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You need a pair of rubber work boots for your new job, and you’re unsure of which boots to consider. In the past, you’ve always worn boots with 100% leather uppers and rubber soles. We can help you resolve your dilemma. The 5 best rubber work boots feature quality rubber boots that will work as hard as you do.
They provide a variety of safety features. One has a steel toe and a met guard, if you need a particularly tough boot.
Updated October 2022 by Tony Bleak
In a Hurry? The Top Pick:
Muck Boot Insulated Work Boot, Read on for details.
Comparison table
| Waterproof | Safety Toe | Features | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muck Boot Arctic Insulated Rubber Boot | Yes | Steel | Fleece lined Shock-Absorbing EH rated | View |
| Dunlop Chesapeake Boot | Yes | Steel | Very inexpensive | View |
| Lacrosse Meta Pac Met Work Boot | Yes | Steel | Met guard Tear resistant Abrasion resistant | View |
| Kamik Icebreaker Work Boot | Yes | Soft | Oil-, Acid resistant Self-cleaning outsole | View |
| Bogs Workman Insulated Rain Boot | Yes | Composite | Slip resistant Contoured EVA footbed | View |
Key Features
The most comfortable rubber work boots start with the best quality of rubber.
Not all rubber is the same
High-quality rubber is flexible and still durable. It doesn’t break down quickly and retains a good solid look even when worn in stressful work settings. Good quality rubber is also waterproof.
Many brands start with quality rubber and combine it with synthetic materials for a particularly waterproof and yet breathable boot. Neoprene rubber is a very popular material because it’s waterproof and doesn’t degrade quickly. Invented by DuPont in 1931, neoprene rubber is a staple in many waterproof work boots.
Outsoles
Rubber work boots need outsoles that resist a variety of dangers presented by water, ice, oil or chemicals.
Mention needing a rubber boot for work, and most of us probably assume that you work in a damp setting, like a fisherman, a fish-and-game warden, or a dock worker. However, construction workers laying a foundation in wet, winter weather or farmers rounding up cows in a muddy pasture also need sure-footed traction provided by a rubber outsole.
Oil riggers, commercial kitchen workers and factory employees processing greasy auto parts rely on outsoles that grip surfaces that can be covered with a thin glaze of oil or grease. The danger in these situations often isn’t as obvious as the danger presented by an icy dock, but it’s just as real. Non-slip rubber outsoles can prevent serious injury.
Chemical plants pose a special threat to workers, especially if the chemicals are liquid and hazardous. Workers in this setting require a boot that firmly resists slipping and that also resists the decaying of the boot’s materials after repeated exposure to chemical wear.
Support & Cushioning
The most comfortable rubber boots combine support and cushioning to provide a comfortable fit.
Perhaps you already know the story of the rubber boot that is really waterproof, looks good and grips whatever surface you walk on, but blisters your little toe after you walk ½ mile or makes you feel like you’re walking across tiny knives. If so, you can totally understand that the best rubber boots let you work, walk or hunt in comfort.
Regardless of the features they provide–the safety of a steel toe, the ease of a pull-on boot, or the sturdiness of s steel shank–our favorite boots don’t skimp on comfort.
The 5 best rubber work boots
Muck Boot Arctic Sport Insulated Rubber Boot
The Arctic Sport Insulated Rubber Work Boot from Muck Boot is a heavy-duty work boot designed to keep your feet warm and safe even in cold weather and harsh working conditions. This 17” tall boot features a fleece lining, an insulated footbed and a stretch fit comfort topline to hug your leg and keep you warm.
PROS
- Rated to -40 degrees F
- Steel toe
- Shock absorbing midsole
CONS
- Expensive
- Imported
Dunlop 8677609 Chesapeake Boots with Safety Steel Toe
Dunlop 8677609 Chesapeake Boots with Safety Steel Toe is a very inexpensive waterproof PVC work boot especially suited for agricultural workers. The boot features a protective toe cap, and an energy absorbing BAY-LOC outsole. The insole is relatively thin.
PROS
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Made in USA
CONS
- Not insulated
- Economy insole
LaCrosse Steel Toe Meta Pac Met Boot
The LaCrosse Meta Pac Met Work Boot is a black, super-heavy-duty waterproof work boot with both a steel toe and a metatarsal guard to protect your feet in dangerous occupations as a logger or an ironworker. This boot is quite tall.
To help you get it on easily, the boot features a lace-up system at the top. The toe of the boot is reinforced with a double layer of rubber for extra protection and durability. The boot is uninsulated and rated for moderate climates.
PROS
- Met guard
- 16” tall
- Double reinforced toe
CONS
- Not insulated
- Expensive
- Imported
Kamik Men’s Icebreaker Work Boot
The Kamik Icebreaker Work Boot is a lightweight insulated waterproof work boot with a patented rubber sole that is oil resistant, acid resistant and both lighter and stronger than natural rubber. The insulated lining is removable and the self-cleaning rubber sole is 100% recyclable.
PROS
- Insulated to -40 degrees F
- Oil and acid resistant
- Made in USA
CONS
- No safety toe
- More expensive than some
Bogs Workman Waterproof Insulated Composite Toe Rubber Boots
The Men’s Workman Waterproof Insulated Composite Toe Work Rain Bootsby Bogs is a Textile and synthetic rubber boot with a leather and rubber sole. It is waterproof and features a composite safety toe and a cushioned EVA in insole for comfort. It’s my top choice as composite toe rubber boots go.
PROS
- Composite toe
- Insulated to -40 degrees F
- Contoured, cushioned EVA footpad
CONS
- Expensive
- Imported
Customer Impression
These rubber work boots are comfortable.
Some customers were surprised by just how comfortable these rubber boots are. Customers admitted to being skeptical about whether a rubber boot would truly be comfortable for a long day of work. They were pleasantly surprised by the comfort provided by the sturdy outsoles. Others mentioned that the leg area of the boot hugged their legs well, keeping their legs warm in cold weather and providing a snug fit year-round.
Some customers did mention that they found the insole to be lacking in comfort and cushion, especially in the budget-priced Dunlop boot. They solved the problem by purchasing an inexpensive insert by Dr. Sholl’s or a similar brand.
Overall, these boots live up to the list of claims that the manufacturers make about them.
Specifically, the vast majority of customers say that these boots keep their feet dry. The waterproofing holds up and the rubber doesn’t deteriorate quickly. Workers who regularly tramped over muddy worksites or manned work stations on oil riggers had dry feet when their day ended.
The insulated boots on the list do a good job of keeping feet warm, too. Customers mention being able to work outside for long hours in cold, slushy or muddy weather and come home with warm feet. A few purchasers improved the warmth factor after they found the “perfect” socks to go with their boots.
Conclusion
All of these rubber work boots get very good reviews from the large majority of people who purchase them.You would likely be pleased with any one of them, if they provided the features your job requires.
For my money, the Muck Boot Arctic Sport Insulated Rubber Work Boot is the best of the best rubber work boots because of its mid-range price for a boot that is insulated, EH rated and has a steel toe.
If you need a women’s boot, the Muck Boot Arctic Sport Ll Extreme Conditions Mid-Height Rubber Women’s Winter Boot has very similar features and is available in pink.
If you’re on a tight budget, try the Dunlop 8677609 Chesapeake Boots with Safety Steel Toe.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are some options available to me if I need a pair of comfortable steel toe rubber boots?
Rubber steel toe work boots come with a variety of features and a broad price range. Four of my five favorite rubber boots feature a steel toe or a composite toe; this is due to the fact that many of the professions that need a rubber boot also need the protection of a safety toe. Many of the best-rated rubber boots feature some form of safety toe. The Muck boots and the Bogs boots are also insulated.
All four get very good ratings overall, but receive especially high marks for comfort. If you would like a lower-priced option, the Servus boot highlighted below are good comfortable steel toe rubber boots to consider.
Servus XTP 15″ PVC Chemical-Resistant Steel Toe Work Boots–-This Servus boot is very reasonably priced, bordering on suspiciously low, but still gets very good ratings for comfort. Customers in such diverse fields as an oil rigger, a commercial diver, a FEMA worker and a brewer gave it 5-star ratings.
What are the best insulated rubber boots? I’m looking for the best rubber boots for farm work.
Three of my top 5 best rubber boots are insulated. They include the Muck Boot Arctic Sport. The Bogs Classic High No Handle Insulated Boot, and the Kamik Icebreaker Work Boot. All are rated to keep your feet warm until temperatures dip below -40 degrees F.
All of them are waterproof and very well insulated. If you need the protection of a steel toe boot, the Muck boot has that feature; if not the Kamik Icebreaker or the Bogs Classic may be your preference.
The Kamik boot is acid resistant. The Bogs boot has a moisture-wicking insole while the Muck boot features a shock-absorbing midsole. The Kamik boot is less expensive and made in the USA. The two boots listed below have some similarities as well as some unique features.. They are worth your consideration as some of the best insulated rubber boots.
It’s notable that several well-known brands like Keen, Nike, Timberland, Carolina, Red Wing, Diehard and Carhartt don’t offer insulated rubber boots, per se. They offer several varieties of waterproof insulated leather boots with rubber soles and/or some rubber covering along part of the upper. Skechers and Wolverine offer insulated rubber boots, but none gets very good ratings.
Muck Boot The Original MuckBoots Adult Jobber Boot–With many of the standard Muck features, this is a short pull-on insulated boot.
Ariat Conquest Neoprene Waterproof Insulated Square Toe Rubber Boot–This rubber boot looks like an Ariat square toe cowboy boot, but it’s an insulated rubber boot with a camo leg.
These boots are fantastic choices as the best rubber boots for farm work and will keep your feet warm when outside for extended hours.
Can snakes bite through rubber boots?
The answer is, “That depends on the rubber boot.” Ordinary rubber boots are no match for the fangs of a snake, especially a poisonous snake. Would you expect a rubber boot to protect your foot from an angry Rottweiler? Venomous snakes have more bite power than a Rottweiler has.
It’s foolish to think that a regular pair of rubber boots is puncture resistant enough to protect your foot from the bite power of an irate snake. Even some leather cowboy boots are not totally snake proof, if they are well worn or cheaply made.
You can, however, purchase rubber boots that will protect you from a snake bite. These boots will be made of materials that are puncture proof. Usually they are constructed in layers that include a layer or 2 of rubber, The most popular materials are leather, neoprene, polyurethane and rubber.
Most snake-proof boots feature a combination of 2 or more of those materials. They also include a snake-guard lining made of a material designed to be flexible yet impenetrable. The snake guard lining is placed between the boot’s outer material and the inner lining.
Snake Bite Tests
Reputable companies like LaCrosse Footwear and Muck Boot Co. perform special tests to make sure their boots really are snake-proof.
Usually these tests are performed by third-party firms totally outside the boot manufacturer’s sites. LaCrosse uses a snake boot with a balloon in it. If an angry snake bites the boot and pops the balloon, the boot fails, and has to be redesigned.
The Muck Boot folks test their boots through a reptile farm that houses lots of snakes. Muck snake-proof boots are tested using Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes and a rubber bladder that’s placed inside the boot. Can snakes bite through rubber boots? Well, if the bladder pops when the snake bites, the boot fails.
Chippewa, Danner, Thorogood, Justin and Irish Setter also make boots designed to protect you from a snake bite. As you would expect, none of them is a simple rubber boot. Some are waterproof. None is cheap; protecting your foot and lower leg from a snake bite requires special materials and a complicated design.
However, if you’re hunting or hiking in snake-prone areas, you owe it to yourself to invest in a pair of boots that will protect you if the worst-case scenario actually happens.