10 Best 8 Inch Work Boots for Protection & Comfort | 2023 Guide

Last Updated on February 8, 2024 by Azad Asf

Most people decide to go for 8-inch work boots due to the extra safety and protection they offer. Sadly, things aren’t easy when it comes to picking the best 8-inch work boots. I mean, most of these work boots:

• Aren’t built with top quality materials
• Don’t have ergonomic features to improve the experience of using the boots
• Lack of safety features to let one work without the fear of getting injured

Due to all these problems (and many more) I’ve decided to do the work myself. I extensively research and tested lots of 8-inch work boots to arrive at a list of the best ones currently offered by manufacturers.

The Best 8 Inch Work Boots for Protection & Comfort

This is the list of the best 8-inch work boots I’ve built after thorough research:

• 1. Carhartt Men’s Ruggedflex 8 Inch Work Boots
• 2. Irish Setter Mesabi Steel Toe 83834 8 Inch Work Boots
• 3. Thorogood 1957 Series MAXWear90 Waterproof 8 Inch Work Boots
• 4. Chippewa Waterproof Insulated Steel Toe EH 73050 8 Inch Work Boots
• 5. Chippewa Men’s 73101 Lace-To-Toe Logger 8 Inch Work Boots
• 6. Timberland PRO Men’s Rigmaster Steel-Toe 8 Inch Work Boots
• 7. Timberland PRO Boondock Comp-Toe Waterproof 8 Inch Work Boots
• 8. Georgia Steel Toe Waterproof 400G Insulated 8 Inch Work Boots
• 9. Thorogood Men’s Waterproof 8 Inch Work Boots
• 10. Danner Men’s Quarry USA 8 Inch Work Boots

1. Carhartt Men’s Ruggedflex 8 Inch Work Boots

Workers require top protection. There’s no way around it. 

In that context, these Carhartt Ruggedflex 8 inch work boots appear as a great alternative as they have:

• Solid waterproofing and insulation (400gr Thinsulate insulation) that maintain feet warm and dry when exposed to wet and cold environments
• Rugged flex outsoles that provide superior traction on sketchy surfaces
• Composite safety toes that keep the toes safe from getting squashed by heavy falling objects
• Electrical hazard resistance

Moreover, these boots come with great ergonomic features. Their EVA midsoles and cushioned insoles are responsible for improving the experience of wearing the boots. These features, of course, become life-saving when workers have to tackle 10 to 12 hours work-shifts walking or standing around on concrete surfaces, putting serious amounts of stress on the feet and joints.

Customer Reviews and Scores

There are more than 891 reviews on Amazon.com about these work boots at the time of writing and they have given them a 4.5 out of 5 rating on average. The reviews of this pair of work boots are positive overall.

Check price at Amazon.com

2. Irish Setter Mesabi Steel Toe 83834 8 Inch Work Boots

The feeling of knowing your money was well spent is the best. However, to achieve this, one must make sure the boots acquired are protective enough.

In the case of these Irish Setter 8-inch work boots, they surpassed all my expectations in terms of protection as they come with safety steel toes that keep the toes insulted from exterior threats.

Moreover, the boots are waterproof which is always nice to hear, especially for workers which are frequently exposed to working outdoors.  The boots have the so-called “Stars and Bars” outsoles with aggressive lug patterns which provide great grip when walking on slippery surfaces at the workplace. This, of course, is essential for letting them do their jobs without the mental weight of knowing that they could slip, fall, and get injured at any moment.

In terms of protection, these boots come with EVA footbeds which are successful in cushioning the feet, which is key for reducing the negative consequences of walking all day on concrete.

Finally, durability wise, the boots have a Goodyear Welt construction that’s known around the world for adding a superior level of durability to any pair of work boots.

Customer Reviews and Scores

There are more than 518 reviews on Amazon.com about these work boots at the time of writing and they have given them a 4.5 out of 5 rating on average. The reviews of this pair of work boots are positive overall.

