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Buying Guide: Best Steel Toe Work Boots (2022)

By Dimi | Men's

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Best Steel Toe Work Boots at a Glance

Finding the most suitable work boot can make your life easier and safer, as we all know how it feels like to be wearing uncomfortable boots all day long, or have freezing and wet feet all day. Many companies have very specific requirements for the type of safety shoes you must wear at work. If you are in construction, work with heavy machinery, carry heavy items and materials, chances are that you need safety toe work boots. The steel toes are the traditional safety caps, and are still one of the most preferred safety toe type.

The thing is, steel is the heaviest safety toe alternative, so you need to be aware of that and of several other factors when you are picking suitable steel toe boots for yourself.

We made a detailed assessment of a wide variety of such boots available out there, and have chosen our top picks for you.

Reviews of The Most Comfortable Steel Toe Work Boots

BOOTOUR RATING
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Timberland PRO 26078 Titan 6-inch Review
4.6 out of 5 stars
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Thorogood Men's American Heritage 6-inch Review
4.8 out of 5 stars
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Irish Setter Men's 6" Review
4.6 out of 5 stars
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Timberland PRO Women's 72399 Titan 6" Review
4 out of 5 stars
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Keen Utility Men's Milwaukee 6-Inch Review
4.2 out of 5 stars
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Dr. Martens Men's Ironbridge Review
4.4 out of 5 stars
*our rating is based on comfort, value and performance

Timberland PRO Men’s 26078 Titan 6″ Waterproof Safety-Toe Work Boot

Timberland PRO 26078 Titan 6These 6” Titan work boots are an amazing combination of safety, quality and comfort. No wonder this is one of the most popular safety shoe collections ever. They are also awesome for help with heel pain, so they are great for people suffering from heel problems and are our favorite best steel toe work boots for plantar fasciitis.
Here is what we like about them:
– The light and comfortable TiTAN alloy safety design for the toes which they feature
– The speed lace technology for easy putting them on and taking them off
– The excellent light and durable midsole cushioning
– The PRO rubber outsole which is oil and slip resistant.
– The breathable moisture wicking lining with anti-microbial treatment
– It meets and exceeds ASTM standards
– The soft full grain leather upper which requires little break-in time
– The cement construction which too helps add flexibility and quick break-in
– The PowerFit comfort system for excellent support
– The 30 day comfort warrantee – if you do not like them, you can return them within 30 days with no questions asked.
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Thorogood Men’s American Heritage 6″ Safety Toe Boot

Thorogood Men's American Heritage 6These steel toe boots are made in the USA, and are of very high quality and are very durable and comfortable. Here is why we were impressed by them:
– Made by one of the highest trusted brands for work shoes in the USA
– The superb shock absorption provided by the removable and breathable double density insoles
– The PORON 4000 midsole which offers ultimate cushioning and comfort
– The fiberglass shank
– The oil and slip resistant durable and non-marking outsole. Makes them one of the best steel toe boots for oil field
– The electrical hazard ASTM rated steel toe
– The Goodyear welt which adds to the boot’s durability
– The fact that they come true to size

-Our pick for best steel toe work boots for flat feet
– The great price for the USA made quality offered
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Irish Setter Men’s 6″ Steel Toe Work Boot

Irish Setter Men's 6These safety toe boots look great, and they provide the comfort and safety needed for your workplace, as well as for hiking or sending time outdoors.
Here are some of the things we liked:
– The full grain leather and the triple stitching which contrasts beautifully
– The excellent flexibility provided by the double density polyurethane V-Grip slip-resistant outsole with a direct attach construction which guarantees that these boots will endure just about anything
– The removable footbed made of polyurethane for some amazing cushioning
– The padded tongues and collars for additional comfort and stability
– The steel toe which meets ASTM F2413-11 and electrical hazard rated too
– The traditional lace-up configuration with a D-ring brass hardware
– Require very little break-in time

