Are you shopping for the best steel toe work boots? If you work in a blue collar industry, you know how important it is to have boots that adequately protect your feet and help you get your job done. The best steel toe work boots not only shield your toes from anything heavy landing on them; the best steel toe work boots support your ankles and lower back, while you earn your living through the might of your strength and the sweat of your brow.


Finding the best steel toe work boots for your particular line of work can be pretty tricky. There are several manufacturers of heavy duty work boots, and each offers dozens of boots to choose between. You don’t want to make the wrong choice and not realize it until they fall apart quickly, or worse, until your legs and back are throbbing after a day of hard work or you are injured on the job.

We know how important it is to find the best steel toe boots, and so we’ve put together a guide for you, below.


Six Things to Look for in the Best Steel Toe Boots

1. Make a list of your requirements before you ever shop for boots.
   
   There is no such thing as a universal perfect solution while shopping for work boots. The needs of a construction worker are far different than the needs of a police officer. On top of that, the physical needs of each person who wears work boots is different. Some people have high arches. Some people have lower back pain or knee damage and need to find boots to support their physical challenges. Before you ever look at a single pair of boots, make a list of your own particular needs and challenges, to narrow down your search for the perfect boots from the get-go.




2. Go shopping for boots after a long day of work.
   
   You heard us right. As you work hard throughout your work day, your feet swell and become larger. If you buy boots to perfectly fit your “morning feet” they might be a little too snug or restrictive once your feet start swelling, by the end of the work day. Shopping for boots at the end of the day is a good way to find a pair that fits right, all day long.




3. Try on boots the way you’ll be wearing them on the job.
   
   Trying on boots to see how they fit only works if you are trying them on in the conditions you’ll be wearing them while you work. Make sure you are wearing the type of socks that you wear while you work. Depending on the type of uniform you wear on the job, you might want to wear your work clothes, to make sure they all mesh.




4. Remember that comfort is king.
   It is easy to make safety and protection you biggest priority while shopping for work boots. Your job probably involves a lot of risks, and you want to make sure you are best equipped to protect yourself from being injured on the job. However, while you might encounter danger several times throughout the work day, your comfort matters constantly throughout the day. Pay attention to the considerations the boot maker invests into comfort: light-weight designs, anti-microbial interior, additional padding, and asymmetrical steel-toes are all great features that help your feet feel as good at the end of the day as they did at the beginning.




5. Understand upkeep before you buy.
   
   A good pair of work boots easily runs your a few hundred bucks. You do not want to put forth that investment only to have to replace them quickly. You can get a lot more life out of your boots if you properly maintain them. Some boots need to be treated with a leather treatment to protect them from water or from getting stiff. Some boots need to serviced by a boot maker. Find out what the requirements of your boots are before you buy, so that you can support them staying in great shape for as long as possible.




6. Ask your peers for input.
   
   There is no better sign that you’ve found the right boots than if they are loved by other people in your line of work.

Questions or comments? Please share below!