12 Best Pull On Square Toe Work Boots [Steel & Soft Toe] | Workwear Command (2024)

In this article we discuss the best pull on square toe work boots (if you want lace-up, visit our article about the bestlace up square toe boots). I’ve been using the Irish Setter Marshall boots listed below because I love how comfortable they are. They are lighter-in-weight than most other safety-toe pull-on boots, and they provide the waterproof protection I need (they are also offered in soft toe).

*This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (info)

These are our choices for best square toe pull on work boots:

1. Tecovas Men’s “The Midland” Broad Square Toe Work Boots (click here to view)
2. Irish Setter Work Men’s Marshall Square Toe Steel Toe Work Boot (click here to view)
3. Tecovas Men’s “The Doc” Broad Square Toe Ranch Work Boots (click here to view)
4. ARIAT Mens Groundbreaker Wide Square Toe H2O Work Boot (click here to view)
5. Wolverine Men’s Rancher 10″ Square Toe Steel Toe Work Boot (click here to view)
6. ARIAT Catalyst VX Waterproof Square Toe Composite Work Boots (click here to view)
7. Carolina Men’s Actuator Composite Pull-On Square Toe Boots (click here to view)
8. Dan Post Men’s Blayde Square Toe Work Boot (click here to view)
9. ARIAT Workhog Wide Square Toe Leather Work Boots (click here to view)
10. Durango Maverick XP Ventilated Western Work Boot (click here to view)
11. *Women’s* ARIAT Krista Waterproof Steel Toe Work Boot (click here to view)
12. *Women’s* Masterson Square Toe Western Cowgirl Work Boot (click here to view)

This list contains both safety toe and soft toe work boots. I personally have to use a steel toe boot, and that is one of the main reasons I use the Irish Setter Marshall boots because they have a lightweight design that helps keep the weight down despite being steel toe. Those boots are also offered in plain toe.

Also, do you need waterproof protection for your square toe boots? Not all waterproof boots are made the same. Some boots will just use waterproof leather and a seam-sealed construction (but not have an actual waterproof membrane). My Irish Setter Marshall boots on our list above have both waterproof leather and a waterproof membrane.

In this article let’s take a closer look at the best pull on square toe work boots on this list so you can find an option that fits your needs. Let’s also discuss a few things you will want to consider when buying these type of work boots. If you are interested in loggers, visit our article about the best square toe logger boots.

Best Square Toe Work Boots

Irish Setter Work Men’s Marshall Square Toe Boots

Irish Setter boots are owned by Red Wing Shoe Company, which has been making premium footwear since 1905.Red wing Shoe Company is based out of Red Wing, Minnesota. The Irish Setter brand was formed in the 1950s and has established itself as a premium boot brand for both outdoor boots and work boots.

These are easily the most comfortable pull on work boots I’ve ever worn. I wear the safety toe version and they are still reasonably lightweight thanks to Irish Setter using a lightweight composite material (known as Rubber RPM) for the outsole of the boot (I also own the Wolverine Rancher boots which are even lighter in weight than these Irish Setter boots).

These are the pull on square toe work boots that I use the most. Here’s what mine look like:

See Also

7 Best Square Toe Work Boots for Comfort and Durability10 Best Square Toe Work Boots in 2023 - Work Boots GuruWhy Do Boots Have Square Toes? (Pros and Cons) | Work GearzSquare Toe Vs Round Toe Cowboy Boots | Work Gearz

This is the current price of these Irish Setter Marshall pull on square toe work boots (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:

• Safety – The version linked above is the steel toe version. These boots also come in a soft toe version. I personally use the steel toe boots that also have a steel shank (a shank is a supportive piece between the outsole and insole of the boot that provide underfoot protection). Click here to view the current price of the soft toe version (affiliate link takes you to Irishsetter.com).

• Design – These are 11-inch boots that will fit up near your calf. They are made with full-grain leather uppers and heat-resistant outsoles. They have removable footbeds making it easy to clean and/or swap them when needed. These are square-toe boots. They have a western design.

• Waterproof – Yes, these are waterproof boots. They are made using Irish Setter’s “UltraDry” Waterproofing system, which includes a breathable waterproof membrane. I have found these boots to be effective at keeping my feet dry while working in a wet environment. Here’s a look at the lining in my boots:

• Weight – Sometimes pull on steel toe work boots can be too heavy. As I discussed above, one cool thing that Irish Setter has done with these boots is to use a composite material (known as Rubber RPM) for the outsole of the boot. This composite material helps reduce the weight of the boot. This material for the outsole is engineered to provide the durability and strength of traditional materials, without the extra weight. My size 12 Regular weighs only 2.41 pounds:

Overall, I love the design of these boots. They are durable and dependable, and the waterproof construction helps keep my feet dry in wet environments. Again, I wear the steel toe version, but you can buy these boots in a plain toe.

Click here to buy these Irish Setter Marshall pull-on boots (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots. In my experience, these fit true to size. To read more about sizing, visit our Irish Setter Boot Sizing Guide.

Wolverine Men’s Rancher 10″ Pull On Steel Toe Work Boot

Wolverine is another well-known name for work boots and they make a wide range of boots including pull on steel toe boots. Here’s what these Wolverine Men’s Rancher work boots look like:

This is the current price of these Wolverine Rancher pull on steel toe work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:

• Design – These are 10-inch boots that will fit up near the calf muscle. They are made with 100% leather uppers and, yes, have a square-toe design. Goodyear welt construction.

