Rockrooster Trinidad Slip On Safety Work Boots Review (All You Need To Know)

Hey, Jeff here. Welcome to my review of these Rockrooster Trinidad steel toe, slip-on work boots.

In this review, I’ll share everything you need to know about this work boot, from how they fit and how heavy they are to waterproof, breaking in period, and everything in between.

In A Rush?!

Overall, great affordable wedge sole steel toe work boots

Vibram wedge sole, Goodyear welted, lightweight, and comfortable are some of the things that make these Rockrosoter Trinidad a great pair of slip-on work boots for the money.

Compare Prices

See on Amazon

See on Rockrooster Store
15% Off Coupon Code: BEST

Buckle up cause it’s quite a long review. For your convenience, I’ve created a menu for this page that’s helpful to jump to a specific section. Just click on the “What’s inside” below to open it.

Let’s go!

Who’s working on this page

Jeff Harmon
Author & Researcher

Victor Adrian
Researcher & Editor

A Quick word about Rockrooster Footwear

Rockrooster is an Australian-based footwear company that was started in 1984. The company had reached out to us and asked if we’d like to test some of their work boots.

Of course, I gladly accepted this opportunity. I had an interest in Rockrooster before I started doing work boots reviews.

The AK227 Bakken is the boot I was interested in specifically, and it just happened to be the exact boot they asked us to test first.

You can feel free to read my in-depth review of the Rockrooster AK227 boots, as well.

The second model they asked us to test was a boot that was not yet released at the time I was doing this review.

Time has gone on, and the VAP2303 Trinidad slip-on boot is the previously unreleased boot they were talking about.

At this point, as I have already mentioned, I have reviewed and am still wearing the AK227 Bakken in rotation. I am quite pleased with what I’ve seen at their price point in terms of the quality of the product.

I also expect to see the same with this new Rockrooster Trinidad model. Something else worth mentioning based on the experience with the previous boot is Rockrooster’s customer service.

You can read more about the level at which they operate in the AK227 review. Needless to say, my experience with them so far has been great!

Check out my AK227 vs VAP2303 work boot comparison if you want to learn more about the differences or similarities between these two boots.

Rockrooster also has something else I’ve never seen another company offer.

They offer an annual membership. At the time of writing this, $49.99 gets you a 1-year membership which provides you with the following:

• A free pair of Rockrooster hiking boots KS5514 normal width ($110 value)
• A $15 gift e-card
• 20% off all products for one year
• The right to pre-order any new products at half price
• The chance to try on new items for free

As the picture says, this offer is limited, so I’m guessing it’s just a marketing campaign they’re doing in order to attract new customers.

But it’s a no-brainer really. Here is the page where you can learn more about it if you want to.

Their website also has other things to draw you in, especially for a first-time purchase.

They have a spin-the-wheel game where I’d spun 10% off while checking out the site, along with other offers you can activate by following them on Facebook or Twitter.

To be honest, they’re doing some pretty cool stuff for being such a new work boot brand to the market.

Alright, now let’s if their work boots are as good as the marketing.

The environment in which the boots are tested in

I work in the water industry, and as you can imagine, it is handy to have a pair of waterproof work boots, but not absolutely necessary.

We do a little bit of everything at my job, and a pair of boots that can provide comfort all day is a necessity.

I work around chemicals on a daily basis, so chemical-resistant boots are always a plus, too.

Aside from breaks, when I’m on my maintenance shift, I am standing or walking my whole workday. My 2nd shift rotation is less standing, but plenty of walking.

Depending on the day, I have between 10,000 to 20,000 steps in one day.

These Rockrooster work boots are a good fit for my job because these work boots have a steel toe cap and they are water resistant as well.

Safety toe boots are a requirement for my workplace. There are times when we are cleaning basins and such when our boots are in several inches of standing water.

Depending on the season, the boots will be exposed to different environments. We have a decent amount of snow in Ohio in the winter, a rainy spring and fall, and hot summers.

Unboxing the Rockrooster VAP2303 safety boots 

Features of the Rockrooster Trinidad slip-on boots

First impressions of my Rockrooster Trinidad work boots

Straight out of the box, I absolutely love these boots!

The simplicity of the design is something I have a real appreciation for. The look of the boot is simple and clean with only 2 panels of leather being used to make each boot.

