Work Boots come in different shapes and sizes. If your feet are wide, then you might need to really shop around for the right pair of boots. There are shoe and boot brands that do offer “wide” variants, but be wary of those that don’t. The number one best indicator of whether a boot will be the right fit for your wider feet is to check out if it is, in fact, a “wide.” If that is the case, chances are the brand has gone on ahead and added extra room in the toe box to accommodate your size.
Another factor that you must consider is the type of material of the footwear. Sometimes, shoes don’t need to be made specially for the wide-footed individual if the shoe upper is made out of material with some stretch. This is true for flexible water shoes, leather moccasins, and even boat shoes. However, with tougher boots it’s a different beast. Boot construction tends to be a little more rugged and stiffer, so there sometimes isn’t that much room for stretch and expansion. The design and material may act a little bit more constricting, so an ill-fitting pair will be very uncomfortable.
To help you identify which work boots will actually provide the best fit, here is a list of the 12 best men’s work boots for wide feet.
The Best Men’s Work Boots for Wide Feet
Dr. Martens Men’s EX Wide Ironbridge
Dr. Martens is a popular brand of leather boots made in England. However, if we trace its origins further back, it would lead back to another part of Europe, Germany. The first Dr. Martens shoes were made in Germany by a German doctor who just happened to get injured during a skiing trip. His injured ankle felt uncomfortable in his army boots, so he devised a boot with a better sole. Soon enough, the new boots became a hit in Germany. Before they went international, Griggs, an English company bought the manufacturing rights to their boot. Today, Doc Martens is known to have been a big part of the British subculture scene.
The good doctor from England graces this list for the best work boots for wide feet with the EX Wide Ironbridge. The Ironbridge is a legendary pair of boots from Doc Martens. It’s made to be worn in tough work conditions. The upper is water-resistant, is made of tumbled leather, and has a padded collar as well as a padded tongue for added comfort. It also features a steel toe cap for added protection. This boot is made with extra insulation to help protect from getting electrocuted from accidental contact with live wires or other sources or electric charges. The iconic air-cushioned Doc Martens soles are also slip-resistant, so tread with confidence with these puppies.
Under Armour Men’s Valsetz RTS 4E Tactical Boot
Under Armour is a very popular American sports footwear and apparel manufacturer. This popular brand didn’t begin with shoes, though. In 1996, the brand started off with a lightweight shirt that effectively wicks sweat. Under Armour became well-known for this and has been a major player in the sports, gym, and fight wear categories. It was only about 13 years into the business that Under Armour made their first ever running shoe.
Under Armour, like the previous entry on this list, is not well-known as a work boot manufacturer. Well, they still don’t manufacture them per se, but they do have a tactical boot that provides protection and high performance that’s fit for the workplace. The upper of this lightweight boot is a high-cut construction made of synthetic leather and textile. While it doesn’t have a steel toe, what it has is a TPU toe cap for protection. The boot upper is highly abrasion-resistant. The Valsetz also utilizes an EVA midsole and an Ortholite sockliner for enhanced comfort. The outsole features rubber lugs for high-traction in various conditions.
Wolverine Men’s Harrison
Wolverine was a brand founded on the American dream. It was established in 1883 in Michigan as a small leather tannery. The company flourished, and production increased throughout the decades for the then-small family-run enterprise. Today, the Wolverine brand has grown to be a big-time holdings company with a lot of famous subsidiaries, including Hush Puppies, Merrell, Saucony, Keds, and Sperry Top-Sider.
Wolverine’s pride is apparent in their offering on this list. The Harrison is a robust work boot that is constructed to withstand the abuse of tough daily work. It’s got a handsome oiled-leather high-cut upper. Protecting the toe box is a non-conductive steel toe. This ensures that you are also protected from electrical hazards. The mesh lining, removable footbed, and nylon shank maintain comfort and alleviate fatigue even on the most demanding days.
Thorogood Men’s Heritage 6-inch Emperor 4E Composite Safety Toe Boot
The Thorogood brand of boots is a proud work boot specialist hailing from Wisconsin. It has been produced by the Weinbrenner Shoe Co. since 1892. Weinbrenner manufactured their boots based on the specific industry it’s to be used in. Weinbrenner refers to this concept as “job fitting.” It’s this philosophy of boot manufacturing that has made them successful throughout their more than 100 years of existence.
The Thorogood entry on this list is the Heritage Emperor. This boot is built with a composite safety toe for added protection against crushing injuries. It has a fiberglass shank for rigidity and support. It also features use of a fully removable polyurethane footbed. The upper is made of 100% full-grain leather, and the toe box on the Emperor is designed to be wider for more wiggle room.
You may also be interested in some of these durable summer work boots for hot weather. Check them out.
Ariat Men’s Terrain Wide Square Toe Steel Toe Work Boot
Ariat is a market-leading footwear brand that specializes in western boots, though they also have strong offerings in the hiking and work boot categories. This American brand hails from Union City, California and is America’s official footwear supplier to the US Olympic equestrian team. They also sponsor other governing bodies of the equestrian sports as well as bull-riding events. Neat, huh?
Ariat comes bucking out of the gates with the Terrain Wide Square Toe Steel Toe Work Boot. This is the steel toe version of their popular boot, but if your work doesn’t require additional protection from accidental toe cutting, then you could get this in its non-steel toe variant. This boot is designed to go where you go. It works perfectly fine as a rider’s boot or a work boot. Its main feature is a wider square-shaped toe box for more toe room.
KEEN Men’s Milwaukee Waterproof Steel Toe Boot
KEEN is a well-known brand of footwear from Portland, Oregon that’s been around since the early 2000s. KEEN’s original claim to fame was their invention of the Newport Sandal in 1999, a few years earlier than the brand’s founding, which was in 2003. As a marketing ploy, all KEEN footwear used to have a black toe bumper. Today, not all shoes don this iconic design feature. KEEN shoes manufacture lifestyle shoes, casual shoes, hiking shoes as well as work boots.
