13 Best Work Boots For Wildland Firefighting Crews (Most Popular Models)

Hey there. Welcome to our round-up review of some of the best work boots for wildland firefighters.

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The Most Rated Wildland Firefighting Work Boots

We’ve put together a list of some of the most popular work boots that are great for wildland firefighting and our #1 recommendation based on what we’ve found in our research is the Danner Tactical Firefighter

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To bring you this article we’ve researched over 31 websites, looked at 47 different work boot brands and models and we have read dozens of customer reviews and feedback for each make of boot that made the cut, as well as a few that did not.

Overall we’ve spent over 89 hours of our time looking into all of these work boots for wildland firefighting to bring you the most important information for each boot.

In this article, you’ll learn about which are some of the newest and most rated hotshot work boots, which ones are NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) approved, which ones aren’t, their features, and much more.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or a veteran, whether you’re on the engines or a smoke jumper, you will find a good pair of wildland work boots for you in this round-up.

So keep reading. There’s a lot of good info in here…

Who’s working on this page

Jimmy Webb
Author & Researcher

Victor Adrian
Researcher & Editor

These are the top 13 most popular wildland firefighting work boots

Here’s a quick comparison table if you’re curious about which work boots I’ve included in today’s round-up. This round-up is based on information we’ve got by talking to a lot of firefighters on different forums worldwide.

If you have a question about any of these boots leave me a comment below. I also moderate on the work boots subreddit so you can ask a question there as well if you want.

1. Danner

• 8 inch tall
• Nubuck leather
• Plain toe cap

NFPA Approved Alpine Hiker Style For Firefighting

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2. Nicks

• 10 inch tall
• Smooth & rough out
• Soft toe box

High Arch Classic Wildland Firefighting Work Boots

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3. White’s

• 10 inch tall
• Smooth leather
• Celastic toe cap

Water-Resistant Boots For Wildland Firefighting

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4. Wesco

• Different heights
• Smooth leather
• Soft toe cap

No-Burn Upper Stitching Wildland Firefighter Boots

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5. Frank’s

• 10 inch tall
• Smooth & rough out
• Soft toe

Firefighting Boots With Kevlar Fire-Resistant Thread

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6. JK

• Different heights
• Smooth & rough out
• Soft toe

No Break-In Period Wildland Firefighting Boots

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7. Thorogood

• 10 inch tall
• 100% leather
• Soft toe

Affordable Wildland Firefighting Boots

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8. HAIX

• 10 inch tall
• Leather
• Soft toe box

2-Zone Lacing Wildland Firefighting Work Boots

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9. Zamberlan

• 9 inch tall
• 100% leather
• Soft toe

Lightweight Wildland Firefighting Work Boots

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10. Kenetreck

• 10 inch tall
• 100% leather
• Soft toe

Mountaineering Style Boots For Wildland firefighters

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11. La Sportiva

• 8 inch tall
• 100% leather
• Soft toe

Wildland Firefighting Boots For Post-Fire Activities

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12. Scarpa

• 8 inch tall
• 100% leather
• Soft toe

Heavy-Duty Trail Boots For Wildland Firefighting

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13. Hoffman

• 8 inch tall
• 100% leather
• Soft toe

Fire Resistant Work Boots For Clean-Up Crews

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Here are a few important factors you should consider before spending your money on a new pair of wildland firefighting boots.

Most important features of a work boot for wildland firefighting

1. Melt resisting soles

Being in contact with the ground, the outsoles are the first part of the boot to feel the heat. That heat can be overbearing, which is why the soles need to be able to withstand it.

Not only so they don’t melt, but also to protect the feet that are frighteningly close to the burn.

The most common brand of outsoles used in these types of boots is the Vibram Red X. It specializes in preventing the material from turning into liquid under high temperatures (amongst other things).

2. High temperature-resistant glue

A common problem with work boots used to combat wildfire is that the glue that holds the outsole to the upper can delaminate.

This is where, under stress from high or low temperatures, either one compound splits or two compounds separate from each other. Thus causing the boot to come apart.