The contrast of the black upper and the white Vibram sole is something that definitely draws your eyes to them.

The subtle look of the stamped Rockrooster logo looks cool to me on the black leather at the heel of each boot. The pull loops are handy for pulling the boots on.

Usually, I like boots with anti-scuff toe protection. Even though these boots don’t have that feature, I will not hold it against them.

These work boots are stylish enough in mind to wear to church on Sundays if I want to. The white stitching of the Goodyear welt is very clean and provides even more contrast of black and white on the boot.

The Rockrooster Trinidad boots on the outside

Let’s have a look at the outside of the boots and see what we can learn.

1. Upper’s material

I’m unsure of exactly what type of leather is on these boots, but according to the Rockrooster website, it’s premium quality.

It is smooth and very soft to the touch which is a plus if you don’t like stiff leather that requires months of breaking in.

2. Rubber toe cap reinforcement

These Rockrooster Trinidad compared to the AK227 boots do not come with a toe cap bumper which is one of my favorite features in a work boot.

So if you’re working a lot on your knees, crawling, or crouching, these are not a good option for you!

3. No laces design

There are some positives and negatives to this. The major positive of no laces is they are much quicker to put on than a lace boot.

Another positive is that without laces, you’re not handling wet laces when it rains or snows.

The major negative for some would be lacking the ankle support usually provided by laced boots. I am not having any problems with this, personally.

4. Boot construction type

The construction of this boot uses a combination of glue and stitching. This type of construction means this boot is able to be resolved.

However, considering the cost to resole is cost prohibitive. I say this because depending on where you would go for a resole, it might be cheaper to just buy a brand-new boot.

One comment that came out about this type of wedge sole is that it’s going to be a pain to clean. Thanks nestorm1 for pointing that out!

So you better work in mud-free work environments with these boots otherwise you be sure to have some hard work getting the mud out of the welt when you’re cleaning your boots.

5. Stitching

The stitching of these boots is simple and clean. They have a double stitch in black thread that follows all of the joints of the boot leather.

6. Outsole

The outsole is an oil and chemical resistant blown rubber polyurethane wedge. It is slip resistant as well.

The tread is shallow, and I had measured it at about 0.10” deep. The tread isn’t very deep, just like almost every other wedge sole out there.

This pattern is very similar to the Thorogood 804-3600 Briar Pitstop boots I’d tested and reviewed previously. The anti-slip material has done its job everywhere I’ve walked so far.

A true test for these soles and their anti-slip material will be in the back of a restaurant I go to during bacteria sample collection for work.

The floor has a coating of grease, and I’m curious how these will handle it. This was the only place the Thorogood boots let me down, where the greasy floor made it feel like I was walking on ice.

So keep an eye on the updates at the bottom of this page if you want to know how they perform.

7. Pull loops

There are pull loops on the front and back of these boots to help pull them on.

They seem to be made of a durable material and have the Rockrooster brand name on them.

Some people might choose to cut them off. I’ve found that I use these pretty much every time I put the boots on.

8. Elastic side panels

The elastic seems to be fairly strong and of good quality. In comparison, I watched a video recently with boots from Walmart similar to these but with much lower-quality elastic.

The elastic on these will most likely last much longer than those boots would. I’ll mention how the elastic is holding up at update intervals.

The bottom of the elastic is about 3” from the bottom of the boot. This is the point of failure on these boots when it comes to water.

I’d made a video of testing in a tub along with pictures showing these boots were fine in water up to this point.

Inside the Rockrooster Trininad VAP2303 work boot

Now let’s see what can we discover by looking at the inside of the boot…

1. Padding

I’ve confirmed with a source from the company that the lining of these boots has a layer of padding underneath it for additional comfort.

I was unsure of this until I had asked, because it just feels like the fabric itself is thick.

Between wearing thick socks with my work boots and the comfort of the lining, I barely know I’m even wearing boots at times.

These boots are just that comfortable, and have been since the moment I put them on!!!

2. Removable insole

These boots feature the PORON Xrd removable insole. This is made with high performance urethane foam materials.

They provide excellent energy and shock absorption. This feature also helps with fatigue resistance.

The good thing about being removable is that you can replace these with some other insoles that might best for your feet.

I have flat feet and these work great for me but if you want some arch support in there, you had to look at something else.

