5 Best Insulated Steel Toe Rubber Boots for Winter Work

The wet winter muck and mud has set in, it’s freezing out there, but there’s still work to be done. If you are shopping for an insulated steel toe rubber boot to use in these wet winter conditions, you do have some nice options made by well-known companies.

I actually own both the Muck Arctic Boots and the Lacrosse Insulated Pac Boots. Both are nice options, but here’s my opinion: I think the Muck Boots are slightly warmer and offer more leg coverage, but the Lacrosse Boots have laces which tighten for a more secure fit, and also have a clearly defined raised heel, which I find particularly helpful when I’m using a ladder.

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These are my choices for best insulated steel toe rubber work boots:

Muck Boot Arctic Performance Insulated Steel Toe Rubber Boots (click here to view)
LaCrosse Men’s Insulated Pac 12” Steel Toe Rubber Work Boots (click here to view)
XTRATUF Legacy Series 15″ Neoprene Steel Toe Insulated Boots (click here to view)
Bogs Men’s Forge Steel Toe Waterproof Rubber Work Boots (click here to view)
*Women’s* Muck Boot Women’s Chore Steel Toe Rubber Boot (click here to view)

You will definitely want to consider the height of the boot. Obviously, the taller the shaft of the boot, the more weather protection it offers to your leg.

The Muck Arctic Boots at the top of the list have a shaft that measures approximately 14.25 inches. As I mentioned earlier, my Lacrosse Pac Insulated Boots don’t fit as high (12 inches) but they lace at the top so they offer a more snug, secured fit. The XTRATUF boots on this list have a 15-inch height.

In this article let’s take a closer look at the best insulated steel toe rubber work boots so you can find an option that fits your needs. I will discuss my experiences with the Muck Arctic Boots and the Lacrosse Pac Boots, and also discuss a few things to consider when buying these types of rubber work boots. For a general idea of warmth, visit our article are rubber boots warm?

Table of Contents

My Favorite Insulated Steel Toe Rubber Boots

Muck Boots Chore Classic Tall Steel Toe Rubber Work Boots

Muck Boot Company is a boot brand that was launched to find a reliable solution for those days spent in the mud and muck. Today, Muck Boot Company is one of the most popular rubber boot brands on the market.

Here’s what these Muck Boots Chore Classic Tall Steel Toe Rubber Work Boots look like:

This is the current price of these Muck Insulated Steel Toe Rubber Work Boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These boots use neoprene and rubber.

Design – The protective 16-inch height of these boots allows you to wear them over jeans to help provide extra protection up your leg. Yes, this boot does have a steel toe. The outsole is design to help provide grip in winter conditions.

Insulated – The 5mm neoprene on the upper keep water out and helps retain heat. These boots have 2mm thermal foam under the footbed. They also have a fleece lining to provide additional warmth. Muck Boot Company has comfort rated these boots from -40°F to 40°F. To read more, visit my article that discusses the warmth of Muck Boots.

100% Waterproof – Yes, this is a waterproof boot. These boots are also very easy to wipe and spray clean after a muddy day of work.

As I mentioned earlier, Muck Boots are my go-to winter rubber boot. Here’s a look at my Muck Boots:

Here’s a look at the stretch-fit top and neoprene uppers that help trap in heat during the winter months:

They do have pull tabs to help you pull these boots onto your feet:

These are tall boots that fit up over my calf:

Click here to buy these Muck Insulated Steel Toe Rubber Boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). I personally ordered my normal sizing for these boots and they fit perfectly. For more options, visit our article about the best steel toe chore boots.

LaCrosse Men’s Insulated Pac 12” Steel Toe Rubber Boots

Lacrosse is another well known rubber boot company, and a company that I have worn over the years. I do use the Muck Boots above more often, but there are some specific situations I think these LaCrosse Boots make more sense.

Here’s what these boots look like:

This is the current price of these Lacrosse insulated steel toe rubber boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these boots:

Design – These boots are 100% rubber. Unlike similar rubber work boots, these boots lace up near the calf, making it easier to tighten them to your preferred fit. This can be particularly important if you’re working in wet, slippery conditions.

Warmth – These boots have foam insulation that extends from the bottom of the boot to the ankle to provide you warmth on those cold winter work days. These boots also have a 9mm wool-felt midsole. These will be a better winter option that most of the other boots on this list.

Safety – Yes, this boot does have a steel toe and it also has a steel shank for extra under-foot support. This is a waterproof work boot.