3. Heat-resistant upper

Leather is mostly used for wildland fire boots because it’s difficult to burn. But it still has to be treated with fire-resistant properties, then tested.

The best leathers are thick and heavy. 7-80z is standard.

4. Heat-resistant stitches

You wouldn’t think that fire-resistant stitching would be important but if the stitching falls apart, then so does the boot. It has to be resistant to chemicals, heat, and flames much better than standard boot stitching would.

Flame-resistant threads are commonly leather because of leather’s natural resistance to burn, but synthetic materials are also used, like nylon, polyester, or aramid threads.

Aramids are fibers consisting of thousands of tiny rope-like strands. The most popular brands are Kevlar and Nomex. That kind of makes them bulletproof as well.

5. Fire-resistant laces

Leather is often used for the laces for its natural heat-resistant properties. It still has to be treated and tested. The downside is that leather laces don’t take as much abuse as synthetic laces, so will need some TLC.

There’s more flexibility with synthetic materials. They feed through eyelets easier and tie easier. Nomex is the most popular brand you’ll find.

6. Shank

Walking for hours can be a pain on its own. Trekking hills, mountains, and ravines, across rough terrain puts a whole other perspective on pain. That’s why a shank is great to offer relief for the arches.

The shank is a composite or metal plate (PNW work boots brands use leather shanks) built into the sole that spreads the force of an object. It’s kinda like a bridge that connects the heel of the boot with the front of the boot.

7. Upper height

According to the National Interagency Fire Center guidelines, firefighting boots need to be at least 8 inches tall, as specified in their RedBookAll safety and risk management chapter 7.

Wildland Fire Boot Standard

Personnel assigned to wildland fires must wear a minimum of 8-inch high, lace-type exterior leather work boots with lug melt-resistant soles.

The 8-inch height requirement is measured from the bottom of the boot’s heel to the top of the boot. Alaska is exempt from the lug sole requirement.

How to choose a good wildland firefighting work boot?

If you’re a rookie, there are basically two things you need to decide before buying any pair of work boots for wildland firefighting.

Are the boots going to be used on the line or are they going to be used for trail and post-fire activities?

Work boots for fighting a wildfire on the line

These need to be the most rugged boots you can find on the market. They’re usually the most expensive brands. But the money will be well spent.

Work boots for wildfire fighting-related activities

You’ll still need NFPA-approved work boots, especially when dealing with post-fire activities where the area you’re walking over is still hot. But this time you could go for a pair of lighter work boots that are not the typical logger style.

Most wildland firefighters (as with many other professionals) have 2 or 3 pairs of work boots. Some will have heavy-duty work boots for staying in fire and working on the line and at least one extra pair for most light or medium duties like hiking, trailing, or even to be used as a station boot when things are quiet.

This will not only help expand the lifespan of the boots by rotating between the different pairs of boots you have but also will help avoid unnecessary foot and body fatigue in general by not wearing heavy-duty logger-style boots when not dealing with fire.

What to be aware of when buying wildland firefighting work boots?

These boots don’t come cheap, so it’s best to make sure there is a warranty. Unfortunately, with every product, you’ll come across a fault at some point.

Some companies will put “wildland firefighting boot” in their product description but when it comes to the warranty they’ll say otherwise. So in effect, they’ll advertise them as that, but when it comes to the crunch, they might say the boots were not suitable for the line of fire.

So you’ll end up with an unusable pair of work boots and with a few hundred bucks lost.

If you’re about to spend a few hundred bucks on a pair of wildland firefighting work boots, take the time to learn more about the company and what their product warranty is like before you actually buy them.

What’s the best place to buy work boots for wildland firefighting?

You can buy your favorite pair of work boots at your local store if you’re lucky to have a boot maker store from the list below trading in your area. They’ll help you with the fit and everything.

But nowadays it’s quite easy to buy wildland firefighting boots in some online stores with high accuracy when it comes to fitting unless you want to go custom, which some firefighters do.

