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Dunlop Protomastor Full Safety Boot – Detailed Review

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Rating : 8.3/10
See price at Amazon.com

Performance Breakdown

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Bottom Line

Featuring waterproof construction and a slip-resistant outsole, the Dunlop Protomastor Full Safety Boot offers nonstop protection in tough work environments.

Pros

  • Waterproof
  • Steel toes and midsole
  • Very flexible sole
  • Reasonable price
  • Can accommodate wide feet

Cons

  • Soles are relatively thin

Material

PVC

Type of Toe

Yes (steel)

Weight

5.26lb / 2.39kg / 84.3oz

Waterproof

Yes

Shaft Size

14 inches

Outsole

PVC

Boot type

Protomastor

Manufacturer

Dunlop

Safety certifications

Yes

Price range

$53.89 to $299.00

Summary

The almost plain-looking exterior of the Dunlop Protomastor Full Safety Boot doesn’t give too many hints about the beneficial features packed within the footwear. The silhouette looks just like any other regular work boot and is designed to be cleaned thoroughly without too much hassle involved. The PVC material can take on demanding tasks without easily falling apart, enabling you to focus on your job without worrying too much about the footwear being prematurely damaged, especially when you’re working in tough environments. The PVC and nitrile blend on the outsole gives this boot part exceptional flexibility that makes walking much easier as there aren’t any rigid materials to hamper natural movements.

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The sole comes in a slip-resistant structure that strongly bites into the ground to help you move more confidently over a variety of ground conditions without the fear that a slight misstep will result in a serious slipping accident. This is a waterproof boot that offers continuous foot protection while you’re in extremely wet surroundings to ensure that liquids won’t be allowed to enter regardless of how long you need to stay in such challenging settings. The steel toe caps form a strong layer of protection to keep the foot safe from being crushed if heavy items, such as tools or pieces of equipment, suddenly drop on the boot from a high location. A steel midsole works hard to protect the foot from being punctured by sharp objects that can accidentally be stepped on. Below we’ll expand upon the boot’s components to showcase which ones deliver the biggest benefits and if there are features that can be improved upon to enhance the boot’s performance.

When you need reliable footwear that can be maximized in various outdoor settings, this work boot offers the multifunctional benefits you’re looking for.

Ideal For

  • People who prefer reasonably priced waterproof boots
  • Muddy conditions that can be encountered with gardening or farming chores
  • Those after durable, flexible boots with safety toes

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Performance Analysis

Comfort

The Dunlop Protomastor Full Safety Boot is made with a flexible PVC material that greatly contributed to the comfortable and convenient boot-wearing experience. Aside from being very easy to slip on, the material also adapted effortlessly to the foot and leg’s movements, so it was much easier to walk around comfortably without stiff materials biting into my foot with every step.

The boot made my movements more fluid, and I was able to walk and move comfortably without focusing too much on how to carry the boots on my feet.

The sole was exceptionally flexible and had a gel-like quality that added to the overall comfortable feel, allowing me to keep on walking and staying on my feet for hours on end without the discomfort that comes from using boots with overly rigid platforms.

However, it seemed like the sole was a bit too thin at times and can be improved with a thicker structure to make it more suitable for use in rocky or uneven terrains.

The energy-absorbing heel catches most of the force that comes from the foot’s continuous movements and works to diffuse the impact throughout the boot to prevent foot fatigue from setting in, especially during those long days when there’s no choice but to stay on your feet for hours. The boot’s antistatic electrical insulation makes it more comfortable and a lot safer for you to work on non-insulated surfaces as your job requires.

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Weight

The weight of this boot didn’t come as a surprise considering the sturdiness of the PVC body and the tall height. It isn’t overly heavy so it can be used for hours without causing a great deal of discomfort, unlike extremely heavy boots that can result in foot pain when used for extended periods. However, it also can’t be considered lightweight because it comes with a significant heft that helps make movements more stable and safer, especially when walking over tricky surfaces. The steel toes and steel midsole both contribute significantly to the total weight to give the footwear a satisfyingly solid feel without dragging too much on the feet even with continuous boot use.

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Traction

This boot is built with a slip-resistant outsole with deep multi-directional treads that grip the ground firmly, allowing you to continue walking confidently on different terrains without risking your safety and productivity. It offers strong traction to prevent slipping accidents so you can focus on the job at hand without the constant fear of slipping or falling on tricky surface conditions.