3. Waterproof membrane

Just by looking at the images of these boots, you might think there is a waterproof membrane in these Rockrooster Trinidad boots but they do not come with a waterproof membrane.

4. Lining

The lining is fabric made with COOLMAX technology, which transports moisture away from the body.

This keeps the wearer cool and dry on hot days. The fiber structures provide insulation on colder days.

5. Heel counter

These boots have a heel counter. It’s not leather which would be a better option than synthetic. On the other hand, is better than not having any heel counter at all as we’ve seen in Adrian’s review of the Brunt Marin Toe work boots.

This is a good feature to have, especially in lined work boots. 

The heel counter will help prevent rubbing on the inside of the boot where the heel area of the foot meets the heel of the boot.

6. Toe box

These boots have a steel toe cap, and it has ample room for my feet. My feet have plenty of room.

M/I/C in safety toe boots means all boots with a safety toe cap (either steel cap or composite cap) meet or exceed the following IMPACT and COMPRESSION testing.

• [I] IMPACT: Footwear retains a .500 inch (1/2 inch) for men’s and .468 inch (15/32 inch) for women’s or greater clearance after a nominal impact of 75 foot-pounds (101.7J), i.e., a 50 pound weight dropped, reaching 117.9 ± 2.4 inches per second velocity at impact.
• [C] COMPRESSION: Footwear retains a .500 inch (1/2 inch) for men’s and .468 inch (15/32 inch) for women’s or greater clearance after a compression force of 2500 lbs. (11,121 N).

Where are these Rockrooster boots made?

When I reviewed the AK227 model I couldn’t find this information on the label of the boot as you would in many work boots brands and models out there.

The VAP2303 boot is different than the AK227. Here you’ll find a label somewhere inside the boot (not on the tongue of the boots which is where you’d usually find this information) that states that Rockrooster Trinidad slip-on work boots are made in China.

What do the letters stand for when it comes to the width of the boot? (W,M,D,E,etc)

There’s a lot of confusion about these among people looking to buy a pair of work boots. Hopefully, the little table I’ve put together might help you understand what’s that all about!

The letters simply represent how wide the work boots are.

Will these Trinidad VAP2303 slip-on boots fit wide feet? 

The boots I’m testing are size 12 wide, and I find they fit widthwise perfectly, without my foot splashing around on the inside. On Rockrooster’s website, these Trinindad VAP2303 boots are listed as EE so they are quite roomy.

With thick socks on, my foot measures about 4.5” wide and these boots accommodate my needs without a problem.

The toe box room is very generous and I wouldn’t even know they were steel-toe boots without checking.

So if you’re looking for a pair of good work boots for wide feet these Rockrooster Trinidad can be a good choice.

On the other hand though, if you have narrow feet, Rockrooster recommends sizing down half-size for the best fit.

Are these Rockrooster steel-toe boots waterproof or not?

These boots are not waterproof, but they are water resistant. I would say you could safely go through water up to about 3” or so without any trouble.

Once you cross into the elastic, it’s all over. I put a boot in a tub above the elastic, and the water immediately came through.

The boots seem to be fine in water up to the elastic. Because they are only water resistant, however, I would not recommend doing this for an extended period of time.

So don’t buy these if what you need is waterproof work boots.

Are they lightweight? How much do they weigh?

I would say these boots are mid-weight. A single boot weighs in at 1 lbs. and 14 ounces.

This makes for about 3.75 lbs. for the pair. To some, these may be on the heavy side if you’re used to wearing very lightweight boots.

However, I’m a larger man, so I wear these boots without noticing the weight.

Are they comfortable? 

Out of the box, these boots seem to be extremely comfortable.

I had done all of my measurements on the boots and such for this review and tried the boots on afterward. I was pleasantly surprised.

I couldn’t believe how comfortable these things are!

After wearing the boots for a few days at work and outside of work doing things at home, these boots are still the same level of comfort.

I joke with coworkers about how they feel so comfortable they’re like wearing slippers to work.

The previous slip-on work boots I tested from Rockrooster, the AK227, were a bit uncomfortable for me until I’d gotten used to them.

This had nothing to do with the boot itself. My problem with those boots was due to my foot structure.

As you can see in the image above, one of my toes sits a bit higher on the right foot so my toe would rub against the steel toe cap creating a bit of discomfort.

This is not the case with these Rockrosoter Trinidad VAP2303, though. The steel toe cap box is much more roomy than the other boot.

