The 10 Best Work Shoes for Men in 2024, Tested by Gear Editors

Durability: You'll want work shoes that will last beyond a few days or months at the job site. A lot of it depends on the material. Uppers made of leather or synthetic textile uppers always withstand tear and wear and will hold well. An outsole made of rubber or PU is often a no-brainer. Additionally, work shoes with strong stitching and reinforced toes will allow you to wear them again and again without issue.

Traction: The outsoles of work shoes should provide a high level of traction to make the bottoms extra slip-resistant, even on wet and oily floors you'll encounter at workplaces. These include special treads at the sole or designs that increase friction to the ground like lugged, grooved, ridged, deep-cut teeth, etc. In industries like healthcare, construction, or food service, a grippy outsole will come in handy to prevent you from slipping, sliding, or falling while working.

Comfort: If you're gonna be on your feet and keep at it for hours on end, especially on concrete floors or rough terrains, work shoes often come with superior insole and midsole that provide cushioning or arch support. The best work shoes often use memory foam and anything with impact-absorbing qualities to ground your feet in comfort. The right arch support, on the other hand, will distribute the weight evenly across the foot to make your feet less tired. Therefore, look for work shoes with anti-fatigue construction.

Fit: The best work shoes should not fit too loose or too tight, which is why many options come in various widths as well in addition to sizes. You'll lose your grounding in a pair that fits too loose, but if it's too tight, no amount of cushioning or arch support will make it comfortable—not when your feet are smooshed. However, if the work shoes are made of leather, a slightly tighter fit is preferable since the leather will mold to your foot. Unless the work shoes have steel toes which will take away a little bit of wiggle room, don't treat them like sneakers and size up. (With steel-toe work shoes, we recommend a half size up.)