Caterpillar Mens 2nd Shift 6 Plain Soft-toe Work Boot Review
Whether you work structure or carpeting, trail work or trim carpentry, welding or window cleaning, y'all need a quality piece of work boot. The best boots protect the wearer from relevant job site hazards and provide daily comfort for up to years of wearable life.
But finding the right boot for you can be challenging. It's an enormous field, with a wide array of specifications and toll points. Our testers rounded up boots for whatever your job throws at you lot. For those who punch the clock and build the globe around us, hither's our guide to the best work boots.
Our Top Picks
- Well-nigh Innovative: Brunt Workwear The Ryng Men's Piece of work Boots
- Best Accommodating: Timberland Men's Mid White Ledge Waterproof Work Boots
- Most Vintage: Thorogood Men'southward American Heritage Moc Toe Work Boots
- Best Bargain: Caterpillar Men's 2d Shift Steel Toe Piece of work Boots
- Toughest: Fe Age IA5019 Groundbreaker Internal Met Baby-sit Work Boots
- Most High-Tech: Timberland PRO Men's six" Pit Boss Steel-Toe
- Most Versatile: Not bad Utility Men's Pittsburgh 6" Steel Toe Waterproof Work Kick
- Cheapest: E'er BOOTS Tank Men'due south Soft Toe Work Boots
- Sturdiest: Thorogood Men's American Heritage eight" Plain Toe Boot
- All-time Skid-On: Ariat Groundbreaker Round Toe Work Boot
The All-time Piece of work Boots
1
Brunt Workwear The Ryng Men's Work Boots
The Ryng, by Brunt Workwear, is a work boot for people who hate work boots. It's light by work boot standards, breaks in rapidly, and its toe box felt spacious enough to adjust our tester's wiggling toes and extra-thick socks. Our guy reported a skillful grip on loose soil and mulched areas and a stable platform for swinging heavy tools.
The Ryng's wearability tested well, too. In his cold home climate, the kicking'due south composite toe was an advantage helping protect his feet without delivering the chill of a steel toe.
And the Ryng'due south adjustable-width pattern too helps wearability: you lot tin remove an insert beneath the insole to relax the boot's fit.
Many work boots characteristic leather — and Burden does offer leather styles — just the Ryng'southward upper is a textile material. Our tester experienced it as durable, waterproof, and with improved breathability over leather. The Ryng's all-blackness styling continued to look good throughout the testing period, even covered with grit and pine sap. Finally, this waterproof boot has two lace hooks at the meridian, which our tester used to alternating between wraparound and pass-through lacing. Read the full review hither.
Burden boasts of the Ryng's "ultra-lightweight" qualities — a size 9 weighs 1.57 lbs. For comparison, one Danner Steel 1000 6'' Steel Toe boot weighs about two.25 lbs. I can guarantee you'd experience the difference after 8 hours on your feet.
Central Features:
Lightweight
Blended toe allows spacious toe box
Adaptable width
Specification:
- Make Burden
- Model The Ryng
- Weight one.57 pounds
- Upper Material Synthetic
- Outsole Cloth Not-slip rubber
- Safety Toe Composite
- Summit half-dozen inches
- Waterproof Yes
- Electrical Hazard Protection Yes
- Skid Resistant Yeah
- Oil Resistant Yes (outsole)
Pros
Versatile
Comfortable
Proficient traction
Cons
Unproven blended "nano toe"
2
Timberland Men's Mid White Ledge Waterproof Work Boots
Go yours before they're gone forever — Timberland has discontinued the sixth most popular hiking kicking on Amazon. Most sizes were yet bachelor at the time of writing, but the kick is so pop that it'due south a question of when, not if, information technology will exist history.
The Timberland White Ledge features a streamlined profile, a 100% leather upper, and a thick polymer footbed and outsole with aggressive lugs. Seam-sealed structure adds functioning to this waterproof work boot. The boot promises to deliver all-day comfort, traction, and dry feet, no affair what weather condition you wear information technology in.
