The Best Square Toe Work Boots For Men & Women (Top 16 Most Rated Models)

Hey there. Welcome to our best square toe work boots review round-up for 2022.

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Top Rated Square Toe Work Boots

We’ve put together a list of the top 16 work boots that come with a square toe and our #1 recommendation based on what we’ve found in our research is the Ariat’s Groundworker work boot.

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To bring you this article we’ve researched over 42 websites, looked at 55 different work boot brands and models and we have read dozens of customer reviews and feedback for each make of boot that made the cut, as well as a few that did not. 

Overall, we’ve spent over 87 hours looking into all of these squared te work boots to make sure we bring you the best and the most relevant information about these types of work boots.

Here are 16 popular best square toe work boots

Here’s a quick comparison table if you’re curious about which square-toed work boots I’ve included in today’s round-up.

By the way, they are not listed in any particular order. The first one could be as good or as bad as the last one.

1. Ariat

• Waterproof
• 100% leather
• Mesh lining

Best Rated Soft Square Toe Work Boots

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2. Justin Original

• 11″ shaft
• 100% leather
• Mesh lining

Soft Square Toed Cowboy Style Work Boots

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3. Irish Setter

• 11″ shaft
• 100% leather
• Super knit lining

Steel Square Toe Work Boots

Latest Price

4. Twisted X

• 12″ shaft
• Leather & synthetic
• Lined boots

Alloy Square Toe Pull-On Work Boots

Latest Price

5. Double H

• 12″ shaft
• 100% leather
• Mesh lining

Composite Squared Toed Work Boots

Latest Price

6. Tony Lama

• 11″ shaft
• 100% leather
• Mesh lining

Soft Square Toe Square Western Work Boots

Latest Price

7. Cody James

• 11″ shaft
• Leather & synthetic
• Mesh lining

Nano Composite Squared Toed Fancy Work Boots

Latest Price

8. Carhartt

• 11″ shaft
• 100% leather
• Mesh lining

Steel Square Toe
Wellington Work Boots

Latest Price

9. Chippewa

• 6″ shaft
• 100% Leather
• Leather lining

Soft Square Toe Classic Work Boots

Latest Price

10. Durango

• 11″ shaft
• Leather & synthetic
• Air mesh lining

Non-Safety Square Toed Work Boots

Latest Price

11. Dan Post

• 11″ shaft
• 100% leather
• Fabric lining

Composite Square Toe Wellington Work Boots

Latest Price

12. Georgia

• 11″ shaft
• Leather & synthetic
• Mesh lining

Alloy Squared Toe
Pull-On Work Boots

Latest Price

13. Laredo

• 11″ shaft
• 100% leather
• Mesh lining

Non-Safety Square Toed Western Work Boots

Latest Price

14. Rocky

• 11″ shaft
• 100% leather
• Dri-Lex Eco lining

Non-Metallic Square
Safety Toe Work Boots

Latest Price

15. Wolverine

• 11.5″ shaft
• 100% leather
• Mesh lining

Very Popular Steel Square Toed Work Boots

Latest Price

16. Red Wing

• 11″ shaft
• 100% leather
• Fabric lining

Square Steel Toed Western Work Boots

Latest Price

Which one of the above is the best square toe work boot?

After reading hundreds, no exaggeration, hundreds of reviews, and customer feedback (and more than a decade of wearing work boots myself) I came to the conclusion that there is no such thing as the best pair of square toe work boots.

That’s simply because no matter what brand you buy, you’ll always going to find some people that are not happy with the product for one reason or another. This is especially true when you buy work boots online.

And that’s because you can’t try the boots on to see how they fit and feel. You can’t really ask someone that’s knowledgeable about the product and have an instant answer as you’d have when you go to a local store. Etc, etc,etc…

So what can you do about it?

Well, the first thing you can do is to try to buy the work boots you like locally. I personally prefer to buy them online simply because of the time I save and also because I have access to a lot of brands from the comfort of my couch.

A second option if you like to buy online is to use Amazon’s Try Before You Buy program (which used to be called Amazon Wardrobe).

If you have Amazon Prime you can order a few pairs of work boots or the same one in different sizes and widths.

Try them on at home for about a week and then keep the one that fits you best and return the ones that don’t. Or send them all back! AT NO EXTRA COST!

These things change all the time though so if you want to know exactly how this program works read more on Amazon’s page by clicking here.

Anyway, here are some of the best work boots that come with a square toe (both soft toe boots and safety toe as well).

Reviews of the top 16 most rated square toe work boots

Great stuff. Now let’s learn a bit more about each one of these work boots with square toes and see what features they offer, some pros and cons, and helpful information. We’ll start with the best rated …

1. Ariat Groundbreaker

Best Rated For Men & Women

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Ariat has a wide variety of work boots with a square toe box. I’ve chosen to feature the Groundbreaker since these are one of the most rated square toe work boots out there with a ridiculous number of reviews (5483 reviews on Amazon alone)

But here are a few others you can look at when doing your research:

• Ariat WorkHog (Wide square toe work boots)
• Ariat Cascade (Lace-up square toe work boots)
• Ariat Rigtek (Lace-up composite square toe work boots)
• Ariat Sierra (Pull on steel square toe work boots)

And they have a tone more for both men and women.

Getting back to the Ariat Groundbreaker, these boots have received a lot of praise from the users. They are comfortable right out of the box for most people who bought a pair of these.

Some people went to the extremes of playing tennis whilst wearing these square toe work boots to test how comfortable they are and they seem to be pretty comfortable.

This particular model I’ve featured here it’s a soft toe work boot and that might work just fine for many of you. But if you need a pair of steel toe cap work boots you can check out this Ariat model.

In terms of comfort, Ariat has something called 4LR technology which basically refers to the sole having 4 layers of specific materials that makes them very comfortable to wear all day.

2. Justin Original Stampede

Soft Square Toe Western Work Boots

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The Stampede is the most popular work boots from Justin. The boot featured in the box above is the soft-toe version of the Justin Stampede.

If you need toe protection due to your work environment, you can find the Stampede square steel toe boots version here.

These boots come with a steel shank which is going to alleviate the stress on your feet’s arches whilst you’re doing your daily task at the ranch or whatever you’re using them for.

This is going to be helpful specifically if you hit the shovel a lot or stand on ladders. Some people might think the shank could help as well with riding horses. For the same reasons: It provides support and stability whilst you’re riding.

Although that might be true, you have to be really careful since the soles of the boots are made out of rubber which is great for work since provides traction and grip but very bad for riding horses.

And that’s because you want to be able to get in and out of stirrups quickly and easily. You don’t want to get your foot stuck especially if there’s an emergency and if you have to jump off the horse immediately.

Read more Justin work boots reviews here.

3. Irish Setter Marshall

Steel Square Toe Work Boots

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This Irish Setter Marshall square toe work boot combines the great look of a Western-style boot with great toe protection by incorporating a steel toe cap that meets ASTM standards.

It’s also electrical hazard rated which is a great feature to have especially for those of you that work a lot around live cables.

The soles of these Irish Setter square toe work boots are heat resistant which makes them a good option if you work on hot surfaces.

You can shovel safely and comfortably wearing these boots since they have a steel shank in the midsole. The shank will avoid pain in the arch area whilst you’re hitting the shovel or standing on ladders a lot.

Irish Setter claims these boots to be waterproof by using what they call the UltraDry Waterproofing System.

So you can wear them if you work around the farm when the grass and ground are wet or for any other tasks that involve you walking in water or wet environments.

4. Twisted X

Lightweight Alloy Square
Safety Toe Work Boots

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The beauty of having alloy toe work boots is that usually, these types of toe caps are 30% to 50% lighter than a steel toe cap making the boot lighter.

Also this will help have less fatigued feet and legs at the end of your shift.

If you work in hot areas of the country the air-mesh lining in these square toe work boots will help wick moisture away and help your feet breathe better. Avoiding this way stinky feet or even foot conditions such as Athlete’s foot.

These Twisted X square toe boots come with a removable insole. That’s not all. Many work boots come with removable insoles nowadays but these boots’ insoles are washing machine washable according to the seller.

The majority of insoles I buy are not washable in the washing machine. You have to wash them by hand or just disinfect them with a spray. A lot more work than just throwing them in the washer as is the case with these Twisted X ones.

These boots don’t have a shank. Instead, Twisted X considered that a full-length compression-molded EVA midsole will provide better stability and comfort.

5. Double H Elijah

Composite Square Toe Work Boots

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These Double H work boots come with a square composite toe cap. This is great for those of you that need a safety toe work boot but your work environment is not the best for a steel toe cap pair of work boots.

For example, these could be best if you work at the airport or anywhere where you have to go through metal detectors. This type of work boots won’t set off the metal detectors.

Additionally, when you work outdoors in cold weather a composite toe cap work boot is better than a steel toe cap one simply because the composite cap won’t transfer the cold from outside to your toes.

The steel toe cap does that so you will feel cold and uncomfortable.

Also, these could be great work boot an electrician since they have been tested and approved as electrical hazard rated.

The abrasion-resistant outsole makes it a good option for those of you working in construction. I work in construction and most of the time we are working on unpolished concrete surfaces that are chewing up our work boot soles.

The WorkFlex Max outsole is designed to last longer in these types of environments.

6. Tony Lama Fireball

Best Combat Work Boots
For Hot Days

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A very good-looking composite toe work boot from Tony Lama. The leather on these work boots is full-grain leather and these work boots are waterproof according to the manufacturer.

The boots will need a bit of breaking as is the case with most of the boots in this round-up but if you wear tall, thick socks for the first few weeks you’ll save yourself from blisters.

Wondering if these boots come in half sizes? Well, they do which is great but on the downside, these square toe work boots come in half sizes only for sizes 7 and 9.

If your feet sweat a lot these boots might be helpful for you since they come with a removable insert with Dri-Lex technology. This is a fancy way of saying that the insole is made out of specific textiles and high-performance fibers that can move or transfer the sweat away from your feet into the fabric.

Some users didn’t find them comfortable enough so they end up replacing them with something else from the store.

The problem with the pull-on style work boots is that they offer very little ankle support. But these Tony Lama work boots come with what they call TLX rubber outsole with X Stabilizer that provides better stability and helps prevent ankle rollover.

7. Cody James Decimator

Fancy Square Toe Work Boots

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Cody James makes some pretty cool-looking square toe work boots. The one I’ve featured in this round-up is called Decimator Skull.

There’s another model that looks to be quite successful which is the Cody James Flag model that you can check out here.

The first thing that I want to comment on here is that I like the rubber anti-scuff protection on the toe cap.

This should help your work boots last longer. You know how the toe cap is exposed very fast, especially for those of you that have to kneel, flex, and crouch a lot as part of your daily tasks.

They come with a Vibram outsole that usually lasts much longer than any other outsole out there and it’s also slip-resistant that should keep on your feet when working on different wet or greasy surfaces.

8. Carhartt CMP 1218

Square Steel Toe Wellington Work Boot

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This Carhartt square toe Wellington work boot is combining the slip-on convenience with the ruggedness of a steel toe cap.

So if you’re after a pair of work boots that are comfortable and at the same time keep your toe safe this Carhartt CMP1218 model is a good option.

They are also durable and resolable due to the Goodyear welted construction. Additionally, these work boots are slip-resistant thanks to the rubber outsole. This will make sure you stick to the floor when working on slippery surfaces.

These boots really are packed with features and I could not find too many negative points about them whilst I was researching. As usual, the most common problem is the fit. For some, the boots fit narrow whilst for others, too large.

Not much to do here other than order a few different sizes, keep the one that fits best, and simply return the other ones. Or go to a local store to try them on.

Here are some more work boots from Carhartt.

9. Chippewa

Square Steel Toe Wellington Work Boot

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These Chippewa square toe work boots are made with Briar Pitstop leather which has a lot of “pull up”

This simply means that when you’re folding the leather you’ll see the oils and waxes moving around as you fold the leather. Many people love to see that effect in a pair of boots.

They’re an excellent choice for those of you working on smooth, hard surfaces not so much if you work outdoors. And that’s mainly because of the outsole.

They come with a great vintage Vibram outsole model but the lugs on this outsole won’t provide much grip and traction if you work outdoors, especially in wet conditions, soft or sandy ground.

The good thing is that these work boots are Goodyear welted so if you take care of the upper and if you really like them you can resole them and put a more rugged outsole on them for outdoor uses.

10. Durango Maverick XP

Ventilated Square Steel Toe Work Boot

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People looking for working square toe work boots from Durango went for these Maverick XP work boots with a soft toe cap. If you want the safety toe version you can find it here.

These boots not only look great but they are also packed with great features to keep you comfortable and safe at work.

Many people bought these to work in construction doing concrete, working on rebar, etc and they hold up decently. Personally though, if you work with concrete I’d highly suggest wearing work boots specially designed to pour concrete.

That’s because the chemicals in the concrete will “eat” and dry the leather of your boots reducing the lifespan significantly.

Some users were very happy with the breathability of the boots. The little perforations in the leather plus the mesh lining help keep your feet fresh in summer.

The steel toe version of this boot comes with a waterproof membrane that will help keep water out of your boots if you work outdoors in wet conditions but the ones with a soft toe cap are not.

You can make them water repellent though by applying a few products. Here’s how I waterproof my work boots.

Additionally, if you’re not a big fan of pull-on work boots and you prefer lace-up work boots, you’re in luck since Durango has a square toe work boots version that you can find below:

• Durango lace-up with a steel toe cap
• Durango lace-up with a soft toe cap

11. Dan Post Blayde

Square Toe Work Boots
With Non-Marking Sole

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If you need a pair of work boots that won’t leave marks on the surfaces you’re working on then these square toe Dan Post boots are great for you.

I didn’t know why this feature is important but after talking with some colleagues that work on roofs I learned that some types of soles will leave marks on the metal sheets and some clients were not happy with that to the point of not paying for the job.

The same goes for those of you doing paving, tile installation, etc.

The boots are also waterproof according to Dan Post. They come with a waterproof membrane that will help keep water at bay. A very small number of customers have said that the waterproofing capabilities of the boots don’t last that much.

Some said that after 6 months or so the boots were not waterproof anymore. That could be for several reasons from my own experience.

For example, one of my boots started to leak after little holes started to appear in the membrane next to the big toe area.

The holes were due to my big toe rubbing against the waterproof membrane and over time the holes were big enough to allow water into the boot. And I didn’t know that of course until I cut in half my DeWalt Newark boots.

Maybe it’s not the same situation here but I just wanted to share my experience.

Overall it’s a good square toe boot. Oh by the way, if you need steel toe cap square toe boots you’d be happy to hear that on Dan Post’s website they sell the steel toe cap version.

12. Georgia

Alloy Square Toe Work Boots

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Compared to the previous boot, these Georgia square toe work boots are doing a better job at keeping water out of your boots. According to some users, you can even stay with them in puddles of water and water won’t come in.

These Georgia pull-on work boots are lighter than other safety toe boots on this list. And that’s mainly due to the alloy toe cap that will keep your toes safe without the extra weight that a steel toe cap will add to the boot for example.

The alloy toe cap is not just lighter but it’s also designed in such a way that allows for a better fit by matching the shape of the foot. This will allow your toes to move more freely rather than stay crammed inside the boot.

What adds to the comfortability of these work boots is the removable cushioning polyurethane insole that bounces back with each step you take. Your feet will be less fatigued at the end of your shift.

These square toe boots from Georgia are also electrical hazard rated so if you work a lot around water and electricity these boots might be a good option to consider.

13. Laredo Lodi

Square Toe Work Boots

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If you’re after a pair of square toe work boots that are intended for a more lightweight type of work then this Laredo Lodi is for you. You can wear these as dress-up boots but also you can do some work on the ranch wearing these boots.

They don’t really have safety features as you’ve seen in many other boots in this review round up but not all jobs require safety footwear.

So maybe if you’re a trucker or working in retail, home-related services, etc, these square toe boots from Laredo are a good option for both men and women.

Laredo doesn’t have square toe safety work boots (or at least I couldn’t find any model) but if you really like this brand and want a pair of safety toe work boots then you can have a look at these Laredo Rockwell.

Not having a steel toe cap make these boot more lightweight compared to other options in this list. They also come with a good footbed built for comfort.

Inside this boot, you’ll find a dual-density EVA footbed that has gel pillows or pads at striking points (usually your heel and forefoot) that will make you feel more comfortable during your shift and also will absorb shocks avoiding foot fatigue.

