The challenge: Boots that lacked durability and comfort  

For asphalt crews in West Michigan, a good pair of safety work boots isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. These teams are on their feet for long hours, often walking 10-12 miles per day, working in and around hot asphalt, operating heavy machinery, and navigating tough, uneven terrain.  

The boots being frequently worn by the team – brands like COFRA, Schutze, and Red Wing – weren't holding up to the demands. Soles were being worn through, stitching was breaking down, and the heat from the asphalt was becoming unbearable. For some workers, daily ibuprofen had become a routine to manage the pain.  

The need for a solution was clear: boots that could handle the heat while offering long-term comfort during rigorous shifts and the durability needed to stand up to the wear and tear of real-world paving projects.  

The solution:  Feedback on the better boot 

HexArmor’s asphalt boots are now hitting the ground running across sites in the greater Grand Rapids area. On a recent worksite visit, a few workers shared their firsthand feedback – and the results speak for themselves.   

Kobe, a machine operator, said the Asphalt boots were comparable to other brands he’d tried but called out their impressive heat resistance and all-day comfort. He’d gladly buy them in the $150 range. 

Jorge, a longtime wearer of a European brand, had an even stronger reaction. He shared that every year, he’d spend the first four weeks of paving season pounding ibuprofen for his aching knees and ankles. But within two days of switching to HexArmor’s Asphalt boots, the pain was gone – and so was the ibuprofen. Even when standing directly in a pile of hot asphalt, his boots stayed cool. 

Other crew members showed worn-out soles and degraded boots from their previous brands, agreeing that a better option is worth the investment. Even cowboy-style boots, popular among some workers, were flagged as trip hazards due to stitching failures and loose soles. 

The result: Real comfort, real protection, and growing demand 

Feedback from the field is clear: workers are noticing a real difference in comfort, heat resistance, and performance. The results have even caught the attention of inspectors from the Kent County Road Commission, who, after hearing praise from multiple contractors, requested to try the boots themselves.  

From operators to inspectors, workers across HexArmor’s local West Michigan communities are stepping into boots that finally meet the demands of the job, and we couldn’t be prouder to outfit the teams.