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Cowboy boots aren’t just for riding horses; they’ve evolved into everyday footwear and rugged work boots. Square-toe cowboy boots are popular because they look good and have a roomier toe box. In this article, we pick our favorite square-toe work boots and explain why we chose them.
Bootmakers provide workers with a wide variety of brands, features, and styles of western work boots to choose from. We’ve scoured the market and selected the best square-toe cowboy work boots.
Update: I may have to amend my list to include the Marshall 11″ pull-on steel toe waterproof work boots made by Irish Setter. I’m trying these work boots, and so far, they are impressive.
Ariat Men’s Sierra Wide Square Steel Toe Work Boot
The Ariat Sierra steel toe work boots are comfortable and look good, but they are, first and foremost, work boots. They are made from 100 percent top-grade leather, and the shaft is short and flexible.
It is only 10″ tall, so if you need protection above mid-calf, these aren’t the boots for you.
Check out the various Sierra Steel-Toe boot styles and colors on Ariat’s website.
If you look closely, you will notice the vamp has an extra layer of leather near where your pants meet the boots. The additional leather provides extra foot protection.
The Ariat Sierra boots are water-resistant and keep your feet pretty dry in most environments. The sole is marginally slip-resistant. It holds up reasonably well, but you must be careful walking on oil and water.
Ariat’s steel toe design is unobtrusive and allows plenty of room for your toes. The Sierras’ Duratread sole is durable and lasts a long time. However, it doesn’t grip as well as the gum soles on the Ariat steel-toe Ramblers. Ariat’s steel toe design is unobtrusive.
What I like about the Ariat Men’s Sierra Wide Square Steel Toe Work Boot
- Soft leather 10″ shaft
- Comfortable insoles with moisture wicking
- Made of high-quality leather
Overall impression
The Ariat Sierra boots are durable and made with high-quality material, yet they are still comfortable cowboy boots that you can wear all day. The leather exterior and steel toe protect your feet, and the sole is sufficient for walking over most slippery substances, but it’s not too aggressive. Overall, these are great work boots, especially if you need steel-toe boots for your job.
Note: If you prefer Ariat boots, I suggest you go directly to the bootmaker’s website, where you can find the latest models often at the best prices. Here is a link to Ariat’s website: workboots.
Customer reviews
Here is a link so you can read what others have to say about these boots:
Ariat Rambler Wide Square Toe Western Cowboy Boot
Ariat began designing boots for equestrians, but they also are premier makers of western work boots. The Ramblers are a prime example of Ariat’s superior work boots designs.
These boots are made from large pieces of quality leather. Because they use single sections of leather over large portions of the boots, there are fewer seams and better protection for your feet.
The large swaths of leather that make up the shaft are held together with external stitches, so your legs don’t rub on interior seams. The square toe provides an excellent toe box room, and the vamp is constructed with durable yet lightweight leather.
If you work in a hot environment, you will appreciate the coolness of the Ramblers’ lightweight leather. These boots are also extraordinarily comfortable.
They have a supportive gel insole and a fully welted sole. Welted boots are made by attaching the sole to a strip of leather that runs around the outside of the boot (the welt) rather than the lining. This makes boots more durable, waterproof, and lasting.
The Rambler cowboy boots have a moisture-wicking footbed that helps to keep your feet comfortable and dry throughout the long days of summer. And the forked shank and cushioned footbed provide additional stability and comfort for those who work on their feet.
What I like about Rambler Wide Square Toe Western Cowboy Boot
- The wide opening of the shank allows you to slide your foot in and out quickly.
- The leather craftsmanship
- The comfort of the footbed
Overall impression
The Ariat Rambler wide square-toe western cowboy boots are exceptional work boots. Even for their current price of nearly $150, they are still a bargain. Ariat also makes the Rambler Recon with steel toes and super slip-resistant soles.
Customer reviews
Over 2,000 Amazon customers have reviewed these Ariat Rambler Wide Square Toe Western Cowboy Boots and rated them 4.5 out of 5 stars. Here is a link to those customer reviews so you can find out for yourself why they like the boots so much:
Justin Original Work Boots Men’s Stampede Pull-On Square Toe Work Boot
Justin boot company’s Original series of work boots come in various styles, but all are made with the same exacting standards. They have an attractive stitching design, steel shanks, and complete welt construction.
All Justin Original boots are made using high-quality treated leather. The leather treatment makes the Justin Original boots flame-resistant, and the boots also are made with heat-rated outsoles.
The soles can withstand heat and have an exceptional grip to help keep you upright even in the slipperiest conditions. The shaft on the square toe model is 10.5 inches tall, and the boot has a 1.5-inch heel.
Justin Original Men’s Stampede Square Toe Work Boots are attractive blackened oil leather with tan stitching. The boots are comfortable and durable yet retain their western style.
