Protection and Comfort While Landscaping
Landscaping is a heavy-duty job often involving getting dirty, staying on your feet, and manual labor. In order to support you through your days as a landscaper, you need a good pair of work boots to round out your landscaping uniform. However, choosing from the thousands of brands can be overwhelming.
When looking for good work boots, you want to ensure that you have a quality build, structure, and a good amount of comfort. However, there are some other factors as well. Here is a guide to the best work boots for landscapers, from the best brands to how to care for work boots to make them last longer.
Best Work Boots for Landscapers
The best work boots for landscapers are not from any specific brand. Instead, they are made from a composite of several qualities. When it comes to choosing the best work boots for you, you are the best person to choose.
If you want to get a good quality pair and keep them for as long as possible, you’ll have to do your research and care for your boots. With a good pair, however, you should be able to work for a few years.
What To Look for in a Landscaping Boot
Of course, the person who knows best what you need in a boot is you. You know your job and how heavy-duty your boots need to be. However, there are some aspects that all landscapers need. These include:
- Safety
- Durability
- Budget-friendly
- Quality
- Comfort
- Support
- Brand
Each of these qualities is important in a good pair of work boots. You’ll need to keep these in mind as you look for work boots and read reviews. However, the best research you’ll be able to do is by trying the boots for yourself. There’s no other true way to find out what landscaping boots work best for you.
Here is an in-depth review of the best features for work boots and how they will help you in your landscaping business.
Safety Features and Standards
The first thing you’ll need to ensure is the safety levels of the boot. Landscaping is hard work and involves operating sharp landscaping tools, heavy objects, and potentially dangerous moments. You’ll be using both gas powered and electrical landscaping tools – meaning that electrical hazard protection is extremely important. As a result rubber sole is an important safety consideration when selecting work boots. Your feet should be protected at all times.
Landscaping Boots Need to Have a Rugged Exterior and Outsole to Stand Up to Demanding Working Conditions
For this reason, most landscaping boots are made of reinforced leather and have a steel toe. A steel toe boot provides much more protection than a boot with a soft toe – which may not be able to stand up to heavy objects being dropped on top of the boot. However, there are other options (which we will talk about later). However, if you work at a landscaping business, ensure that any boots you buy follow OSHA or other required safety guidelines.
Comfort
Of course, comfort is almost as important as safety. Before you work in your new boots, you should spend a few days breaking them in. That way, you aren’t breaking them in on the job and are miserable for the first few days of wearing them.
Your Landscaping Boots Need to Keep Your Feet as Comfortable as Possible All Day Long
While most work boots are designed for comfort and durability, everyone will have a different experience. Foot fatigue can be a real problem with boots. When your feet get tired while on the job, it can create a hazardous situation which can result in injury.
You’ll have to read reviews and find a brand you like and trust. Sometimes, it takes several tries to find the best boot for your particular needs. However, it’s important to find the perfect work boot for your comfort and durability!
Health Needs and Support
If you need more or less arch support, you should consider this when purchasing work boots. These shoes you will be wearing for the longest days and walking in the most, and if they don’t support your feet well, your health could suffer.
Several shoe sections are important for health. For work boots, you need to make sure that they come up high enough to protect your ankle and the top of your foot so that they can brace your ankle in case of a fall. Most work boots are tall enough to do this.
However, many people need an extra arch and sole support. Even if you don’t have pressing foot health issues, the type of shoe you buy can help with long-term health. An active job where you’re on your feet all day will wear your feet out if you don’t offer them the support they need.
When you look at boots, ensure they have the right arch support (or will fit your arch support inserts). Read reviews or buy boots on websites that support foot health, and your feet will thank you! Of course, the most important thing to do for foot health is to follow the safety rules and don’t wear old or worn-out boots.
Price and Budget
High-quality work boots will likely be a little pricey. However, if you find a quality that is worth the price, you likely won’t have to buy new boots for a year or two. It’s better to spend a little more on a good brand than to pay less for a pair of shoes that won’t last very long.
However, it’s also easy to spend more money than you wanted on a pair that, in the end, won’t last more than a few years. Make a budget and remember that while a good pair of work boots is an investment, you don’t want to overpay.
Material
Before you purchase your boots, you should make sure they are made of sturdy enough material to withstand the heavy-duty labor you will be doing. It’s also crucial to get weather-proof material. You’re going to be working in wet grass frequently and you don’t want your work boot to absorb or retain moisture. It should also have a slip resistant outsole (like a rubber outsole) to prevent losing your balance and falling. This can help you both on uneven terrain and slippery surfaces like wet grass. Here are the most common materials for workboots.
Boots Should be Breathable and Waterproof
Leather
Most working boots or hiking boots are made with some sort of leather, whether fake leather or real. If it’s real leather, it will need maintenance over time so it doesn’t crack and break. However, leather is thick and sturdy and withstands time and rain very well.
Nylon
Nylon steps in when leather doesn’t work, such as in the toe or along the sole of the foot. Nylon is lightweight. While not inherently breathable, nylon blends can be blended with other materials to allow the transfer of moisture and become breatheable. It’s often layered over thicker material to make a composite boot of multiple materials. Nylon comes in multiple thicknesses and become a waterproof boot through the use of a waterproofing agent (like a waterproof aerosol).
