This page contains the weight data and photos for the 14 composite toe work shoes we tried when creating our list of best composite toe work shoes. We did not test the crush resistance of any of these shoes; prior to purchase please make sure they meet the safety requirements for your job.
Weight Data for Composite Toe Work Shoes
*Please note that the weight below is based off one size 12 shoe. Shoes ranked by weight.
| Shoe Name | Weight (lbs) | |
| 1 | Reebok Sublite Cushion | 0.94 |
| 2 | Rockport Truflex | 0.94 |
| 3 | Reebok Astroride Strike | 0.99 |
| 4 | Reebok Fusion Flexweave | 1.01 |
| 5 | Timberland PRO Drivetrain | 1.03 |
| 6 | Danner Run Time | 1.15 |
| 7 | Kodiak Ramble | 1.25 |
| 8 | Caterpillar Streamline | 1.26 |
| 9 | Carhartt Force Nano | 1.28 |
| 10 | New Balance 589 | 1.32 |
| 11 | KEEN Utility Flint 2 Low | 1.38 |
| 12 | Skechers Greetah | 1.60 |
| 13 | Caterpillar Argon | 1.62 |
| 14 | Kodiak Quest Low | 1.69 |
Information About Each Composite Toe Shoe
Reebok Sublite Cushion Composite Toe Work Shoes
I have tried over 20 different comp toe work shoes, and these are my choice for best composite toe work shoe based on comfort and weight. The memory foam insole they use on these shoes (Reebok calls it “Memory Tech Massage”) provides a level of comfort under the foot that none of the other composite toe shoes I tried could match.
These shoes weighed in at 0.94 pounds per shoe for a size 12 M, which made them the lightest (tied) out of all the shoes I weighed, and were my favorite lightweight composite toe shoes. These shoes use microfiber and mesh uppers in combination with foam midsoles to achieve this lightweight design. They also have flex grooves in the outsole to help reduce weight.
The outsole is made of rubber and is slip-resistant. Also, these shoes have both a toe overlay and a heel overlay. Toe overlay helps the front of the shoe hold up longer from being banged around, and the heel overlay adds some protection behind the foot and acts as a kick plate when you take your shoes off. To be fair, the heel overlay does leave a little of the textile fabric exposed.
This shoe is a great indoor shoe, and may also be acceptable for certain light-duty outdoor trades that work on smooth surfaces in dry climates. These shoes are not waterproof. As with all lightweight shoes, the synthetic material can’t take a beating like leather can, which is the tradeoff..
Caterpillar Men’s Streamline Comp Toe Work Shoe
One huge problem with lightweight composite toe shoes is the large majority of options don’t have a raised heel. Instead, they go for an athletic design to maximize comfort and minimize weight. For many jobs, that might be fine, but for those of you who spend all day going up and down a ladder, the raised heel can be an added layer of protection against slipping.
That’s why I like these Caterpillar Streamline Shoes. Yes, they still have a lightweight design that can be used indoors, but these shoes have a couple extra features (including a raised heel) that many other lightweight composite toe work shoes don’t. This allows these Caterpillar Streamline work shoes to fit a wider variety of jobs.
To be clear, this is still a low-profile raised heel – we aren’t talking about an inch heel like you would find on many work boots. So, no, this shoe won’t provide as much slip protection on a ladder that a work boot might, but for some jobs, a squared heel helps, and these Caterpillar Streamline Shoes provide you a raised-heel option that you don’t find in many work shoes. My size 12 regular weighs 1.26 pounds:
Reebok Astroride Strike Work Composite Toe Shoes
These shoes are very similar to the Reebok Sublite shoes we just discussed first, they just use a different type of memory-foam insole, and altogether, weigh a bit more than the Reebok Sublite shoes from earlier. These are also very comfortable, and were probably my second favorite pair of shoes for under-foot comfort.
These shoes weighed in at 0.99 pounds per shoe for a size 12 M, which made them the third lightest out of all the shoes I weighed. Overall, a very lightweight design that does not weigh your foot down. These shoes use synthetic uppers in combination with foam midsoles to achieve this lightweight design.
I felt that these were the second most comfortable composite toe shoes that I tried. The insole is made with memory foam and provides a noticeable cushioning under all parts of the foot. The thick foam midsole helps absorb shock and provide comfort. This shoe is also very flexible and responsive.
The outsole is made of rubber and is slip-resistant. Also, these shoes have both a toe overlay and a heel overlay. Toe overlay helps the front of the shoe hold up longer from being banged around, and the heel overlay adds some protection behind the foot and acts as a kick plate when you take your shoes off.
