Workers who used to work under the blazing sun are used to dealing with lots of issues regarding their work boots. Some of these problems are:
- Lots of sweat and faints put their health at risk
- Sweaty feet that with the constant rubbing that walking generates leads to blisters and chafing
- Feet skin turns hard and cracks due to hot temperatures and lack of moisturizing
- Sweaty feet and wet socks hot temperatures create a perfect environment for fungus growth leading to issues such as athlete’s foot
All these difficulties demand the best summer work boots that have a specific set of hard-to-find features destined for dealing with hot temperatures. Lucky for you, I took it upon myself to research and test dozens of work boots to find the most suitable ones for summer and humid temperatures.
Table of Contents
You Might Also Like ⇒
- Best Shoes For Standing All Day
- Best Insoles For Running
- Best Boots For Ranger School
- Best Volleyball Shoes For Women
- Best Volleyball Shoes For Men
- Best Marathon Shoes For Women
- Best Marathon Shoes For Men
- Best Running Shoes For Bad Knees
- Best Running Shoes For Shin Splints
- Best Running Shoes For Narrow Feet
- Best Running Shoes For Shin Splints
- Best Running Shoes For Wide Feet
- Best High Top Running Shoes
- Best Trail Running Shoes For Women
- Best Trail Running Shoes For Men
Must-Have Features of the Best Summer Boots
The best hot weather work boots for summer should have features such as:
- Mesh Lining: Features like a mesh lining will let the air flow to the inside of the boots which is essential for the boots to reduce the worker’s body temperature.
- Slip & Oil Resistant Outsoles: Slip-resistant outsoles will provide enough traction to walk with confidence on slippery surfaces without the fear of slipping and getting badly injured.
- Safety Toes: By getting work boots with safety toe caps (whether that be steel, allow, or composite safety toes) you’ll be kept safe from getting your toes crushed by heavy falling objects (like tools).
- Lightweight Comfort: Searching for work boots with shock-absorbing midsoles and cushioned footbeds is an awesome idea for those workers that want to be comfortable working under the blazing hot sun. These features will support the feet throughout the whole day without making the boots heavier.
- Top-quality Materials & Construction Methods Used: Who wants to waste money? No one, right?
This is why I look for attributes such as high-quality leather and great construction methods that will make the boots I spend my hard-earned dollars on enduring high temperatures and demanding levels of use.
Benefits of Getting The Best Work Boots For Summer
These are some of the most important benefits you’ll get if you accept any of the best summer work boots reviewed in this article:
1. Coolness To Achieve Your Best Performance
Summer brings humidity and high temperatures that don’t let you think properly. I mean, you’re constantly suffering the heat without any protection, what more could you do?
Luckily, the best work boots for summer are made with materials that let the air flow freely through their inside. This, of course, is essential to bring the temperature of your feet and body down. As a result, you’ll be able to raise your performance at work as your mind will not be constantly thinking about how hot you are.
2. Light But Sturdy Protection
The protective materials that any of the books reviewed in this article have let you work with the total guarantee that your feet will be safe from any risks.
3. Dry Perfection
As we all know, hot temperatures aren’t the only bad thing in summer. Humidity is another BIG ISSUE.
This is why the best work boots for summer have specific attributes that maintain your feet not only cool but also dry in these soggy and humid environments. Nobody wants smelly feet and wet socks, right?
10 Best Summer Work Shoes For Men & Women
Here is the list of the top 10 Best Summer Work Boots:
Editor’s Note: We will update this list as more Best Summer Work Boots hit the market.
Things To Consider Before Buying Best Summer Work Boots Men And Women
Finally, you are done reading through my list of the best work boots for the hot summer season. Here, you can check out the important features you must consider in selecting the best summer boots today.
1. Toe Box Construction
For maximum safety, it is always advised to go for a steel toe boot. The main setback for this model will be the added weight of the steel toe itself. Nevertheless, if you don’t mind the little ounce of weight on each step, perhaps, a steel toe work boot can suit your needs.
In contrast, there are other models of summer work boots with a tough toe box but not a steel toe type. These boots have their toe box area made from hardened leather and polyurethane material. It is lighter than a steel toe but when a heavy object drops on your foot, there will be lesser protection compared to a steel toe boot.
2. Comfortable and Anti-Moisture Insole
The insole and midsole matter for this scenario because you will be wearing your work boots for a longer period. To avoid any foot fatigue, there must be sufficient padding and supportive cushion on the footbed and insole of your tactical boots.
The footbed and insole must provide support to the arch, ball, and heel of your foot. Balance and comfort must be of equal priority since this is a working boot and not a running shoe. Typically, we have an EVA midsole, padded foam, and soft leather for the insoles of tactical boots.
3. Durability of Material
There are various materials used for the upper or body of your summer work boots. The typical materials used include full-grain leather, suede, leather, nylon, polyurethane, and a mixture. The top pick material for these kinds of boots is the full-grain or suede leather.
The kind of material used will also affect the water resistance of your working boots. For the record, synthetic and genuine leathers have the most dependable water resistance outdoor.
4. Traction
The biting grip of your working boots is determined by the tread patterns and material of your outsole. The outsole of most tactical boots is made from a synthetic and pliant rubber compound. For off-road surfaces, larger lugs and multiple sipes on the tread patterns of your rubber outsole are most suitable. This is great because you can expect better traction on muddy and wet surfaces.
Meanwhile, for paved surfaces, a less rugged tread design will be alright. This type of tread pattern will create quieter steps in your outdoor activities. Moreover, for better biting grip on icy and wet surfaces, the rubber outsole of your boots must have plenty of 3D micro-sipes.
