Don’t let long hours on hard concrete wear down your feet. With these work boots, you’ll have all the necessary support and cushioning to make every work day more comfortable.
Best Overall: Nicks Boots Moc toe Wedge
- Handmade quality, long-lasting durability
- Excellent support and stability
- Handsome good looks
Best on a Budget: Brunt Marin Composite Moc Toe
- Affordable but reliable
- Work-specific safety features
- Roomy, comfortable fit
Great Value: Tecovas Knox
- Grippy all-terrain sole
- Convenient pull-on construction
- Versatile roper design, great for farming and ranching
Best For Walking: Wolverine Raider Durashocks 6” Work Boot
- Industry-leading shock absorption and impact reduction
- High-rebound midsole reduces foot fatigue
- Waterproof and moisture-wicking
Best Chukka: Georgia Boot Wedge Chukka Work Boot
- Low-cut, slim profile
- Thick wedge sole for maximum arch support
- Breathable, moisture-wicking interior
Do you have any idea just how tough concrete is on your joints?
Research has shown that long hours of walking and working on concrete can lead to various injuries, from plantar fasciitis to joint inflammation.
It can have a harmful effect on your entire skeletal system and lead to discomfort in your knees, hips, back, and even your neck.
Suffice it to say, working on concrete is not gentle on your body.
That’s where a good pair of work boots explicitly built for concrete will come in handy.
These boots feature extra cushioning, support, and impact reduction to prevent your work days from harming or wearing excessively on your body.
How Did I Come Up With My List?
As a big, heavy guy (6’6” and 250 pounds on a good day), I feel strain, fatigue, and joint stress more than most.
Sports injuries from my past (recent and distant) compound the aches and pains of a long day spent on my feet, hauling supplies and trudging on hard concrete.
I’ve had to invest time and effort into finding work boots that protect my feet from not only work-related hazards (falling objects, firing nail guns, high-heat environments, etc.) but also the strain of long shifts.
Over the last decade, I’ve tested over twenty pairs of work boots and researched dozens more. I’ve combed through hundreds (possibly thousands) of product reviews and spoken to countless tradespeople and contractors.
All of my research has led me to put together this list of what I believe to be the five best work boots for working, walking, and standing on concrete.
Best Overall: Nicks Boots Moc toe Wedge
I love a good wedge sole!
I’ll take an overly chunky boot any day if it means I get better stability, more cushioning, and better foot support.
Of all the wedge sole boots I’ve tested, none have impressed me quite like Nicks’ Moc Toe Wedge.
First of all, they look just like my favorite casual boots (the Red Wing Classic Mocs) but are built tough enough for work, too. The Moc Toe Wedges have moderate water resistance, a sturdy 6-inch height, excellent ankle support, and durable stitching.
The Nicks boots are also incredibly comfortable. The handmade quality and wide range of sizes and widths results in the closest thing to a “perfect” fit I’ve found (once broken in).
The moccasin toe gives my wide feet and thick toes plenty of room to move around without pinching or squeezing.
Plus, they’re incredibly durable and built to last at least a decade.
Thanks to their thick wedge outsole, they have all the arch support and impact reduction I’m looking for in a pair of work boots for concrete.
What I Like
- Thick wedge outsole reduces shock and strain on my feet. The sole makes the boots very comfortable to wear all day long.
- Versatile construction—suitable for both work and casual use.
- Lightweight and ideal for light-duty, fast-paced work.
- Available in a wide range of lengths and widths (from B to FF).
- Handmade quality, both handsome and long-lasting.
What I Don't Like
- The celastic toe isn’t suitable for work sites where a safety toe is required. However, for light-duty or fast-paced jobs, they’re a great choice.
What Other Reviewers Say
As one of Nicks’ newer offerings, the Moc Toe Wedge hasn’t yet garnered any reviews.
However, users of Nicks boots agree that their handmade construction is superb and the materials are top-quality.
Ultimately, they’re some of the longest-lasting boots available anywhere. They can be rebuilt and re-soled multiple times, and can endure up to ten or twenty years of use.
The Verdict
Nicks Moc Toe Wedge boots are an investment, for sure, but they’re the smart one every time. Not only are they incredibly durable and versatile, but the spacious construction, excellent support, ample padding, and handsome good looks make them a pair of boots you’ll be glad to wear both at work and around town.