Check price at Amazon.com

3. Thorogood 1957 Series MAXWear90 Waterproof 8 Inch Work Boots

These Thorogood 8 inch work boots come with solid safety features such as:

• X stream waterproofing membrane that helps in keeping the feet and socks dry when exposed to exterior liquids (i.e. rain)
• MAXWear90 outsoles that provide superior traction on slippery surfaces

Moreover, their safety steel toes are responsible for providing unmatched impact toe resistance which becomes invaluable when one has to work surrounded by heavy tools that could fall at any moment.

In terms of comfort, the boots come with cushioned footbeds which are vital when walking on hard surfaces as they provide almost perfect shock absorption. 

Customer Reviews and Scores

There are more than 197 reviews on Amazon.com about these work boots at the time of writing and they have given them a 4.4 out of 5 rating on average. The reviews of this pair of work boots are positive overall.

Check price at Amazon.com

4. Chippewa Waterproof Insulated Steel Toe EH 73050 8 Inch Work Boots

Knowing you’re feet are gonna be completely safe when working is one of the best guarantees you could give a worker.

This is why I like these Chippewa 73050 8 inch work boots, as they come with steel toes that provide maximum toe protection. Their 400 gr grams of Thinsulate insulation and Chip-A-Tex waterproofing membrane are essential for keeping the feet dry and warm when exposed to wet and hot conditions.

Their Vibram outsoles are also worth noticing as they deliver perfect traction on slippery surfaces, mainly due to their aggressive lug patterns.

Besides, comfort-wise, these Chippewa boots come with:

• Breathable brushed ruby Nylex linings that maintain the feet fresh when working on humid days
• Texon insoles that cushion the feet when walking on rocky and hard surfaces
• 4 iron rubber / 6 iron robus combination midsoles that provide superior shock absorption

Customer Reviews and Scores

There are more than 183 reviews on Amazon.com about these work boots at the time of writing and they have given them a 4.6 out of 5 rating on average. The reviews of this pair of work boots are positive overall.

Check price at Amazon.com

5. Chippewa Men’s 73101 Lace-To-Toe Logger 8 Inch Work Boots

I hate working without total security. It’s the worst.

That’s why I like these Chippewa 73101 work boots, as they come with superior safety features such as:

• Safety steel toes that prevent the toes from getting squashed
• Chip-A-Tex waterproof membrane that keeps the feet dry at all times, even when working exposed to exterior liquids
• Vibram outsoles that offer superior traction on slippery surfaces

In terms of comfort, these boots come with a solid combination of two really important features.

First, you’ve got the Texon insoles, that provide an awesome level of cushioning when walking on uneven surfaces (which is tough to find in other 8-inch work boots). And then you’ve got their shock-absorbing midsoles which substantially improve the experience of walking on hard surfaces as they dissipate all the shock generated when walking on these areas.

Customer Reviews and Scores

There are more than 170 reviews on Amazon.com about these work boots at the time of writing and they have given them a 4.4 out of 5 rating on average. The reviews of this pair of work boots are positive overall.

Check price at Amazon.com

6. Timberland PRO Men’s Rigmaster Steel-Toe 8 Inch Work Boots

The best way of reducing the probability of regret when buying a pair of 8-inch work boots is to make sure the boots have reliable safety features.

Luckily, that’s exactly what you get with these Timberland Pro Rigmaster work boots as they offer:

• Safety steel toes that keep the toes safe from getting completely squashed by heavy machine parts or tools accidentally falling at the worksite
• Oil, heat, and abrasion-resistant outsoles that offer superior traction on sketchy areas
• Waterproof membrane with a breathable mesh lining which guarantees feet dryness and freshness when exposed to exterior liquids

Moreover, the boots come with open-cell PU footbeds with antimicrobial treatment which cushion the feet when walking on rocky surfaces and keep the feet smelling fresh regardless humid exterior conditions.

Customer Reviews and Scores

There are more than 458 reviews on Amazon.com about these work boots at the time of writing and they have given them a 4.5 out of 5 rating on average. The reviews of this pair of work boots are positive overall.

Check price at Amazon.com

7. Timberland PRO Boondock Comp-Toe Waterproof 8 Inch Work Boots

I don’t know anybody who doesn’t like to feel safe while working. The issue though is that it’s very difficult to find 8-inch work boots that help you in achieving that specific feeling.

