Your typical work boots are often stiff, heavy, and narrow. While this may protect you in the short term, it can hurt and cause real damage to your feet over time. But if you need protection what choice do you have? A few, it turns out.
Let’s examine how the wide toe box and natural feel of a barefoot work boot offers a better alternative for your feet than the traditional work boot – without compromising on safety.
Why a Wide Toe Box?
Feet don’t like to be cramped. Not only can a wide toe box help you feel better in the short term, it can also help ease the discomfort of chronic foot issues like bunions and plantar fasciitis.
Especially when wearing work boots for long hours each day, you will likely start to feel that pointy narrow toe box that comes standard on most work boots. If you are tired of suffering through your day and coming home with stiff, achy feet, you are in the right place!
Check out this wide toe box boot compared to another steel toe safety shoe we ordered as part of our research. I gasped when I pulled the right shoe out of the box! How can that be comfortable??
You deserve better than that. Let’s explore wide toe box work boots that won’t squish your toes, but still protect you when you need it.
The Best Wide Toe Box Work Boots
We recruited the help of a firefighter & homesteader to put to the test all the safety shoes and work boots with a wide toe box and flat sole that we could find. Over many months he tested them in the following ways:
- On the job as a firefighter (Paramedic and station duties only – not worn for fire calls)
- Woodworking
- Operating power tools
- Chopping wood
- Farm/yard work
- Hunting
- Driving a tractor
After months of wear, here are the ones that passed the test. These are the best of the best wide barefoot work boots, so your feet don’t have to suffer on the job.
Wide Steel Toe Boots
If you need serious toe protection, here are the wide work boots with a steel toe and safety ratings.
Carets Determination Boot
Steel Toe | Water Resistant | 19mm Stack Height | Resolable | Sizes US men’s 6-12
The Determination boots from Carets was our top pick for all around versatility and comfort. They come with all the features and specs needed for most jobs that require work boots AND can be resoled and repaired so that they last many years. They even have a ladder groove, while still being level from heel to toe!
The materials are thick and durable, from the leather upper down to the outsole. The upper is lined for a bit of extra protection around the foot and ankle, but they aren’t bulky or clunky. Everything performed at the level expected of a true safety boot, from the anti-slip sole to the steel toe – all while being actually foot-shaped and more natural feeling than you can find from your typical work shoe.
The product description states that the Determination is a factory boot and not a farm boot, but our tester Nick used them extensively in homesteading situations without any issue. Even wading through creeks they stayed dry unless the water came up above the 3rd lace eyelet where the gusseting ends.
The one thing we would change? That they come in black too, because many jobs (including Nick’s job as a firefighter) require black boots.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size
- Wide
- High volume initially, but the lacing goes nearly down to the toes so once the leather breaks in you get full adjustability.
Nick found that they needed a bit of breaking in because of the thickness and durability of both the leather upper and the outsole. But after just a couple of wears they were soft, flexible, and easy to put on and off.
Safety Ratings:
- ASTM 2413-18 Impact, Compression, and Electrical Hazard Resistant (view certification)
- ASTM 2413-18 Puncture Resistant (view certification)
- ASTM F3445-21 Slip Resistant (view certification)
- ASTM D471 Oil & Chemical Resistant (view results & discuss with your employer)
Gaucho Ninja Carpenter
Steel Toe | Resolable | Sizes EU 37 – 48
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Next up are the Gaucho Ninja safety boots, which were Nick’s top pick for comfort. They had no break in time, and the soft but thick vegetable tanned leather has molded perfectly to his ankle and foot. They also have the widest toe box of any option we’ve tried – he has the extra wide model. Currently there are two widths, but only Extra Wide will be offered going forward..
These are the boots Nick has been wearing to work as a firefighter for most of this year – he wears them for training and ambulance calls when black steel toed shoes are required.
They function more like warehouse/factory boots than rugged farm boots, so Nick doesn’t wear them when doing construction or other outdoor work. The soft leather upper doesn’t provide a lot of ankle protection, which makes for a really nice light fit, but doesn’t lend itself as well to rougher wear.
One thing Nick noticed is that they are toe heavy, because of how soft and light the shoe is compared to the steel toe. But once he got used to that he fell in love with them and has been raving about them ever since (even though his coworkers tease him a bit). The comfort, fit, and the fact that they can be resoled and repaired over and over makes them well worth it.