Best on a Budget: Brunt Marin Composite Moc Toe
I’m all for saving a few bucks, but I still want good quality. Thankfully, my testing has proven that the Brunt Marin Composite Moc Toes strike just the right balance between affordability and reliability.
These boots feature everything you need to be safe on the job: 6-inch height, protection and support for your ankles, a lightweight composite safety toe, a slip- and oil-resistant rubber-skinned outsole, triple-layer waterproofing, and an electrical hazard rating.
The moccasin toe gives my feet plenty of room to fit and even swell up after long hours of walking and standing. The Marin Composite Moc Toes also come in EE width, which is incredible for my wide feet.
But what I like best about these Brunt boots is their support and cushioning. On top of the thick wedge outsole, they feature a shock-absorbing rubber foam midsole and premium insoles for extra padding.
I’ve spent twelve-hour days on my feet and barely felt a thing in these bad boys.
What I Like
- Surprisingly lightweight despite the chunky wedge sole.
- Excellent arch and ankle support, ample cushioning, and shock absorption.
- Waterproof enough to use in Vancouver rain and B.C. snowmelt.
- Breathable and spacious. My feet don’t overheat in the summer.
- Well-priced while still being top-notch quality.
What I Don't Like
- My only complaint is that the inclusion of a composite safety toe inside the moccasin toe style results in a very oversized, cumbersome look. It's not as sleek or stylish as I’d like.
What Other Reviewers Say
The Brunt Marin Composite Moc Toes have garnered an impressive 3,300 reviews and maintained a 4.5-star rating. Safe to say, they’re a big winner with wearers.
The boots score top marks on value for money, quality, sizing, and the overall wear experience.
A few wearers have had issues with longer-than-average break-in times or discomfort from the stitching rubbing against their toes. However, once you’ve worn the boots in properly, they quickly become a favorite.
Many users call them “the most comfortable work boot I’ve ever owned” and rave about their sneaker-like comfort.
The Verdict
Buy a pair of boots you can trust to serve you well and last for years, but without spending too much money.
The Brunt Marins are among my all-time favorite boots, and this Composite Moc Toe model delivers the roomy fit, work-specific protection, and all-day comfort and support you need for long hours working on hard concrete.
Great Value: Tecovas Knox
Tecovas strikes gold with the Knox, a roper-style boot featuring a heavy, ultra-supportive wedge sole.
The ten-inch shaft makes them more versatile than full-length cowboy boots, and the round toe has room enough to fit my wide feet. However, the shaft fits nice and snug around my ankles offering excellent support and stability.
The one-inch heel maximizes versatility on uneven terrain, while the Vibram 4014 Cristy sole offers excellent traction on wet, slippery, and muddy ground.
And speaking of mud and wet: the Knoxes are waterproof at the seam and built with a treated full-grain leather that makes them resistant to moisture damage. In fact, you can easily hose them down at the end of the day to clean them off in seconds.
On the comfort side, these Tecovas boots feature both a leather lining and shock-absorbing polyurethane insole that provides impressive cushioning.
Wrap this all up with the neat bow of a very reasonable price tag and a life expectancy of easily five to ten years, and you’ve got a pair of boots that delivers top-notch value for your money.
What I Like
- Roper style is incredibly versatile, great for riding, ranching, farming, and contracting work.
- Sturdy materials, treated leather, waterproof seams, and Goodyear welt construction ensure excellent resilience.
- Thick wedge outsole plus dual-layer footbed deliver excellent padding and arch support.
- Shaft fits snugly around your ankles and calves, providing better ankle support than your average cowboy boots.
- Western style and design are eye-catching.
What I Don't Like
- The Knox’s shaft was a bit too snug to fit my wide feet into so I had to exchange them for a pair two full widths larger.
What Other Reviewers Say
With over 2,200 reviews and a 4.7-star rating, it’s clear Tecovas got these boots right.
Their wedge outsole and roper style garner a lot of praise from cowboys and ranchers looking for extra support. One reviewer highlights this by saying, “I’m in these boots on average 15 hours a day, and my feet and back never bother me.”
A few wide-footed guys found the same struggle I did, with the shaft being too snug to make them easy to pull on and off.
Most wearers, however, have no trouble with the fit and are absolutely thrilled with the quality and durability of these Tecovas boots.