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Fit and Sizing

This boot is true to size, so I didn’t have any problems getting the right fit when I went for my usual shoe size. This saved me from the guesswork that comes with needing to go up or down a size for other work boot options. The boot has a very relaxed fit that gave my foot plenty of room to shift in place and allowed my toes to wiggle freely to stop foot cramps from building up, especially after hours of staying on my feet without a chance for rest periods. The spaciousness can accommodate wide feet for superior comfort but may feel unstable for people who prefer snug-fitting footwear that will hold the foot in place to stop unwanted movement from inside. This boot is quite quick easy to put on and remove, thanks to the flexible PVC material and the wide boot opening.

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Waterproofing

This boot is made with a waterproof PVC material that blocks water, mud, and mulch from entering so your foot can enjoy lasting dryness when you’re working in wet or waterlogged areas. The fully waterproof boot will keep your foot protected from being thoroughly soaked when you need to stay outdoors to finish your chores in the rain, so you can concentrate more fully on your activities without worrying about foot comfort and safety in challenging settings.

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Breathability

This boot doesn’t come with a moisture-wicking lining so moisture and heat accumulation can be a problem, especially when the boot is used for long hours at a time. Without a dedicated material to wick away sweat, the inside of the boot may eventually feel overheated with all-day use. The tall boot height doesn’t allow a lot of air to get into the boot so this can also contribute to the boot’s interior feeling extremely warm as well.

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Quality and Durability

The Dunlop Protomastor Full Safety Boot is crafted with a sturdy PVC material that’s resistant to animal and vegetable oils, disinfectants, fats, and various chemicals so you can be sure that you’ll be able to take full advantage of the boot’s superb features without the material breaking down easily when exposed to harsh substances. This PVC material is flexible enough to quickly adapt to the foot’s movements without causing a restricting sensation, allowing you to move more freely without stiff materials hampering your mobility. The sole is just as flexible and comes with a gel-like texture that makes walking for hours more comfortable since this platform doesn’t come with the unwelcome rigidity that’s often associated with other rubber boots. However, this flexible sole feels a bit too thin at times and would benefit from having a sturdier structure to be used more comfortably and efficiently on rocky or uneven terrains. The outsole comes with aggressive multi-directional lugs that bite firmly into the ground so you can move with increased confidence even over slippery surfaces without compromising your safety and mobility in the process. The strong traction will help you walk comfortably while ensuring that you can avoid slipping accidents on tricky terrains, especially when you need to move faster to be able to finish more tasks. The boot is very easy to put on and remove because of the flexible material and wide opening so prep time won’t be very consuming.

It has a very relaxed fit that can accommodate wide feet and is spacious enough to allow the toes to freely wiggle from time to time so that foot cramps can be prevented.

The heel is designed to absorb most of the impact coming from continuous walking so that the force can be dispersed equally and foot fatigue can be prevented from disturbing your comfortable boot-wearing experience.

Antistatic insulation makes this boot an ideal companion to keep you protected and comfortable when you’re working in non-insulated areas. The steel midsole creates a barrier that can’t be penetrated by sharp objects, ensuring that your foot won’t be injured in case you accidentally step on these puncture hazards that may be left lying on the ground of your work area. The steel toes offer continuous protection against impact and compression threats so your foot can be saved from serious injuries if these threats suddenly drop on the boot from an elevated area on the job site. The shiny and rubbery exterior is built for superior durability and is designed for easy cleaning so you can just hose down the boot at the end of a long workday without too much effort and time involved for the task. This waterproof boot seals out mud, rain, mulch, and other liquids so they won’t have a chance to seep into the interior, making sure that your foot will remain comfortably dry even when you’re working in extremely wet settings.

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Other Versions

The Dunlop Protomastor Full Safety Boot is offered in the following colorways – all black, white shaft with a green outsole, green shaft with a black outsole, and yellow shaft with a black outsole. It comes in chest wader and thigh wader versions that offer even more coverage in tough settings.

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The Challengers

Dunlop Protomastor Thigh Wader Full Safety Boot 

The Dunlop Protomastor Thigh Wader Full Safety Boot is an amazing alternative if you’re after a significantly higher level of protection in extremely wet surroundings. This boot reaches to the tops of the thighs to provide maximum coverage that will keep your legs dry when you need to wade in deep water or mud. The PVC upper is waterproof and offers continuous protection as it blocks liquids from seeping into the boot. The slip-resistant outsole offers a strong grip on the ground to maintain your stable footing on tricky surfaces so you can keep going without worrying too much about your safety and mobility. The steel toe caps keep the foot safe from grave injuries in case impact and compression dangers suddenly drop or roll onto the boot. This wader offers antistatic electrical insulation to make it safer for you to work in a non-insulated location where static electricity build-up is a risk.

