14 Best Work Boots for Men to Tackle Any Job

With Thorogood, you can expect quality and reliability at a slightly higher price. But well worth it, I promise you.

The Briar Pitstop is a work boot that combines form and function to striking effect: not only are they sturdy, waterproof, supportive, and have all the necessary safety features, but the high shaft, moc toe, and wedge sole will give you a stylish look.

The full grain leather also has a really rich, eye-catching pattern that will only grow more beautiful as you use it. Sure, they’re work boots, but who says you can’t look handsome on the job?

Keen is one of my go-to brands for workwear, and after 2+ years of wearing the Cincinnatis on the job, a top contender for my favorite footwear, too.

Though built for heavy-duty use, these boots are surprisingly lightweight—great for when I need to move fast, scale ladders, or haul supplies across the work site.

They’re waterproof, feature a lightweight composite safety toe, have both an electrical hazard rating and oil- and slip-resistance, and are even resistant to barnyard chemicals so I can use them in rural environments. But what really clinches it for me is the Luftcell midsole, which is infused with microscopic air bubbles to provide amazing support and enough cushioning to keep foot fatigue at bay.

The Ariat Groundbreakers are my top pick for cowboy work boots. I appreciate the elegant stitching on the vamp, the convenient pull-on design, and the classic cowboy styling, but honestly, I love them because of how comfortable they are.

Ariat’s All Day Cushioning insole does an amazing job of both reducing impact and softening up the footbed to prevent foot fatigue.

Thanks to the 4LR technology incorporated into the boot, they’re more stable and still offer good heel, arch, and ankle support despite their lack of laces.

Add to that a wide square toe that accommodates my wider-than-average feet, and they’re the cowboy work boots I’ll always reach for when farming & ranching.

Most people think “style” when they picture Timberland boots, but these Pit Boss boots are great for rough-and-rugged work use. They’re soft-toe so they’re not suited for all job sites, better instead for DIY home renovations and working in your garage.

Thanks to their thick padding around the top collar, they’ll grip your ankles tightly for a snug fit that never feels too tight. Treat them right, and the nubuck leather will look gorgeous for years to come.

If it has been raining for days or it’s early spring and the job site is full of snowmelt run-off, the Chore Mid Boot by the Muck Boot Company is an absolute winner.

The Wellington-style boots offer total waterproofing, from the rubber upper and shaft to the neoprene inner lining to the rubber outsole. The boots can be easily hosed off or dunked in a bucket at the end of a muddy work day to get them clean in seconds, and the pull-tab on the back makes it easy to slide them on and off.

Because they’re a pull-on boot, they don’t offer quite as much ankle support as I’d like, but they more than make up for it with the heel and arch support and thickly cushioned footbed.

Keen built the Pittsburghs for work—hence the heavy-duty steel toe, solid waterproofing, and oil- and slip-resistance—but to me, they feel like they could be a pair of hiking boots.

The full-length interlocking torsional plate does an amazing job of keeping my feet stable and steady on uneven terrain, whether that’s a debris-strewn demo site or a sloping rooftop.

The 90-degree heel offers good support, too, and almost cradles my heels so my feet don’t slide or shift inside my boots.

Thanks to the speed hooks, it’s easy to lace up the boots in a hurry but still get a nice snug fit for a hard day’s work. Though not the lightest of the boots on this list, they’re definitely one of the most comfortable and versatile.

Let’s be honest: it’s hard to find a Chelsea-style boot more comfortable than Blunds. Every pair of Blundstones I’ve tested has amazing cushioning (thanks to the Poron XRD cushioning), great arch support, excellent traction, and stylish good looks.

What makes the 587s worth adding onto my list, though, is their choice of leather. While other Blunds have a smooth, glossy leather, the 587s use a rougher-looking leather that shows less wear and tear.

I’ll be the first to admit they’re not the best for all tradies—they don’t have a safety toe or EH rating—but for any casual day worker or home DIYer, they’re the most comfortable work boots you’ll ever wear.