14. Rocky Long Range

Composite Square Toe Work Boots

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Some people use these as welding work boots. Personally, I don’t think they are going to hold up very well for that type of work.

It’s fine if you’re doing SOME welding as part of daily tasks but don’t rely on it for welding all day. These are some good boots for welding if that’s your line of work.

These Rocky square toe work boots come with a slip and oil resistant outsole made out of rubber to help keep you up on your feet on wet and slippery surfaces.

Talking about working in wet environments, if you do work around water and electricity then you’d be happy to know that these Rocky boots are electrical hazard rated giving you some protection in case you come in contact with an exposed live wire or similar.

Features such as the Goodyear welt and the double row stitch not only make the boot more durable but also makes it resolable so as long as you take care of the upper you will be able to resole these square toe boots a few times.

What I liked about Rocky is that they have several models of square toe work boots you can choose from. I’ll leave you links to other boots I haven’t featured here but they’re worth checking:

• Rocky Logger
• Rocky Original
• Rocky Long Range (steel toe cap)
• Rocky Iron Skull (lace up)

15. Wolverine Rancher

Steel Square Toe Work Boots

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The Wolverine Rancher goes head to head with the Ariat Groundbreaker as the most popular square toe work boots both with a ridiculous amount of reviews (5000 plus on Amazon alone).

I wanted to say that these Wolverine boots are Goodyear welted since that’s what I read on a few online stores but according to Wolverine’s website these square toe work boots are put together using the cemented construction method.

This simply means that the upper is attached to the sole via using some type of strong adhesive. No stitches as in the case of Goodyear welted boots and similar boot construction techniques.

This makes the boots lighter but at the same time, less durable. That’s why you’ll see some customers saying their boots didn’t last long. In most cases, the sole came off either under the toe or under the heel areas.

Also, this boot doesn’t have a lining. So if you do like to have a bit of padding inside the boot then this Wolverine square toe work boot is not for you, look at some of the models featured above.

16. Red Wing Rio Flex

Alloy Square Toe Work Boots

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One boot brand that can’t miss in almost any work boots round-up is Red Wing. And since Red Wing has a square toe work boot model, I present you Rio Flex.

It’s one of the most durable square toe work from today’s list and you should expect the boot to be tough for that price tag. It’s not a cheap work boot and you should expect more from these Red Wings than from other models in this review.

These square-toed red Wing boots have some great features to keep you safe and comfortable, and also they look good.

The boots come with DFS (Dynamic Fit System) that helps you get your feet in and out of the boots easily and without much struggle.

According to Red Wing, these boots are recommended for demanding industries such as construction, farming, manufacturing, etc.

That’s confirmed in the dozens of reviews I’ve read online but there is a very small number of users saying the opposite. One of the most common issues is that the leather gets worn out at the toe area leaving the steel cap exposed.

That will allow water to come into the boot so you’ll lose the waterproofing capabilities of the boot.

Last words on this square toe work boots round-up

Remember there’s no such thing as THE best square toe work boot. That’s mainly because we all work in different environments where different features are needed. What might work for me might not work for you.

I work in construction for example and I have to wear steel toe work boots but if you work in a less hostile environment then you might not need this feature. So a squared soft toe work boot might be better for you.

Also, you might want a waterproof pair of work boots if you work at the ranch or if you do landscaping and other outdoor jobs. Whereas if you work in a warehouse, in a car repair shop as a mechanic, and other indoor jobs, you might not need the waterproofing feature.

And so on and so forth, I’m sure you’re getting the point. Before buying your favorite squared toe work boots look at your environment and try to match it with the features of your next square toe work boot.

If you have any questions or anything to add don’t hesitate to drop us a comment below!

The Most Rated Pair Of
Square Toed Work Boots

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Victor Adrian – Editor And Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!

Jessica Flynn – Writer And Researcher

Love technology, going to the beach, taking care of my body, and writing (amongst other things). You’ll see my face around here a little bit since I’m responsible for part of the research and writing of some of the articles you’re reading on BestForMyFeet.com. I hope you’ll find our content helpful and enjoyable! See you around, thanks for reading!