Some work environments are just outright dangerous. From greasy uneven surfaces at every turn to pointed protrusions and falling objects that always seem to land right on your toes. If you love yourself, you will likely take some precautions. But a protective hat and reflectors just won’t fully cut it; for full protection, you will additionally need a good pair of safety shoes.
Safety shoes are not just like your ordinary pair of Yeezy’s or chukka boots. These shoes are specially engineered to keep your feet safe from any potential harm. Usually, you’d find them having midsole plates to shield your inner soles from getting punctured by nails, or some kind of steel material at the toe area. Since you will be working for long hours, they are also made extra lightweight and comfortable.
With many shoe brands stepping up and introducing their own pair of safety shoes today, it might be a bit hard to choose the best one. Well, we present you with our list of the best safety shoes out there, with a comprehensive overview so you may make the best investment.
Top 10 Safety Shoes Of 2020 Reviewed
1. Skechers Synergy Ekron for Men
Best Safety Shoes For The Money
One of the most trusted brands in the footwear decision, Skechers offers the Synergy Ekron model for superior protection, durability, comfort, and style with the best value for your money. The composite toe offers extreme safety, which makes it just like a steel toe variation, using a composite blend for lightweight purposes. The non-metallic footwear is durable while the memory foam footbed ensures comfort for hours regardless of the physical demands of work.
The safety shoes keep the toes cushioned and protected but it also has slip-resistant features to keep you from falling on wet or slippery surfaces. Safety is a luxury you can afford with this pair because the sole keeps your feet planted to prevent injuries and accidents including breaks and sprains.
Pros:
- Superior steel toe protection
- Exceptional comfort with a memory foam footbed
- Remarkable grip and traction with slip resistance
- Affordable
Cons:
- Toe cap may rub causing blisters
2. Timberland Powertrain
Best Safety Shoes For Casual Wear
The brand offers a powerhouse of work shoes for safe and protective footwear collection and the Powertrain pair is the ideal choice especially if you need something for casual wear. One of the top features of this model is the anti-fatigue outsole keeping the feet, back, and legs feeling comfortable and great all day long.
The polyurethane outsole has remarkable shock absorbency and it is flexible for natural and hassle-free movement to boost your overall comfort level, making it ideal not just for the workplace but for casual wear as well. It also comes with an antimicrobial mesh lining to prevent bacteria buildup and odor while whisking away moisture from the feet for a cooler effect.
Pros:
- Great for casual wear
- Exceptional lightweight design
- Breathable and comfortable
- Antimicrobial for odor control
Cons:
- Not good for a narrow fit
- Durability not guaranteed
3. Caterpillar Second Shift
Best Safety Shoes For Exceptional Comfort
Balance is the name of the game when it comes to his high-quality Caterpillar safety shoe pair because it offers an exterior leathery toughness while the inside is all about plush and soft comfort. Thus, it is the unexpected top-notch model for comfort despite the ruggedly tough and strong exterior, something that you would be extremely surprised.
You enjoy plenty of traction and protection from slippage even when you walk on slick terrains or oily surfaces, thanks to the slip-resistant soles. The footwear ensures seamless fit along with convenient and fast wear through the hex-shape grommets for speed lacing at the shaft. Protection is a no-brainer with the steel toe work shoe with durable welt construction.
Pros:
- Removable and breathable plush insole
- Great traction for no slippage
- Heavy-duty, tough exterior for foolproof protection
Cons:
- Difficult sizing
- Fit not ideal for narrow sizes
4. Keen Utility Atlanta ESD
Best Safety Shoes For Good Ventilation
Ventilation in a working shoe is not that common and that is why the Keen Utility Atlanta ESD pair is our top pick in this category, simply because it leaves you feeling fresh all day long. The foot apparel boats of a winning combination of mesh and leather for its main construction with leather materials for durability while the mesh lining part ensures airy and clean feel.
It offers remarkable protection and safety especially in hazardous and physically demanding environments while maintaining the lightweight feature so that your feet do not feel exhausted at all at the end of an extremely tiring day. The pair also comes with a protective and non-slippage design to safeguard you against slip, accidents, and electrical hazards.
