Fila steel toe shoes may come off as a low-cost, budget-friendly option, but recently I tried 10 different low-top steel-toe work shoes (including these Fila Memory Reckoning 7 Steel Toe Shoes) to evaluate them all on weight, comfort, flexibility and purpose. I was honestly shocked at how much I liked these Fila steel toe work shoes.
It’s probably fair to say I had low expectations for these shoes before I tried them. But I wanted to keep an open mind and give them an honest evaluation compared to other options, and when I did, I was shocked at how well they compared regarding comfort and weight, especially considering the price point I purchased them at.
In this article I want to discuss the five most important things you need to know about these Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Work Shoes, and I want to compare and contrast them to other options on the market today so you have a better idea exactly where they fit compared to the competition.
5 Things To Know About Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Work Shoes
One of the Best Shoes for Under-Foot Comfort
The under-foot comfort is what surprised me the most about these Fila Steel Toe Shoes. In some ways, due to price point, I was expecting this shoe to be very average regarding comfort, or even worse. That was not the case at all.
Now to be fair, I don’t want to exaggerate and blow the comfort out of proportion. Yes, out of the 10 low-top steel toe shoes that I tried, there were a couple other shoes I thought were actually more comfortable than these Fila steel toe shoes (Skechers Cankton, Reebok Zprint).
But these shoes shocked me because I didn’t expect to like the comfort as much as I did. I feel like these shoes are undoubtedly one of the most comfortable low-top steel-toe shoes that I tried. Why?
These shoes use memory foam insoles that provide a nice cushioning under all parts of my foot. I personally love steel toe work shoes that use memory foam insoles, and think that memory foam insoles provide the best under-foot comfort.
In the video below I tried to capture just how soft and forgiving these Fila memory foam insoles are:
The main takeaway here for under-foot comfort is these Fila Memory Reckoning Shoes provide nice cushioning under both my toe pad and heel. If you are spending long days standing on a factory floor, this type of insole can help provide some relief. One drawback here though is I don’t see the option to remove and replace these insoles once they start to wear out.
I found the flexibility of these Fila steel toe shoes to be very similar to that of an athletic shoe. These shoes had just as much flexibility as any of the 10 low-top steel toe shoes that I tried:
Overall, the flexible design and memory foam insoles created a comfortable fit that exceeded the expectations I had for this shoe. This comfortable design might be a nice cost-effective option for those spending long days standing on a hard factory floor. I also found the weight of these shoes to be very good compared to other options on the market today.
Weight Compared to Industry
My size 12 men’s Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes weigh 1.21 pounds per shoe:
Overall, this shoe was the third lightest out of all the low-top steel toe shoes that I tested. As I said earlier, in total I tried 10 different lightweight steel toe work shoes. This is how the Fila Memory Reckoning Work Shoes compared regarding weight:
Shoe | Weight (lbs) | Photos |
Caterpillar Woodward | 1.09 | View My Photos |
Reebok Zprint | 1.15 | View My Photos |
Fila Memory Reckoning | 1.21 | View My Photos |
Reebok Sublite | 1.25 | View My Photos |
Reebok All Terrain | 1.29 | View My Photos |
Skechers Cankton | 1.30 | View My Photos |
New Balance 627 | 1.50 | View My Photos |
Keen Atlanta Cool 2 | 1.50 | View My Photos |
Caterpillar Brode | 1.53 | View My Photos |
Keen Lansing Low | 1.55 | View My Photos |
Overall, this shoe has a very lightweight, athletic-style design that is not heavy to wear. These shoes truly feel like athletic shoes when I wear them. Yes, there are some options on the market that weigh even less, but I was pleasently surprised with the weight of this shoe and was expecting something 1.30 pounds or heavier.
If you are concerned about the weight of your work shoe, these are a very nice option that keep the weight of the shoe down compared to most of the competition. In my opinion, when you combine this lightweight design with the under-foot comfort we discussed first, these Fila Steel Toe Shoes fill a perfect need for those of you looking for an affordable work shoe that won’t feel like a brick on your foot.
But sometimes lightweight designs can impact the overall durability of the shoe. Let’s take some time to discuss both the pros and cons for these Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes regarding durability.
Durability for Work
These Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes, like most running steel toe work shoes, are best used for light-duty work. They won’t have the durability of a leather work boot, and aren’t built for rough terrain. These types of athletic-style work shoes use lightweight foam midsoles that are glued to textile uppers, creating a shoe that is comfortable, but can’t take a beating like a work boot can.
That said, there are a few things to like here regarding durability. These shoes do have a toe overlay that gives the front of the shoe extra abrasion resistance and helps the fabric hold up longer. Here’s a look at the toe on my shoe:
No, that overlay doesn’t mean this shoe is indestructible, but the overlay itself is a bit thicker than some of the other low-top steel-toe shoes that I tried. For example, here is the toe overlay on the Reebok All Terrain Steel Toe Shoes:
As you can see, the Fila toe overlay is much thicker, and more capable of protecting the front fabric of the shoe. The heel of this Fila Steel Toe Shoe also has a small panel of abrasion resistance which acts almost like a kick plate to help protect the material when you kick your shoes off after work:
Overall, I found the abrasion resistance of this shoe to be above average, and good enough to take on light-duty work on predictable terrain.
Slip Resistant Outsole
Another thing that jumps out about these shoes is the slip-resistant grip of the outsole. Now, to be fair, I haven’t put these through scientific testing for slip-resistance, but I feel like the grip of these shoes is better than most all other shoes that I tried.
As you can see, the outsole has a unique tread pattern:
It’s also worth mentioning that these shoes do not have a raised, squared heel, and therefore might not be a great option for those of you who climb ladders all day.