However, if I wear thick wool socks with work boots, it is not a rub, but rather a resting of the toe cap against my toe next to the big toe of my right foot.

Unfortunately, there is also a heel rub in the right boot. I’ve bought some heel cushions for the inside of the boot to hopefully make this better.

After wearing the boots for a few days at work and outside of work doing things at home, these boots are extremely comfortable.

I joked with a coworker about how they feel so comfortable they’re like wearing slippers to work.

Break-in period: Do they need breaking in?

Have you ever tried to break in a pair of work boots?

It’s really a pain in the back, especially with those most expensive work boots that are made with thick, high-quality leather.

I find these boots to have zero break-in period with immediate comfort out of the box.

The toe box is very roomy, the insole is soft on the feet, and the fabric lining is just the icing on the cake of comfort.

Are they slippery?

I haven’t had any troubles with slipping on any surfaces I’ve worn these boots on so far. The true test will be the greasy floor at a restaurant I go to occasionally for sample collection.

These soles are similar in design to the Thorogood boots previously tested. However, the material in these boot’s soles is blown rubber, and the Thorogood soles are polyurethane.

They could handle slippery floors completely differently. I’ll find out and report at a later update.

Do they provide support? 

I find these boots provide support for me in the arch, heel, and ankle of the foot.

I have flat feet, and these don’t have much of an arch, almost like the feel of the 1957 series Thorogood 804-3600 wedge boot I’d tested previously.

There is a soft arch support in the sole of these boots which makes these work boots perfect for my flat feet because if the arch is too high it will dig into my arches creating quite a lot of discomfort and eventually pain.

Some might say there is not enough ankle support compared to having worn laced boots and they’d be correct in saying that.

So if you have weak ankles or you’re working on steep surfaces or in weird positions where there’s a risk of twisting your ankles, slip-on work boots are not for you.

Make sure you go with lace-up work boots instead. Here’s a list of some of the best work boots for ankle support if that’s what you’re looking for.

Are they true to size? Do they run small or large? 

I believe these Rockrooster Trinidad boots are true to size. Based on me previously wearing a 12D in Red Wings and 12EE in Thorogood, these boots are true to size in length, as well as width.

For your convenience, I’ve added Rockrooster’s sizing guide. These boots are available in US 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 13, 14,15.

Worth nothing,all sizes are in wide. At a size 12, these are about 13.25″ long from heel to toe when measuring the sole.

For your convenience, I’ve added Rockrooster’s sizing guide.

Heel height

These Rockrooster Trinidad VAP2303 boots have a 1″ or 2.5 cm high heel.

This is what I had measured on the outside of the boot, and is the height of the heel itself. If you include the height of the midsole and the welt, the height of the heel from the outside goes to about 1.25”.

Heel to toe drop

As measured from the floor to the resting space of the foot at the heel, I measure 1” at the heel and approximately 0.5” at the toe.

This makes for a fairly gradual drop of 0.5”, and works well for me with my flat feet.

How tall are these Trinidad VAP2303 slip-on safety boots?

The Rockrosoter Trinidad boot comes with a 5.5″ or 14cm high upper. This is from the top of the sole to the top of the leather at the back of the boot.

What colors does the Rockrooster Trinidad come in?

This boot comes in 2 colors. They are the VAP2023 in Black and the VAP2024 in Brown.

Both models have a steel toe. The black boot is smooth leather, and the brown is textured leather.

Also of note, the brown is not a dark brown, but more of the tobacco brown color you’ll see in Thorogood work boots or Irish Setter boots.

Price: how much do they cost? 

These boots fit into the budget category for work boots, at $120 currently from their website and they go for around the same price on Amazon.

As we know prices change all the time so I leave you links to both stores so you can check the latest, most up-to-date prices:

Rockrooster Boots discount coupon code

If you were looking for a discount code for Rockrooster work boots, I have one for you. Simply use: BEST at the checkout to get a 15% discount on your next purchase.

Where to buy Rockrooster Trinidad work boots? 

There are not many online and local stores where you can buy these work boots at the moment. Personally, I’ve seen these boots selling at:

• Rockrooster Official Store (remember to use the coupon code: BEST for a nice 15% discount at the checkout)
• Amazon
• Walmart

Be aware of scams or copycats

Rockrooster guys posted the other day on their Instagram page the following reminder…

“Friendly reminder they are some boots that look like ours on Amazon, we didn’t make and sell them, please be aware. If you want to buy our boots, please click the link in our bio, or visit our official store.”