Justin uses their specially designed J-flex comfort system to deliver the best feeling boots to workers who must be on their feet for extended periods. Justin offers a few different shaft styles in their Stampede line, so check them out; I’m sure there is a pair that’ll fit your needs.
What I like about the Justin Original Men’s Stampede Square Toe Work Boots
- Safety design
- The rugged look of the boots
- Handcrafted
Overall impression
Justin puts a lot of attention on safety when designing these boots, but they didn’t sacrifice style. The Justin Original Men’s Stampede Square Toe Work Boots look good, feel good, and can stand up to abuse.
Customer reviews
More than 400 Amazon customers reviewed the Justin Original Men’s Stampede Square Toe Work Boots and rated them 4.4 out of 5 stars. Here is a link so you can read the reviews:
Justin Original Work Men’s Hybred Comp Toe
The Justin Originals are so good we had to include two models. The Hybred Composite Toe has all the safety features found in the Stampede and contains a protective covering for your toes. I like the short shaft on these boots; they’re a bit cooler for working long, hot days.
The toe box is roomy, and the shaft is decorated with elaborate stitching. The Justin Hybred is a very durable yet attractive boot that you will want to wear everywhere. However, they are built for work; the boots have durable rubber non-slip soles, composite toes, and comfortable insoles.
These are great boots to wear working construction, in a plant, or if you work around horses.
What we like about the Justin Original Men’s Hybred Comp Toe
- Protective toe made of composite material
- Short, wide shaft opening for easy slip-on and slip-off
- Durable non-slip rubber soles
- The Justin brand
Overall impression
The Justin Hybred boots are well made and include every safety most workers need. They’re incredibly comfortable and attractive enough to wear outside of work. Justin ropers are our favorite horseback riding boots, and these work boots are top quality as well.
Customer reviews
Amazon customers rated Justin Original Men’s Hybred Comp Toe boots 4.1 out of 5 stars, which I found surprisingly low. Since my curiosity was piqued, I read some negative reviews to see the customers’ concerns.
I found that most complaints were with the boot sizing and not the quality of the craftsmanship or materials. I didn’t find the boots to be sized wrong, but it is something you should consider. Here is a link to the reviews so you can take read their concerns:
Wolverine Men’s Rancher 10″ Square Toe Steel Toe Work Boot
I like Wolverine Men’s Rancher 10″ Square Toe Steel Toe Work Boot because it’s a solid work boot, but for less than $100, there was no way I would leave it off our list of best square toe work boots. I don’t have a pair of these boots, so I relied on one of my friends who swears by them to help with this review.
Wolverine makes high-quality work boots, and these are no exception. They are made with 100 percent leather and have a non-slip synthetic sole. For the price, they are extremely comfortable and durable.
They are made with Goodyear welt construction, and steel toe features usually found in much more expensive boots. These Wolverines have a removable OrthoLite insole and moisture-wicking lining to keep your feet dry.
What I like about the Wolverine Rancher Square Toe Steel Toe Work Boot
- Price, Price, and Price
- 100 percent leather construction
- Rubber outsoles
- Goodyear welting
Overall impression
For the price, you can’t beat the Wolverine Ranchers. They have all the safety features you need and are well-made from 100 percent leather.
Customer reviews
Almost 900 customers provide reviews of the Wolverine Ranchers and rate the boots 4.4 out of 5 stars. Here is a link so you can read the good and bad reviews before you decide on the boots that will be the best for you:
Wrap Up
I wear square-toe work boots daily and have a few different styles. My favorites are Ariat Steel -Toe Workhogs. I’ve had them for at least seven years and wear them in all kinds of conditions, and they still look pretty good.
If I get them wet, I typically wipe them down with a cloth and coat them with a thin coat of mink oil overnight. If there is excess oil on the boots in the morning, I wipe it off, but it’s rare because the boots will usually absorb the oil.
The downside to the boots is that I can’t ride in them because they are too broad for stirrups and will get hung up. So if you’re looking for square-toe boots to wear horseback riding, these are not the ones for you.
Below is a helpful YouTube video about square-toe cowboy boots.
Are square-toe boots more comfortable?
Yes, square-toe boots offer a broader toe box than traditional round-toe styles. This gives your toes more room. Square toe boots are an excellent choice for anyone looking for a comfortable, supportive cowboy boot.
Can people with wide feet wear cowboy boots?
Yes, If you have wide feet, you may have trouble finding boots that fit comfortably. However, square-toe cowboy boots are designed to offer more room in the toe area, making them a good option for people with wide feet.
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I love animals! Especially horses, I’ve been around them most of my life but I am always learning more and enjoy sharing with others. I have bought, sold, and broke racehorse yearlings. I have raised some winning horses and had some that didn’t make it as racehorses, so we trained them in other disciplines.