And even when you go custom you can still fill in the details in a form provided by the company of your choice with all the measurements and that way you can still get a good customized fit.

Buying online is the preferred choice of many people for the simple reason that you can access lots of brands and models from the comfort of your home. Plus the delivery, many times is free.

Here are a few stores you might be familiar with. They’re listed in no particular order.

• JK Boots
• Wesco
• NICKS
• Franks
• Hoffman
• Whites
• Amazon
• Boot barn

Reviews of the 13 best-rated work boots for wildland firefighters

Alright, let’s jump into some detailed reviews of each one of these wildland work boots we’ve included in today’s round-up.

1. Danner Wildland Tactical Firefighter

Alpine Hiker Style Work Boots
For Wildland Firefighters

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As good as $500 White’s boots…

The first thing I’d like to say about these 8” fire and safety boots is how comfortable they look. But looks can be deceiving, so I had to check what people were saying about them.

Well, I was right. Nearly all the Amazon reviews say how comfortable they are, and that little to no break-in is needed. With one even saying they’re like comfy slippers.

You do have to get the sizing right first though. Most comments show that they run small, so you should order half a size to a full-size up.

They’re relatively light for this type of boot, and look pretty cool. But do they serve the purpose? Let’s see.

First, we’ll look at what’s probably the most important aspect. Fire and heat resistance.

The upper, made of full-grain leather and roughout leather, is fire-resistant. And the good thing about roughout leather is that it’s tough. It doesn’t scuff or mark as easily as some leathers.

Also, the outsole is made from Vibram Fire and Ice compound, which withstands temperatures ranging between -2°C to 250°C. Not only that, the sole offers traction over steep terrain and is oil-and-slip-resistant. You definitely don’t want to be slipping over while rushing to respond to the fire.

But that’s not all. Integrated in the sole is a steel shank and a full-length polypropylene board, to give full support for those long days on rough terrain.

These boots aren’t fully waterproof. This could be an issue if on the front line using water to put out the fires. So, these boots might be better suited for station crews or post-fire clean-up crews.

There’s also no toe protection, which isn’t a big deal for most wildland firefighters, as a lot don’t use it. But if you do prefer toe protection, here is a similar Danner boot that is waterproof, and provides composite toe protection.

All in all, the feedback on these boots has been great. One person even says they’re as good as $500 White’s boots.

Lastly, if you like supporting American businesses, Danner imports materials for various places in the world and makes these boots on US soil. And, for your peace of mind, they give you a 365-day warranty.

2. Nicks HotShot

Classic High Heel Wildland
Firefighting Work Botos

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How does that song by Skee-Lo go? “I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller…” These Classic Arch Sprung boots have a 2” lift at the heel that will make you feel on top of the world.

What’s the advantage of this?

The heel lift forces the body weight forward, which lifts the center of the foot with an arch.

This distributes your body weight evenly, which is better for your posture and general joint care. The added beauty of this design is that there isn’t as much need for a sole cushioning.

On the subject of the heel/sole, the great thing about this is, rather than being molded as one unit like a lot of work boots are, it’s made up of three sections.

The outsole, the heel, and heel cap. This makes repairing and rebuilding much easier.

They shouldn’t need repairing too much though, because the soles are extremely well made using one of the thoughest sole construction methods called stitchdown sole construction.

The boot is absolutely rammed with leather. From the sections of upper to the heel, which is stacked layer upon layer. Even the laces are leather.

The laces will need looking after, though. They won’t take as much abuse as regular laces.

One thing to note is leather doesn’t burn like most synthetic materials, which is why firefighter boots must be made of it, by NFPA standards.

The upper is smooth, but the toe and heel are roughout leather, which is basically leather that is inside out. It’s tough and not easy to mark.

Other features are burn-resistant Vibram RedX soles, and burn-resistant stitching throughout.

A possible downside, whichever way you want to look at it, is that these boots are not waterproof.

Water tends to have a habit of eroding things over time, so the inside of the boots could wear. On the other hand, if you’re working around heat and fire all the time, water in your boots might be welcoming.