– Our top pick for best steel toe work boots for heel pain
Things we didn’t like so much:
– They run about half to one full size larger, so make sure you try them on first
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Timberland PRO Women’s 72399 Titan 6″ Safety-Toe Boot

Timberland PRO Women's 72399 Titan 6For our lady readers, this is one of our top picks for safety toe boots for women. Here is why we strongly recommend them:
– They combine functionality, safety and comfort perfectly
– The full-grain TiTan leather upper is soft and requires little break-in time
– The moisture control and anti-bacterial mesh comfort lining gives the shoes a cloud-like feeling
– The comfortable and cushioned polyurethane midsole features a special high-rebound heel insert for double cushioning and the patented Energy ReturnPowerfit bounce back to reduce fatigue.
– The footbed which is adaptive and comfortable and regulates the temperature in the boots to keep the feet dry and comfortable at all times
– The lightweight steel toe cap which is ASTM rated for electrical hazard too
– The special nylon shank for torsional rigidity to keep the feet stable and safe
– The fact that they run true to size
– They come with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee
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Keen Utility Men’s Milwaukee 6-Inch Steel Toe Work Boot

Keen Utility Men's Milwaukee 6-Inch Steel Toe Work BootWe love the look of these lace-up safety boots, as well as the comfort they provide and the safety features they have. Here are some of them:
– A removable double density metatomical EVA footbed. These are our top favorite when it comes down to the best steel toe boots for walking
– A Keen welt construction for durability
– An oil and slip resistant rubber outsole which leaves no marks and offers excellent traction
– The abrasion resistant special tough-tech leather upper for prolonged durability
– The asymmetrical steel toes which provide ASTM rated safety including electrical hazard
– They require minimal break-in
– They run true to size
Things we didn’t like that much:
– They are not waterproof
– They are slightly on the heavy side as compared to other boots in this class
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Dr. Martens Men’s Ironbridge Steel IM Boot

Dr. Martens Men's Ironbridge Steel IM Boot
These are possibly one of our favorite steel cap work boots in this list. True to the brand, these shoes have some amazing features which we would like to share with you:
– A water resistant upper made of oiled and tumbled leather
– An internal metatarsal guard using D3O technology to keep the toes and feet safe at all times
– The classic, super comfortable Dr. Martens air cushioned sole, which has slip-resistance and good abrasion
– Extra cushioning provided by the PU cushioned, Smartmask footbeds
– Little to no break in time required. They are comfortable out of the box
– They look very similar to the classic Dr. Martens boots, only sans the classic Air-ware heel strap
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Top Characteristics of Good Steel Toe Work Boots

When you are shopping for good steel toe work boots, you should consider several of the following features:

  • The type of safety toes – do they comply with the requirements of your company, are they ASTM rated, are they safe for electrical hazard?
  • Always pick the oil and slip resistant outsole – spills can occur just about anywhere, so you better be on the safe side. Depending on the kind of work you are in, you can also look for acid resistant or puncture resistant ones.
  • Consider getting safety boots with additional protection, such as metatarsal guards, or with ankle or calf support if your workplace has such hazards.
  • Eliminate the risk of getting electrocuted at your job, by picking electric hazard rated shoes with steel toes.
  • Of course, it is preferable if you get waterproof boots or insulated boots if you work outdoors or inside in wet and cold conditions.
  • Ask about the breathability and moisture control of the boots, because you will be spending hours and hours in them, and you want your feet to feel and smell fresh at all times, right?
  • Consider the break-in time which will be required to get these boots comfortable and wearable.
  • Of course, look for the boots which best suit your needs and feel the most comfortable and safe. Read our Men’s Work Boots Reviews to see which our of hand-picked options will best suit your needs. The idea is to reduce any fatigue or soreness and to reduce the risk of injury at your workplace, or wherever you are planning on wearing your safety toe boots.
  • So, here are our recommendations for lace up footwear. If you are looking for other options, check our guide to the most comfortable slip on work boots. Happy searching!