Key Features:
Waterproof
Hiking boot
Streamlined profile — non a clunky work boot
Specification:
- Make Timberland
- Model TB012122001
- Weight 1.06 pounds
- Upper Material 100% leather
- Outsole Material EVA
- Safety Toe No
- Superlative 5 inches
- Waterproof Yep
- Electrical Risk Protection No
- Slip Resistant No
- Oil Resistant No
Pros
Inexpensive
Versatile
Designed for comfort
Cons
Isolated construction problems reported
Discontinued style
3
Thorogood Men'south American Heritage Moc Toe Work Boots
The Thorogood men's American Heritage Moc–toe boot instantly recalls the practiced ol' days. The ones when yous'd kick off your American-fabricated work boots at the terminate of the day, sit dorsum in your backyard chair, and crack open a cold one.
Information technology may look like a kick that a time traveler visiting from the 1970s would wear, and the American Heritage series' 18-carat leather upper, Moc–toe style, and lace hooks are rooted in tradition. Simply Thorogood'southward MAXwear Wedge outsole and fiberglass shank make the kicking belong in modern job sites.
Fundamental Features:
High-performance outsole for hard, slippery surfaces
Cushioning footbed
Moc toe for vintage style
Specification:
- Brand Thorogood
- Model 814-6201
- Weight 2.65 pounds
- Upper Material 100% Leather
- Outsole Cloth Polyurethane
- Prophylactic Toe Steel selection
- Tiptop 6 inches, 8 inches
- Waterproof No
- Electrical Hazard Protection Yes, up to 18,000V
- Slip Resistant Yeah
- Oil Resistant Yes
Pros
Thick, high-performance sole
Great for physical or wet, smooth surfaces
Looks cool casually or on the clock
Cons
Expensive
Low lugs mean it's non an all-terrain kick
4
Caterpillar Men's Second Shift Steel Toe Work Boots
Oiled leather, a steel toe, heavy lugs, and a reasonable price: Caterpillar men'south Second Shift work boots for men exemplify the form. Its lace eyelets are even styled as hex nuts. Beyond the boot's aesthetics, its office checks the boxes. A sideslip-resistant, heavy-lug outsole anchors the kicking. A steel shank protects the wearer's feet from puncture hazards, and a breathable insole keeps the kicking cool nether pressure level.
The ASTM-compliant steel toe resists crushing, and a padded ankle helps the boot'southward all-day wearability. The Caterpillar Second Shift steel toe is a consummate piece of work kick designed to get the task done. Information technology may non be flashy, merely its functioning-first approach might make it the all-time cheap work boot. Combine them with some of the quality piece of work gloves from our list for tiptop functioning every time.
Key Features:
Straightforward design
Steel toe and shank
Breathable insole
Specification:
- Make Caterpillar
- Model P89586
- Weight 3 pounds
- Upper Material Nubuck leather
- Outsole Cloth T3 prophylactic
- Rubber Toe Steel
- Height half dozen inches
- Waterproof No
- Electrical Hazard Protection Yes, up to 600V
- Sideslip Resistant Yep
- Oil Resistant No
Pros
Inexpensive
Functioning drives design
Cons
Some users report delaminating soles
Questionable comfort
v
Iron Age IA5019 Groundbreaker Internal Met Guard Work Boots
With the Iron Age Groundbreaker blackness work boot, you'll look almost every bit absurd as Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator, and your foot volition be almost as bulletproof. Iron Age builds the Groundbreaker to protect wearers from merely about whatsoever imaginable task site hazard.
This is more than but a steel toe work boot. An internal metatarsal baby-sit and steel toe protect nearly the entire top of the foot from impacts. The Vibram prophylactic outsole resists estrus upward to four digits — I'm non sure how that'south possible or what iv-digit heat feels similar, but it's an impressive stat. The sole is as well slip-, oil-, and chemical-resistant. Fe Age completes the tank of a kick with Kevlar stitching.