Pros:
- Breathable and ventilated interior
- Slip and electric shock resistant
- Removable, molded, and dense insole
- Strong, durable materials
Cons:
- Sizing is difficult
- Snug fit that may compromise comfort
5. Flint Low by Keen Utility
Best Safety Shoes For Hygiene-Friendly Wear
One of the top reasons why this pair is on our list is its remarkable design to combat bad foot odor, which is quite a common issue in working shoes with a tight and snug fit. It comes with an innovative technology called CleanSport NXT that combats foot odor to keep your feet smelling and feeling fresh all day. On top of the hygiene-friendly feature, the safety shoe is also equipped with steel toe system for utmost protection in hazardous environment and terrain.
Water resistance is a noteworthy quality of the Flint Low model as it keeps moisture and water away from your feet within and without. This is the ideal footwear if your job requires you to work in a venue where you must submerge in the water. Lastly, it comes with a slip-resistant rubber sole to prevent injuries and accidents due to fall or slippage.
Pros:
- Hygiene-friendly
- Water resistant
- Arch support with a molded insole
- Slip-resistant
Cons:
- Issues with durability
- A bit too expensive
6. Reebok Work
Best Safety Shoes For Flexible Motion
The Reebok brand builds and creates running footwear and with that inspiration, this pair of safety shoes ensures flexibility of movement along with overall comfort in one amazing model. The Flex Groove technology incorporated in this pair offers comfortable and reliable outsole for unlimited and flexible motion while keeping an optimal level of luxurious comfort. Moisture and water move easily to prevent odor-causing factors and inconvenience.
It also comes with the MemoryTech Footbed so that you do not need to break in your shoes, which could be a painful ordeal due to possible blisters on the rubbed areas. The technology allows the feet to instantaneously conform to the feet along with its natural curves for unparalleled comfort and fit.
Pros:
- Exceptional motion flexibility
- No break-in period
- Light and breathable
- Great for everyday use
Cons:
- Arch support issues
- Pricey
7. Thorogood Crosstex Safety Shoes
Best Safety Shoes For Waterproof Protection
The leather exterior of this pair of safety shoes is just a part of its total protective solution because it also works to keep your feet dry and safe through its waterproof technology. The reliable midsole plate and standard steel toe design add to the reliability and strength of the working shoes as it becomes your best friend in dealing with difficult terrains and diverse environments.
The multiple protection from the handy safety shoes includes the rubber sole for anti-slip and accident-free guarantee while the removable footbed allows you to customize and adjust the insert to cater to your unique orthopedic concerns and needs, ensuring optimal foot health and protection overall.
Pros:
- Waterproof to maintain dry feet
- Removable footbed for orthopedic protection
- Anti-slip rubber sole
- Strong and durable build
Cons:
- Lacing and wear difficulty
- Squeaky sound
8. Carhartt CMF6366 Toe Boot
Best Safety Shoes For Superior Protection
Carhartt remains one of the premium workwear manufacturers in the business since 1889 and the brand’s composite toe boot model is another addition to their growing family of innovative foot apparel. One of the top features of this unique shoe is the abrasion resistant heel bumper along with the tough composite materials for superior protection.
It comes with the cushy and moisture wicking materials to ensure the ultimate comfort without sacrificing protection for the feet against injuries and accidents including slippage and electrical hazards. You should choose the ideal rugged work boot pair for longer wear especially in tough and physically demanding environments such as cement construction.
Pros:
- Strength and durability for long-term use
- Comfortable Ortholite insole
- Cushioned foot protection with generously padded collar
Cons:
- Maybe too heavy for some users
- Tighter snug fit
9. Wolverine W04821 Buccaneer Boot
Best Safety Shoes With Soft Toe Design
Wolverine is the brand for safety shoes that spell serious protection to the highest level and this Buccaneer work boot pair is proof of that reputation. It is the best of its kind in the soft toe category, which you can actually use in diverse environments on a daily basis. The soft toe cap design offers agile and flexible protection and mobility, which makes it the ideal footwear for firefighters, policemen, and the likes.
Heavy-duty work boots need not give you discomfort because this pair is all about convenient wear with its fully removable cushion footbed, multi-shock compression pads to deliver impact absorption and contour welt construction for long-term use and durability.
