In this article we discuss the best moc toe work boots made in the USA. There are several reasons why someone might prefer a moc toe work boot, but one popular reason is many people think they look good both on and off the clock. This is a boot you can wear to work, and around town.
*This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (info)
These are my choices for the best moc toe work boots made in the USA:
- Thorogood Men’s American Heritage Moc Toe Wedge Work Boots (click here to view)
- Red Wing USA Heritage Classic Moc Work Boots (click here to view)
- Danner Men’s Bull Run Moc Toe Work Boots (click here to view)
- Carolina Men’s Moc Wedge Style USA AMP Work Boots (click here to view)
- Thorogood Men’s American Heritage Moc Toe Square Heel Boots (click here to view)
- White’s Boots R4000 Perry Moc Toe Boots (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Red Wing USA Heritage Classic Moc Boots (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Danner Bull Run Moc Toe 6″ Work Boots (click here to view)
All the boot companies listed here are considered to be premium boot companies. This is to be expected since cheaper boot companies choose to import all their boots.
In general, buying USA-made work boots can be a little pricey, but of course you can also expect much better quality than imported boots. In our list above, we did try to factor in price to our rankings just to put an emphasis on value.
Click here to view the entire selection of USA boots that Carolina offers (not all Carolina Boots are USA made, but many are).
In this article let’s take a closer look at the best moc work boots made in the USA so that you can decide which one might work best for you.
Best Moc Toe Work Boots Made in the USA
Thorogood USA American Heritage Work Boots
Thorogood makes some of the best work boots in the USA, and their American Heritage boots are some of the most popular premium work boots on the market.
They come in both a moc-toe and a round-toe version (with plain toe and safety toe). Here is a look at my moc toe version:
This is the current price of these Thorogood American Heritage Moc Toe Boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). The American Heritage boots are made in the USA by union workers.
These boots also can work well as casual boots and pair very easily with jeans. They are made with 100% leather, and have shock-absorption footbeds. The wedge sole is both oil and slip-resistant.
In my experience, these boots fit true to size. As with all types of leather work boots, you can expect these boots to stretch out a bit as you break them in.
Click here to buy the Thorogood American Heritage Moc-Toe Boots at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Multiple colors are available for this boot.
If you look at our list at the top of the article, you will see that we’ve included two versions of the Thorogood American Heritage boots in our rankings. Both are moc-toe, but the type of outsole used differs.
One version uses a wedge outsole, and another version uses a more traditional square-heel outsole. The Thorogood boots I own use the wedge outsole:
Wedge soles tend to be more comfortable because they help evenly distribute stress across the entire bottom of the foot instead of centralizing it on the heel and toe pad. These types of boots are great for factory workers who spend their whole work day standing on a hard factory floor.
But wedge sole boots aren’t great for all jobs. They are best used on smooth surfaces like concrete, plywood, tile, packed dirt, etc. If you work on uneven terrain, it would probably be best to stick with the traditional square-heel outsole that offers some slip protection.
Again, Thorogood offers this American Heritage boot in both the wedge and square-heel. Here is what the square-heel version of these boots looks like:
This is the current price of these Thorogood square-heel work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Obviously, which version is best for you might just come down to the demands of your job.
To read more about how Thorogood boots fit, visit our Thorogood Boot Sizing Guide. To read more about these Thorogood American Heritage boots, visit our Thorogood American Heritage Review.
Carolina USA Moc Work Boots
Carolina Shoe Company is another popular boot brand. Carolina still makes a lot of their boots here in the USA, including multiple moc-toe work boots.
In my experience, Carolina boots are a bit more affordable than other types of USA-made work boots. If you are shopping for moc toe work boots made in the USA, but don’t want to spend $250 or more, these Carolina Boots might be a nice option for you.
Carolina has a wide selection of USA moc toe work boots. I personally like style 7011 the best. I just like the color better than other versions. This is what Carolina style 7011 moc toe work boots look like.
These boots are made with leather uppers, and have a removable polyurethane footbed. They are made with a steel shank (a shank is a supportive piece in the mid-sole of a boot).
But like I said earlier, Carolina offers quite a few American made moc toe work boots, ranging in both heigh and outsole. Like Thorogood which we discussed above, Carolina offers their moc-toe boots in both a wedge outsole and a square-heel outsole.
