There may not be a large selection of composite toe work boots made in the USA, but the good news is, your options come from well-known, trusted boot brands. American made boots, yes, may be more expensive than imported boots, but typically last longer and are more dependable.
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These are our choices for the best composite toe boots made in the USA:
- Keen Utility Men’s Portland 6″ Composite Toe Waterproof Boots (click here to view)
- Thorogood Men’s American Heritage 6″ Emperor Comp Toe (click here to view)
- Keen Utility Men’s Dover 6″ Waterproof Composite Toe Boots (click here to view)
- Danner Men’s Quarry USA 8″ 400G NMT-M (click here to view)
- Carolina Sarge Lo Composite Toe Work Boots (click here to view)
Composite toe boots are popular because they offer toe protection without the many drawbacks of steel toe boots.
Of course, it must be noted that steel toe boots do offer more protection than composite toe boots, and ultimately your job requirements will demand which one is best for you.
Not only do composite toe boots make it easier to pass through metal detectors, they also are poor conductors of electricity, and usually weigh less than steel-toe boots.
Wearing steel-toe boots for 8-10 hours on the job can be brutal, and if your job allows comp toe boots, this is a nice way to make your work day a bit more comfortable.
Although the options are somewhat limited for composite toe work boots made in the USA, you do have several options from well-known brands. Let’s take a closer look so you can find the option that works best for you.
Best Composite Toe Work Boots Made in the USA
Keen Utility Men’s Dover 6″ Waterproof Composite Toe Boots
KEEN makes a wide range of footwear, all the way from sandals to work boots. One thing I’ve always liked about KEEN is they build a great heavy-duty work boot.
KEEN does make some (not all) of their boots here in the USA, including these composite toe Dover boots. Here’s what these KEEN boots look like:
This is the current price of these KEEN composite toe USA work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these work boots:
- Material – These boots feature waterproof leather uppers.
- Made in USA – Yes, these are insulated work boots made in USA. They are assembled in Portland, Oregon. When you zoom in on the tongue of these boots, you can see “American Built”.
- Toe Type – Yes, these boots have a composite toe.
- Waterproof – These boots do have a waterproof KEEN.Dry liner to help keep your feet dry while you work.
- Outsole – The outsole on these boots features a 90-degree heel for extra slip protection. The outsole is slip and oil-resistant.
- Unique Details – One thing I’ve always personally liked about KEEN, is on a lot of their work boots, they will wrap the rubber outsole up over the toe to create an overlay for added durability. Just helps the boot last longer in my opinion.
Click here to buy these KEEN composite toe work boots made in the USA available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots.
Danner Men’s Quarry USA 8″ 400G NMT-M
The Danner Quarry boots are rugged, heavy-duty boots. These boots are built for power and durability, and can stand up to some of the toughest work environments.
The Danner Quarry boots are made here in the USA. Here’s what they look like:
This is the current price of these Danner Quarry work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:
- Material – Nubuck leather uppers with a premium Vibram outsole that is durable and slip-resistant.
- Toe Type – These Danner boots are NMT boots, which stands for non-metallic toes (composite).
- Insulation – These boots use 400 grams of 3M Thinsulate for insulation, so these are a nice winter option.
- Waterproof – These boots do have a waterproof GORE-TEX breathable liner to help keep your feet dry while you work.
- USA – Yes, these boots are made in the USA. To see more insulated USA options, visit our article about the best insulated work boots made in the USA.
Here’s a look at my Danner Quarry boots (about 4 years old):
If you work in an environment that demands toughness from boots, the Danner Quarry delivers.
The Quarry is made with premium materials, including rugged hardware that lasts (still my original laces):
This Quarry boot uses what is called a “610 last”. A last is a foot-shaped mold that helps determine the shape and fit of a boot.
- The 610 Last used for this boot is Danner’s most universal last and can be worn by many different types and shapes of feet.
According to Danner, this 610 last type is industry standard made true-to-size and has a relatively broad and deep toe box area, which provides more volume in the forefoot and toe.
Click here to buy these Danner Quarry work boots at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots.
KEEN Utility Men’s Portland 6″ Composite Toe Work Boots
This boot is another KEEN composite toe boot made in the USA. Here’s what these KEEN Composite Toe Portland Boots look like:
This is the current price of these KEEN composite toe work boots made in the USA (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:
- Material – These boots feature waterproof leather uppers.
- Made in USA – Yes, these boots are made in USA. They are assembled in Portland, Oregon. When you zoom in on the tongue of these boots, you can see “American Built”.
- Waterproof – These boots do have a waterproof KEEN.Dry liner to help keep your feet dry while you work.
- Toe Type – Yes, these boots have a composite toe.
- Outsole – The outsole on these boots features a 90-degree heel for extra slip protection. The outsole is slip and oil-resistant.
