Steel Blue's New Waterproof Side Zip Safety Boot: Is It Worth It?
Steel Blue has added waterproof options to its popular Southern Cross range. It has a waterproof side zip safety boot, the Southern Cross Zip WP S7: a men's 6-inch boot with a steel toe cap, in a new Distressed Brown leather.
Before you add a pair to your next order, here are the things I'd think through.
First, do you actually need waterproof?
There's a real difference between a water-resistant boot and a waterproof one. Steel Blue's leather is treated during tanning to help repel water and for plenty of jobs that's all the protection you need. If you mainly work indoors, or only meet the odd shower, water-resistant will do.
Waterproof boots earn their keep when wet is part of the job: long days outdoors, muddy sites, hours on wet ground. That's the situation these boots are built for and it's worth being honest about which one you're in before you pay for the extra protection.
1. Zip or laces?
The choice comes down to how your team works. The Distressed Brown boot combines laces with an industrial waterproof side zip. You set the fit with the laces, then use the zip to get the boots on and off through the day. Steel Blue says the zip is sealed with a waterproof membrane, so you get the convenience without giving up waterproof protection.
If your people are constantly changing footwear, say moving between the site and the van, or in and out of clean areas, the zip saves real time across a week. The flip side is that a zip is a moving part, and moving parts are usually the first thing to give out.
My advice: Go for the zip if your team takes their boots on and off many times a day. If they lace up in the morning and forget about them until home time, the lace-up has one less thing that can fail.
2. Waterproofing isn't just about the zip
Steel Blue says the Southern Cross S7 boots go through a five-part waterproofing process in production. It combines a waterproof membrane, seam-sealing tape, an additional sealing application, coats of waterproof glue and a water-repellent spray. The idea is several barriers working together, rather than relying on one.
The safety spec is solid too. Both boots are certified to EN ISO 20345 with an S7 classification, which includes water-resistance requirements for the complete footwear. They have a 200-joule steel toe cap, penetration resistance, and a TPU outsole that Steel Blue says adds durability and slip resistance. A durable scuff cap protects the leather upper.
Worth doing: Choose waterproof where wet conditions are part of the job, not just the odd rainy day. Then check the tech spec against the hazards on your site.
3. Trial it before you commit
Waterproof shouldn't mean uncomfortable, and Steel Blue knows it. Every pair has its Trisole® Comfort Technology, which cushions your feet, knees, hips and lower back against day-to-day fatigue. Inside, there's a removable Ortho Rebound® footbed that Steel Blue says keeps its shape and thickness over time. The 30-day comfort guarantee makes a trial low-risk, so use it.
There are a couple of practical points as well. Steel Blue announced these boots in August 2026. The company sells only through authorised distributors, https://wthsupplies.ie/products/steel-blue-southern-cross-side-zip-s7-waterproof-distressed-brown-with-scuff-cap?variant=58661173035343
A sensible next step: Give a small group the boots for the guarantee period and ask how the fit, the comfort and the zip hold up. Then decide on a full order.
The short version
The Southern Cross Zip WP S7 is a sensible pick for crews who work in the wet and change footwear often and gives you the same waterproofing and S7 rating.
Quick answers
Is the Southern Cross Zip WP S7 waterproof?
Steel Blue says it is. It has a five-part waterproofing process, including a waterproof membrane and seam-sealing tape, and a side zip sealed with a waterproof membrane.
What's the difference between water-resistant and waterproof work boots?
Water-resistant boots handle everyday exposure to moisture. Waterproof boots give a higher level of protection when you work regularly in wet conditions.
Does it have a steel toe cap?
Yes. It has a 200-joule steel toe cap and is certified to the European standard EN ISO 20345 with an S7 classification.
Which Southern Cross waterproof boot has the zip?
The Distressed Brown has laces plus a waterproof side zip.
Where can I buy it?
Order yours today from WTH Supplies