Gaucho Ninja also makes fully custom work boots, shown above on reader Jake, who shared this image with me. You have more color and spec options to choose from and they will be made in a width and shape most similar to your actual feet.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size
- Two width options for a wide and extra wide toe fit
- Good for most volumes because of moldable leather and laces.
Safety Ratings:
- Steel toe caps (200J) EN ISO 12568:2010
- Anti-puncture insole material (1200N) ASTM F2413-2018
- Soles made in Germany EN ISO 20344/20345 with anti-slip, fuel and oil proof, and anti-static properties
Birkenstock QS 700
Steel Toe | Leather & Vegan Options | Water Resistant | Sizes EU 36 – 48
The Birkenstock QS line is a steel toe safety shoe that comes in different colors, materials (only vegan option on this list), and ankle heights. Like the Gaucho Ninja boot, they are more of a factory boot than a farm boot. But they have the important safety specs, a high quality construction, and they are comfortable and wide. I also think they have the most mainstream and polished look.
One more perk – they go down to the smallest size of any option here, for small-footed people who need wide safety shoes.
The cons for us are that they are not easily resolable and come with a thick, supportive insole. Some people may love that, but we like more of a barefoot feel so we replaced it with a NorthSole insole. With that modification they are quite light and flexible.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size
- The toe box width is generous, but not extra wide (the Gaucho Ninja is the only one that is extra wide).
- Works for all foot volumes, but if you have medium or low volume feet plan to use an insole inside them (either the factory insole or your own).
There was a little break in time, but they were pretty comfortable out of the box.
Safety Ratings:
- Steel toe (200 joules) with scratch-resistant toe cap
- penetration-resistant, metal-free, nonslip, and oil- and petrol-resistant outsole (P, SRC, FO)
- energy absorption around heel (E)
- antistatic protection (A)
- Safety shoe certified in accordance with EN ISO 20345:2011
The trickiest thing about these barefoot work boots is that they are not available in all countries. See below a few of the places where they are found.
- Zami (ships worldwide)
- SLS Bartel Shop (ships worldwide)
- Amazon DE
- Birkenstock UK
- Birkenstock AU
- Birkenstock Spain
- Birkenstock Poland
If you are unable to find them on your local Birkenstock website, Zami (located in Spain) does ship worldwide. They also carry the low top version with and without the safety toe. Zami and Amazon DE are currently the only places I know of that ship worldwide, and the only way to get them in the US!
Wide Load Boots
Steel or Composite Toe | Side Zipper | Ladder Groove | Sizes US Men’s 7-17
Wide Load is an Australian brand, but we purchased them from the US retailer XL Feet. They are indeed very wide! But otherwise more like a traditional boot with a bulkier, clunkier sole and lots of padding around the ankle for support. Like the Birkenstock boot, they come with a thick supportive insole. But you can swap it out for the extra insole they send that is totally flat. This makes for a lower stack height and nearly flat boot.
When Nick first put these on he said, and I quote “This boot makes me feel like I’m getting into an F350!” You can take that how you will. 😅
Wide Load boots felt a bit clompy compared to the others we tested, because they don’t have much flexibility. But they are lightweight and provide ample room for your toes and foot. And, they go all the way up to a men’s 17! You can also choose from a steel or composite toe.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size
- Wide to extra wide fit
- Medium volume with thicker insole, high volume with thin insole
Safety Ratings:
- AS/NZS 2210.3:2009
- Class 1:SB-SRA
- EN: 20345:2004
- IS: BMP 670431
DeWalt Plasma
Steel Toe | Leather | Sizes US Men’s 7 – 14
The DeWalt Plasma doesn’t have as wide of a toe box as the other work boots reviewed here, but they are soft out of the box, wider than most work boots, and have a nice natural feel to them. Nick uses these for night ambulance calls, when he has to pull on his shoes fast . He keeps the top speed hooks undone and ties the laces lower so he can slip into them.
They have a nice look to them, and the leather feels great. They are a little easier to find in the US than the Birkenstock boots, and also a little lighter too. They’re a good in-between option for someone who wants to start being kinder to their feet in a more accessible way, being the cheapest option in this article.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size
- Average toe box width, but wide through the ball and midfoot
- Medium volume
Safety Ratings:
- ASTM 2413-11 M I/75 C/75 EH
Wide Work Boots (No Steel Toe)
The following are rugged barefoot boots that can be used in work settings, but do not have safety ratings or a steel toe.