Red Wing makes some of the toughest, most reliable boots I’ve ever worn off the job site, so when I found they also made work boots, I had to give them a try.

The Traction Tred Lites are a five-inch Chukka-style boot with a safety toe, resistance to slips, oil, gas, and chemicals, and a chunky Vibram wedge outsole with aggressive tread and great support and cushioning.

The suede leather looks stylish but can stand up to a beating on the job. Thanks to their slip-on design (including convenient front and rear pull tabs), they’re easy to slide on in the morning and kick off at night.

I can wear them all day long and end my work shift with far less foot fatigue than heavier, less padded boots. They’re built for heavy-duty use, but only medium-duty weight.

Carhartt is a household name among tradies in Canada and the U.S., and for good reason. Their workwear and footwear are insanely tough, built specifically for on-the-job use, flexible, and comfortable.

These steel toed boots more than live up to the brand’s high standards, featuring a steel safety toe, EH rating, and both a comfort insole and thick padding to reduce foot fatigue. Their Goodyear welt construction ensures they can stand up to heavy-duty daily use whether you’re swinging a hammer or wielding a chainsaw.

Best of all, the FastDry Technology incorporated into the lining wicks away sweat and does wonders to prevent swampy, stinky feet.

I fell in love with the Brunt Marins because they look and feel exactly like my favorite Red Wing Classic Mocs, but with all the work-specific features that make them suitable for on-the-job use.

The chunky wedge outsole is grippy and, together with the triple-layered premium insole, offer amazing padding for long days spent on my feet. The composite toe is lighter than a steel toe but still offers good protection against impacts, punctures, and falling objects.

Though they’re fully waterproof (triple-layer waterproofing, in fact!), they’re breathable enough I can wear them even in the blistering peak of summer without overheating.

Really, just an all-around handsome and practical pair of work boots I’ll wear into the ground—then buy another pair.

CAT makes most of the heavy-duty machinery operating on the job sites I work, so it makes sense they’d also make heavy-duty work gear and footwear, too.

The Second Shift work boots deliver everything I’d expect from the brand: industrial-grade materials, superior traction, solid construction, excellent resilience to the environment, protection against all the on-site hazards, and tech-forward comfort. Add to that a very reasonable price tag, and they’re a pair of work boots I’ll recommend to anyone who asks.

These aren’t the sort of work boots I’d usually buy—when I go Chelsea style, Blunds are my top pick—but after testing them, I believe they’re worth recommending.

Though a bit on the chunkier and clunkier side, they’re unbeatable for working in wet and muddy environments.

Their waterproofing is best-in-class, they offer good comfort and cushioning, and their highly aggressive traction will keep you from slipping in mud or slush. If the forecast calls for a long day of rain, I’ll slide into my BOGS every time.

Wolverine is one of the best budget-friendly brands I’ve tested. None of their work boots break the bank—all solidly in the $75 to $150 range—but still deliver performance and protection on par with higher-priced boots.

The Hellcats are my favorite of their offerings by a wide margin. I love the all-weather protection, the light weight, grippy deep-lug outsole, full-cushioned footbed, and waterproofing combined with the breathable membrane.

But what really makes it a boot worth wearing is the Ultraspring outsole. The high-rebound ETPU doesn’t just reduce impact; it actually gives you extra spring in your step by maximizing energy transfer as you walk and climb. I’ve yet to find a boot that feels as “high-energy” as these bad boys.

Looking for something a bit more heavy-duty? Give these steel-toed boots by SUREWAY a try. Crafted from thick, premium full grain leather and a tough rubber sole, they’re rugged enough to withstand hardcore use on the job whether you’re cutting lumber, framing, drywalling, or roofing.

The boots are a bit on the heavier side, sure, but they feel thick, solid, and tough, not to mention offer plenty of protection from the usual on-site hazards. Plus, at under $100, they’re wonderfully affordable.