Rockport Men’s Truflex Composite Toe Work Sneaker
These Rockport shoes tied the Reebok Sublite shoes for the lightest-weight shoe I tested (0.94 pounds per shoe for a size 12 regular). The design is obviously ultra-lightweight and won’t weigh your feet down.
The main drawback here is this is a very simple shoe, built with the goal to deliver a lightweight, comfortable composite toe sneaker that has more of a casual style. This is not a sneaker that prioritizes abrasion resistance and other necessary work shoe qualities (in fairness, it does have heel abrasion reinforcement).
But not every worker out there needs a shoe built for rugged work. These might fit in nicely as business casual work sneakers for those of you who spend part of your day in an office and part of the day on a work floor, and need a composite toe shoe for protection.
These shoes have a comfortable design that feels lightweight on the foot. I also think that these might be the most flexible shoe I tested. Very easy to walk in these shoes. These shoes have Ortholite footbeds and are made with Rockport’s “truFLEX” technology which “creates spring forward momentum”. That all sounds fancy and I’m not sure what it all means, but I can verify that they feel lightweight and bend easily as I walk.
KEEN Utility Men’s Flint 2 Low Top Composite Toe Work Shoes
KEEN is well-known for making hiking-style work shoes that combine a durable build with a comfortable, flexible style. I wanted to try these shoes because they are another good option for those of you who work outside in a more rugged environment.
These shoes are made, in part, with water-resistant leather and feature outsoles that are designed to disperse moisture quickly for increased traction. Combine that with a raised heel and extra abrasion resistance and these shoes can fit outdoor work much better than some of the athletic composite toe shoes we discussed earlier.
They’re made with breathable mesh and water-resistant leather uppers which creates an upper that is durable, but still let’s your feet breathe in a hot, active work environment. Internal mesh lining wicks away sweat to keep your feet dry.
The toes have double abrasion resistance with a rubber overlay sitting on top of a leather overlay (the heel also has abrasion resistance). Attached eyelets and a gusseted tongue help prevent debris from slipping through the laces. These shoes weighed 1.38 pounds per shoe for a size 12 regular.
Reebok Men’s Fusion Flexweave Athletic Work Shoe
This is another super lightweight athletic-style work shoe by Reebok. The thing I really like about these shoes is the breathability. As you can see in the picture below, you can actually see through the mesh upper of these shoes. In my opinion, this is the most breathable shoe on this list.
These composite toe shoes have abrasion reinforcement on the toe and heel, and also have a gusseted tongue to help keep debris out. Despite that, they’re probably best for indoor work, or light-duty outdoor work due to the lightweight design and flat bottom.
These shoes weighed 1.01 pounds per shoe (size 12 regular). In my experience these shoes fit true to size. Wide sizing is available.
Timberland PRO Drivetrain Comp Toe Industrial Shoe
What stands out about these Timberland work shoes compared to the other shoes on this list is the amount of padding up around the collar. If you are someone who really prioritizes a comfortable collar, these might be a great choice for you.
Overall, pretty standard design here. These shoes have a composite toe with abrasion overlay on both the toe and the heel. There is a gusseted tongue to help keep debris out, but the lightweight design and flat outsole mean that, just like the Reebok shoe above, these shoes are best used indoors or for light-duty outdoor work on reliable surfaces.
These shoes weighted 1.03 pounds per shoe. In my experience these shoes fit true to size. These shoes have anti-microbial treatment to help reduce odor.
Danner Men’s Run Time NMT Shoes
Danner is well-known for making both work boots and hiking shoes, so it is no surprise that they offer athletic style safety-toe shoes. These are NMT shoes (non-metallic toe) that can also function as trail-running shoes. They have a lightweight design made with textile uppers.
In general, these are best used for indoor work and other types of light-duty work, but they do have a very small low-profile raised heel that you can see in the picture below. This shoe has toe and heel abrasion guards and has a flexible design. The weight of 1.15 pounds does put it behind some of the other indoor work shoes on this list as far as weight.
These shoes weighed 1.15 pounds per shoe (size 12 regular). In my experience these shoes fit true to size. Wide sizing is available.
Kodiak Men’s Quest Bound Low Composite Toe Hiker Work Shoe
This low top comp toe shoe distinguishes itself from most other low top work shoes by being waterproof with a seam-sealed membrane (the Skechers Greetah shoe on this page is also waterproof).
