Demo is the trade that exposes you to the most unknown hazards in the shortest time. You don't know what's in the wall until you open it. Lead paint? Maybe. Asbestos popcorn ceiling? Could be. Old galvanized pipe full of sediment? Likely. Mouse nest? Nine times out of ten. The gear has to be over-built for the ninety percent of normal demo, and ready for the worst-case ten percent.
Boots first. 8-inch lace-up steel toe with a steel midsole, period. The MetGuard isn't optional. A 16d framing nail going up through your foot is the most common demo injury. The Timberland Pro Boondock 8-inch with internal MetGuard, the Carhartt CMF8389 8-inch with InsulaGuard, or the Thorogood 804-6210 with steel toe and steel midsole. Comp toe is fine for the toe but you NEED a steel midsole.
Pants: heavy. Carhartt Washed Duck Double-Front B11 or the Carhartt Firm Duck Insulated overall in winter. Synthetics tear faster — duck canvas is the right answer. Reinforced knees because you're kneeling on the floor you just tore up.
Shirts: long-sleeve, always. Demo without long sleeves is how you get tetanus. Carhartt Force long-sleeve T, Dickies long-sleeve work shirt. A Carhartt FR if you're doing demo near live electrical (which on a real demo, you should not be — but sometimes the GC didn't kill the panel and you find out the hard way).
Gloves: heavy. The Mechanix M-Pact ANSI A4 with knuckle protection. The Ironclad Ranchworx is the leather alternative. Demo glove has to be cut-resistant AND impact-resistant — you're swinging, you're grabbing rebar, you're picking up nails. The Hexarmor 4018 A6 is the step up for guys doing concrete demo where rebar is the main hazard.
Eye protection: sealed goggles, not safety glasses. The 3M GoggleGear 500 or the Pyramex V2G. Demo dust comes from every direction including up — open-frame safety glasses won't keep it out. Face shield over the goggles for sledge work or breaker work.
Respirator: this is the part nobody respects. A 3M 8210 N95 is NOT enough for demo. You want a half-face 3M 7500 with P100 cartridges as the baseline. If there's any chance of asbestos or lead, STOP and get a certified abatement crew — that's not a demo job. For everything else (wood, drywall, mold), the P100 is the right answer.
Hard hat: full-brim, ANSI Class E. The MSA V-Gard 500 full-brim or the Pyramex Ridgeline. Cap-style hard hats don't protect from falling debris that hits at an angle. Demo is when stuff falls.
Hearing protection: 30+ NRR. The 3M Peltor X5A muffs, or the 3M E-A-Rsoft FX foam plugs. A jackhammer is 110+ dB. A 32 NRR plug doesn't bring it under OSHA's 85 dB exposure limit but it gets you closer.
Knee pads: same as everyone else.
Tools the demo crew carries: a 4-pound mini sledge, a flat bar (Estwing or Stiletto Tibone), a cat's paw, a reciprocating saw with demo blades (Diablo Steel Demon or Milwaukee The Torch), a pry bar (Stanley FatMax 36-inch), and a 7-pound long-handle sledge for the wall work. Demo bag is heavy.
Work belt: a simple sling or a Bucket Boss demo apron. Don't carry a framing belt — you don't need most of those tools.
Disposable Tyvek suit for nasty demos — old basements, mold, mouse nest territory. The DuPont Tyvek 400 coverall is what we sell, with a hood. About $15 each, single use. Worth it the day you find out the wall cavity is full of fiberglass and rat droppings.
Demo is the dirtiest, most physical, most unpredictable trade. Over-build the kit.