As I mentioned above, I have also worn LaCrosse Pac Boots for several years. If you like pac boots, for more options visit our article about the best insulated pac boots. Here’s a look at my Lacrosse Pac Boots:

One thing I really like about the design of these LaCrosse Pac Insulated Steel Toe Work Boots is they have a more defined heel than my Muck Boots do. Let’s say for example you are doing chores and might have to climb a barn ladder, this raised heel may be helpful and provide extra slip protection.

Click here to buy these Lacrosse insulated steel toe rubber boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, Lacrosse boots fit true to size. To read more, visit Lacrosse Work Boot Sizing.

Other Insulated Steel Toe Rubber Boots to Consider

XTRATUF Legacy Series 15″ Neoprene Steel Toe Insulated Boots – These XTRATUF insulated steel toe rubber work boots fit high up the leg measuring at 15 inches. They are 100% waterproof and use polymeric foam insulation to provide warmth you need for winter work. These boots are comfort rated down to -10°F (-23°C). The latex neoprene used in these boots is design to be softer, lighter and more pliable than normal rubber. Click here to view these XTRATUF boots at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

Bogs Men’s Forge Steel Toe Waterproof Rubber Work Boots – These Bogs men’s insulated steel toe rubber work boots have 7mm Neo-Tech insulation to provide warmth on winter days. These boots are 100% waterproof and measure 14.25″ in height. One thing I like that stands out about these boots is they have a larger more defined heel that other types of chore work boots. If you need a large heel, I like these boots or the LaCrosse boots the best. Click here to view these Bogs work boots at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

*Women’s* Muck Boot Women’s Chore Steel Toe Rubber Boot – Unfortunately, there aren’t as many options for women’s insulated steel toe rubber boots. These women’s Muck Chore Boots are 100% waterproof and have a 5mm Neoprene bootie. If you need something warmer, sizing down one of the men’s options might be your best option. Click here to view these Muck Women’s Chore Boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

6 Things to Consider When Buying Insulated Steel Toe Rubber Boots

Height of Shaft

As I mentioned earlier in the article, you will definitely want to consider the height of the boot. Obviously, rubber boots that fit higher up your leg not only offer more abrasion resistance, they also provide more weather protection to your leg.

Most rubber work boots will have shafts in the 14-15 inch range, although the Lacrosse Insulated Steel Toe Rubber Boots that we discussed earlier on have a shaft height of 12 inches.

Manufacturing Origin

Unfortunately today, most all rubber work boots are imported. If you prefer to wear USA-made rubber boots, your options are limited. There are, however, a wide selection of PVC work boots that are made in the USA. There also are certain companies who make insulated duck boots here in the USA.

PVC is a lot like rubber, but is more economical to produce, and is therefore usually much cheaper to purchase. But they don’t always perform as well in cold weather. To see options, visit our article about the best rubber boots made in the USA, where we also discuss PVC options.

Lace vs Slip On

When most people think of rubber work boots, they imagine slip on chore-style rubber boots. Although I like that style (and use that style) there are benefits to using lace up rubber boots.

My Lacrosse Pac Boot lace around the calf which allows me to tighten the rubber boot securely on my leg. Not only does this help keep the weather out, it also make for a secure fit. If you are on rugged terrain, this might be helpful.

Slip on sizing can be a bit different too. To read more, visit my article: How do rubber boots fit?

Defined Heel

Most all rubber work boots have a raised heel, but in my experience, some heels are raised higher than others. As I mentioned in the article, that is one thing I like about the Lacrosse Pac Insulated Boots. Their heel is raised in a way that makes me feel more secure when using a ladder.

Now, hopefully you aren’t using many ladders in icy conditions, but still, the raised heel has some benefits, and helps keep the foot elevated a bit in the muck and mud.

Alternative Options

There are plenty of rubber boots on the market today, but there are far fewer insulated steel toe rubber boots available. Your options are somewhat limited.

Do you absolutely need a insulated steel toe rubber work boots? If you are interested in a winter work boot that is insulated, perhaps certain types of leather work boots would do the trick.

These leather boots almost always use synthetic insulation, like 3M Thinsulate, to insulate the boot. To explore your options, visit our article linked below:

Shank

You’re shopping for a steel toe rubber boot, but what about the shank? A shank is a supportive piece in the midsole of a boot that help provide form and structure to the boot, and also offers some underfoot pierce protection.

Some, but not all, insulated steel toe rubber boots will also use a steel shank. Steel shanks can be useful for those climbing ladders, kicking shovels, working or rocky terrain, or performing other types of tasks that can put extra stress on the bottom side of a work boot.