If you need safety or steel toe dress shoes for work, the good news is you do have several options. These options include slip-on safety and steel toe loafers, as well as more traditional, lace-up safety and steel toe oxfords.
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These are our choices for the best safety toe dress shoes:
- *STEEL* Rockport Dressports Men’s Steel Toe Oxford (click here to view)
- *ALLOY* Timberland PRO Men’s Branston Safety Work Shoe (click here to view)
- *STEEL* Florsheim Work Men’s Bayside Steel Toe Loafers (click here to view)
- *STEEL* Caterpillar Men’s Oversee Steel Toe Work Shoe (click here to view)
- *STEEL* Florsheim Work Men’s Loedin Steel Toe Dress Shoe (click here to view)
- *ALLOY* Timberland PRO Men’s TiTAN® Safety Toe Oxford (click here to view)
- *STEEL* Thorogood Men’s Uniform Classics Steel Toe Oxford (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Rockport Top Shore Steel Toe Work Shoe (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Timberland PRO Riveter Alloy Toe Work Shoe (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Ariat Steel Toe Safety Clog (click here to view)
The most important issue when selecting a safety toe work shoe is to confirm that it meets the safety requirements for your job. This list contains both steel toe and alloy toe dress shoes. If you prefer oxford style only, visit our article about the best steel toe oxford shoes.
Please note that steel toe and alloy toe (despite both being safety toes) will not necessarily meet the same safety standards. In general, steel toes shoes are considered to be safer, but more uncomfortable to wear.
Our advice is to make sure you confirm that the specific shoe you purchase does meet the necessary safety standards for your job. Not only does this help protect you from harm, it also prevents you from buying shoes that your job won’t allow you to use.
In this article let’s take a closer look at the best safety toe dress shoes so you can find a style that fits your needs. Let’s start by discussing a few issues you will want to consider prior to purchase. For other options, visit our article about the best lightweight steel toe shoes.
4 Things to Consider When Buying Safety Toe Dress Shoes
Style
Do you prefer a loafer style slip-on dress shoe, or a lace-up oxford shoe? In general, there is a wide range of safety toe options for both lace-up and slip-on dress shoes.
The loafer style tends to be a bit more comfortable and easy to slip on and off, but the lace-up oxfords will offer a bit more control and support. This will likely just come down to your own personal preference.
Toe Type
The most important decision when choosing a safety toe work boots is deciding what type of protective toe you need. This will be determined by the safety requirements of your job.
You can buy both steel toe dress shoes and lighter-weight alloy toe dress shoes. In general, expect steel toes to offer more protection, but they can also be heavy and uncomfortable to wear at times.
But the added weight of a steel toe is a bigger issue for work boots since boots are bulky and heavy to begin with. Sometimes steel toe work boots can get uncomfortably heavy.
Because dress shoes aren’t as big as work boots, the weight of the shoe should not be that big of an issue. Yes, steel toe shoes will be noticeably heavier that plain toe shoes, but likely the weight will be tolerable in most cases.
Moisture Wicking
Do you work in a hot environment? If so, a moisture-wicking liner on the inside of your work shoes can help keep your feet dry and wick away sweat. Many, but not all, work shoes will come with a moisture-wicking liner.
Some shoes will also have anti-microbial treatment to help prevent and control odors that come from sweaty work shoes. Timberland PRO shoes use anti-microbial treatment.
Metal Free
Do you need metal free work shoes? Certain work environments may even require non-metallic work shoes to help reduce shock risk.
Obviously, toe type will factor into this, but there are other components of a work shoe (like the shank) that contain metal. Many work shoes use a steel shank for extra support, but there are also non-metallic options (like fiberglass) used in certain types of work boots and shoes.
Best Safety & Steel Toe Dress Shoes and Loafers
Rockport Dressports Men’s Steel Toe Oxford
Rockport makes ultra comfortable dress shoes that can be used in an office or business-casual environment. They also make safety toe dress shoes.
Rockport distinguishes itself by prioritizing comfort in a way other brands just don’t. They aim to merge the comfort of athletic shoes with the sophisticated look of dress and casual styles.
This is what the Rockport Dressports Men’s Steel Toe Wingtips look like:
This is the current price of these Rockport steel toe dress shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shoes:
- Material – The 100% leather upper of this stylish wing-tip shoe features broguing and a lace-up front.
- Comfort – As mentioned earlier, Rockport prides itself on merging the comfort of athletic shoes with the style of dress shoes. One cool thing is this shoe features AdiPrene® technology by Adidas, which provides superior cushioning by absorbing impact forces with its rebounding heel pad. This shoe also has an anti-slip pigskin heel counter that helps prevents painful rubbing.