Pros:
- Superior arch support
- Adjustable comfort with the removable cushion footbed
- Waterproof full grain leather
Cons:
- Not ideal for slippery and difficult terrains
10. PRO Titan Safety Men’s Shoes
Best Safety Shoes For Cold Environments
Most safety shoes are for warm climates but few have the construction and features against the cold and this is where the Pro Titan pair by Timberland comes in handy and first. It is the top pick for footwear protection, especially in extremely cold and freezing environments. It comes with the Vibram Fire & Ice compound fortifying the shoes to maintain its bendable feature in freezing weather.
It boasts of the PowerFit System that blends a balance of functionality and comfort in one pair, through the soft insole and general arch support that offers superior comfort. The padded safety footwear guarantees extra warmth for overall foot health while the leather exterior guarantees longer lifespan and durability.
Pros:
- Excellent wear in freezing temperatures
- Superior padded cushion and protection
- Strong and industry grade leather exterior
Cons:
- Expensive
- Issues on sole durability
- Not ideal for narrow feet
How To Choose Best Safety Shoes: The Ultimate Buying Guide
We know how difficult and challenging it is to choose the right working shoes especially the ones that could give you excellent protection and safety in diverse and demanding environments. Our list of the latest and top-rated safety shoes and chukka boots aims to help you with your quest in narrowing down your list and making a wise and informed shopping decision because a foot apparel investment is worth it.
Here are some of the most important things you need to highly consider when looking for men’s shoes, boots, and similar footwear for your specific workplace and environment:
Safety Hazards
You need to look into the safety features of the footwear and match it with the type of safety hazards you are commonly dealing within your workplace. Some jobs may require footwear with steel toe design while others need a soft toe boot. Other types of safety shoes include composite toe and alloy toecap shoes, all with their unique features, strengths, and downsides. Choose a pair that caters to the safety demands and protection you need, whether you need the footwear against electrical hazard, warm climates, or freezing environments.
Materials
The materials of the safety shoes determine numerous factors including the quality, durability, and overall functionality of the footwear. Outsoles differ in materials according to their moisture and water absorbency as well as the even distribution of impact on the foot. Rubber materials are highly recommended for good shock dispersion, flexible, and freedom of movement with less pain and traction. Materials for the insole and upper construction of the footwear may also vary along with their effect on the quality and function of the safety shoes.
Versatility
The flexibility of the safety shoes also plays a salient role in the overall quality of the footwear especially in providing freedom of movement to the wearer without any discomfort. Working boots and shoes are naturally rigid because of their function but they should allow movement of the foot or toe when the need arises. Some jobs require you agility and flexibility of motion and you could not do it with the wrong foot apparel. In worse scenarios, improper footwear could result in orthopedic problems, injuries, accidents, and similar incidents.
Breathability
The natural construction of the foot apparel could oftentimes compromise its design for breathability and finding a pair that offers this particular upside is a luxury. Find footwear that offers superior protection without sacrificing breathability or good ventilation for your feet so that you stay fresh and cool all day long. These pairs have moisture wicking technology and highly absorbent materials to keep moisture or water away. They keep your feet dry and cool to avoid issues such as foot odor.
Pricing
One of the most important criteria to consider when buying safety shoes is the pricing and your available budget for the foot apparel investment. Some models and brands are quite expensive because of the name, materials, and the innovations incorporated in the shoes, among many others. You can also find cheaper and affordable shoes with protective designs but these could also have their own downsides such as sub-standard materials. Thus, the best way to do is to balance quality and affordability by comparing the prices and specs of the footwear you want to invest in.
Final Words
Safety footwear is a necessity, which makes it a lucrative and important investment especially if you have a job that demands the right foot apparel for certain environments, terrains, and climates. However, it is a difficult task to actually sort out the overflowing models and brands you have on the market and come up with one final buying decision. Making a sound choice is possible especially if you have the right resources and knowledge such as knowing the important things to consider when looking for the best safety shoes.
This comprehensive guide is your first step to a sound and wise foot apparel investment especially the ones that offer top quality foot protection and safety. We list all the products in their respective categories so that it would easy for you to see their strengths and weaknesses and the reasons why you should make that purchase today.
Take your time in going through the different brands and models in our guide and other salient tips before you decide on your purchase. Save yourself tons of worries and cash when choosing the best safety shoes for your perfect match!.
