakka with zips because I was in Bunnings when I noticed my old boots needed replacing – and they’re going great!”

Great tradie boots to… keep a pair of safety boots in your vehicle

Bata Black Leather Cobra Safety Boot

Damian Corney, wallpaper and signage, Grafico

“Safety boots are something I need in the car for when I visit sites that require them, but I never really thought about it much,” Damian says. “Then one day on my way to a consultation I realised I couldn’t wear street shoes so I stopped into Bunnings and grabbed a pair of Cobras and they’ve been great! They’re easy to slip off if I need to walk into a home, safe for the site and most importantly, they’re comfortable.”

Great tradie boots for… lightweight and flexible movement

Hard Yakka Navy 3056 Steel Cap Zip Boots

Adrian Cursio, tiler, Cursio Tiling

“I’ve used a lot of boots through my life and lately had been using the Hard Yakka Wheat, but I’ve swapped over to the 3056,” Adrian says. “They look great, but also they are light, comfortable and flexible which is really important when you’re getting up and then back down to your knees all day. Little things like that can make a big difference in how your work day leaves you feeling.”

Great tradie boots for… comfort and grip

DeWALT Wheat Akron Safety Work Boot

Jason Charles, master builder, Charles Bros Building Contractor

“I’ve been building for a long time and worn a lot of boots and these are just so comfortable,” Jason says. “I’m on-and offsite a lot and these are easy to get on, easy to get off and with great grip on all surfaces, they’re just a good all-round boot. And like most builders, I go through a lot of boots so it’s good they’re reasonably priced, too.”

Boots sorted, now let’s talk utes

Find out all about the top tradie vehicles, as told to us by tradies.