When you need steel toes you’re oftentimes going to be in some of the dirtiest, wettest, and dangerous places a man can work. One of the most important things, other than safety, is keeping my feet dry. One of the most common questions i got selling steel toes was “Are steel toe boots waterproof?”
The answer is NO not all steel toes are waterproof. Only if they’re made to be waterproof or you’ve treated them will they be waterproof.
If neither of those is true you may be in for a long day.
How to Tell if a Boot is Waterproof
You can tell if a boot is made to be waterproof by looking for a small waterproof tag near the instep of the boot. Almost all boots that are made to be waterproof will have a tag, if there is no tag there may be a stamp near or on the heel.
If you’re in a store and can’t tell by looking a the boot you can also look on the box.
99% of the time the box will describe the boot, its features, and put symbols such as WP, a large water drop, or the word “waterproof” to describe it being waterproof.
Who Needs Waterproof Steel Toes
Jobs that need waterproof boots are going to be any that involve walking in water or outside for long periods of time.
A few jobs would be working in construction, shipyards, chemical plants, construction, repair HVACs, are a few jobs that will need waterproof boots.
If you’re worried about getting wet socks at work you should probably opt for waterproofing or buying waterproof boots.
What Makes Steel Toes Waterproof
When you’re purchasing a waterproof boot the leather itself will probably not be waterproof.
Actually, the manufacturer puts a waterproof liner in between the feel-good liner that your feet touch and the outside leather which makes them considered waterproof.
So the leather will soak with water but the liner will prevent it from reaching your feet!
If there is no liner and the boot says “waterproof leather’ then the manufacturer has treated that leather with a chemical to prevent it from soaking up water.
I prefer a liner in comparison to the waterproof leather because I’m skeptical about what happens when I start scuffing that leather or creases begin forming.
I’m not entirely certain it’ll remain waterproof where I can count on a liner to stay waterproof unless I cut into the boot by dropping something or kicking a sharp edge
Can You Make Steel Toe Boots Waterproof?
Yes, in most cases you can effectively make boots waterproof by using a product such as sno-seal or mink oil.
Boots that I would not trust to be waterproof with treatment would be ones with a lot of fabric on the surface. You cannot use a product such as sno-seal or mink oil on fabric and the silicon spray alternative is sketchy in my opinion.
If you have leather steel toes you can easily make them waterproof with one of many products. I recommend two: Sno-seal or mink oil.
My favorite is Sno-Seal.
Sno-Seal is made from beeswax and if you know much about bee’s wax you’ll know how well it repels water. Another great thing about Sno-Seal is that it conditions the boot at the same time.
That means your boot’s leather will last longer because the constant wetting then drying then wetting then drying won’t have as much of an effect. The creases you form as you walk won’t tear or break down as quickly.
And unlike mink oil and other products sno-seal will not break down the leather over time!
In fact leather itself will also look better and will be conditioned to last longer. Sno-Seal is on Amazon right now for under $10.
Sno-Seal is a bit intensive to use. It takes a good 15 minutes to complete the process properly. For a good video tutorial check this out.
Another good option is to use mink oil
Mink oil works similarly to sno-seal in that it soaks into the leather and prevents water from soaking all the way through. Mink oil comes in both liquid and paste.
The liquid option is easier to use and will make the leather of your boots a shade darker after application.
The downside to mink oil is that it’ll break down the boot’s leather over time and you’ll probably have to recondition your boots more often than sno-seal.
You can find mink oil on amazon for less than $10 also.
How Often do You Need to Re-Waterproof Steel Toes
You should treat your boots every other month to keep them waterproof. Though it does depend on the product you’re using and how often you’re wearing them.
If you’re using mink oil I’d say once per month or once every other month if you’re wearing them every day.
Sno-seal should be used once every other month.
Of course if you see the mink oil or sno-seal has worn off just reapply and keep them toes dry!
Are Waterproof Steel Toes Better Than Treating Them?
In my opinion yes getting a boot that is already waterproof is better than using a product to make them waterproof.
When the boot is already waterproof you can always use that sno-seal or mink oil to add an additional layer of protection.
Of course, if the boots you like aren’t made to be waterproof they are still perfectly fine to use! Just use one of the mentioned products to keep your feet dry and you’ll be ok I just like the peace of mind.
Are Waterproof Boots Hotter?
Yes boots made to be waterproof are going to be hotter than those not made to be waterproof.
They are made with a waterproof liner between the outer layer of leather and the inner layer of padding which makes the boot less breathable and traps more heat.
How much hotter?
I’ve felt a considerable difference, almost like a thin layer of insulation, when compared to just a plain leather boot. Not so much to be unbearable but enough to notice.
If you’ve treated your leather boots to be waterproof you’re not going to notice any difference on how breathable or how hot they get throughout the day!
My Favorite Waterproof Steel Toe Boots
The Timberland Anti Fatigue Helix 6”
Pros:
This boot has basically an innersole underneath the innersole. So when you’re walking 6+ miles a day on concrete, gravel, up stairs, up ladders, and just standing your feet are actually going to stay comfortable.
They are made to be waterproof!
They are made with real leather which means they are not going to cut easily, sno-seal or mink oil can be used on them for an extra layer of waterproofing, and the sole tends to last a very long time.
The boot’s tongue is made of mostly leather, after you’ve tightened them leather is the only exposed material which means the sno-seal and mink oil can be used on this area as well.
They use triple stitching to piece together the leather pieces. The more stitches the less likely those pieces will separate. Basically they’ll last longer than those which are double stitched.
Fairly flexible sole for kneeling.
Con’s
Direct attached sole. I prefer a Goodyear welted sole, or one that is stitched together. I find them to last longer.
Has a good amount of fabric on the inside. This fabric does keep the foot comfortable but does make the boot that much more hot.
Check them out on Amazon here
The Wolverine Floor Hand Steel Toe Waterproof Lace-Up
Pros
The is a great budget boot. Made to be waterproof and made with genuine leather.
There are very few pieces of leather stitched together. The more pieces stitched together the more places the boot can fall apart.
Goodyear welted sole with good treads on the bottom for slip resistance.
It has a pretty good insole, but like most steel toe boots you’d be better off just replacing it because they are pretty thin.
Fabric on the inside which adds to the comfort.
Con’s
The pull tab has a history of breaking very easily, if you’re careful with how you put them on this is easily over looked.
Depending on the work you’re doing the soles can break down quickly.
If you’re working in a shipyard, construction, off shore, or a chemical plant you probably want to look for a more heavy duty boot. I suggest the previously mentioned timberland lace-up.
If you’re working in a warehouse, airport, or something less intensive these are great bang for the buck.
The Durango Rebel Waterproof Western Boot
Pros
The Rebel outer sole is the lightest I’ve ever seen except for the Reebok steel toe tennis shoe, by far the lightest steel toe pull on boot I’ve ever had.
Made with both pull tabs and holes at the top for pulling them on. My pull tabs did break but thankfully I was able to use the holes instead.
They are extremely comfortable. More comfortable than some casual shoes I’ve bought over the years.
The lower part, the part that would be seen if you wore jeans over them, is made with genuine leather so you can use sno-seal or mink oil to further waterproof them.
These are made to be waterproof.
Goodyear welted sole, which I find to last longer than direct attached soles.
Con’s
My inside fabric liner tore where my heel was going down into the boot.
I eventually had to cut the fabric out to be able to even wear the boots. Of course that happened over a year into wearing them though and I had no other issues other than that.
The sole is slip resistant but the treads are not very deep. If you prefer a deep treaded boot this is not going to be it.
This one has a saddle on it.
A saddle is basically the strip of leather that is sewn over the instep. I prefer as little stitching as possible because fire and natural wear and tear on this can make the boot fall apart faster than it would have otherwise.
If you’re a welder and like this boot I would look into another one in the Rebel line without that saddle. Fire will burn those stitches of that saddle, where they do have others such as this American flag boot without a it.