The best roofing shoe is a controversial topic, but Eric Garcia, a veteran roofer in southern California, suggests any shoe will do as long as it has a black rubber sole, claiming they slip less. Many roofers in the comments section have other thoughts, including Vans skateboard shoes, which have a flat sole and are made for gripping flat surfaces and Cougar Paw boots, which are specifically formulated for asphalt or metal roofs. I also know roofers who swear by Thorogood Roofer boots.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
A lot of people ask me what kind of shoes I wear to walk on roofs. There are so many shoes out there, and everybody advertises their own brand. But I'm going to tell you a secret: you don't have to buy brand-name shoes. You can even buy the cheapest shoes, and they will work for you. Anything is going to work for you.
Choose Shoes with black rubber soles
The only main thing you have to look for when you're shopping for roofing shoes is that they have a black rubber sole. Make sure it's black, not yellow or white. The black rubber is similar to tire rubber, and it's made for that—to have a better grip. You see this roof right here? It's only a little piece. The other day, I saw a video on YouTube where a guy was nailing over a 14/16 pitch. I haven't seen those houses yet. The highest I've seen is a 12/12, and that's pretty scary. I don't think anybody's going to be able to walk that.
Some people film themselves nailing on a roof and then tilt the camera to make it look steeper than it is. If you look at this one, it's about 8/12 or maybe 6/7/12. When you're going to walk on a roof, make sure you have rubber shoes like mine. They are non-slippery and have a black rubber sole. I don't slip, and these shoes have traction, with cuts right here.
Demonstrating the shoes in action
I buy cheap shoes because I replace them every six months. I don't buy brand-name shoes because they don't last. You're going to leave your shoes on the roof. See, this part is kind of steep, and the one on the bottom has a slight incline. Right here, I'm probably going to use something like this.
See how I'm working in these shoes? They don't slide. You can buy any brand, even the cheapest one you can find, as long as it has a black rubber sole. It doesn't have to be a brand name. I'm using this video to show you guys how to walk on a roof safely.
Even on this little steep roof, I don't slide. My brain probably isn't scared because I know there's another roof below. But anyway, this is a quick tip on how to walk on a roof and what kind of shoes to use. You don't have to use any specific brand like they advertise. Some of these brands, like one with "Paul" and a tiger logo, are just hype.
Don't buy those. Just buy any brand, as long as it has black rubber. Remember, black rubber—not yellow or white. Also, if you want better shoes, make sure they have stitching on the outside so they don't come apart. Some shoes are just glued together, and that's no good. Try to be cheap, but not too cheap. Invest in good shoes. They don't have to be overly expensive because the shoes don't make the roofer. It's the roofer who does the work. That's how it is.