Dunlop Purofort Rig-Air Fur-Lined Full Safety Boot

The Dunlop Purofort Rig-Air Fur-Lined Full Safety Boot comes in a lightweight structure that can comfortably be used in cold environments. This waterproof boot stops water from entering to guarantee all-day foot dryness as you continue your activities in extremely wet settings. It comes with a fur-lined interior that keeps the interior warm to ward off the chill in cold conditions while embracing the foot with a soft texture for maximum comfort throughout the busiest workdays. The fur lining also contributes to a snug fit for optimal heat retention and a lack of unwanted foot movement from within the boot. The boot has a shock-absorbing heel that soaks up most of the force coming from repetitive foot movements so foot fatigue can be prevented from completely building up with hours of continuous boot use. The steel midsole forms an impenetrable barrier to keep the foot protected from puncture injuries from underfoot, while the steel toe caps guard the foot against crushing injuries when heavy objects suddenly drop on the boot.

Dunlop Men’s Pricemastor Wellington Boot

The Dunlop Men’s Pricemastor Wellington Boot is a suitable choice if you’re looking for a waterproof boot that can be used in non-harsh surroundings. This reasonably priced boot offers maximum foot protection against wetness with a fully waterproof upper that blocks water, mud, and other liquids so they can’t get into the boot’s interior even when you need to work long hours in exceptionally wet conditions. The lightweight construction makes this boot comfortable to use for hours as it doesn’t cause a dragging feeling on the foot, which can be a problem when using extremely heavy footwear. The boot comes with a very relaxed fit that can accommodate wide feet or thick socks to provide enhanced warmth.

Dunlop Men’s Purofort Thermo+ Full Safety Boot

The Dunlop Men’s Purofort Thermo+ Full Safety Boot is designed to withstand extremely harsh conditions without sacrificing a comfortable experience. The thick sole delivers excellent traction to help you walk more confidently on the most difficult terrains while ensuring that you won’t easily slip or fall on various ground conditions. The boot delivers a locked-in feeling to keep the foot safely in place for more stable movements, especially when navigating challenging terrains. The energy-absorbing heel soaks up most of the force resulting from hours of walking and staying on your feet so you can avoid foot fatigue. The steel toes offer nonstop protection from compression and impact hazards that can drop accidentally on the boot from high places in the work area. This boot comes with a lightweight profile that won’t weigh your foot down even with long hours of continuous use.

Muck Boot Derwent II Wellington Boot

The Muck Boot Derwent II Wellington Boot is a great pick that can keep you walking effortlessly and comfortably in muddy conditions. The rubber outsole comes with pronounced lugs that deliver strong traction to stabilize your steps on slippery or uneven surfaces so you can continue moving confidently without compromising your productivity and safety. The 4mm neoprene lining follows the shape of the calf for superior comfort and flexibility that gives you a wider range of motion, enabling you to move freely without being restricted by stiff materials. The breathable mesh lining keeps the interior cool for hours to prevent overheating even when you’re working in hot or humid environments. The reinforced ankle and toe areas are protected even further against abrasions to help maintain the boot’s structural integrity for long-term benefits. This fully waterproof boot works hard to preserve comfortable foot dryness even in exceptionally wet conditions.

Conclusion & Verdict

The Dunlop Protomastor Full Safety Boot is suitable for challenging tasks in muddy conditions. The waterproof construction guarantees all-day foot protection against wetness even when you’re surrounded by significant moisture. The steel midsole keeps the foot safe from puncture hazards that you may accidentally step on, while the steel toe caps offer continuous protection against compression and impact dangers that can accidentally drop on the boot. The flexible upper and sole contribute to a comfortable boot-wearing experience as they adapt effortlessly to every step, although the sole would feel a lot sturdier if it were made with a thicker structure that would be more efficiently used on uneven or rocky terrains.

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Luke Davis

Luke Davis

Luke is the lead author on WorkWear.org. He has a vast experience in construction engineering and project management in California and Texas, where he had the chance to put to test a wide range of safety boots and PPE. Outside work, Luke is an avid hiker and not surprisingly a DIY fanatic!