If you’re a roofer, you face unique hazards daily. You’re working at heights, sometimes multiple stories up, and on a variety of pitches. You’re fully exposed to the elements. You’re climbing ladders and/or scaffolding. Your boots are constantly scraping against abrasive shingles and other materials. And that’s during ideal working conditions.
Add wet or cold weather to the mix, and the need for protective roofing boots becomes even more important. If you work in industrial roofing with hot tar, asphalt, or other hazardous materials, a heat-resistant outsole is a must. Extra abrasion resistance, especially over the toe of the boots, adds another layer of protection. The quality and features of the boots you choose can have a huge impact on your comfort and safety when you’re roofing every day. Roofing is dangerous work. One misstep can lead to serious injury or even death. KEEN Utility work boots and shoes help roofers safely navigate the challenging work environment without skimping on all-day comfort and performance.
Roofing boots need to have reliable grip for climbing up and down inclined surfaces all day. You may even want a boot with a 90º heel, designed for securing your footing on a ladder. In addition to rugged durability and abrasion resistance, the boots need to be flexible between the toe and the laces, given the constant crouching and kneeling a roofer must do. Other jobsite must-haves include heel stability, toe protection, and reliable cushioning for long days on your feet.
KEEN Utility makes plenty of work boots that’ll work great for roofers. In this article, we’ll break down your best options roughly based on residential roofing needs vs. industrial roofing.
| WORK BOOTS | KEEN.DRY Waterproof | KEEN.ReGEN Cushioning | KEEN LUFTCELL Cushioning | Enhanced Toe Abrasion Resistance | KEEN.BELLOWS FLEX | High Temp Rated Outsole | 90° Heel Available |
| Reno | X | X | X | X | |||
| Red Hook | X | X | X | ||||
| Pittsburgh Energy | X | X | X | X | |||
| Evanston | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Cincinnati | X | X | X | ||||
| Mt Vernon | X | X | X | X |
What are the best KEEN Utility work boots for residential roofers? Depending on the climate, residential roofing is potentially year-round work. Beyond the essential safety features like impact protection and slip resistance, your work boots should be waterproof. You’re always climbing or moving, so they should also be lightweight. And your boots will get scraped up, so they need some abrasion resistance.
The KEEN Utility Reno brings a modern hiking boot aesthetic to footwear for workers who move constantly, like athletes. Similarly, KEEN Utility Red Hook work boots combine the durability of work boots with the lightweight, athletic feel of a work sneaker.
Weather-Ready
Both models have a KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane that lets heat and vapor escape while keeping liquids out. This is a must-have for days when rain is in the forecast.
Lightweight
The less weight you carry up and down ladders or roof inclines, the better. Both the Reno and Red Hook are available with carbon safety toes, which provide impact resistance that’s 15% lighter than steel.
Durability
The Reno has rubber that wraps up over the toe, while the Red Hook features a TecTuff® bonded coating over the toe area, which is more abrasion-resistant than leather alone. These features help the boots resist the effects of daily wear and tear, ultimately increasing the life of your work boots.
Flexibility
Boot flexibility is important for roofing. Over time, kneeling with your boots scrunched up against a toe board can lead to cracking between the toe and the laces. To combat this, the Reno features KEEN.BELLOWS FLEX technology, an accordion-like insert that lets the toe area flex and bend without putting undue strain on the material.
Cushioning
In terms of cushioning, both the Reno and Red Hook have a KEEN.ReGEN midsole. This is our lightweight, compression-resisting foam technology that provides 50% more energy return than standard EVA foam. Work for a day with this tech underfoot, and you’ll feel the difference.
Heel Stability
Keeping your heels stable is important for all types of construction work, but considering that roofers work at heights and on inclined surfaces makes it doubly so. Reno work boots come with KonnectFit, a heel-capture system that locks in the back end of your foot and keeps it stable over the footbed.
Want all that but with a little more heavy-duty appeal? Check out our Pittsburgh Energy. It’s as good as the Reno and Red Hook for residential roofers but has a bit more beef to it. Lightweight and leather-made, Pittsburgh Energy 6" work boots have a KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane, KEEN.ReGEN cushioning, and lighter-than-steel carbon safety toes (we make a soft-toe version, too). They also have an abrasion-resistant toe cap like the Reno.
If you work in commercial or industrial roofing, the same boot basics and safety considerations apply, but you may need additional protection. As with residential roofing, your roofing boots need great grip, abrasion and slip resistance, safety toes, all-day cushioning, and waterproofing. They also need to be durable, supportive, and light enough not to weigh you down.
The nature of industrial roofing (flatter roofs plus heavier, hotter materials) means that boots need to have a unique set of features. They need to feel extremely comfortable over long workdays, but they must also protect your feet from abrasions and splashes. Our Evanston work boot fits these needs perfectly, as it’s got a resilient, super-comfortable KEEN.ReGEN midsole and a burly leather upper. It’s a “best of both worlds” product that’ll fit well on any industrial roofing site.
Given the heavier-duty workload of commercial roofing, it’s best to go with a burlier work boot that has additional features. Cincinnati work boots come in in a standard 6” version or in a taller 8” version for better ankle support. They’re loaded with features that work for industrial roofers, including a KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane, oil- and slip-resistant outsole, and carbon safety toes. Other Cincinnati features include:
Industrial-Grade Leather
Barnyard-Resistant Leather helps resist the damaging effects of chemicals and other materials—a nice-to-have quality when working with hot tar, asphalt, PVC, etc. Cincinnati work boots also have a welted sole, our most durable boot construction.
Wedge Sole vs. 90º Heel
A Cincinnati work boot with wedge soles is good on flat-roof surfaces because it helps distribute your weight over a wider area. However, if you spend a lot of time on ladders or scaffolding, go with a 90º heel—a great way to lock in on a ladder rung.
Electrical Hazard (EH) & Electric Shock Resistance (ESR)
The Cincinnati’s Electrical Hazard (EH) rating (known as ESR in Canada) certifies that these boots provide a secondary source of protection in case you come into contact with live electrical circuits.
Another great industrial roofing boot option is the Mt. Vernon work boot. This American Built work boot has a waterproof leather upper, steel safety toes, and a slip- and oil-resistant, EH-rated outsole. The Mt. Vernon features an outsole made with a heat-resistant rubber compound that can withstand temps of up to 572ºF, practically a must if you’re working with hot tar, asphalt, or other high-heat materials.
Want even more protection? The men’s Mt. Vernon 6” MET waterproof work boots include a metatarsal guard that protects the top of your foot from impact injuries.
Pro tip: Searching the KEEN site by job title or general industry like “roofing” will bring up a curated selection of KEEN Utility work shoes or boots.
While KEEN Utility doesn’t label any boots specifically as “roofing boots,” many of our styles meet or exceed the unique demands of roofing. Whether for residential or industrial work, KEEN Utility footwear ensures you stay safe, agile, and comfortable in a work environment where every step matters.