Central Features:
Internal met guard and steel toe
Meets all ASTM F2413 safety requirements
Understated artful
Specification:
- Brand Iron Age
- Model IA5019-M-7
- Weight 4 pounds
- Upper Material 100% Leather
- Outsole Material Vibram safe
- Safety Toe Yeah
- Height six inches
- Waterproof N/A
- Electric Run a risk Protection Yes
- Skid Resistant Yes
- Oil Resistant Yes
Pros
Intensive safe features
Built for durability
Looks cool
Cons
Could exist heavy
Relatively untested brand
6
Timberland PRO Men's 6" Pit Boss Steel-Toe
Timberland engineers a high-performance work kicking with the PRO Series 6" Pit Boss steel toe. High-tech innovations and state-of-the-art fabrics characterize the insulated piece of work kick at MSRP $115. The safety outsole resists abrasion, slips, and oil. A polyurethane midsole adds condolement. Inside the boot, an open-cell polyurethane footbed adds another comfort layer and even fights microbial growth and odors. Timberland uses Cambrelle in the Pit Boss's liner for more olfactory property control and moisture-wicking — the armed forces-class material absorbs upward to three and a half times its own weight in moisture.
An asymmetrical steel toe provides disquisitional bear on protection, and a padded ankle and speed-lace hardware add comfort at the elevation of the kicking. This next sentence is a humdinger: nylon shock-improvidence plates add torsional rigidity. What does this mean? This Timberland shoe has nylon panels that preclude it from getting soft and collapsing over fourth dimension.
Primal Features:
High-performance, all-terrain sole
Moisture-wicking and olfactory property control faculties
Steel toe
Specification:
- Brand Timberland PRO
- Model TB033034214
- Weight 1.8 pounds
- Upper Fabric Nubuck leather
- Outsole Textile Timberland PRO rubber
- Safety Toe Steel
- Top 6 inches
- Waterproof Yes
- Electric Risk Protection Yes
- Slip Resistant Yes
- Oil Resistant Yes
Pros
Engineered for wearer condolement
Waterproof and shockproof
Trusted brand
Cons
Possible construction concerns
seven
KEEN Utility Men'southward Pittsburgh half-dozen" Steel Toe Waterproof Work Boot
KEEN is known for its hiking sandals and boots more than work boots, but it enters the work boot field with the Pittsburgh half-dozen" Steel Toe. It's a versatile product with a waterproof nubuck leather upper and a heavy-lugged, not-slip sole.
The Pittsburgh 6" piece of work boot has impressive comfort features. Its asymmetrical steel toe mitigates the discomfort of a traditional steel toe. A 2-zone lining system adds breathability. A full-length torsion plate fits into the kicking'southward midsole to limit awkward twisting in the ankle and arch. Great'south trademark toe cap gives the toe box an added layer of protection from the elements or the job site. Bully builds the Pittsburgh 6" Steel Toe to take you lot from the grind to the trail and dorsum — and keep you comfortable enough to do it.
Key Features:
Asymmetrical steel toe
Non-skid sole
Full-length torsion plate
Specification:
- Make KEEN Utility
- Model 1007024
- Weight 4 pounds
- Upper Material Nubuck leather
- Outsole Cloth Non-marking rubber
- Safety Toe Steel
- Elevation 6 inches
- Waterproof Yes
- Electrical Hazard Protection No
- Sideslip Resistant Aye
- Oil Resistant Yes
Pros
Versatile
Solid foundation
Supportive
Cons
Untested brand for work conditions
8
EVER BOOTS Tank Men'due south Soft Toe Work Boots
The Always BOOTS Tank is every bit basic as a work kicking can go, and information technology'southward priced accordingly at $59. Nubuck leather, a standard prophylactic sole, and a steel curvation shank anchor the simple boot. Customers tin choose a prophylactic toe model, the Tank S, for $10 more. Ever BOOTS categorizes the Tank (not-'South') equally "waterproof/non-slip", merely the merits is unsubstantiated.