I didn’t even realize these weren’t Rockrosoter work boots, but Rock Poster!!!

Because of this, I liked to remind you to use the links found in this article to make sure you go straight to the official sources and you won’t get scammed!

Who do I recommend these Rockrooster VAP2303 work boots to?

I would recommend these boots to people with jobs mainly on flat ground or floors. Due to the nature of the slip-on style, they might not be the greatest for people who work on angled surfaces such as workers in the roofing industry.

This may depend on the user, as I climbed up and down the slope of the reservoir at work in these boots with no trouble.

These boots are also good for people working in emergency situations as mentioned before (think EMS workers) where you need to be in your boots as fast as possible and ready for action.

The slip-on style boots don’t provide as much support in the ankle as their laced counterpart.

For this reason ,some construction jobs don’t allow slip-on boots, so be sure to check if these are ok to use for your particular job. 

Here are some jobs these Rockrooster Trinidad VAP2303 work boots would easily be great for:

• Water plant operators
• Factory workers
• Plumbers
• Machinery drivers (forklift, excavators,etc)
• Warehouse workers
• Handymen and handywomen
• Carpenter
• Construction (if slip-ons are allowed)
• HVAC technicians
• Managers
• Office worker

Verdict: Are Rockrooster Trinidad work boots worth the money?

Between the comfort of the boot itself and the wedge sole it sits on, I would wear these boots every day if I wasn’t testing others during the same time frame.

If you’d read my Thorogood 804-3600 review, you’d found out I do a lot of walking on concrete floors at my job. I find these boots to be comfortable with a very cushioned step.

The Vibram sole is nice and soft, too. These boots have such a cushioned step, and there’s no doubt the comfort is partly from the wedge style sole.

If you are familiar with wedge sole work boots, you know the step is smooth because there is one continuous motion with no defined heel. You can find more on that topic here if you’re curious: Differences between heeled and wedged sole work boots.

The slip-ons might not be perfect for everyone, but they’re working for my needs with no difficulty.

At the one month update, I will let you know how the elastic and sole are holding up. My overall opinion so far on these boots is they appear to be very good boots for the $120 you will pay for them (at the time of making this review).

In A Rush?!

Overall, great affordable wedge sole steel toe work boots

Vibram wedge sole, Goodyear welted, lightweight, and comfortable are some of the things that make these Rockrosoter Trinidad a great pair of slip-on work boots for the money.

Compare Prices

See on Amazon

See on Rockrooster Store
15% Off Coupon Code: BEST

More Rockrooster Trinidad safety boots pictures

Check out our Instagram or Pinterest page for more pictures. Also, if you really like one of the images, you’re free to borrow an image as long as you mention where you borrow it from!

Update: 1 month of wearing these Trinidad work boots

I’m now one month in on wearing these boots. I’ve been rotating between them, my AK227 Rockrooster boots and the 804-3600 Thorogood boots.

Everything is holding up well with these boots. They’re still comfortable to wear and there’s no significant wear in any areas. I’ll report back at 6 months with any changes.

To me, these boots are an excellent value at their price.

Update: 6 months of wearing the Rockrooster VAP2303 work boots

The boots are still holding up well with nothing wrong to report.

One thing I did confirm after about 2 months of use is the boots are not recommended for workers in the food service industry.

I was out collecting bacteria samples for work and one location was a Wendy’s Restaurant. The floor behind the counter was greasy, and the sole definitely didn’t handle it well.

I wouldn’t say it was like walking on ice, but it was close. The AK227, also from Rockrooster, handled this type of floor like a champ. It’s something to consider if you’re looking to buy these Rockrooster Trinidad slip on boots.

Team Members Working On This Page

Jeff Harmon – Boots Tester & Reviewer

Hello, I’m Jeff. I’m a Level III water plant operator in Ohio. I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years now, and the jobs I’ve had all required boots. I’d previously viewed them as something that didn’t matter just so long as my feet were covered. Lately, I’ve come to appreciate the features and craftsmanship that go into quality footwear. When I’m not at work, I’m at home spending time with my wife and 2 kids. My current obsession other than boots is hot sauce. I absolutely love it!

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!