Bearfoot Bruin
Reinforced Toe | Leather | Water resistant | Resoleable | 15mm Stack Height | US Sizes Women’s 6.5 – Men’s 16
Use code ANYA10 for 10% off
The Bearfoot Bruin is a fully leather barefoot work boot, with a reinforced toe. Made with durable Crazyhorse leather and a gusseted tongue to keep debris out, these shoes can protect your feet for yard work, construction, and in a workshop. The hefty zero drop sole can be replaced by a cobbler if it wears out.
We used these for yard/farm work, home renovations, and DIY projects where a steel toe was not needed. They were excellent in that capacity! And they have lots of toe space for even extra wide feet. We also love that they have a Made in the USA version you can preorder
For all the details, read the full Bearfoot Bruins reviews here.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size according to the US size chart
- Wide to Extra Wide
- High volume (our tester added a tongue pad to get a good fit)
We found them to be on the stiffer side when new, and they required break in time before they were easy to put on and off and tighten the laces. Once broken in, the durable materials were much appreciated.
Jim Green
Reinforced Toe | Leather | Water resistant | Resoleable | 15mm Stack Height | US Sizes Women’s 6.5 – Men’s 16
Jim Green makes a barefoot line that has a thick, rugged, and resolable outsole with a durable leather upper. They are similar to the Bearfoot Bruin, but softer leather out of the box, and less voluminous fit.
Both the short and tall cut boots have a fully gusseted tongue to keep out debris and provide natural water protection. But it also adds a bit of bulk around the ankle that needed breaking in for real freedom of movement.
Sizing & Fit:
- True to size
- Wide to Extra Wide
- Medium volume and easily adjustable.
Short break in time.
Vivobarefoot Tracker
Leather | Waterproof | Sizes EU 35-49
Use code ANYA25VB for 25% off everything but Sensus Yin, Sensus Slide, and Gobi Premium. You can use code ARVIVO20 20% off those.
The Vivobarefoot Tracker FG is a sturdy boot with padding around the ankle and a tough leather exterior. It has a puncture resistant outsole and lugs for traction. These are marketed as a hiking boot, but they work well for all kinds of rugged outdoor use.
The sole on these is thinner than every other option here, so may not be comfortable for stepping on shovels. But functionally, they are really practical!
Sizing & Fit:
- Runs slightly small – we size up for socks and an insole
- Medium to wide width – men’s version is wider than women’s
- Medium volume – works well for low and some high volume because of the adjustability.
Lem’s Boulder Boot Grip
Leather | Waterproof | Sizes US Women’s 6 – Men’s 15
The Lem’s Boulder boot is really roomy and lightweight. It has a thick sole to protect you from sharp objects and is padded around the ankle. The toe box is not reinforced, but the upper has a lining for a bit of extra protection.
They are also fully waterproof and super comfortable!! They give clearance above the toes, so you’re not getting squished from above or from the sides. All arounds great boot that can double as a light work or farm boot.
Sizing & Fit:
- Runs small – I recommend sizing up
- Wide to extra wide fit
- Works for all foot volumes
Coming Soon Brands
The follow brands are in the process of developing a wide toe box barefoot work boot. We have not yet tried them, but will be sure to keep you updated in our Barefoot Shoe Digest.
132 thoughts on “The Best Wide Work Boots That Won’t Kill Your Feet”
After reading your reviews I thought “Hooray, I can get some Birkenstock QS700 boots for my yard work. I’d prefer elastic sided boots, but hey, you take what you can get in the barefoot world.
I’ve been looking around for a good deal as the standard price for the QS700 in Australia is AU$301. A work mate uses The Iconic store and lo and behold, I can get these boots at the moment (March 2022) for 25% off – sounds like a good deal. So I go looking for a size guide and thankfully Birkenstock ask for length and width measurements for each foot.
Alas I got this message “Your size specifications exceed the allowable limit”. I laughed, I had to. I’ve realised recently, that I have both a very wide and a high volume foot. This just confirms it. Maybe they would still be better than what I’m currently using.
Oh darn! Might be a worth a try though.
Hey Anya, are there any updates or additions to this list? Thanks in advance!