- Moisture Management – A moisture-wicking nylon mesh lining keeps your feet dry and comfortable all day which might be helpful in a hot production environment.
- Safety Features – These are steel toe shoes with a rubber sole that is slip- and oil-resistant.
Click here to buy these Rockport steel toe wingtips available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.
Timberland PRO Men’s Branston Safety Toe Loafers
If you prefer more of a loafer style for your dress shoes, these Timberland PRO Branston shoes might be a nice option.
Please note that these are not steel toe loafers – these shoes use an alloy safety toe. Alloy is lighter in weight, and often more comfortable to wear, but you’ll need to confirm it meets the safety standards required for your job.
Here’s what these Timberland PRO Branston shoes look like:
This is the current price of these Timberland PRO alloy toe dress shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shoes:
- Material – This slip-on loafer’s premium, 100% full-grain leather construction offers both exceptional comfort and abrasion resistance.
- Comfort – The cement construction offers flexibility and helps to lessen break-in time. Concealed goring insets allow the shoe to give, fitting a wider array of foot sizes and widths. Padded top collar for added comfort. Anti-fatigue technology keeps you light on your feet by absorbing shock and returning energy back to the foot.
- Odor Control – One thing I always like about Timberland PRO work boots and shoes is they treat their shoes with antimicrobial treatment that helps prevent and control odors.
- Safety Features – These shoes have an alloy safety toe. The synthetic sole is both oil- and slip-resistant. Fiberglass shank.
Click here to buy these Timberland PRO alloy toe shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.
Caterpillar Men’s Oversee Steel Toe Work Shoe
Caterpillar is well-known for making industrial workwear, and they do offer oxford style steel toe dress shoes. Here’s what these Caterpillar Men’s Oversee Steel Toe Work Shoes look like:
This is the current price of these Caterpillar work shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shoes:
- Material – The 100% leather upper of this traditional lace-up Oxford offers superior durability that you can count on. Stylish enough for an office environment, yet safe enough for the worksite, this shoe provides the versatility you need.
- Comfort – Your foot will remain comfortable and dry day after day thanks to the ultra-breathable moisture-wicking liner. A dual-density EVA footbed provides exceptional cushioning.
- Protection – This is a steel toe work shoe. The rubber outsole resists oil, water, and abrasions while reducing the risk of slips and falls on surfaces with low traction.
Click here to buy these Caterpillar steel toe dress shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.
Florsheim Work Men’s Bayside Steel Toe Loafers
If you are looking for steel toe loafers, these Florsheim shoes are a great option. Remember, the Timberland loafers we covered earlier were alloy toe, not steel toe. If you need a steel toe loafer, these may be you best option.
Here’s what these Florsheim Work Men’s Bayside Steel Toe Loafers look like:
This is the current price of these Florsheim steel toe loafers available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shoes:
- Material – The durable leather upper construction of this slip-on shoe lends it a sophisticated silhouette that allows you to seamlessly flow from work environment to office environment.
- Comfort – This shoe’s moisture-wicking nylon mesh lining pulls sweat away so you can enjoy a dry, comfortable foot all day. These shoes have a fully-cushioned, memory foam footbed that ensures lasting support and comfort.
- Protection – A rubber outsole that is oil- and slip-resistant. These are steel toe loafers.
Click here to buy these Florsheim steel toe loafers available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.
Other Alloy and Steel Toe Dress Shoes to Consider
- Florsheim Work Men’s Loedin Steel Toe Shoes – These Florsheim shoes are lace-up, steel toe oxfords. They have removable insoles that can be cleaned or swapped. Full grain leather uppers with a slip-resistant outsole. Click here to view these shoes at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Thorogood Men’s Uniform Classics Steel Toe Oxford – Thorogood is a trusted name for work boots, and they also make these steel toe oxford uniform shoes. These shoes are made with leather uppers and also have a steel shank for extra support under the foot. Click here to view these steel toe dress shoes at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Timberland PRO Men’s TiTAN® Safety Toe Oxford – If you are looking for an oxford style dress shoe that has an alloy toe, these might be a nice option. Alloy is lighter in weight, but you’ll need to confirm it meets your safety requirements. These shoes have leather uppers with a padded collar and slip-resistant outsoles. Click here to view these shoes at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
Best Women’s Steel Toe Dress Shoes
Rockport Women’s Top Shore Steel Toe Work Shoes
These Rockport Women’s Top Shore work shoes are steel toe slip-on loafers. Here’s what these shoes look like:
This is the current price of these Rockport women’s steel toe dress shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These shoes are made with leather uppers, a slip-resistant outsole, and have memory foam footbeds for comfort.
If you are looking for a women’s alloy toe work shoe, I’d recommend the Timberland PRO Riveter Work Shoe. Click here to view this safety toe dress shoe at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