Fila Steel Toe Shoes Sizing
I found these Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes to fit true to size. I ordered my normal sizing and they fit very comfortably on my feet, and felt much like an athletic shoe. Here I am wearing these shoes:
I don’t have wide feet. That said, because these shoes have a fit similar to athletic shoes, if you have wide feet make sure you are ordering wide sizing.
Fila Steel Toe Shoes Compared to Other Shoes
Which Shoes Weigh Less?
If you are looking for an ultra-lightweight work shoe, despite the fact that these Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes are very lightweight, yes, there are a couple low-top steel toe shoes on the market that weigh less than these Fila shoes. For example, here are my Caterpillar Woodward Steel Toe Shoes:
These Caterpillar Woodward shoes were the most lightweight steel toe shoes that I tried (10 total were tried). As you can see, my size 12 men’s shoe weighs only 1.09 pounds per shoe. That makes this show lighter in weight than even most low-top composite toe shoes.
These Caterpillar Woodward shoes feel like ultra-lightweight athletic shoes, but I liked the insoles of the Fila Steel Toe Shoes better. To read more about these Caterpillar shoes, visit my article about the best lightweight steel toe work shoes.
Which Shoes Are More Durable?
As we discussed earlier, these Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes have a nice toe overlay that helps protect the front of the shoe. Despite that, these athletic-style shoes are almost always best used for light-duty work. They won’t hold up like a pair of work boots will.
If you are looking for a low-top steel toe work shoe with more durability than these Fila Steel Toe Shoes, then I would recommend considering a Keen steel toe work shoe.
I like the Keen Atlanta Cool work shoes because not only do they have a breathable design, they also wrap a thick rubber overlay over the toes of their shoes for extra abrasion resistance. They also incorporate leather into the upper for a more durable design.
Here’s a look at my Keen Atlanta Cool low-top steel toe shoes:
I like to describe these Keen shoes as a sort of middle-ground between a hiking shoe and a work shoe. As you can see, with that extra durability does come extra weight. But I also felt like these shoes were very flexible and comfortable to wear. The Caterpillar Brode shoes were a more durable option than the Fila steel toe shoes too, and have a more casual design.
Which Shoes Are More Breathable?
These Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes have a design that is breathable, especially compared to a work boot. The textile uppers allow heat to escape just like an athletic shoe.
That said, there are low-top steel toe shoes that have even more breathability. If you are searching for something lightweight and breathable, you might be wondering if Nike makes steel toe work shoes. No, unfortunately, right now they do not.
But I really like Reebok work shoes. In fact, the Reebok Zprint shoes were the most breathable low-top steel-toe shoe that I tried. Here’s what mine look like:
If you look at the photos above, you can see in one of the photos that when I hold these shoes up to the light you can actually see through these shoes. They are very breathable and allow heat to escape, which is exactly what you need during those brutal summer days.
Overall I really liked these Reebok Zprint shoes. They were the second lightest shoe that I tried (1.15 pounds per shoe size 12 men’s), and they have memory foam insoles that also have groove pods that help relieve stress off the bottom of my foot.
In the video below I tried to capture how comfortable the insoles are for the Reebok Zprint shoes:
Overall, these Reebok Zprint shoes serve as more breathable alternative to these Fila Steel Toe Shoes. Both have an athletic design that is very flexible. The Reebok shoes are more breathable, but I felt like the Fila shoes are more durable, but both are best used for light-duty work only. To read more, visit my article about the best breathable steel toe shoes.
Which Shoes Are More Comfortable?
Out of the 10 low-top steel toe shoes that I tried, I felt like the Skechers Cankton shoes offered the most under-foot comfort. Here’s what my Skechers Cankton Work Shoes look like:
In my opinion, these Skechers Cankton shoes are the best low-top steel toe shoes on the market today. These shoes provide the most under-foot comfort I’ve ever felt in any work shoe (I’ve tried approximately 30 different shoes for steel, composite, and soft toe). I was absolutely shocked at how comfortable these shoes were.
Just like the Fila Steel Toe Shoes, these Skechers Cankton Steel Toe Shoes have memory foam insoles, but I feel like the memory foam insoles on these Skechers Cankton shoes are the thickest memory foam insoles on the market. In the video below, I tried to capture just how soft and forgiving these insoles are:
If you are someone who stands on your feet all day and need some relief, both the Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes and the Skechers Cankton Steel Toe Shoes are nice options. Both shoes have memory foam insoles that helps reduce the impact stress both under my toe pad and under my heel.
I give the edge to Skechers for total comfort, but price may have an impact on your decision also. And it’s also fair to point out that these Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes do weigh less than the Skechers Cankton Steel Toe Shoes.
My Conclusion About these Fila Steel Toe Shoes
Overall, out of the 10 low-top steel toe work shoes that I tried, these Fila Steel Toe Shoes proved to be one of the most lightweight options, and also had some of the most comfortable insoles. These shoes are very flexible and feel like an athletic shoe on my foot.
Yes, there are shoes on the market that weigh less. And there are also shoes on the market with a more rugged design, but these Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes offer a budget-friendly option for those who want an athletic-style steel-toe work shoe that won’t feel like a brick on the foot.
My conclusion is this – These Fila Memory Reckoning Steel Toe Shoes surprised me how comfortable, lightweight, and flexible they are. The price point on these shoes is lower than other options, despite that I found these shoes to offer better than average comfort, and the memory foam insoles might be a nice solution for those of you looking for affordable steel-toe work shoes to wear on a factory floor. Although I feel like the durability of these shoes was comparable to the industry average, like all lightweight work shoes, these Fila Steel Toe Shoes are best used for light-duty work on predictable terrain.