So, is the Tank a practiced work boot? It tin be tough to evaluate a flash-in-the-pan visitor similar EVER BOOTS, which features basic boots for various applications at lower-than-competition prices on its Amazon store. I'd give the Tank a shot if I wanted a boot for occasional domicile projects or if my everyday boots were getting close to retirement and I wanted to test the waters. There's not much to say and not much to lose with the E'er BOOTS Tank. For top-quality footwear to proceed y'all warm on the coldest days, be sure to scan our listing of the best-selling winter boots.
Key Features:
Nubuck leather
Steel arch shank
Safety toe available
Specification:
- Brand EVER BOOTS
- Model EB611TAN
- Weight 3.65 pounds
- Upper Cloth Nubuck leather
- Outsole Material Rubber
- Safety Toe Available
- Superlative vii inches
- Waterproof Claimed only non substantiated
- Electric Hazard Protection No
- Skid Resistant Claimed but not substantiated
- Oil Resistant No
Pros
Inexpensive
Straightforward
9
Thorogood Men's American Heritage 8" Evidently Toe Boot
If I needed a robust, American-made piece of work boot that gave me stability and conviction, I would become with the Thorogood American Heritage 8" plainly toe. Boots with tall shafts can provide tremendous ankle back up and protection for those with the rowdiest jobs.
Thorogood builds its comfortable work boots in the U.s. with premium leather uppers and carefully designed soles and footbeds. Thorogood designed its MAXWear Wedge outsole with assistance from professionals on job sites, and the result is a high-performance, all-mean solar day-comfortable platform. The outsole is slip-resistant and backed up by an 8-inch fiberglass shank to add stability and resist punctures.
Key Features:
8" shaft summit
Not-slip outsole
eight" fiberglass shank
Leather Upper
Specification:
- Brand Thorogood
- Model 814-4364
- Weight 1.94 pounds
- Upper Cloth 100% Leather
- Outsole Material Polyurethane
- Safety Toe Steel option
- Acme 8 inches
- Waterproof No
- Electric Risk Protection Yes, up to eighteen,000V
- Sideslip Resistant Yes
- Oil Resistant No
Pros
Loftier-performance outsole and shank
Comfortable footbed and insole
Archetype look
10
Ariat Groundbreaker Circular Toe Work Boot
Every work kicking round-up needs a cowboy boot: ranch work is specific and enervating, and boots designed to stand up upward to it can perform well in many heavy-duty trades. Legendary make Ariat executes a no-nonsense slip-on work boot for MSRP $130.
The Ariat Groundbreaker features a leather foot and ten-inch suede upper mounted on a loftier-traction sole. Ariat designs its Duratread outsole to handle rough conditions. It resists oil and slippage, and a coarse tread keeps wearers steady. Ariat fits the Groundbreaker with another proprietary engineering, 4LR support and cushioning, a 4-layer footbed organization including a lightweight shank.
Key Features:
4LR footbed applied science
High-traction outsole
10" Suede shaft
Specification:
- Brand ARIAT
- Model Groundbreaker Pull-on
- Weight two pounds
- Upper Material Leather/suede
- Outsole Material Duratread rubber
- Safety Toe No
- Height 10 inches
- Waterproof No
- Electrical Hazard Protection No
- Slip Resistant Yep
- Oil Resistant Yes
Pros
Cowboy style means easy on and off
High shaft protects shins and calves
Good traction
Cons
4LR organisation may flatten under ongoing heavy use
Why Trust This Guide
I spent years in work boots — sometimes doing conventional work, sometimes doing pretty unusual things.
When I was a trail worker in the Adirondacks in upstate New York, I wore piece of work boots to cut trees and motility boulders. I likewise wore them to hike heavy loads of tools, food, and supplies into the backcountry.
As a result, I needed a boot with a safety toe that was also waterproof and good for hiking — a scrap of a hybrid. The experience taught me a lot almost a good boot's specific ability, work capacity, and tolerance.
I've too worked framing and demolition jobs, done farm work, installed cabinets, and cleaned windows in diverse types of work boots. Each trade requires a different varietal of kick, simply one rule remains true in whatsoever job: if you lot accept bad boots, yous will be miserable at work.