• Safety – These are pull-on steel-toe boots. They also have a slip-resistant outsole.

• Summer – These boots have a moisture wicking mesh lining that can help pull sweat away from your body to help keep your feet cool and dry in the summer heat.

These are another good option if you need a safety toe boot that doesn’t weigh you down like a brick. My size 12 regular weighs 2.22 pounds:

I wear a lot of Wolverine boots so I decided to give the Rancher a try, and I was a bit surprised that it actually weighed less than my Irish Setter Marshall boot. For some reason, the Irish Setter Marshall boot when it’s on my foot feels lighter in weight.

This Wolverine boot does have the waterproof protection I need, including a waterproof liner to keep my feet dry.

As I said earlier in the article, I personally love the Irish Setter Marshall boots, but I really like these Wolverine boots as a more budget-friendly alternative.

Click here to buy these Wolverine Rancher pull-on boots at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide and extra-wide sizing is available for these boots.

Ariat Men’s Groundbreaker H2O Pull On Work Boots

Ariat is a well-known footwear company that strives to build high-performing and innovative footwear for all types of work environments. The Ariat Men’s Groundbreaker Boots are pull on square toe work boots that also have a waterproof barrier.

Here’s what these soft toe boots look like:

This is the current price of these Ariat square toe work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:

• Material – These boots are made using leather uppers with a suede shaft. The shaft measures 10.5 inches with a 1.25 inch heel.

• Waterproof – These are waterproof work boots. Not only are they made using waterproof leather but they also have a breathable waterproof lining to help keep your feet dry.

• Comfort – These boots are designed to provide maximum comfort. They use a wide square toe for extra toe space, and also have a four layer footbed that helps provide extra cushioning and rebound. A lightweight shank helps keep the overall weight of the boot down a little bot.

Click here to buy these Ariat square toe boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots.

Other Square Toe Work Boots to Consider

• ARIAT Catalyst VX Waterproof Square Toe Composite Work Boots – Another square toe boot by Ariat that is a great option if you need a composite safety toe. Waterproof protection to help keep your feet dry. What stands out the most about this boot is the extra shin guard, heel guard, and toe guard that not only help protect you, but also helps the boot hold up longer. Click here to view the boots at Ariat.com (affiliate link takes you to Ariat.com).

• Carolina Men’s Anchor Toe Pull-On Square Toe Boots – These are soft toe boots, but Carolina also offers these boots in a composite toe version. These boots have a waterproof liner and removable footbeds. The shaft measures 10 inches and the boots are built using a welt construction using EVA midsole and non-metallic shank. Click here to view these Carolina pull on work boots (affiliate link takes you to carolinashoe.com).

• Dan Post Men’s Blayde Square Toe Work Boot – Dan Post Boots emphasizes “Handcrafted Cushion Comfort”. These square toe boots are made with leather uppers and has a waterproof bootie for dry protection. Their removable orthotics are anti-microbial to help reduce odor (and you can wash them). This is a plain toe work boots. Click here to view these Dan Post work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

• *Women’s* ARIAT Krista Waterproof Steel Toe Work Boot – If you are shopping for women’s square toe work boots, these ARIAT Krista boots are a great option. These are safety toe work boots that also have waterproof protection to help keep your feet dry. Available in wide sizes and have four layer footbeds that help provide extra cushioning. Click here to view these women’s square toe work boots at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

4 Things to Consider When Buying Square Toe Work Boots

Weight

As I mentioned above, the weight of pull on boots can be an issue at times. Some brands will use synthetic outsoles to help keep weight down (instead of rubber). This is why I use the Irish Setter Marshall boots because I have found that composite outsole helps control the weight of the boot.

And there are also certain types of boots that use a combination of leather and textile for the upper. This combination helps keep the weight down while still being durable.

Wedge outsoles also sometimes help reduce weight (although it can vary by brand). To see options, visit our article about the best wedge sole pull on work boots.

Waterproof

If you’re shopping for square toe waterproof boots, please understand that not all waterproof boots are made equal. Some boots will just use waterproof leather and a seam-sealed construction (but not have an actual waterproof membrane).

The advantage of a membrane is that, yes, it’s an extra barrier between your foot and moisture. But one drawback is waterproof membranes trap heat.

Most companies do the best they can to make these membranes breathable, but even though they are designed to be breathable, they will trap some heat. This basically means that when if you use these boots during the summer when it isn’t wet, your feet might be too hot.

For the most waterproof protection possible, you will definitely want a waterproof membrane. But if you are concerned about heat being an issue, a compromise might be to buy a boot that is made using waterproof leather, but doesn’t have the extra waterproof membrane. To read more visit our article about the best waterproof pull on work boots.

If you are working in extreme winter conditions and need a pull on work boot, visit our article about the best insulated pull on work boots. For a raised heel, visit our article about the best pull on logger boots.

Manufacturing Origin

Most work boots on the market today are imported, including most square toe boots. If you want to buy a pull on boot that is made here in the USA, you do have some options. To browse through those options, and to read more, visit our article about the best pull on work boots made in the USA.

Toe Overlay

Some work boots (like the Ariat Catalyst pull on boots in our list) will have a rubber overlay that covers the toe of the boot and adds extra abrasion resistance. Those ARIAT Catalyst square toe work boots also have rubber guards over the shin and heel for extra abrasion resistance.

This can be helpful and help extend the life of your work boots. As you probably know, it is very easy to damage the front of a work boot, and these overlays help prevent that.