The good news is that these Timberland PRO Boondock work boots actually help you with this. I mean, they come with composite safety toes, which keep the toes safe from getting crushed by heavy falling tools (which happens very often at the construction site where I work). Besides, their Ever-Guard leather heels and molded Timberland Pro rubber toe protectors provide the abrasion resistance necessary to work near chemicals and other abrasive substances without fear.

Their Dual Density PU and TPU slip-resistant outsoles are responsible for providing superior traction on slippery surfaces which is very valuable for workers used to working in these types of areas.

These Timberland boots surpassed my expectations in terms of comfort too. I mean, they come with attributes such as:

• padded top collars that improve the experience of putting on and taking off the boots
• breathable mesh linings that keep the feet fresh at all times

Customer Reviews and Scores

There are more than 271 reviews on Amazon.com about these work boots at the time of writing and they have given them a 4.8 out of 5 rating on average. The reviews of this pair of work boots are positive overall.

Check price at Amazon.com

8. Georgia Steel Toe Waterproof 400G Insulated 8 Inch Work Boots

These 8-inch work boots provide superior protection, thanks to features such as:

• Georgia waterproof membrane that keeps the feet dry when exposed to exterior liquids
• 400 grams of Thinsulate insulation which is one of the best winter insulation materials in the market
• Electrical hazard protection that keeps the feet isolated from electrical currents
• “Georgia logger” abrasion resistant outsoles which provide superior traction on uneven and slippery surfaces

Durability is essential for workers too, which is why I appreciated features such as their Goodyear Welt construction. This sturdy construction adds years of lifespan thanks to its solid methodology of binding the leather uppers, footbeds, and midsoles.

Last but not least, the boots are manufactured with steel shanks which aid in the boots’ structure as they are vital load-bearing pieces. Without them, the boots would break down as soon as you put them on.

Customer Reviews and Scores

There are more than 30 reviews on Amazon.com about these work boots at the time of writing and they have given them a 4.2 out of 5 rating on average. The reviews of this pair of work boots are positive overall.

Check price at Amazon.com

9. Thorogood Men’s Waterproof 8 Inch Work Boots

The best way to feel safe at work is by getting 8-inch work boots with solid protection features.

In that sense, these Thorogood work boots come with steel toe caps that keep the toes safe from getting crushed by heavy falling tools (which always happens at a construction time at some point).

Moreover, the boots are waterproofed which means that you can work while exposed to exterior liquids without getting your feet wet. The Vibram rubber outsoles are responsible for providing both great flexibility and traction on sketchy surfaces, which is always nice to have in a pair of 8-inch work boots.

Comfort-wise, the boots come with ultra shock-absorbing footbeds that cushion the feet on every step taken on hard and rocky surfaces.

Customer Reviews and Scores

There are more than 43 reviews on Amazon.com about these work boots at the time of writing and they have given them a 4.4 out of 5 rating on average. The reviews of this pair of work boots are positive overall.

Check price at Amazon.com

10. Danner Men’s Quarry USA 8 Inch Work Boots

You might think I’m overstating here, but these Quarry USA 8 inch work boots are one of the most protective work boots I’ve ever used.

I say this mainly due to the safety features they come with, such as their:

• safety steel toes that allow workers to do their jobs without fearing that their toes might get squashed at any second by heavy tools falling by accident
• breathable gore-tex waterproofing membranes
• Vibram quarry outsoles that provide solid traction on slippery surfaces

Moreover, these boots come with ortholite footbeds that cushion the feet consistently throughout the workday. This becomes essential when your work consists of walking all day on hard surfaces, which is what most tradesmen do. 

Last but not least, these 8-inch work boots are manufactured on a triple stitch down method which makes the overall construction very solid. As a result, one can wear these boots knowing that they’d remain almost untouched regardless of how demanding their level of use would be.

Customer Reviews and Scores

There are more than 92 reviews on Amazon.com about these work boots at the time of writing and they have given them a 4.3 out of 5 rating on average. The reviews of this pair of work boots are positive overall.

Check price at Amazon.com

What are the Best 8 Inch Work Boots Overall?