Who This Guide is For
Anyone who works on their feet all day, building and shaping the reality around us, all deserve quality work boots.
In this guide, inclusivity is crucial: whether y'all're a mechanic, a road worker, a carpenter, a cowboy (yup), a machinist, a garbage collector, or if you demand a boot to habiliment around the lawn, there'south a kick for you lot here.
How I Chose the Best Work Boots
My highest priority in choosing the all-time work boots was option diversity. More than specialized trades exist than my brain can procedure. Each 1 requires footwear every bit specific as its job description. For instance, if you work outside in all conditions atmospheric condition, yous need an insulated waterproof boot. If you piece of work in people's homes (like an electrician or a mover), yous demand a lightweight, streamlined boot that won't mark floors.
I likewise selected boots across various toe styles, heights, sole qualities, and aesthetic profiles. Choosing a wide choice of brands was relatively like shooting fish in a barrel, but as important: Bang-up conspicuously makes ameliorate hiking boots than Timberland, merely each brand is a quality selection for its intended awarding.
How We Tested Boots
Testers headed into the woods and the urban center to claiming the all-time work boots. Nosotros cut trees, split rounds for firewood, and even performed a move that required carrying many heavy items. Happily, no chopped or broken toes were reported.
Features to Await For in Work Boots
The best way to make sure yous get the right work kicking is to recall well-nigh it one characteristic at a time. Here's our list to help you lot brainstorm.
Insulation - Keeps your feet warm in cold atmospheric condition.
Thinsulate is the most common blazon of boot insulation — information technology's durable, lightweight, and retains heat even when wet.
Boot insulation comes in different weights. The higher the number, the toastier your toes.
Slip Resistance - Slip-resistant soles create a seal between the sole and the wet floor by channeling water away from the spaces between the treads. The sole's soft rubber expands with force per unit area to clasp the remaining water out.
Oil Resistance - "Oil resistance" normally refers to the materials in a boot'south upper rather than the sole.
Most oil-resistant boots contain glues and materials that resist degrading after exposure to petroleum-based chemicals.
Flame, Chemical, and Stupor Resistance - Chemical-resistant boots protect the wearer from industrial chemicals, acids, oils, and beast fats.
Flame-resistant boots are made with flame-retardant materials — it's of import to notation that it's still Non a good idea to walk around in a fire.
Shock resistance can refer to electric protection (covered below) or shock absorbency. Unlike.
Near hiking boots are dandy at absorbing shock; expect for thicker soles and softer rubbers.
Reinforced Toe - A boot with any extra textile built into the toe box has a reinforced toe. Steel-toe boots are trendy, just boot toes can as well be reinforced with alloy, composite, safe, or simply an extra cloth layer.
Electrical Protection - Boots built for electrical protection are synthetic without nails to dull electrical conduction as it travels toward your body.
According to the American Club for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the sole of an electrical hazard-resistant kicking must resist eighteen,000 volts at 60Hz for ane minute. I have no idea what that means, simply yous can research it all here (https://www.astm.org/).
Waterproofing - Waterproof material technically won't absorb h2o regardless of saturation. Recollect about plastic — boot material that'south actually waterproof is every bit non-absorptive.
Water-resistant boots are different: the material will eventually saturate.
Durability - The 1000000-dollar question for any piece of work kick — how long will it last? To some extent, every work boot is designed to exist durable.
I do two things to make my boots concluding: ane) choose the best boot for the specific conditions I'll encounter, and two) follow the care instructions equally closely equally possible.
Brands - This is a tricky i. Many brands make quality work boots, but you wouldn't want to habiliment certain brands for certain types of work. For instance, when I was a chainsaw operator in the Adirondacks, I did not want to clothing Caterpillar steel toes — even though they're solid boots, they're too damn heavy. Instead, I needed waterproofing, hiking resiliency, and dexterity, then a KEEN was a better option.
