Best Women’s Work Boots | Work in Comfort and Style

You’re a working woman who needs a pair of work boots that can get you through a long work day and not leave you with sore, aching feet. You need boots that will fit well and last. What are your best options? I can provide answers to your questions and help you find a pair of the best women’s work boots you and your feet will love. 

Updated October 2022  by Maya

Our Top 5 women’s work boots provide varied features to fit particular work situations. If you need a sturdy, protective work boot, the KEEN Utility Detroit Steel Work Boot is a great choice. Read the details below to see why.

In a Hurry? The Top Pick:

KEEN Utility Detroit Steel Toe, read more to find out why.

Comparison table

Key Features of Work Boots for Women

The very best work boots are the ones that fit your feet comfortably. This is true whether you’re a logger wearing Thorogood puncture-resistant boots with a composite toe and metatarsal protection, work sneakers by Nike, or a round-toe hiking boot by Carhartt or Diehard. Comfort is critical. Uncomfortable boots lead to blisters and heel pain. They can contribute to sore ankles, stiff knees, and a backache. 

A key factor in comfort is a good fit. Your work boots need to match the contours of your feet. They shouldn’t rub at the toe or allow your ankle to slide around as you walk. Leather boots will stretch a bit as you break them in. They should fit snugly at first.

The best work boots for ladies are durable

Good work boots aren’t cheap. You want to be able to count on not having to replace them several times a year. Quality materials and careful construction are keys to durability. Proper care of your boots is also essential, especially if you purchase leather boots. 

We know you can’t go to the factory to watch your Ariat, Irish Setter, Carolina, or another brand of boot being made. And we know that customer reviews aren’t a foolproof way to ensure that you purchase durable work boots. They do provide helpful information, though. Your co-workers and friends can also provide valuable input that will help you. 

You can take steps to encourage your boots to last a long time. Keep them clean, allow them to dry thoroughly between wearings, and use oils or creams to condition the uppers

The 5 Best Women’s Work Boots

Danner Women’s Bull Run Moc Toe 6″ Construction Boot

Danner Women’s Bull Run Moc Toe 6″ Construction Boot is a hardworking boot durable and tough enough for long days on construction sites.The Bull Run features a leather rubber, a moc toe and a rubber wedge sole for good traction in oily or damp conditions. This boot is also EH rated for safety.

PROS

• Oil-resistant sole
• EH rated 
• Made in USA with imported materials

CONS

• It is not waterproofed
• There is no safety toe
• Expensive

Muck Boots Hale Multi-Season Women’s Boot

Muck Boots Hale Multi-Season Women’s Boot is a lined waterproof boot that can be worn comfortably on all but the hottest or coldest days of the year. Designed on a women’s-specific last, this tall 13” boot doesn’t gap at the top or slop around on your heel. The boot’s self-cleaning ribbed outsole provides traction without causing you to track mud everywhere you walk.

PROS

• Waterproof
• Self-cleaning ribbed outsole
• Lightweight

CONS

• Again no safety toe
• Footbed is not removable 
• Imported

KEEN Utility Detroit Steel Boot

The KEEN Detroit Mid Steel Work Boot is a leather mid-top shoe with a lugged rubber sole that is oil resistant and slip resistant. The Detroit boot features left and right asymmetrical steel toes, Keen’s patented waterproof breathable membrane, and a removable dual-density EVA insole.

PROS

• Steel toe
• Removable EVA footbed
• Oil resistant

CONS

• Expensive
• Imported

Skechers for Work Women’s Squad Shoe

If you’re looking for black work shoes that are lightweight, flexible and comfortable, these Skechers Squad SR shoes should fit the bill. Styled more like work sneakers than work boots, these shoes look casual, but are made to keep your feet comfortable on the job.

The memory foam insole provides cushiony comfort and the non-slip sole gives traction. They are 100% synthetic, and as no animal products are used in these shoes, they are vegan friendly.