Hi! I am looking into it now actually to see what updates need to be added. There might be a few more compromise options, but no major changes to what’s available.
Hi Anya,
I could use some thoughts/resource references from you about my recent experience and inquiries. Context: In my day to day casual lifestyle moments (walks, office work, day trips, light to medium gardening) I am 100% using minimalist shoes. My feet are happy with this!
However, I have some extremely rugged lifestyle moments too ( backpacking, professional trail work, farming). In addition, I am transitioning to a new job that will be 75% outside in the Midwest- using tools and bushwhacking in all weather types. I was trying to transition to 100% minimalist shoes in this department too. However, after a backpacking trip on the Olympic National Park Coast- I am thinking twice. I used my new Freet Ibex for the entire trip- carrying a 40lb pack for three days in muddy/watery/extreme rocky terrain.
My feet are very beat up after this trip. I am disappointed because I love how they feel to the ground/fit generally. But indications show me that for my rugged use- it really isn’t healthy for my foot. I still love the IBEX and plan to use them for day use hiking/recreation. However, I simply don’t think they cut it for true rugged use, the seams will bust, not enough support for long rugged use. Another example- using a shovel all day with minimalist footwear- hurts the foot- the bottom of your foot starts to bruise from contact with the metal. I’ve been transitioning to minimalist footwear for two to three years now so it is not new to my feet…
Anyways, any recommendations on brands that are half minimalist? Specifically, provide a lot more cushion underneath the foot, very high waterproof ratings, and super super rugged? Meanwhile, I would love to continue to have the open/large toe box and zero drop design. Any thoughts would help. I am open to consultation too, if you have some strong rugged wear hybrid suggestions for all weather types. Lastly, I hope this information helps advocate for what is needed in the minimalist footwear department too- true extreme rugged footwear for summer, rain, cold, snow, etc.
Thank you for your time!
Kind Regards,
Kirsten Boesen
Hey Kirsten! Have you ever tried Altra Lone Peak? They are much thicker, and come in several options. They are built for more extreme conditions and come in a high top and waterproof version. They are still zero drop and have a wide toe box. If that’s not enough, you can find some low heel options from Keen that have a good toe box, and Birkenstock has some good options as well (try to remove the insole if you can). But Altra’s are very well loved among long distance hikers and other situations when a thicker sole is needed. Also, Lems came out recently with a new rugged hiking boot that looks pretty promising. It would easily cross over into other outdoor situations besides hiking.
Anya, very interesting site, I’ve enjoyed reading it, as a guy who’s more concerned about function than fashion! I’m a 17 year and counting military reservist and veteran who owns a construction company, who’s been running, working, etc in minimalist shoes or as close as possible for over a decade (I switched within a few years of “the book’s” publishing, VFFs, Invisible Shoes huaraches kits – gotta love Xero – and DIY were about it then). Admittedly, it made me a bit of a shoe whore at times as the market (and me) grew and learned. I have to agree with your comment in the work/safety shoe/boot article that there aren’t any real work/safety options. If you’re doing heavy work in unforgiving terrain, like construction, most minimal shoes / boots don’t provide the underfoot protection needed to prevent injury – you can’t kick a shovel to scoop rock with a 2mm sole, forget stepping on something!
This comment could go both here and the work/safety section, but I felt it better here as it’s an approved combat boot by all services (and one of few mandated by the Navy). A VERY popular boot in the military is the Rocky S2V, runs about $200 at the military exchanges. I haven’t found it in your (quite exhaustive – I’d only heard of half the companies you mention) lists, so I thought I’d mention it. There are many configurations of the boot in varying colors (yes, only the military boot colors) and configurations – including composite toe. This boot has some serious street cred. I have a friend that did three combat tours (lots of “backpacking” in the desert and mountains) to Iraq and Afghanistan in the same pair! If you remove the provided insole and replace it with a flat one, it is zero drop, surprisingly minimal, while still providing lots of protection. It’s foot shape is pretty decent, but still relatively “normal” looking. The footbed / sole is pretty flexible, especially considering the protection offered. It has a fiberglass shank (it pretty much needs to have an insole to cover the shank) to increase protection while still maintaining light weight (relative) and flexibility (again, relative). As a barefootish combat / work solution at a doable price, it pretty much stands alone. Admittedly, I’ve never tried the Belleville mini mil. Thank you again for, and keep up, the great work!
https://www.rockyboots.com/s2v/
Opps, it was late and I posted in the work boot thread, not the combat boot thread. Oh well. As I said, it’s not designed to be a “barefoot” boot, but it’s toe box is wide even if it’s “normal” shaped, and it’s one of the few options out there for really heavy duty stuff, once you replace the insole.