Types of Prophylactic Toes
Steel Toe - The heaviest piece of work requires the heaviest boot — and the nigh protection. Steel toes resist crushing and penetration. They protect workers' anxiety from the heaviest impacts on construction and demo sites. Steel toes have prevented countless hospital visits.
Soft Toe - But the opposite of a steel toe, a soft toe kick is non reinforced. This makes information technology lighter and more dexterous. Soft toes are the way to get for install techs or anyone who does lighter work like terminate carpentry or cabinetry.
Blended Toe - Composite toe work boots withstand impacts similar to steel toes but weigh less for improved, all-day comfort. Composite toe materials include Kevlar, carbon fiber, plastic, or fiberglass.
Alloy Toe - Frequently made from aluminum or titanium, blend toes are some other culling to steel toes. They're lighter and offer the aforementioned protection levels, but they're as well usually more expensive than old-school steel.
Puncture-Proof Toe - Puncture-proof boots usually characteristic layers of puncture-resistant cloth in the outsole. Puncture-proof boots resist sharp objects similar nails throughout the sole and can still have a composite, steel, or other types of toe.
Piece of work Boots FAQ
Q: How long should a pair of work boots last?
A: Unless y'all abuse the hell out of them, you should go at least a year out of a pair of boots. In my stance, you're rolling the dice nether a threshold of about $100, and keep in mind that amend-constructed boots will be more comfy for longer.
Again, the best fashion to promote your boots' longevity is to choose the right kicking for the chore and take expert care of information technology throughout its life.
Q: Are work boots comfortable?
A: Sometimes. Every boot has a break-in menses, and the break-in process may not be the most comfy.
Safety toes and boot weight also bear upon user comfort (specially for a lightweight like me). But, if y'all observe the right pair and take good care of them, you'll eventually forget you're wearing them.
Q: How to maintain and care for your piece of work boots
A: I check the manufacturer's instructions get-go; about every boot maker has a "how-to" on its website.
But the general rules are simple and universal: don't put your boots away wet and dirty, don't put them in the washer and dryer unless the label says it's ok, and only make clean them with gentle detergents.
There are various ways to condition leather and other materials, including countless after-market place waterproofing/conditioning salves. I use these with discretion and ever endeavour to pay attention to whatsoever drying or discoloration of a boot's upper.
Q: How important is the fit?
A: I recommend paying close attention to how your work boots feel as soon every bit you put them on (you're going to be wearing them a lot).
Are at that place force per unit area points? Is there room in the toe or talocrural joint? Is the width appropriate?
For instance, I have spurs on my Achilles tendons that brand information technology uncomfortable to wear any boot that's tight through the lower heel. Even if the boot fits elsewhere, if trying it on causes pain in that surface area of my pes, I reconsider.
Q: How long does it take to break in your piece of work boots?
A: "Interruption-in" is a subjective term on a sliding calibration. Yous could fence that you're breaking in your boots for their entire lifetime: in fact, their fit and feel volition go along to modify forever.
As far as releasing tight spots or pressure points, information technology depends on the cloth and construction. Leather stretches much more than hands than most synthetic materials, and different synthetics, it volition change and hold shape over time.
Cheaply built boots will generally feel comfortable sooner than solidly built boots, but they'll also pause down faster.
Personally, I'1000 happy if my boots experience similar they were made for my feet afterward iv to viii weeks of everyday wearable.
Q: What are the different heights of piece of work boots?
A: Generally, 6-, 8-, and 9-inch. I similar 'em high — I never quite know what I'm about to get into.
Q: What lacing systems are there for work boots?
A: Virtually work boots feature some combination of eyelets and hooks. Taller boots usually have hooks at the superlative to help the wearer take them off easier. Skid-on, cowboy-mode piece of work boots, of course, have no laces.
Sources:
- American Prophylactic Standards - National Shoe and Occupational Solutions Limited
- Enforcement Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment in General Manufacture – U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Condom and Wellness Administration
- Side by side Generation Safety Footwear - ScienceDirect
Source: https://www.gearhungry.com/best-work-boots/