Even so, regular water-resistant treatment should be sufficient.

Also, comfort could be a problem to start with, because there is said to be a long, brutal break-in period. 80-100 hours is recommended. But once broken in, these boots should last decades with repairs and decent maintenance.

Well worth the price tag.

3. White’s Original Smokejumper

Water Resistant Wildland
Firefighting Work Boots

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This 10” Smokejumper boot was 0riginally designed as a lineman boot because the extra material in the arch of the sole supports the gaffs used for climbing. With the shank added, it will give great support when out in all the wildland terrains.

Like most boots of this style, these will take a while to break in. 80-100 hours is recommended. And it’s a brutal process. That’s because they are so tough and rigid. Man, are they tough?

Proper end of the world boots. But you can’t give up. Because, once they’re broken in, they’ll be comfortable as anything.

This style’s usual fake tongue (kiltie) is a nice touch, sitting in front of a fully gusseted tongue.

The gusseted tongue comes in handy in conjunction with the tall shaft, by stopping water and stray objects from getting inside the boots.

So many times when I’ve been working outdoors as a landscaper, mud gets over the top when digging.

Foliage and sawdust also gets over the top when using a chainsaw, and even inside through the laces and tongue. Water sprays in. The list goes on.

As this round-up is about fire boots, this boot meets all the NFPA standards. But it also has a celastic toe. This isn’t full toe protection but is a touch of reinforcement.

Similar to all roughout leather boots, this boot will feel like it’s lined, because the smooth side of the thick leather is facing inwards.

There are smooth exteriors available in this particular boot, though. It comes in two colors. Black and Brown. And each has a smooth and a roughout version to choose from.

This boot is proudly American-made. So, when ordering, you can support home-soil companies. This is important, what with everything that’s going on in the world right now.

Supplies and tradings get cut, so it’s good not to have to rely on imported goods.

If you do order these, it’s been advised by White’s and clientele to order half a size to a full size down.

4. Wesco Firestormer

Wildland Firefighting Boots With
No-Burn Upper Stitching

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Here is another traditional fire boot, with a high lift that will force the body weight forward, which evenly distributes it at the foot. This is good for posture, relieving strain on knees, hips, and the back.

This boot has all the essential requirements of a fire boot. If we start at the bottom, the Vibram FIRE Compound sole is oil-and-slip-resistant, fire-resistant, and heat resistant up to 475°F/246°C for 40 minutes.

When indoors, this sole does tend to leave scuff marks on the floor, but not quite as much as previous Vibram outsoles did. It comes as standard with these Firestormer boots, but can be made to order with other boots for an extra cost.

Rather than being molded as one, this outsole is made in sections, giving it better opportunity for repair and maintenance.

Now let’s look at the upper. It’s handcrafted with durable full-grain leather, fire-resistant upper stitching, and black Kevlar upper and sole stitching. Even the leather laces are fire-resistant.

The thing with leather laces is that they won’t take as much of a beating as regular laces, so you would need to take care of them.

One issue that’s been noted lace wise is that, over time, the eyelets can wear through. This might be an area prone to repair.

The high boot gives great ankle support, which, with the heavy steel shank, is greatly needed over wildland terrain. However, a review found that the material can bunch/kink at the ankle joint, making it quite uncomfortable.

There is some – but not full protection- with a reinforced toe. It’s not steel (steel toe isn’t permitted) or composite. But has extra stiff material to give your toes some sort of protection.

This is a great sturdy go-to fire boot that is well worth investing in.

5. Frank’s Fire Commander

Wildland Firefighting Boots With Kevlar fire-resistant thread

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This 10” Fire Commander boot has been compared to Nicks’s Hotshots and White’s Smokejumpers. This is a good start.

The heavy-duty leather consists of a smooth upper and roughout lower. This way, it’s the resilient roughout that gets more exposure to the elements.

Included in the NFPA requirements are Kevlar fire-resistant thread, and a Vibram Red X Fire rated lug sole that is stitched, welted, and screwed on for maximum security.

