Sexiest steel-toe shoes ever

July 14, 2015 5:23 PM

Proving that you never know where your library degree will take you, I'll be at an oil rig next month. I need steel toe shoes. I'd love not to hate them. Also, it will be Houston in August. Any women have steel-toe shoes/boots for the field that you really like, either from a comfort or style vantage point? Bonus points if they look stunning with a flame-retardant coverall.
posted by chesty_a_arthur to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (25 answers total)

Blundstones or Redwings.
Check with safety to make sure you comply & consider degree of waterproofness you might need.

I found both of these very comfortable after spending literally 12-18 on my feet in them every day.

Blundstones are also fairly trendy but really only look great with certain types of pants.
posted by OlivesAndTurkishCoffee at 5:31 PM on July 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

Blundstones make safety boots and as a woman, I always thought they were more comfy than many of them and relatively stylish (you know, for work boots)
posted by scrute at 5:32 PM on July 14, 2015

Or what OlivesAndTurkishCoffee said.
posted by scrute at 5:33 PM on July 14, 2015

Honestly you aren't going to care what you look like in that context. I suggest checking Walmart (ew, I know) because they stock women's sizes. Depending on your size you may have luck at Sears -- they had a lot in stock when I went recently, but only a few in a small enough size.

I ended up with the hiking-boot style steel-toe, not so much because of the style as the comfort (these). Also be sure to wear wool socks, and to try them on with said socks.
posted by DoubleLune at 5:40 PM on July 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

These are adorable, or this version if you want a little more Houston style.

For a more practical and maybe not so hot pair, there's a bunch of sneaker-style steel-toe lace-ups as well and some of them are pretty low-key.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:41 PM on July 14, 2015 [2 favorites]

I have these and absolutely love them! Comfortable from the first time I wore them, lightweight, and as stylish as can be expected for steel toes.
posted by jshort at 5:44 PM on July 14, 2015

It's helpful to know how much you'll be wearing them and if you'll be walking in them a lot.

I'm a carpenter and I do about 7 - 9 miles a day in my boots. I've worn Dr Martens, Keens, Wolverines, and I'm currently on a pair of composite toe Danners. The most comfortable were the Wolverines. Like absolute dream to walk around all day in. They were a thrift store find, though. Here's their steel toe offerings as of right now.

The Dr Martens were shitty, my Danners are meh for summer wear. The Keens were ugly as sin.

I definitely recommend trying to break them in before you start wearing them nonstop all day. And 2nding wool socks. I've replaced all of my socks with athletic smartwool socks, and it's the best money I've ever spent for my feet. Also worth noting that you'll fit in better with workers (if you need to fit in with the workers) if you've got a legit pair of boots on versus shiny shoes. We call the higher ups Shiny Shoes for a reason.
posted by teslacoilswoah at 5:47 PM on July 14, 2015 [2 favorites]

I don't really have anything to add other than a bit of grumpy old man. I wore and loved Blundstones for years. Awhile back I purchased a new pair and they seemed off. Enough so that exchanged them. The second pair was equally as off. I have never purchased a new pair since.

A few years later I learned they had moved their production from Australia to southeast Asia. I never would have known had the shoes not been noticbly different. I'm not even sure if I think they are better or worse so much as not what used to be.
posted by phil at 6:01 PM on July 14, 2015

Caterpillar makes steel and composite shoes and boots, some of which look like running shoes. My Argon Composite Toe Work Shoes are quite comfortable.
Make sure whatever you buy meets the required safety standard.
posted by H21 at 6:26 PM on July 14, 2015 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks all! To clarify, this time I will for sure not care what I look like, but I will have to wear these potentially with business dress in the future, and if I got hiking style ones I could use them, I guess, for hiking. I was joking about the sexiness but if I can be not-miserable and not-hideous that would be great.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:45 PM on July 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

Some rigs don't allow laced boots (laces could be a trip hazard if untied) - you might want to try and check their requirements in advance.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 6:47 PM on July 14, 2015

Please check if there are additional safety regs in addition to them just being steel toe. I work in the oil industry, and many of the options that have been linked here would not be allowed at my workplace(s). We are required for them to be above the ankle and not have fabric pieces - the logic being to help protect your feet from exposure if there is a release. We are also required to have a certain size heel to help with climbing ladders.

With the socks, I don't use wool, I wear two layers of an athletic performance wicking sock, one ankle height and the other high enough to cover the part of the foot where the boots lace up. The two layers help with blistering and cushioning. Counter intuitively, this has helped me more in summer (in Houston and other Gulf Coast locations), as it helps soak up some of the sweat and prevents them from getting soaking wet and causing blisters.

Figure out what socks you want to wear BEFORE you shop for boots and try them on with the boots so you get a better idea of fit.

I wear Timberlands that I am very happy with - very comfortable.

I tried to buy RedWings in the past and didn't like the fit, so it depends a lot on the person, I suppose.
posted by pallas14 at 6:50 PM on July 14, 2015 [6 favorites]

Shoes for Crews (a slip-resistant shoe company that services primarily food service and medical employees) offers a number of steel-toed shoes for women as well. These are the most stylish ones. They aren't beautiful, but I don't think they would look terribly out of place with business dress. (I wear a similar style, albeit not steel-toed, to my office job that occasionally requires walking around in cafeteria kitchens. For the most part they look no different from normal dress shoes, and if you will be wearing them infrequently they ought to last you quite a while.)
posted by jeudi at 7:01 PM on July 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

I second the question of whether steel-toe is the only requirement. But if it is, then check out Troentorp clogs. They have a few steel-toe versions, and I always got mad compliments on my Picassos.
posted by gueneverey at 7:05 PM on July 14, 2015

Getting cheap boots from Walmart or similar will suck. I've done it when I was in a hurry and regretted it - they chewed up my ankles like crazy, even with wool socks. I like Redwings (my all time favourite used to be a pair of Carolinas, now no longer made). Keen is well recommended by my fellow women coworkers. None of them are particularly stylish. Best you'll do for style is a pair of Doc Martins, which I've also had, which looked good with nicer trousers but were not nearly as comfortable for real work as my hiking boot style ones.
posted by olinerd at 7:27 PM on July 14, 2015 [2 favorites]

Seconding to check requirements, some rigs require lace-up boots, while others don't allow them, many will require they be ankle-height. In some environments leather is not an option.

I went to Academy and bought a pair of men's Wolverines for $40 about five years ago in a pinch. I wore them consistently 14-16 hours every day for a year still wear them every time I go into the field. They are great. I wear normal athletic socks with them.
posted by ista at 7:31 PM on July 14, 2015

I second the Timberlands that pallas14 linked to. I have these boots in black and just love them. These are very light on your feet and did not require a break in period. The sole is flexible enough to climb a ladder. They are waterproof; I stepped into a 3 inch deep puddle, dry feet!

I wear these as a EMT 16 hours a day. 125 lb stretchers run over my feet, no problem.
posted by JujuB at 9:06 PM on July 14, 2015

I've worked in the oilfield for a long time.
Two important points about steel-toe boots:
1. There is no breaking in the steel toe. If it's not roomy enough, you will be hating life. It is in my experience far better to have boots a size larger than the size most boot fitters will set you up for.
2. You will never, and I mean never, wear your steel toes for hiking. They are heavy.
posted by atchafalaya at 10:29 PM on July 14, 2015 [3 favorites]

I need to work on building sites from time to time, and wear Dunlop Volley Safety. They look like runners (being Volleys), are comfy, the soles are nice and grippy, and they're approved safety footwear on Australian building sites.
posted by russm at 10:57 PM on July 14, 2015

Also recommend Blundstones, I've tried nearly every possible brands of steel cap boots, including some supposedly 'for women' and my Blundstones are the only ones that haven't cut up my feet. FYI they are a men's pair, but I also always size up and then buy orthotic inserts of some sort to bring back down to my size (I'm a half size anyways so it's hard), and always, always, always wear wool socks. Merino, if you'd can get them.

I guess if as one poster says they have changed manufacturing (mine are old so I can't say) see if you can find an older or second hand pair?

With this setup, I have successfully worn my boots hiking all day, in 35deg weather, 99% humidity, rain, whatever. Although as one poster mentioned, you don't wear steel cap boots for hiking if you have any other choice (I only do it for work).

I happen to think they look good, in an tough, badass sort of way, with the right sort of pant, but that might be weird.

Nothing that anyone else didn't say, but I know when I'm looking for recs, I usually like to look for stuff that's got more than one! :)
posted by Shibui at 12:25 AM on July 15, 2015

I've had Redwings in the past, and currently have Georgias, and I've liked both. The important thing for me has been buying a half a size or a size bigger than what I wear in regular shoes. The last pair I had were my regular size, and by the end of their life it was painful to put them on, never mind wearing them all day. Steel toes don't give at all, you know? My current pair is a size up, and my feet are tired at the end of a 12-hour day, but they don't hurt. As others have advised, check for additional requirements, but go for comfort once you've fulfilled specific needs; steel-toed boots that don't fit right are a special kind of hell.
posted by zibeline_rose at 12:46 AM on July 15, 2015

I've worn a pair of steel toe Georgia work boots nearly every day for 10 years. A long time female co-worker is equally appreciative of hers that she's had for close to 20.

The women's lacer is especially well respected.
posted by French Fry at 6:35 AM on July 15, 2015

I have a pair of the (steel-toed) industrial Doc Martens that I've worn extensively for about five years. They're crazy-comfortable and just look like a pair of regular 10-hole Docs, but it took me a good couple weeks to break them in, and there was a lot of bleeding and blistering for awhile there.

Seconding that you will never ever go hiking in them. Steel-toeds are heavy.
posted by kalimac at 8:00 AM on July 15, 2015

Wow, those Redwings are gorgeous. I can't wear lace up boots at my workplace, but I've fallen in love with my Muck Boots, specifically these Chore steel-toed boots. On days when I don't change into work pants and just wear skinny jeans, they actually do look pretty good (basically like riding boots, except you can't walk quite as gracefully).

They're ridiculously comfortable. I started wearing them 12 hours a day climbing up and down ladders with no break-in period (and just wearing thin ankle socks), and haven't had any pain at all. They come in a more breathable material if the heat is a big concern.
posted by autolykos at 10:01 AM on July 15, 2015

Keens for outdoor work. They have a wider toe box than most women's steel toed boots and are comfortable, which you might find to be your number one concern after living in them a few months. Seconding investing in quality athletic sockwear for revolving seasons or conditions, if applicable.
posted by Queen of Spreadable Fats at 9:37 PM on July 15, 2015