KEEN enters this list with their Men’s Milwaukee Waterproof Steel Toe Boot. Just by looking at this thing, you know that it’s an industrial shoe. The full grain leather upper is made to be waterproof, but it is lined with the KEEN.DRY Membrane to provide breathability. For added arch support and comfort, it uses the Metatomical EVA footbed design. It also features an anatomically correct left and right safety toe. And yes, it does feature the iconic black rubber toe bumper.
Dr. Comfort Boss Men’s Diabetic Work Boot
It seems like there are two doctors in this house of wide boots. Dr. Comfort is a shoe company from Wisconsin that specializes in producing footwear for diabetics. It is widely known that one of the main complications of diabetics is the devastating diabetic foot. It could start out from something as simple as an ill-fitting pair of boots. This is why each pair of Dr. Comfort footwear is designed with comfort and safety in mind for their mostly diabetic customers. But while their shoes are specially designed for diabetics, they work perfectly fine for non-diabetics as well.
Dr. Comfort enters this list with the Boss Men’s Diabetic Work Boot. These boots are rugged and durable. They’re made to keep you protected during long treks or during more grueling physical work. The toe box is durable, but it doesn’t have a steel toe, so it’s not really ideal for construction work. It does offer a seamless construction design as well as a supportive, padded footbed for additional comfort and stability. If you’re considering these for medical reasons, you’ll be glad to know that they are covered by Medicare.
For more durable and comfy footwear, be sure to browse our list of the top zipper work boots.
Skechers USA Men’s Verdict Waterproof Boot
Skechers is one of the most iconic brands of the 90s. There were just some shoe designs that couldn’t have been anything else but Skechers. Skechers continues to manufacture their more distinct style of shoes, but now they also have shoes that incorporate more modern design aspects as well as more functional features rather than simply being trendy.
Verdict is a well-made work boot from Skechers. You can choose from a nubuck or oil smoothed leather upper. Both variants are waterproof. The tongue and collar are padded for better comfort. It’s also lined with some fine, smooth fabric. This boot also features a shock-absorbing midsole with a steel shank as well as a cushioned insole for comfort, stability, and added support. The outsole also has a rubber lug design construction for better traction.
Take a look at these quality pull-on work boots from our list and pick your favorite pair.
Rocky Men’s MobiLite Six-inch Steel Toe Work Boot
Rocky is a resilient American brand of footwear that had its beginnings in the Great Depression. It was in 1932 that the company was founded, and during these tough times, everything was bootstrapped. Their first operation even involved a rent-free factory with some borrowed equipment. The gamble paid dividends, and today, the Rocky brand is a well-established brand of outdoor, work, and combat boots.
Rocky’s entry on this list of the best work boots for wide feet is their MobiLite. It’s a high-cut work boot that offers protection all around. It has a high-impact protective steel toe. Its upper is waterproof yet still breathable, and the boot is sufficiently insulated to protect from electrical hazards. The outsole is also constructed out of MobiLite, making it lighter. This outsole also provides superior oil-resistance and high traction. The toe box is also considered as one of the widest oblique toe designs in the market.
Drew Shoes Men’s Tucson Steel Shank Work Boot
Drew Shoes is a specialty medical footwear company that designs protective footwear for diabetics. Drew Shoes is a leading brand in the medical shoe space, and they claim that they’re the industry’s number one choice by patients. This claim is backed by more than 100 years of research. They guarantee that each shoe they make is in line with the most modern safety features and design for better comfort and protection.
Their offering on this list is the Tucson. The Tucson is built to be durable and very comfortable. The footbed is made with the proprietary Drew Shoes Plus Fitting System, which utilizes two removable footbeds. This lightweight work boot can be used with prescribed orthotics. It has a rocker bottom, an extended heel support, and a shank made out of tempered steel for optimum stability and support. It also utilizes an AEGIS Microbe Shield for odor control.
Propet Men’s Cliff Walker
Propet is a shoe company that has an amazing customer-centric brand philosophy. The brand operates on the idea that shoes have to fit perfectly. Shoes can’t pinch and can’t slip off. They have to be perfectly fit and comfortable for each and every customer, especially those with feet that can be considered “hard to fit.”
Propet has been doing this since the mid-1980s, and their offering on this list is a culmination of what they’ve learned throughout years of providing high-comfort and high-performance shoes to their customers. The Cliff Walker is a leather work boot that’s rated to be highly water proof that keeps feet warm and dry with the use of the waterproof Sealtex bootie. For stability and support, it features a rigid heel counter. It also has a removable footbed to fit orthotics. It has a lightweight EVA midsole and a high-grip rubber outsole.
You may also be interested in American-made work boots from our list. Don’t forget to check them out.
New Balance Composite Toe 989 v2
New Balance is a major player in the footwear space. The brand first started out with manufacturing arch support, but they have successfully transitioned into the shoe business. They’ve been around since 1906, and their more than a century’s worth of manufacturing and marketing experience has led them to be one of the best when it comes to producing running footwear. However, New Balance is not only good with athletic shoes. They also have shoes for casual wear as well as boots tough enough for work.
The 989 v2 is New Balance’s offering on this list. This work and hiking boot is the second iteration of their 989 platform. Its upper is made both of synthetic and leather components. It has a rubber sole for optimal traction, and it’s also insulated for protection against contact with electrical hazards. For additional protection, it also features a composite toe that shields against crushing injuries. It also has a Revlite midsole for support. The collar and tongue are also padded to enhance fit and comfort.