This boot is said to feel lighter than Nicks. And the arches hug the feet slightly more than others, while still giving high arch support.

A good-looking boot, and popular with wildland firefighters. It gives a great platform for tipping the torch and cutting the line.

A firefighter from a North Carolina crew was kind enough to give me his input on these boots. They took Obenouf’s boot oil well throughout both the inner and outer.

And they took around 320 hours to fully break in, to the point where he could say they were the most comfortable work boots he’s had.

That’s 320 paid hours, wearing the boots 8-24 hours a day, doing critical work, buggy riding, standing at briefings, and of course, fighting fire aggressively.

This gentleman doesn’t believe in the widely recommended 80-100 hours for boots in this style.

They’ve held up very well for him. He envisages another two seasons before needing a re-sole.

Another fantastic boot with a logger heel and high arch, that with the likes of other branded boots of this kind, is a thick year-after-year boot.

6. JK Fire Inlander

Wildland Firefighting Boots
With A Short Break-In Period

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Another popular work boot brand made in the US to serve the heroes of the fire industry. And serve it does.

Typically, these bad boys are built like tanks. To research these boots, I watched a video review by someone who purchased them. He was extremely impressed.

After five and a half months of use, there was no separation of sole and heel leathers, no loose stitching, and no excessive abrasion.

The only sign of debilitation was half-worn sole lugs, after doing constant outside work. Landscaping, ditch line work, lawn work, tree work, and much more.

The only other possible defect was partly the reviewer’s fault. When he consistently used his left boot to kick the right off, it caused the top of the right heel to deform, creating a kind of lip/platform. This could be a problem over time, needing a repair sooner than necessary.

A re-sole after doing this kind of work would probably be expected at about 8-9 months of use, which is perfectly acceptable.

They’re probably not recommended for people doing a lot of miles on a hard surface, like concrete. They’re not really designed for that.

However, they are designed for fire fighting in the wilderness. They meet all NFPA standards, quite impressively.

Get this. The thread used is high-strength Technora that is fire resistant over 482°C/900°F.

Surprisingly for this style, the break-in period seems to be very little. Once they are broken in, the comfort is great. The foot is locked in place.

In fact, the leather arch support is reported to sit slightly higher at the inside of the arch than others.

One thing to watch out for though is that long periods of not wearing could lead to stiffness when you put them back on again. Especially with little or no leather treatment.

So, both treating and wearing them regularly is highly recommended.

Although, I don’t think you’d want to have them off your feet. Except maybe during rotation periods.

Lastly, you get variation with the 8oz premium oil-tanned leather. It’s a combination of smooth upper and roughout lower, and it comes in Black, Brown, and Redwood.

7. Thorogood Firedevil

Affordable Wildland Firefighting Work Boots

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As with all Thorogood work boots, if you’re American, you’ll be pleased to know that this 10” wildland fire boot is US made.

It is a much more affordable logger version of a high end White’s or Nicks, without the fully gusseted tongue, but still with the necessary NFPA requirements.

For variety, it comes boxed with the option of both regular laces and leather laces. I’m assuming it’s so you can use the regular laces if you’re not a firefighter, and the leather if you are.

This boot isn’t waterproof, so you’d need to regularly treat them to uphold a decent amount of resistance.

There is, however, a steel shank to offer support on ladders and those rough wildland terrains.

I can’t see what this boot loses to make it so much cheaper than others. The cut and flame resistant leather is 30% thicker than previous models. Granted, it’s 6.5-7oz leather, compared to the 7.5-8oz on the premium boots, but what’s an ounce between friends?

The only thing I think could be questioned is the durability. Could these boots last season upon season of fighting fires? Of the negative reviews (all boots have some negative), there’s only one complaint about durability.

The only thing to do is to risk it for a biscuit.

8. HAIX Missoula 2.1

2-zone Lacing System Wildland Firefighting Work Boots

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Here we have an upgraded version of the original Haix Missoula. This version will cost you a bit more than the original, but there are more features. Like the pull loop, electric hazard protection, and a roller bearing lace system.