- Toe Overaly – Just like the first KEEN boots, these boots wrap the rubber outsole up over the toe to create an overlay for added durability.
What makes these boots different than the first pair of KEEN boots, is you will notice at the end of the laces, KEEN has a flex pattern (known as KEEN.BELLOWS FLEX technology) that allows the boot to easily flex and bend.
If you are someone who bends and kneels a lot at work and needs flexibility, these might be your best option.
Click here to buy these KEEN composite toe work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots.
Thorogood Men’s American Heritage 8″ Round Toe Composite Toe Boot
Thorogood makes some of the best work boots on the market, and I’ve worn Thorogood wedge boots for several years. One thing I like is they still produce a lot of their boots here in the USA (including these boots).
Here’s what these Thorogood American Heritage work boots look like:
This is the current price of these Thorogood composite toe work boots made in the USA (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:
- Material – These Thorogood boots are made with 100% leather uppers.
- Outsole – The boots have a wedge outsole. Wedge outsoles usually increase comfort, but because they don’t have deep lug patterns, they are often better served for flat terrain like concrete, plywood, or packed dirt etc.
- Comfort – These boots combine the comfortable wedge sole with removable shock-absorbing footbeds to provide cushioning and comfort.
- Made in the USA – These boots are made in the USA by union workers. To see more USA wedge options, visit our article about the best wedge boots made in the USA.
- Toe Type – Yes, these are composite toe wedge work boots.
Click here to buy these Thorogood composite toe USA work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these boots.
Carolina USA Composite Toe Work Boots
Carolina is another shoe company that still makes several styles of their work boots here in the USA. I always like to recommend Carolina boots to workers looking for USA made boots because, in my experience, Carolina usually has some of the most affordable USA boots.
Buying work boots made in America can be a little pricey at times. Of course, it also usually brings a much better quality to the work boot.
If you really prefer wearing USA made work boots, but don’t want to have to spend $250-$500, I’d recommend checking out Carolina boots. If you are shopping for composite toe boots made in the USA, consider these:
- Carolina Men’s Sarge Lo Comp Toe Work Boots – These Carolina work boots have a traditional design. They have a square-heel outsole, and are made with premium leather uppers. These boots can work for both indoor and outdoor trades. Click here to view these Carolina USA boots.
6 Things to Consider When Buying Composite Toe Boots Made in the USA
Outsole
Do you need a traditional outsole that has a square heel (outdoor)? Or will a flat, wedge outsole work better (indoor)?
The traditional square heel boots are built for rugged terrain. The 90-degree heel can help prevent slipping on things like a ladder and uneven terrain. The drawback is they aren’t usually as comfortable as a wedge sole.
The wedge sole is flat, and helps evenly distribute the stress across the bottom of the foot. Most people consider a wedge sole to be more comfortable than a square heel boot, but there are other factors that affect comfort, including brand.
The drawback to wedge is although they usually are slip-resistant, they are best used on smooth surfaces like a factory floor because they don’t have the raised heel to help you find grip on uneven terrain, etc.
Insulated
If you work outside during the winter, insulated boots might be needed. The weight of insulation used can vary boot to boot.
Many work boots will use 400g of insulation, but you can find anything from 200g – 2000g. The weight you need will be determined by activity level, climate, and personal comfort level.
To read more, visit our article about the best insulated composite toe boots.
Shank
If you are interested in composite safety toe boots because you want, or need, no metal whatsoever in your work boots, don’t forget to consider the shank.
A shank is a supportive piece near the midsole of a work boot. Not only does the shank provide support and structure to the boot, it can also offer under-foot pierce protection.
Many heavy-duty boots use steel shanks which provide maximum support and protection, and can handle rigorous work.
Most boot companies know that if you are interested in a composite safety toe, then you probably don’t want a steel shank. Composite toe boots usually have a shank made of fiberglass, nylon, Kevlar, or some other type of non-conductive material, but always double check.
Waterproof
Do you need waterproof protection? Some composite toe boots will be better built to handle the elements than other boots. It is worth considering if you work in wet climates.
To read more, visit our article about the best composite toe waterproof work boots. For indoor/outdoor options, visit our article about the best composite toe hiker work boots.
Toe Overlay
Some of the work boots on our list (KEEN) will not only have a composite safety toe for protection, they will also have a rubber overlay that covers the toe of the boot and adds extra abrasion resistance.
This can be a way to help extend the life of your composite toe boots. As you probably know, it is very easy to damage the front of a work boot, and these overlays help prevent that.
Price
Although buying composite toe boots made in the USA is a way to help ensure you get a quality work boot, it does come at a price. Some composite toe work boots made in the USA can be a bit pricey.
As I mentioned earlier in the article, in my experience, KEEN and Carolina both provide affordable USA boot options, and might be a nice place to start if you are shopping for composite toe boots made in the USA on a tight budget.