Tips For Wearing Hot Weather Work Boots
During my years as a construction worker, I’ve had to work under the heavy sun and I’ve gathered a few quick tips and the best summer work boots for you that I believe could make a difference.
1. Hydrate Yourself
High temperatures deplete your body water storage quickly which is why many workers end up fainting in the middle of the workday.
This is why you should constantly hydrate yourself so you can maintain your water deposits. Having a filled water bottle at hand throughout the day might be a great idea if you want to achieve this. (don’t forget refilling!)
2. Plan Your Day and Take Rests
Most workers don’t plan or take rest, they just work and work until they end their tasks, and then they take a short break. Well, that’s not something smart to do in the summer, especially if you work outdoors. You’ll have to plan your day and take scheduled rests in the shadow so your body temperature remains low. This will prevent faints and other difficulties.
3. Avoid Direct Sunlight and Look For The Shadow
Direct sunlight when in summer will immediately raise your body temperature. If you can’t straight-up avoid sunlight, you should stay as much as you can under the shadow as this will maintain your body temperature down.
4. Use The Proper Work Boots
Your feet are a vital part of your body and they have a huge impact on your body temperature. This is why you should get specific types of work boots that will help you get through the workday without fainting or getting sick because of the high temperatures you are exposed to.
5. Avoid Flip Flops
It’s very tempting to go for flip-flops and avoid the hotness of using work boots. It might seem crazy, but some of my coworkers go this route.
However, if you decide to go on that path, you’ll face risks such as:
- Getting your toes crushed by falling objects
- Not having proper support and cushioning to sand and walk all day on hard surfaces
- Feet, back, and knee pain
- Rashes and blisters from the friction
Thus, going for a breathable and protective pair of the best summer work boots will be your best choice.
Qualities of The Best Summer Boots
Many workers want to know exactly what tests I performed to select the work boots I recommend in my articles. These are the tests I completed to select the best hot weather work boots:
1. Advantages of Wearing Hot Weather Work Boots
Just when the hot season is just around the corner, it’s time to bring out a pair of reliable summer safety boots. Tailored for extra humid and warm days, the best hot weather work boots will surely get your feet through a long workday with ease and comfort.
Essentially, wearing comfortable boots for work comes with the following advantages:
- Amazing breathability and well-ventilated, keeping the feet feeling cool on a hot summer’s day of work
- Well-cushioned, ensuring that the feet are comfortable and snug all-day
- Lightweight and flexible, allowing the feet to move freely, quickly, and more comfortably
- Mesh-padded collars and tongues that add up to the overall breathability of the boots for hot weather
- Oil, slip, abrasion-resistant rubber outsoles that ensure deep and heavy traction against all surfaces
2. Comfort And Breathability Test
I made sure to walk in summer outdoors on hard surfaces, such as concrete, for long hours. The goal here was to see whether the best summer work boots provided the support and breathability needed to keep my feet rested and cool.
3. Protection Test
To analyze the protection of a given pair of work boots I made sure to drop heavyweights from safe heights to my toe area to see if the boots reviewed would protect my toes from nasty injuries.
Also, I paid close attention when walking on slippery surfaces on heavy sunny days to see whether the boots offered the traction necessary to move around with confidence.
4. Durability Test
To analyze the durability features of each pair of the best summer work boots I made sure to closely analyze every day how the main exterior materials of the boots reacted to high temperatures.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1: What Are The Recommended Heights For The Best Work Boots For Summer?
This is an easy one. The shorter the best summer work boots, the more exposed skin, and the more breathability.
Thus, I’d recommend you go for and 6″ work boot. However, if you are frequently exposed to falling objects maybe an 8″ work boot might be your best bet as it provides a bit more protection.
2: What’s The Purpose of A Safety Toe?
Safety toes are protective reinforcements in the toe section of the work boots. Their main purpose is to protect the toes from getting crushed if a heavy object would fall into the toe area.
Furthermore, there are various types of safety toes:
- Steel safety toes: very protective but a bit heavy
- Alloy safety toes: sufficiently protective and light
- Composite safety toes: very lightweight and protective enough
3: What Safety Toes Should I Pick For The Best Work Boots For Hot Weather?
In this specific case, all safety toes will be equally helpful. If you are exposed to live wires or similar, then going for a composite toe is the best for you as it doesn’t conduct electricity. If you prefer a more “solid” protection, going for a more conventional steel toe or alloy toe work boot could be great for you.
4: How Do I Take Care of The Boots?
Easy. Follow these steps:
- Clean all the dirt with a towel soaked in soapy water
- Rinse the boots and let them dry for 2-4 hours
- Apply a thin layer of leather conditioner and massage each one for a few minutes
- Let the boots rest and remove excess conditioner with a clean and dry towel
- Done!
5: Should I Pick Pull-On Work Boots or Regular Work Boots For Summer?
The thing with pull-on work boots is that they are easier to clean, look good, and are a bit more convenient to pull on and take off. However, it’s very hard for air to breeze through the boots which makes them an awful choice for summer.
Thus, going for regular breathable work boots with laces is the best decision as they’ll keep your feet cool and dry.
6: What Socks Are Better For The Best Hot Weather Work Boots?
When working in summer we need the best summer work boots, one tends to sweat a lot which, in turn, ends up soaking the socks in sweat. Thus, I recommend getting socks with materials that wick away moisture as this is the best way to keep your feet fresh and without odours.
Staying away from cotton socks is another valuable tip as cotton does not let sweat evaporate which leads to smelly feet. On the other hand, going for synthetic fibre or wool socks might be the best decision as these materials are known for helping sweat evaporate.