I think this lacing system is fantastic. The little balls take the pressure of the laces and allow them to feed round, reducing friction, and greatly increasing the lace longevity.

This boot, at 10”, is slightly higher than the 9” original, giving extra ankle support, and more protection against unwanted substances going in over the top.

Another thing to give you support when out on rough terrain, with this boot, you’ll have a fiberglass shank, and the heat resistant outsole is slip resistant. It also has a heel for extra purchase when hiking.

Certain things come as standard with Missoulas. The leather is bullhide, which is tougher than cowhide. And the two zone lacing system.

The top and bottom halves can be laced and locked independently of each other. This is good if you like the bottom tight and top loose, or vice-versa.

Also the same is the built in heel jack, to kick the boots off without damaging the materials. And the climate system that draws moisture from your feet and releases it into the universe with each step.

These boots aren’t waterproof, and they don’t have toe protection. You can have these features, and puncture protection, with the higher end Haix Airpower XR1.

Even without these features the Missoula 2.1 is a great hiking style boot for wildland firefighting related tasks, and well worth the money.

9. Zamberlan 5020 Extinguisher

Light Work Boots For
Post Wildland Fire Activites

SEE in-store

I mentioned in a previous review about Italian design and engineering. Here is another example.

This boot is built for extreme comfort, as well as having key features a firefighter needs, and using some of the most durable leathers around. The Italian Perwanger leathers are highly specialized.

It’s Zamberlan’s second and improved go at a WLF boot. This newer version boosts double and triple stitching at key points. Extra suede leather on the ankles give more protection and support. Specialist fire-resistant Kevlar laces complete the NFPA package.

What I like about the lacing is the eyelet system. Each eyelet is wide enough to not apply small areas of pressure on the lace, with no sharp edges. This helps give the laces longer life with less chance of fraying.

All the NFPA approved features aside, this boot is deemed to be incredibly comfortable, and in need of no break-in time. That means fit-like-a-glove-comfort straight from the get go.

You could have a tank of a traditional high-arch boot and wait for the comfort after the usual long break-in period, or you could have instant comfort with these 8” beauties.

Another difference to the traditional logger boots is that these have polyester mesh fabric lining to allow breathability. It’s always handy to have something to relieve against the heat of the job.

In addition, unlike most boots, these are designed to eliminate delamination. The side stitching in the soles reduce the need for gluing. The problem with this is, it reduces the ability to re-sole them. But, they can be rebuilt as a whole.

The outsole looks like it gives fantastic grip and stability for the wildland terrains.

The price tag is a little more than others, but it seems they are worth the investment.

10. Kenetreck Wildland Fire

Light Work Boots For
Post Wildland Fire Activites

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Traditional logger boots of old are still going very strong, but lightweight Italian made boots seem to be creating part of a new era of wildland firefighting boots.

This boot falls in line with the mountaineering package. Lightweight, comfortable, molds to the feet, deep lug outsoles for great grip and stability. But still has the fundamental needs of an NFPA approved boot.

The heat and flame tested K-73 Fire outsoles give high traction. Kevlar Hot Zone stitching and laces combine with fire-resistant 10” full grain roughout leather – of which you get the choice of Black and Brown.

The padded soft collars help with extra support and add to the comfort. Plus, your arch and heel should be stabilized and cushioned by the high-density moldable foam footbeds.

Little to no break in is needed with this boot, which makes a nice change from the traditional logger boot, but do they last as long?

Most reviews show contentment in the durability, whereas there are a couple of people who complained. It’s difficult to judge this with such little reviews.

The way I look at it, even if they don’t last quite as long as the traditional boots, ask yourself if you would trade-off the durability.

Would you forfeit the heavy, stiffer, traditional logger boot with possibly a very long break-in, for a much lighter, possibly equally comfortable, almost instantly broken-in boot?

11. La Sportiva Glacier

Light Work Boots For
Post Wildland Fire Activites

SEE in-store

This hiking boot is one of the lightest in this round-up. Although, it’s not suitable in extreme heat for long periods. Hence this boot is NOT NFPA Approved.