This is a more durable option than many of the work shoes on this list. It can survive an outdoor work environment, and because of that, it has a sturdier build that isn’t quite as flexible as some of the athletic shoes on this list.
There is both a toe and a heel overlay for extra abrasion resistance, and this shoe is made using a premium Vibram outsole that is slip resistant. But with this extra durability comes extra weight. My size 12 regular weighs 1.69 pounds.
I like to refer to these types of shoes as tweener shoes. They are heavier, bulkier, and not as flexible as athletic shoes, but they are more comfortable and easier to wear than work boots. They find a sort of middle ground that is more durable than athletic work shoes, and more comfortable than traditional work boots.
Kodiak Ramble Composite Toe Men’s Work Shoes
This is another standard lightweight, athletic work shoe geared more for an indoor environment. These shoes weigh 1.25 pounds per shoe (size 12) and have a flexible, responsive design. One thing I think stands out about these shoes compared to other athletic composite toe work shoes, is these shoes use a nylon material on the upper that, to the touch, feels more abrasion resistant than the textile uppers used on other shoes.
Even though the heel on these shoes are raised a little bit, all things considered, this is still an indoor work shoe made for light-duty work. It has a comfortable design including the heel strap that connects to the laces and helps stabilize the fit.
These shoes weighed 1.25 pounds per shoe (size 12). In my experience these shoes fit true to size. Wide sizing is available.
Carhartt Force Nano Comp Toe Men’s Work Shoes
Like most other indoor shoes, these shoes are made with textile uppers and a foam midsole to help control weight. They have abrasion resistance on the toe and heel and a gusseted tongue to hold out debris. The outsole has an athletic style with no raised heel. I liked these shoes, but the drawback is they just weigh more than the other indoor shoes on this list.
One thing I think stands out about these shoes in a positive way is an elastic-like collar that allows the shoe to sit very comfortably against the ankle. These shoes also have a moisture wicking lining to help keep your feet dry and have a flexible design that is easy to move around in.
These shoes weight 1.28 pounds per shoe (size 12 regular). In my experience these shoes fit true to size. Wide sizing is available.
Skechers Greetah Composite Toe Work Shoes
These Skechers Greetah shoes are my favorite low-top waterproof composite toe work shoes. They are what I like to call a tweener shoe. They’re bulkier than an athletic shoe, and not as flexible. But they are lighter in weight than a typical work boot, and therefore give you a sort of middle ground that is sturdier than athletic shoes, but easier to wear than boots.
As you can see below, my size 12 regular weighs 1.60 pounds per shoe. This is a waterproof shoe that can be worn both indoor and outdoor. I always hesitate to say any work shoes can handle heavy-duty work, but this shoe can handle a more rugged environment that most all other shoes on this list.
Again, the drawback here is these shoes aren’t as flexible as athletic work shoes. But they have both toe and heel overlays, in combination with a rugged outsole, that gives these shoes extra durability. Regarding the fit, I felt like these shoes has a slightly wider fit, especially compared to the Reebok athletic shoes on this list.
Caterpillar Argon Comp Toe Leather Work Shoe
These are one of the heaviest shoes on our list, but we wanted to include a leather work shoe option. And no, these uppers don’t have 100% leather (there is some textile blended in to control weight), but these shoes have more leather on the upper than any other shoes on our list.
These low top composite toe work shoes have abrasion resistance on both the toe and the heel. The tongue is gusseted to help keep debris out, and the leather build makes this a versatile shoe that can be worn in a wide variety of jobs both indoor and outdoor (light duty).
In my experience these shoes fit true to size. Wide sizing is available.
New Balance 589 Composite Toe Shoes
These New Balance shoes are another example of a tweener shoe. These shoes are larger and bulkier than athletic shoes, but more comfortable and easier to wear than work boots. They fall in that middle ground where they give you a sturdier fit than athletic shoes, but obviously weigh a bit more.
These shoes are probably best used indoors or on outdoor smooth surfaces (in dry climates). There is a raised heel, but it isn’t a squared heel. There is both a toe overlay and a heel overlay for abrasion resistance. I personally felt like that was a bit more wiggle room in the toe box for these shoes compared to many of the shoes on this list.
Overall, the weight (1.32 pounds per shoe) was heavier than athletic work shoes, but was still pretty lightweight considering this shoe is a bit sturdier and bulkier than those shoes. The flexibility was decent, but not as good as the athletic work shoes on this list.