Jordan,
Thanks so much for this! I’ll check it out. Another one I’ve found (that I haven’t yet added to the article) is the Reebok Nano tactical boot. It looks to be a little lighter and less sturdy than the Rocky boots you shared, but I believe they are accepted by some branches of the military.
I’ve been using the Belleville Mini-Mils for a couple years now. I like them a lot.
Only problem is I’m going back to a shop that requires a safety toe and it is straight up impossible to find minimalist boots with a safety toe. I’ve been searching for years and nothing I’ve found would work for the military. Very disappointing.
Thanks so much for all the great inputs. My family and I have been wearing barefoot shoes for quite a while now and your homepage is a great source of inspiration. Do you have any idea or recommendation for surgical shoes in barefoot style? I work in the operating room and haven’t been able to find any good barefoot type shoes for work.
I am not familiar with what would be required in a surgical shoe. Do they need to be non slip? The Xero Prio All Day SR might be a good one to check out.
Was wondering if there are any slip on style barefoot work boots that you know of, something more reminiscent of Blundstones Chelsea work boot look is what I’m after.
Hm, I think the Be Lenka Entice is the closest functionally to a Blundstone – they are more “built” and have a durable outsole. They’re not designed to be work boots, but more hefty than any other barefoot chelsea boot I’ve tried.
Hi! And: HELP! I got a few pairs of the Belleville Mini Mil for Jungle/tropical mountain work in South America. They worked well at first, but after a few days of heat and strain, the nylon webbing that joins the rear foxing/back stay with the pull loop COLLAPSED right over the insertion of the Achilles tendon/heel and is eating through my skin. Local cobblers are very capable but haven’t been able to come up with a solution. Local wide toe box selection is limited to two casual leather models, unsuitable.
Any idea on how to fix the issue reliably?
Much appreciated,
Dr. P.
Oh my! Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with this type of a flaw in shoes. Can that nylon be cut out? Or can you cover the area with moleskin so the webbing doesn’t go anywhere?
I know it’s quite late but I’d love to hear your opinion on the Danner Tachyon series as a work/tactical boot. I’ve been eyeballing both the Minimil and Tachyon but can’t commit to pull the trigger. It advertises itself as a sneaker like boot with a wider toe box and… I think(?) zero drop.
I don’t have any knowledge on the Danner Tachyon, but they look pretty similar to the MiniMil in terms of barefoot features. Let me know if it ends up being a good option!
Hi, I thought I’d give a little review of the Birkenstock boots since we’ve had 2 pairs in use in our household now. Both people need safty boots class 1-3 depending on their site of operation.
My daughter is a landscaping apprentice, outside all day, heavy work, medium amount of steps, all weather condition. The boots worked out fine until the 4 month mark when the leather on top of the metal cap started falling off.
The bigger issue was that they are not made for low volume feet / shallow ankles imo – not at all. She had blisters for almost 2 months and we tried everything from heel pads to taping the heels every morning. After the initial blister phase her skin continued to be aggravated the whole time she wore them even with 7 day intervals where she didn’t use them at all (and still taping her heels). At some point she just had to stop wearing them completely.
My husband works in security, so he walks 3 times as much as a regular active human I think, long shifts, partially outside but regular weather conditions no hard labour. He was happy with the fit and quality in the beginning, but after about 9 months the boots are falling apart in different places now. They’re ripping apart in the creaks on top, close to the metal cap and the soles are beginning to fall of, so the boots aren’t water or winter-proof anymore.
Which for the price is a little sad imo, his regular security boots are half the price & normally last about 1,5 years before they give in.
Needless to say, both won’t repurchase them.
Hi Anya,
Are there any companies that make zero drop/barefoot Cowboy boots. I would appreciate
any info you might have, thanks
The closest I’ve seen is from the UK company Conker shoes. You can get some cowboy-ish styles with buckles or fringe on a zero drop rubber sole. Decent toe box shape too.