The Verdict
The Tecovas Knox is my top pick if you need a cowboy-style boot constructed specifically for work on hard concrete. The thick wedge outsole and dual-layer footbed offer marvelous cushioning and arch support, and the snug-fitting shaft will double down on the ankle support and stability. Just an all-around great pair of cowboy boots well worth every penny, in my opinion.
Best For Walking: Wolverine Raider Durashocks 6” Work Boot
There’s plenty to appreciate about these Wolverine boots.
First and foremost, the Durashocks Flex outsole offers the best shock absorption of any work boot I’ve tested to date. The individual compression pads integrated into the outsole reduce impact, but their configuration never compromises the boots’ flexibility and versatility.
There’s also the waterproof treatment used to coat the full-grain leather upper, making them suitable during heavy B.C. rains. However, thanks to the integrated ventilation and moisture-wicking mesh lining, my feet never get swampy or stinky.
The dual-density footbed adds an extra layer of cushioning. The polyurethane midsole provides the extra arch support my big, heavy frame needs.
The rubber lug outsole is incredibly grippy through mud, slush, snow, and ice, with a nylon shank that supports my feet when I’m standing on ladders or scaffolding.
Though not the lightest work boot, they’re the most comfortable and supportive for a long day of walking any job site.
What I Like
- Incredible arch support and impact reduction.
- Fully waterproof but still breathable and well-ventilated.
- Great value for the money—affordable and long-lasting.
- Flexible outsole allows more freedom of movement across uneven or debris-littered terrain.
What I Don't Like
- The lack of a safety toe means I can’t use them on job sites. Thankfully, Wolverine has a Carbonmax model of the Raiders that features a composite safety toe. They’re just heavier and not quite as comfortable as the regular Raiders.
What Other Reviewers Say
The Raiders are Wolverine’s best-selling boots, and for good reason.
They’ve gathered a lot of positive reviews for their durability, waterproofing, and performance. Many reviews also highlight their all-day comfort and the short break-in time.
The complaint they get most frequently is that the Flex outsole is prone to cracking between the lugs. The design that makes them supremely flexible also compromises their long-term durability.
The Verdict
I’ll typically lace up my Wolverine Raider Durashocks if I’ll be spending long hours unloading supplies, hauling lumber or sheetrock, or walking around any job site. The flexible outsole and highly supportive and cushioned footbed make them a truly comfortable pair of boots.
Thanks to their waterproofing, breathability, and ventilation, I can wear them virtually all year around, through any weather.
Best Chukka: Georgia Boot Wedge Chukka Work Boot
I like a good Chukka boot to wear around town. The low shaft height and slimmer design makes them ideal for a casual stroll along the boardwalk or a dinner date.
But the Georgia Boot Wedge Chukka convinced me to wear chukkas on job sites, too. They deliver all the versatility and good looks I want from a chukka but with enough comfort and protective features that I’ll gladly wear them for work.
On the protection side, the boots are built with SPR leather that is barnyard-proof and resistant to a wide range of acids, chemicals, and caustics. The steel shank improves stability and adds arch support.
Comfort-wise, they definitely score a home run.
The padded gusset ensures a snug fit without squeezing my arches. The interior lining improves breathability and wicks moisture away so my feet stay cool and dry.
The wedge outsole provides extra arch support and cushioning to reduce strain on my feet.
Though they’re soft-toe, they’re great for light-duty work and chores around a farm or ranch.
What I Like
- Sturdy Goodyear welt construction and durable materials ensure a long lifespan.
- Affordable price, great value.
- Breathable and moisture-wicking.
- Lightweight enough that I barely notice them over a long day.
- Sleek, low-cut design is far more style-friendly than a chunky, over-heavy pair of work boots. I can wear them from work right to a night out with buddies or the missus.
What I Don't Like
- The soft toe, lack of slip- and oil-resistance, and no EH-rating means they’re not ideal for all work sites. However, if I’m painting, plumbing, hauling supplies, or cleaning up after a job, they serve me nicely.
What Other Reviewers Say
Reviewers share my sentiments that the Georgia Boot Wedge Chukkas are lightweight, reliable for light-duty tasks, and very comfortable. The thick, sturdy wedge sole earns the majority of the positive feedback.
