Very OT: sleek steel/safety toe shoes? Also need to vent...

[mtechnica]

I’m dying inside here looking at options on the internet. I have a nice pair of boots but I don’t want to have to wear them every day. Also, I can barely drive my car (small car with a manual transmission) with them on because they’re so bulky. I only bought them because certain facilities make you wear them so when I went on the road I’d have them ready - but I never had to wear them every day. I need some decent safety toe shoes that don’t look like ass!

The other option is to sell my car, buy an F250, gain 80lbs and rock keens and un-tucked polo shirts with straight leg wranglers, so I can fit in with other stereotypical industrial engineers. Chunk fest aesthetic.

I have a bunch of nice clothes and nice “normal” shoes because I used to work in an office, but now I’m going to be working in the office sometimes but more frequently on a factory floor. I don’t want to give up my skinny pants. I might wear a polo if they make me but I’ll avoid it at all costs.

So yeah... shoes that don’t look like something a 90 year old grandpas orthopedic specials would be sweet. Or shoes that aren’t so huge I’m going to put my M3 into the back of a semi on the freeway - that would be cool. Maybe ones that I can fit my skinny jeans and dress pants over, instead of tucking them inside like an invalid and looking like sonic the hedgehog. Yeah, that would be ideal.

You guys got anything for me?

[Jaybee]

Been in your shoes (pun intended) before. Try the keen utility line. I wouldn't say that they are sleek, but at least you are at urban hiker instead of construction worker.

Some of the Red Wings offerings have a nice retro modern vibe also

[jimcav]

that is what i've used decent variety, that don't look like military/construction/ biker and great quality

[AngryScientist]

good timing. i was looking myself friday.

i'm an engineer too, and have always needed steel toes, not every day, but reasonably often. it's very tough to find a pair that is good to travel with and doesnt make you look like a construction worker.

in the work i do, i stand a very very small chance of needing the actual protection afforded by the steel toe, but rather to meet the requirement of everyone on site needs them.

generally, i just wear regular shoes and change to boots for site visits and then dump them immediately when i'm done.

that's probably your best bet. commute to work in your regular shoes and then swap.

anyway, i was looking at these, they look promising?

https://oxfordsteels.com/collections/men

[mtechnica]

good timing. i was looking myself friday.

i'm an engineer too, and have always needed steel toes, not every day, but reasonably often. it's very tough to find a pair that is good to travel with and doesnt make you look like a construction worker.

in the work i do, i stand a very very small chance of needing the actual protection afforded by the steel toe, but rather to meet the requirement of everyone on site needs them.

generally, i just wear regular shoes and change to boots for site visits and then dump them immediately when i'm done.

that's probably your best bet. commute to work in your regular shoes and then swap.

anyway, i was looking at these, they look promising?

https://oxfordsteels.com/collections/men

Hmmmmm I like what I see here!

[mtechnica]

I’ll take a look at what red wing has to offer as well.

[Black Dog]

Check out Blundstone.

https://www.blundstone.com/shop/work-boots

[Lund]

Nicks & White's are the best looking boots, IMO, but also most expensive. Made in USA.

I work construction & I wear Thorogood boots. USA made & also union made, if you care about that sort of thing.

Blundstone & Danner boots are also pretty nice.

[pbarry]

Quite a few Cove steel toe boots available on ebay. Really well made U.S. product from 1980-mid 90's military contract. Tan lining models are a little more comfortable imo. I've bought a couple pair through the years for work and they have held up great. Look like casual dress boots. Soles are a bit slippery, so I rough them up with sandpaper when new. They do run "old school" sizing: I wear 9.5 D/Regular in these, but modern boots, a 10.5D.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/COVE-SHOE-COMPANY-Mens-Black-Steel-toe-military-motorcycle-lace-up-boots-Size-8/283776339404?hash=item4212634dcc:g:Hz4AAOSwfzdboWc Q

[pdonk]

Check out Blundstone.

https://www.blundstone.com/shop/work-boots

I was going to suggest this too. Best part is easy on easy off and they provide good cushioning for standing in.

I keep a set in the back of my car for site visits. The pair I have is going on 12 years and still look good.

[mtechnica]

Nicks & White's are the best looking boots, IMO, but also most expensive. Made in USA.

I work construction & I wear Thorogood boots. USA made & also union made, if you care about that sort of thing.

Blundstone & Danner boots are also pretty nice.

I actually have a pair of whites boots, but they aren’t steel toe. Although.. I could probably just tell people they are. They’re so thick and sturdy they would offer some protection. I actually had my foot in the way of a machines caster wheel when we were moving it and the toe of the boot stopped it in it’s tracks with no impact to my foot. That said I think reports of their comfort are exaggerated and they weigh about 5lbs each. I think mine are “packer” style. They do make me a solid inch taller though!

[mtechnica]

Check out Blundstone.

https://www.blundstone.com/shop/work-boots

These aren’t bad looking. So far I think the Oxford ones that angry posted are in the lead.

[Morgul Bismark]

There's always doc martens (https://www.beckshoes.com/Products/Details/1071). Maybe not a bad compromise in terms of something that still may "fit in" a bit better with some of the other more burly aesthetic safety shoes others may be wearing.

[JLQ]

I've worn these for a long time, usually the 500's but the 140's are very similar and fit your need. You can dress them up or down and they are good enough for Paul Price, a man who appreciates quality.

[saf-t]

generally, i just wear regular shoes and change to boots for site visits and then dump them immediately when i'm done.

This is what I do, as I need mine (two pair- one for inside manufacturing plants where I'm less worried about sole penetration and a pair of Chippewas for construction sites)a fair amount, but certainly not every day.

[goonster]

Try the keen utility line.

This. Wide widths available. Safety toes in materials other than steel. A lot of non-boot options.

[bigbill]

I was hard core Red Wing but as I got older, I found the wide toe box of Keens to fit me better. Most of the time, I'm not in safety toe boots, they stay under my desk. I'm an engineering manager and typically do 10K steps a day, so glad I don't have to wear steel toe all the time. My non-safety toe shoes are also Keens.

[GScot]

https://indestructibleshoes.com/

I was in a plant recently that required safety toes and I wasn't expecting to go on the floor so did not bring any. They had these in the loaner locker and I thought they looked good. Ended up with a standard wolverine hiker in my size but a lot of the workers had the athletic-looking indestructible and as the topic came up everyone liked them for lightness and comfort. I might get some if I can find a place to try before I buy.

[Irishgirl]

I’ll take a look at what red wing has to offer as well.


I have a pair of Red Wings (lucky they make ‘em for little feet) for when I’m on job sites otherwise I’m in fancy heels and boots...and now it’s slippers all day everyday.


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[Jef58]

I'm in a light industrial, medical device manufacturer and we recently needed safety shoes on the production floor. I have a pair of Rockport slip ons with a composite toe instead of steel...which was acceptable where I work. Many are wearing sneaker type shoes with composite toe protection. If you are visiting other facilities, this may not be an option. Something to look into. Mine are actually on the casual dress side similar to my Clarke's I used to wear.

[HenryA]

Danner offers some safety toe shoes with hiking walking styling.

[likebikes]

there are plenty of safety toe dress/casual shoes made for carpet walkers that need to do site visits, step onto the production floor, etc.

i also drive a small car with a MT, i'd just keep a pair of slip on sneakers or something and drive with those, and change shoes at the facility. i wear danskos at work, cannot drive stick wearing those.

[mtechnica]

https://indestructibleshoes.com/

I was in a plant recently that required safety toes and I wasn't expecting to go on the floor so did not bring any. They had these in the loaner locker and I thought they looked good. Ended up with a standard wolverine hiker in my size but a lot of the workers had the athletic-looking indestructible and as the topic came up everyone liked them for lightness and comfort. I might get some if I can find a place to try before I buy.

Hmmmm some of those are pretty good looking!

[loxx0050]

Another vote for Keens. I've got a pair in a wide that is a compositie material that is shock/electrical resistant. Much lighter than a pair of steel toed stuff and no issues driving in them (although these days I drive an auto and haven't had a manual car since 2014 but I don't feel these wouldn't affect actuating the clutch and still drivable). Hiking shoe style (not boot) and I can wear them all day comfortably (have done so on casual Fridays at work in the winter when it's colder otherwise my feet get too hot easily in the summer and if I had the choice I'd just wear casual sneakers or running shoes instead).

[Hakkalugi]

Yet another proponent of Keens, I like the low top light hiker style. Relatively light weight, wide enough for my EEE flippers, and durable. I have a winter waterproof pair and a summer mesh pair. Don’t plan on comfort from their insole, however. I use my own foot beds and it’s a significant improvement. They have decent pricing and lots of styles, including more refined than what I wear.

I’m also a huge fan of their flip-flops with the big toe caps. I’ve worn them for years and never stub a toe. These are my primary footwear, I do everything but chainsaw, ride bikes, or go to my part-time-job-that-requires-steel-toes in them.

[PeregrineA1]

I have a pair of Justin slip ones. Kinda cowboy boorish and maybe I do fit the stereotype, with jeans and a button down shirt. I even have an F250....anyway, we are consulting engineers and office casual is the minimum expectation. I wear an 11 EEE and driving my Mazda 3 6 speed manual without issue.


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[cinema]

redbackboots.com. actually made in Australia I believe unlike Blundstone which has moved some offshore. thorogood also sworn by every union ironworker I know, probably overkill.

[kbone]

These might work with your skinny jeans...

https://workboots.com/reebok-soyay-steel-toe-black#/15605/0,0,3820/1

Lots of other options on this site as well.

[mg2ride]

I'm pretty happy with my Red Wing low top hikers.

[josephr]

working in the automotive industry, our folks in assembly are on their feet all day, moving around. the truck that comes around has lots of steel toe running shoes from New Balance and many others...you wouldn't know they were steel toes until some asshat does the stomp test.

if in some sort of outdoor/construction, I'd stick with boots for ankle protection tho. If you're just wearing them occasionally, why not just keep an old pair of sneakers in the truck to drive with?