What Are the Best Shoes for Climbing Ladders?

Using a ladder is a matter of safety first. Comfort is important, but it is vital to wear the right safety gear when climbing up and down and working at height.

Because you’ll be up high, you’ll want to wear shoes or boots that will keep your feet safe and secure. Slippers and flip-flops are no good here.

The best shoes for climbing ladders are boots with non-slip soles. The extra grip will help you to avoid slips and falls if the ladder is wet.

TOP TIP! Be sure to inspect your boots before you put them on. If the soles are looking too worn or thin, it might be time to replace them.

It’s also smart to wear something that will protect your feet from damage should you drop anything. We’ve all dropped stuff on our toes from time to time, but if you’re doing construction work, what gets dropped could be sharp or heavy or both, potentially causing a serious injury. Steel toe caps in your boots should prevent any injury to your feet if you drop something.

Long laces are also a hazard, as they can easily lead to slips or get tangled in mechanisms. If your footwear does have laces, tie them tightly, double knot them, and if it’s comfortable to do so, tuck them into the boots to keep them from trailing. Otherwise, it is safer to wear boots with zips, buckles, Velcro, or even ones without any fastening mechanism (as long as they’re not so loose that they’re at risk of slipping off and falling to the ground).

Safety is essential when working from height, and your footwear should reflect that. Any kind of normal, everyday footwear like high heels, flip-flops, slippers, and sneakers is unsafe for climbing a ladder.

For more information, check out our guide to ladder safety.

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