Other Fabrics
Of course, every pair of boots will have some other materials as well. The bottoms are likely made of rubber or another tough material, and the stitching is cotton, nylon, or another fabric to keep the shoes together. However, the main materials are likely leather or nylon.
Composite Toe or Steel Toe
Although all parts of the shoe are important, the most important thing to think about for a pair of workboots is whether you want a steel toe or a composite toe. Steel-toe-enforced boots are excellent if you work with heavy objects that could drop on your toe. Many workers choose these because of their strength and durability.
However, some construction and landscaping jobs do not recommend steel toes because they could jam into your feet in specific accidents. If this is the case, composite-toe boots are the better choice. Composite toe boots are still reinforced but with the same materials as the other shoe. They will not withstand as much pressure as steel-toe boots.
Mesh Lining
A mesh lining on the inside of your boot can provide multiple benefits. Mesh linings provide a layer of soft comfort against your skin (or socks) – as opposed being directly exposed to a rough leather. Mesh is also used in shoes and sportswear to due to its breathability. It can help move moisture away from your skin and prevent blisters or related skin ailments.
Best Brands for Work Boots
Here are a few of the best brands for heavy-duty work boots like we’ve been describing. There are several options for each of these brands, so you don’t have to choose the best-selling or most expensive pair.
Of course, these are not the only brands available for work boots, there are tons of other brands that have excellent quality. You can buy from any brand if you find boots that work for you and your business.
Keen Boots
Keen does footwear very well and has a wide array of options for boots and other types of shoes. Keen is a great place to start if you need extra arch support or ankle support but still want a good work boot. They focus on foot health and creating the best boots possible.
Timberland
Timberland is one of the main competitors when it comes to heavy-duty workboots. Their commitment to the best materials makes their boots last a long time (even if they’re more expensive).
Caterpillar
Because Caterpillar makes tools and heavy equipment for construction workers, they have an excellent line of work boots. These are mostly for construction workers, so they are heavily reinforced and very strong.
Wolverine
Wolverine is a cheaper option for well-made work boots. If you’re looking for a pair of boots that will last you a while but not break the bank, Wolverine makes a series of excellent leather boots at a lower price than the competition. These boots are a great budget option.
Caring for Work Boots
Once you find your perfect pair of work boots, you want them to last as long as possible. However, landscaping can entail water, mud, and dirt wearing down the boot. This can be even more of an issue if you specialize in water feature landscaping. If not taken care of, most standard work boots will last under a year for constant landscaping work.
However, there are ways to take care of your boots, making them more durable and getting more money from each pair. If you have a pair you like, you can save yourself the hassle of buying a new pair every year by taking a few simple steps to ensure they don’t wear out prematurely.
Dry Out Your Boots
The best way to ensure that your work boots last as long as possible is to completely dry them out every time they get wet. Work boots will get wet and muddy – that’s part of the job. However, you can prevent long-term wear and tear or mold growth in the fabric by ensuring that your boots are completely dry every time you put them on.
Treat the Leather
If you have untreated leather workboots, you might need to treat the leather to keep it from cracking and breaking. While this is rare in regular work boots, it will help your shoes to last longer and become less stiff. Make sure that treating the leather doesn’t break any warranty or sealant your shoes might already have.
Keep them Clean
Although you don’t have to completely clean your boots after every long day of yard work, it’s important to keep the traction free of debris and be careful how you use the boots. Work boots were meant to get dirty, but the longer you can keep them tidy, the longer they will last.
Waterproof The Boots
Even if your boots come with ready for the elements and are constructed of waterproof leather, buying an extra waterproofing spray or paint-on solution will help your boots last longer through the wet months. You can wear waterproof boots in winter or muddy springs and not worry about the rain or snow soaking through your feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about landscaping work boots and their answers.
Which brand is best for work boots?
Although no specific brand is better than any other, Caterpillar and Timberland are some of the most reliable brands for work boots in general. However, you can get excellent boots from other brands as well.
Where Can I Discuss Work Boot Options with Other Landscapers?
If you’re looking for additional options and ideas for workboots, be sure to check out landscaping business forums for additional ideas from community members in various online groups.
How long does a good pair of work boots last?
If you don’t take care of your work boots by treating the leather, waterproofing them, and ensuring they’re well-dried out, you will likely need to replace them within a year and a half. However, boots that are well cared for will likely last at least two years.
Should I waterproof my work boots?
If you are working outside in any weather, waterproofing your boots will allow you to work for longer without worrying about your boots decaying. Even boots with a waterproof layer would benefit from waterproof treatment at home. It will also make your boots last longer.
What should I wear for landscaping?
Landscaping is hard work, and you should have heavy-duty work boots to protect your feet from the elements, tools, and heavy objects you’ll be handling. Heavy-duty work boots with reinforced or steel toes are the best options for landscaping work.
Are Landscaping Business Owners Responsible for Making Sure Their Crews Have Proper Footwear?
In general, OSHA requirements for landscaping requires that proper footwear be used while on the job. If you are an employer, you’ll want to make sure that your employees are safe and properly equipped.
Final Thoughts
Although you have all this information to help you find the perfect work boots for landscaping, the ultimate choice is up to you. You’ll have to try on some boots, break them in, and work in them to decide which brand is your favorite for outdoor work. With the right boots, you’ll be supported and safe from harm all day long.