Some users encountered quality control issues with the wedge outsole. The sole split or separated from the upper, a problem common to a lot of wedge sole boots.
A few also complained the break-in time was longer than they expected, and even after days of wear, hadn’t yet softened and relaxed (another problem common with wedge sole boots).
None of the reviewers deny that Georgia Boot delivers top-notch quality and reliable performance. Many of the customer reviews were from repeat customers who had purchased these boots over and over again because of how much they like the Chukkas.
The Verdict
Looking for a work-friendly chukka boot? The Georgia Boot Wedge Chukkas are my top pick for this particular style because of their thick outsole, supportive and well-cushioned design, and sturdy construction. Though only rated for light-duty use, you’ll find they’re also nicely lightweight and very comfortable to wear all day.
What Makes a Work Boot Good for Working on Concrete?
Supportive Outsole
The outsole is your first line of defense against impact and foot strain. It’s what makes contact with the concrete with every step, and should be made from a material (typically rubber or polyurethane) that diminishes impact against the hard surface.
Wedge soles are a great option for concrete because they are thicker and integrate the arch support right into the sole. I recommend wedge soles for standing on concrete (for example, as a security guard).
However, if you’re walking around a factory or job site, you may want a non-wedge outsole that offers even more arch support and special impact-reducing features for a faster-paced work day.
The Wolverine Raiders, for example, integrate compression pads into the Durashocks outsole.
Shock-Absorption Midsole
The midsole supports your arches, the most vulnerable point in your feet (and the source of problems like stress fractures and inflammation caused by overuse).
Wedge sole boots typically incorporate midsole support into the outsole—for example, the rubber foam integrated into the sole of the Brunt Marins.
On the other hand, non-wedge boots will typically specify what material they’re using (for example, rubber foam or EVA foam) to create a specially structured, lightweight yet shock-absorbing midsole.
A Cushioned Insole and Footbed
The last line of defense between your feet and hard concrete is the insole or footbed.
(Note: The terms “footbed” and “insoles” are used interchangeably, but footbed usually refers to a removable insert while insole usually means the portion attached to the shoes.)
Some work boots will use both insoles and a footbed insert, while others will simply build multiple layers of cushioning into the non-removable insole itself.
The more cushioning your boots have, the less likely the impact of striking against hard concrete will strain or injure your feet.
Comfort: 1, Concrete: 0
Shop smart and give your feet the love they deserve with these boots intended for use on hard concrete.
Protecting your feet against strain, impact, and fatigue will make every workday easier and more comfortable, reducing the toll your hard labor takes on your body.
My research has led me to the Nicks Boots Moc toe Wedge as the best pair of boots overall. Between their handmade quality, thick wedge outsole, and incredible longevity, they make for a very savvy (if steep) investment.
If you want to go the other way and save on your boots, go with the chunky, roomy, and supportive Brunt Marin Composite Moc Toes. Or, spend a bit more on the Tecovas Knox and get a truly handsome, cowboy-style pair of work boots you can wear on the ranch, farm, and work site.
Choose the Wolverine Raider Durashocks 6” Work Boot if you’re going to be spending long hours walking on hard concrete. On the other hand, the Georgia Boot Wedge Chukka Work Boots make a slim, lightweight alternative the more cumbersome “standard” work boots.
FAQs
Why is concrete so hard on your feet?
Concrete has none of the “give” that other materials (for example, wood, steel, vinyl, or rubber) have. It was invented to endure extreme conditions and incredible weight (hundreds or thousands of pounds).
The hardness of concrete is what makes it strong. Unfortunately, it’s also what makes it so hard on your feet.
Because concrete won’t yield or flex when you step on it, the structure of your feet is forced to yield, which can increase strain and fatigue.
Are steel toe boots good for concrete?
Steel toe boots are excellent if you’re working around concrete or asphalt. It’s highly protective and can shield your feet from temperature extremes (i.e. hot asphalt) and heavy loads (i.e. falling concrete blocks).
However, be aware that the weight of steel toes may also add to the foot fatigue and strain caused by concrete.
How do I stop my feet from hurting on concrete?
Boots with ample cushioning and arch support are a good first step. Custom orthotics or insoles can also reduce impact and absorb shock. Upgrading to socks with additional padding (for example, the Camel City Mill Heavyweights) will provide even more protection and reduce foot pain.