PROS

• Lightweight
• Comparatively inexpensive

CONS

• Insole is not removable
• Imported

Justin Boots Women’s Collection 8″ Soft Toe

The Gypsy boot by Justin is a mid-calf boot with a 1.5” heel and a sturdy ½ inch platform. This leather boot with a rounded toe comes in a variety of colors. The J-flex comfort system and the removable memory foam insole cushion your feet and keep them comfortable even for long days on the farm or ranch.

PROS

• Removable insole
• Breathable leather
• J-Flex comfort midsole

CONS

• It’s not a safety toe 
• Imported

Customer Impression

Customers rate all of these boots very high for comfort. Combined, these boots have thousands of ratings. In many of those ratings, customers specifically mention how comfortable these boots are. At least a few purchasers declare each one of these boots to be the most comfortable pair they’ve ever owned. 

Justin Boots Women’s Gypsy Collection 8″ Soft Toe

–Besides being comfortable, these Justin boots are stylish and durable.  Many reviewers mention how long these boots last. Some see them as a good value for the money. The most frequent complaint is that the Gypsy runs small. A few customers felt that they had received seconds or used boots because of the way the boots looked when they arrived.

Skechers for Work Women’s Squad SR Food Service Shoe

–Most people love this shoe. They praise how lightweight it is, and appreciate its comfort and are grateful that it’s a slip-on. Most reviewers find that it fits as expected. The shoe’s price makes it a good value. 

Dissatisfied customers mention one frustration much more than anything else–the slip-resistant soles aren’t truly slip-resistant for some people, at least not at first. Some folks wore them a few days and found that they got better, but others did not.

KEEN Women’s Mid Steel Toe Boot

–These are very comfortable boots, certainly. But they are also good-fitting and durable. Satisfied purchasers note that these shoes are good for both indoor and outdoor work or for hiking or yard work. Complaints about this shoe focus on the shoe’s small toe box and generally small size. 

Muck Boots Hale Multi-Season Women’s Boot

–Read through several of the hundreds of reviews for this boot, and you see the words like  “comfortable,” “durable,” and “quality” appear over and over. Most–but not all–people find that these boots stay waterproof for a long time. For most people, the boot is durable and a good value; some purchasers bought a “bad” pair that didn’t last.

Danner Women’s Bull Run Moc Toe 6″ Construction Boot

–This classic Danner wedge-sole work boot is comfortable and stylish. Purchasers appreciate the boot’s fit, even for a fairly narrow foot. The boot’s durability was a difficulty for a few purchasers.

Conclusion

All 5 of the best work boots for women are comfortable and durable. They provide excellent protection and functionality for women working in a variety of professions. The overall top pick is the KEEN Utility Detroit Steel Toe Boot. It’s waterproof and provides the protection of a steel toe. It’s also reasonably priced. The Muck boot is excellent if you need a tall waterproof boot for farm or yard work.

Take a look at the top 5 and try the boot that’s best suited for your work environment. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the best women’s boots for farm work?

The answer to your question depends upon a number of factors. 

• What type of farm is this? Cattle ranches, dairy farms, horse farms and truck farms present a wide variety of terrain and a host of different situations that require a sturdy work boot for a hard-working female. If you’ll be walking through damp fields early in the morning to check crops, your best bet will probably be a waterproof rubber boot like a Muck boot or a Croc boot. Boots like these–especially if they are knee-length–are also excellent for mucking out stalls or bathing cows or horses.  If you’re a cowgirl inspecting fences or rounding up cattle, you’ll want a comfy western boot that you can ride in all day.
• What farm jobs occupy most of your time? If you own a small spread or keep a small dairy herd, you’ll probably need 2 pairs of work boots–one for wet chores and one for dry ones–since you’re likely to handle virtually every farm chore occasionally, even if you have hired hands. 
• Do you need any special features in your boots? A short pull-on boot you can get on and off quickly? Do you need the protection of a safety toe? Or do you live in a cold climate and require an insulated boot for winter wear? Are you a barn hand whose boots must have non-slip soles.

Answering these questions first will guide you toward the type of boot that will have the features you need. Then you can factor in more subjective things like color, price and brand. 

Several friends are telling me that women’s Justin work boots are terrific boots. Do you agree?

Justin manufactures several lines of women’s work boots that come in a wide range of styles. If you need waterproof boots or boots with a met guard and a composite toe, Justin has them. Most of their women’s boots get good reviews, too, so Justin is a solid option. 

Here are some other relevant facts about Justin boots.

• Nearly all of their women’s boots feature some decorative stitching that enhances the look of the boots. 
• Justin’s known for its cowboy boots. Most of the women’s boots are cowboy boots. Many feature the iconic square or pointed toe of a cowboy boot.
• Justin does make lace-up work boots for women. Most are high-top work boots with rounded toes and lugged soles. A few provide rubberized toe guards and safety toes for extra protection. 
• Several women’s styles are sturdy enough to be worn by ironworkers or construction crews. They feature non-slip soles, steel toes, EH protection and comfort insoles.
• Justin boots are not cheap. They are a bit more expensive than some similar boot brands, but comparable to many boots that provide similar features.
• Some, but not all, Justin boots are still made in the USA. If this matters to you, you’ll need to look for styles that specifically say they are American-made. 

What are a few of the best options for plantar fasciitis?

If you are dealing with the discomfort of plantar fasciitis, you need footwear that has lots of cushion and shock absorption, along with a durable, chunky heel and great arch support. It’s also critical that you get boots that fit well and are comfortable. If the boots feel great right out of the box, that’s a tremendous bonus.

All of these factors help are important because they help alleviate the pressure along the bottom of your feet and lessen the likelihood of searing pain that’s commonly associated with plantar fasciitis.

Here are a few boots that are frequently recommended when people ask the same question you did.

• Timberland Women’s White Ledge Mid Ankle Boot 
• KEEN Utility Women’s Canby AT Waterproof Industrial and Construction Shoe
• Twisted X Women’s Distressed All Around Barn Boot Round Toe

The Timberland and Keen boots are waterproof mid-ankle boots with a shaft approximately 5” tall from the arch. Both are leather lace-up hiking boots with lugged soles, well-padded insoles and shock-absorbing midsoles. The Twisted X boot is a ladies’ western slip-on boot with a 9-inch shaft and a breathable lining that wicks moisture. The thick rubber sole is slip-resistant. 

All of these are good work boot options for women who are standing all day or working long hours while facing the difficulty of plantar fasciitis.   

What are the best women’s safety shoes for concrete floors?

Concrete is smooth and hard. These traits make it a favorite material for the floors of large factories, small welding shops, and companies of almost any size.

However, these characteristics make concrete a difficult surface for the people who stand or walk on it for several hours a day.  One reason is that concrete becomes very slippery when it gets wet or oily and is a slipping hazard. The hardness of concrete leads to painful feet, especially if your work boots don’t provide much shock absorption. 

Here are the features your work boots need if you work on a concrete floor.

• A slip-resistant sole. The soles that are lugged or grooved often work well. Others prefer a wedge sole that allows more surface area of the sole to contact the floor. Generally, a thick outsole is better for concrete than a thin one is. The thick sole provides some cushioning.
• Lots of cushion and shock-absorption in the midsole and insole. These features disperse the pressure and make the concrete less hard on your feet, ankles, knees and back. 
• Lightweight boots are better. Assuming that other features are equal, a lightweight pair of boots is preferable to a heavy pair, especially if you stand on concrete. The extra weight of heavy boots increases the stress and strain on your feet.

Timberland, Wolverine, Red Wing and Carolina make lightweight boots with wedge or lugged soles that perform well for women who work on concrete.