Carhartt Men’s Ruggedflex 8 Inch Work Boots

I chose these Carhartt Ruggedflex boots as the best 8-inch work boots overall, mainly thanks to features such as their:

• Composite safety toes that keep the toes safe from getting crushed
• Rugged flex outsoles that provide the perfect combination between traction and flexibility
• Storm Defender waterproofing membranes that keep the feet dry when exposed to exterior liquids

If you’d like to get a better explanation of why I chose them, then click the button down below, you’ll be redirected to the entire review.

Review

What are the Most Comfortable 8 Inch Work Boots?

Thorogood 1957 Series MAXWear90 Waterproof 8 Inch Work Boots

I think these Thorogood 1957 8 inch work boots are amongst the most comfortable 8-inch work boots I’ve ever tested, mainly due to attributes such as their:

• X-stream breathable waterproofing membranes that keep the feet dry when working while exposed to liquids
• MAXWear90 outsoles provide superior slip resistance thanks to aggressive lug patterns without sacrificing comfort in the process
• Cushioned footbeds

To read the complete review, please click the button down below!

Review

Quick Comparison Table

Must-Have Features of The Best 8 Inch Work Boots

For those interested in finding the best 8-inch work boots themselves, I’ve built the following list of the must-have features for 8-inch work boots (at least in my opinion).

Safety toes

I hate feeling unsafe when working. I mean, who can work efficiently knowing their toes could get crushed at any second, right?

Well, to solve this I recommend workers to get work boots with safety toes. These will act as hard housings that will surround the toes keeping them intact if any heavy tools fell into the toe box area.

There’re various options of safety toes, however, the following versions are the ones I recommend the most:

• Steel safety toes: these are the most protective, their only downside is that they’re a bit heavy
• Composite safety toes: these are nonmetallic, which means they don’t transfer electricity, which is perfect for workers that work near live wires
• Alloy safety toes: these are known for being more lightweight than the rest, yet very protective

Reliable outsoles

If you get 8-inch work boots without reliable outsoles, then you’re substantially increasing the chances of getting injured. I mean, you could slip and fall or step into upwards-pointing nails that could hurt your feet.

Luckily, these nasty wounds can be prevented if one gets 8-inch work shoes with solid outsoles. And when I mean “solid” I’m talking about outsoles with the following attributes:

• Slip & oil resistance: to prevent slips and falls on hard concrete
• Underfoot puncture-resistance: to keep the feet safe from getting perforated when accidentally stepping into nails and stuff

Top-quality leather

I hate getting expensive work boots that only protect my feet for a few short months and then break down. It’s one of the worst feelings.

Due to this, I recommend getting 8-inch work shoes manufactured with full-grain top quality leather. The reasoning behind this advice is that boots manufactured with this material will easily stand against the elements, maintaining their original shape for a longer time, thus making your money worth it.

As a result, a few years will pass before even thinking about fixing or replacing them. Pretty cool, huh?

Cushioned footbeds & midsoles

Comfort might not be the first priority for most people when it comes to the best 8-inch work boots. However, for me, it is.

This is why I recommend workers to get 8-inch work boots with ergonomic attributes as these will make the experience of walking all day on their feet much better. 

To be more specific I’d advise people to get work shoes with:

• Cushioned footbeds: that will pillow the base of the feet when walking on tricky surfaces (i.e. rocky or uneven areas) achieving a substantially better experience
• Shock absorbing footbeds: that will insulate their feet from hard impacts that usually come from walking all day on hard surfaces. This will help in avoiding knee and back pain as these impacts usually end up hurting the joints.

Insulation and waterproofing

There’re two things I really hate when working outdoors:

• getting my socks and feet wet
• feeling my feet freeze during winter

This is why I always make sure to get 8-inch work boots with proper insulation and waterproofing features.

This combination might be a bit too much for most people (and it is), but in my case, I make sure to make an extra effort and look for lightweight and breathable work boots with both these attributes. That way, I have the guarantee my feet are gonna be warm and dry during winter, and fresh and dry during summer.

Construction

Rather than focusing only on protection and comfort, one must look at the durability features too. This is why I recommend looking for 8-inch work boots manufactured with solid construction methods.

In that context, the Goodyear welt construction method is the most reliable one among work boots as it binds the uppers, outsole, midsole, and footbeds together in a nice construction that’s both lightweight and very difficult to take apart. Thus, it’s the one I recommend the most.

How Did I Test The Best 8 Inch Work Boots?

These are the tests I performed on each 8-inch work boot I would try out:

Safety Test

During this test, I made sure to walk on slippery surfaces where traction would be difficult. The idea here was to see the level of grip each work boot offered me. Those that provided superior traction were selected for further testing.

Also, I let heavy tools fall from safe height and see whether the work boots kept my toes safe or not. Those that did, meant they were manufactured with top quality safety toes.

Comfort Test

For this test, I tested each work boots by standing or walking all day on hard and rock surfaces. The idea here was to see if the boots delivered enough cushioning and shock absorption to keep my feet and joints safe from dealing with the stress of doing these activities. 

Durability Test

When spending hundreds of dollars on work boots, one wants to have the guarantee money is gonna be well spent.

That’s why I made sure to stress test each work boots for weeks (even months for some) and analyze how well they kept their structure. If the boots were kept in good shape that would mean they were manufactured with top-quality materials and, as a result, they would be worth the investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Usually, there is a group of questions regarding the best 8-inch work boots. This is my attempt at answering most of them.

What are 8-inch work boots good for?

There’re specific attributes that make 8-inch work boots stand out from the rest. These are the most common ones:

• Superior feet and ankle protection thanks to taller shafts
• Perfect traction on slippery surfaces due to reliable, slip-resistant outsoles
• Great durability as a result of top quality materials used

Are 8 or 6-inch boots better?

Well, it depends. 

6-inch work boots are known for being comfortable (due to their shorter shafts) and protective (especially if they’re made with safety toes). On the other hand, 8-inch work boots sacrifice a bit of comfort for even more protection and safety (thanks to their taller shafts, slip-resistant outsoles, and safety toes). 

Thus, I’d say that 6-inch work boots are best if you require a basic level of protection (i.e. construction work).

On the other hand, I’d say 8-inch work boots should be better if you’re exposed to higher risks at your worksite (i.e. lineman, asphalt workers, or loggers). 

Can I use 8-inch work boots for construction?

Definitely. 

I mean, I’d say they’re a bit too much for construction. Their taller shafts and extra safety features might make them a bit bulky for construction, but they should work.

In fact, some construction workers which are frequently exposed to serious risks prefer to use 8-inch work boots as they offer a bit more protection than their 6-inch counterparts.

What safety toes should I choose for my 8-inch work boots?

There’re different kinds of safety toes.

Steel toes are the most common ones, they provide solid protection as they’re metal housings that completely cover the toes, keeping them safe from getting crushed by heavy falling tools. They might be a bit heavy for some people though.

Then, there are the composite safety toes. These safety caps are a bit more lightweight than steel toes, provide great protection too and have the advantage of being nonmetallic, which is awesome if you work frequently exposed to live wires.

Finally, you’ve got alloy safety toes which are the “better version” of steel toes (in my opinion). I mean, they offer a similar level of protection (as both are solid metallic housings) and are substantially more lightweight, which might be suitable for those workers that have comfort as a top priority.

How do I maintain 8-inch work boots?

Not everything is about getting the most durable 8-inch work boots. If you really want your work boots to last, then you should be following a solid maintenance process to keep them in shape.

To make things easier for you, I’m gonna share my personal process on how I maintain my work boots:

1. Take a bucket with soapy water, soak a clean brush in it and start cleaning the work boots. Do this until all the dirt is removed
2. Rinse with clean water, dry with a clean rag, and let the work boots rest for about half an hour
3. Apply a light coat of leather conditioner to each work boot and massage the paste into the material
4. Let the boots rest for about 5 minutes in a dry environment
5. Remove excess conditioner with a clean towel
6. Brush them for a bit to make them shiny
7. Done!

What types of lacing systems are there for work boots?

Well, these are the most common lacing systems:

• Metal hooks: Offer a faster fashion of lacing
• D-ring eyelets: They too offer fast lacing
• Traditional eyelets

I mean, I don’t really care about laces. The only thing I ask from them is to be durable, which is much to ask from modern work boots apparently.