The outsole is resistant to heat up to 300°, but the glue is only resistant up to 70°C. If the glue gets too hot, it risks delaminating, which means the layers within the compound and/or the layers of two bonding compounds can separate.

Note that the sole delamination is not covered under warranty.

This is a trade-off for having a lightweight, comfortable boot that should prevent fatigue, compared to the heavy duty, tank-like boots.

Although a great boot, this factor makes it more for forest management or post fire clean up work, rather than exposure to the full heat of direct fire fighting.

But fear not. Apparently, this boot was designed by experts in Italy. We all know about their style and engineering.

Added to the benefits of this mountaineering style boot is the extra support on rough terrain of a half steel shank, and the traction from a Vibram Ice sole.

So if you’re after a second pair of boots for when you’re not in the line of fire, these La Sportiva is a great choice.

12. Scarpa Fuego

Heavy-Duty Trail Boots
For Wildland Firefighters

SEE in-store

This boot confuses me. It’s very light, but still very solid and durable. It isn’t built for mobility and flexibility, even though it’s lightweight. It is built for mountaineering, so will take Crampons if needed.

Even the soles are stiff, which is great for biting into steep hills, but doesn’t seem to affect the comfort, according to lots of reviews.

If the stiff soles do happen to be uncomfortable out of the box, many people advise to break the boots in before adding your own insoles. They also advise to order the boots half a size bigger.

If you can’t find the NFPA certificate with these boots, it’s because they don’t have one. They’re not NFPA approved.

But they still seem to have most of the requirements, and are in fact very popular with wildland firefighters. I suppose it depends on how strict your department is.

The durable, roughout leather aside, the main thing people have commented on is the lightness and comfort. There’s good padding behind the tongue and around the ankles for added support.

I haven’t seen any complaints about delamination, which is a common problem with WLF boots.

But I’ve noticed that the lack of waterproofing could be a slight niggle, because they can take a while to dry out. If you don’t already have a boot dryer, you should get one.

They’re not expensive (see this PEET boot dryer for example) and they’re great if you need to dry your boots overnight.

13. Hoffman Crew Boss

Heavy-Duty Trail Boots
For Wildland Firefighters

SEE in-store

Italy has some pretty impressive mountain ranges. She also makes some wonderful boots to climb those mountains. The only downfall is that these particular boots are not NFPA-approved.

This isn’t a problem with a lot of departments, depending on the rigidity of their rules. In fact, so many firefighter crew workers love boots that aren’t NFPA certified. As long as they meet all the same requirements.

This boot does meet those requirements. From the fire-resistant, slip-resistant Vibram outsoles to the fire-resistant leather, integrated with the typical Kevlar flame-resistant stitching. That’s a lot to shout about.

These boots are best suited for crews based in hilly or mountainous areas, rather than flat plains. The arch and deep sole lugs help to dig into those steep slopes and rocky terrains, and the lightness helps to hold off fatigue when pushing on up.

Saying that, as attractive as the Crew Boss is, before buying, you’d need to check your department’s rules, and see if there’s any flexibility.

Final notes on these wildland firefighting boots

In this round-up, we’ve included some of the most popular work boots with wildland firefighters.

From boots that are built like tanks in order to take a lot of punishment in the line of fire, to boots that can be used on post-fire activities, regular trailing, and hiking.

So, whether you’re on the line most of the time, or you’re doing post-cleaning, or simply at the station, this round-up has a boot for you.

Overall, The Best Wildland
Firefighting Boots For The Money

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Team Members Working On This Page

Jimmy Webb – Writer And Researcher

Hey, Jimmy here. I’m one of the researchers and writers here at BestForMyFeet.com.  I’ve been wearing work boots all my life working as a forklift driver, landscaper, groundworker, and now as a tower crane operator so I know a few things about footwear and footcare in general. I’m also working on my first novel. So writing IS my passion. When I’m not writing I love to spend time with my wife, two children, and furball.

Victor Adrian – Editor And Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!