Click here to view the entire selection of USA moc toe work boots that Carolina Shoe Company has to offer. Again, in my experience, these boots tend to be a bit more affordable than other USA boot brands.
Red Wing Heritage Classic Moc Work Boots
Red Wing Shoe Company was found in 1905 by Charles Beckman in Red Wing, Minnesota. In the early years, it made specific work boots for miners, farmers, and loggers, but has since grown into a brand that not only makes premium work boots, also makes stylish casual boots.
Red Wing’s Heritage line of boots are still, to this day, made in the USA. Here’s what the Red Wing Heritage Classic Moc Boot looks like:
This is the current price of these Red Wing moc work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These boots come in several different colors.
In my opinion, this boot has a little bit of a slimmer, sleeker design than the Thorogood Boots we discussed at the top of the article. Although these can function just fine as work boots, many people love wearing Red Wing boots as casual boots.
This is just my opinion, but if you are looking for moc toe boots for work, I’d probably stick with Thorogood. If you’re looking for moc toe boots to wear casually, I’d probably go with Red Wing. And if you’re looking for USA moc toe boots, but don’t want to spend $250+, I’d recommend the Carolina Boots.
That is honestly a decent way to narrow it down. Obviously, yes, these Red Wing boots function just fine as work boots, just like the Thorogood boots function just fine as casual boots. But my opinion, I’d lean Thorogood for work, Red Wing for style.
The Red Wing Heritage collection gets its leather from the SB Foot Tanning Co., which is also located in Red Wing, MN (source). This means not only are these boots made in the USA, they are made using US-raised steers.
According to Red Wing, it takes more than 230 steps to build each of these boots by hand. This handmade process is why Red Wing is considered one of the best boot brands on the market today.
Click here to buy of these Red Wing Heritage boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These boots use a No. 23 last which provides a little extra space in the forefoot.
Danner Bull Run USA Moc Work Boots
Danner boots is based out of Portland, Oregon. Danner was started when founder Charles Danner ventured to the Pacific Northwest to build premium work boots for loggers in 1932 (source).
Danner, still to this day, makes several styles of their boots here in the USA, including their popular Bull Run moc-toe boots. Here is what the Danner Bull Run Moc-Toe work boots look like:
This is the current price of these Danner work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Expect these boots to fit true to size.
The Danner Bull Run boots are made using a 503 last type. A last is a mold which is used to help form the overall shape and fit of a boot. The 503 has a casual fit, and in general, fits true-to-size. Wide sizing is available.
Just like the Thorogood boots we covered earlier in the article, you can buy the Danner Bull Run boots in both a moc-toe wedge version, and a round-toe wedge version (with both steel toe and plain toe).
If you are a woman looking for an American made moc toe boot, I’d recommend the women’s Danner Bull Run. This is what it looks like:
This is the current price of these women’s Danner work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These boots are made using premium leather uppers, and a steel shank for support.
**To read more about Danner sizing, visit our article How Do Danner Boots Fit? If you want to read more about how Danner compares to the Thorogood boots we covered first, visit our article that discusses Danner vs Thorogood.
Benefits of Moc Toe Boots
What are the benefits of moc toe work boots? The truth is, moc toe boots don’t provide you with much more than normal round toe work boots.
The difference, in large part, just comes down to which style you prefer. As I mentioned earlier in the article, many people prefer moc toe boots because they feel like moc toe boots fit in more casually than traditional work boots.
Choosing to buy moc toe work boots might give you a boot that you feel comfortable wearing both on the job, and also out on the town. This, of course, comes down to personal preference and how you like boots to look.
One small advantage that moc toe work boots may present is there tends to be a little bit of extra vertical space in the toe box of moc-toe boots in comparison to round-toe capped work boots.
Moc toe design causes the toe box to rise up vertically at the front of the boot whereas a round toe design shapes back over the top of the foot. Obviously, design can fluctuate from brand to brand and boot to boot, but this can add a bit of extra room in the toe box for certain boots.
Overall, this difference is quite minimal, and won’t translate to all types of moc toe boots, but it is something to consider if you need extra toe space.
In this article we discussed the best moc toe boots made in the USA. If you are interested in products made in the USA, consider our other articles: