The difference is in the fit
We hear you, loud and clear: Working women are sick and tired of wearing men’s boots. You need boots that fit your feet — which is why KEEN Utility offers a full range of professional-grade boots, all developed with and tested by real tradeswomen. Wherever you see our Tradeswomen Tested logo, you know hard-working women wear tested it and approved it for the rigors of their job.
KEEN work boots for women feature our signature hiking boot design, translated for the jobsite. A snugger fit in the heel and a more spacious toe box creates a one-of-a-kind work boot. All of our women’s boots also meet ASTM standards for foot protection and resist oil, chemicals, abrasion, heat, and slippery surfaces.
Which pair is right for you?
Let us help you find the ideal boot or shoe for the job you have ahead of you. Pick the statement that matches you best:
“I work outside and it gets wet, so I need a waterproof boot.”
Nothing kills your focus like damp feet. Our women’s waterproof work boots feature a KEEN.DRY membrane that seals out moisture, but still allows your foot to breathe (because hot, sweaty feet will drag you down too).
Here are a few of our top-selling waterproof boots:
The women’s Chicago Waterproof boot has a waterproof design and a carbon-fiber toe, plus a KEEN.ReGEN cushioning midsole for extra comfort during long days on your feet.
The women’s Cincinnati boot is our heaviest-duty work boot, so we recommend this one for ironworkers, welders, pipe fitters, and other women doing the hardest work out there. It’s Goodyear-welted for stability, and the air-infused KEEN Luftcell midsole makes it surprisingly lightweight and comfy. The full-grain waterproof leather upper is also barnyard-resistant, so it resists most minerals, oils, and chemicals.
The women’s Seattle Waterproof boot is a lace-up style in waterproof leather with an aluminum toe. Fans love the heavy lug outsole (that’s also electrical hazard (EH)-rated). Find the Seattle in both 6” and 8” cuts.
“Bought these for working in the garage. Wear them all day on wet and slippery concrete/pavement, in and out of busses, up and down ladders. Great boots! Waterproof just like they say, I have soaked these boots and my feet stay comfy and dry.” — Lisa
“A steel toe boot is mandatory gear for my job.”
We’ve got those. Work shoes and boots with steel toes save your feet from heavy impact. KEEN steel toe boots also offer other safety or performance features, including static dissipation, slip resistance, metatarsal protection, insulation, waterproofing, and electrical hazard protection.
The women’s Flint II boot (steel toe) combines a hiking-inspired mesh and leather design with a protective steel toe. KEEN.ReGEN cushioning in the midsole gives springy comfort for hours of standing, walking, climbing — whatever your day demands.
“I have been wearing the Flint boot for 5+ years for my job. I keep going back to these year after year. The most comfortable steel toe boot. They fit more like a hiking shoe.” — Jessica
“I need a non-metallic boot. Do you have composite or carbon-fiber toe boots?”
Sure do. The industry is moving away from composite toes as carbon fiber is lighter and less bulky. Carbon fiber is the best choice if you need rugged protection without steel toe caps. Roughly 30% lighter than steel toe, they’re also good for extreme high or low temperatures.
We recommend the women’s Chicago 6” Waterproof Boot. This waterproof boot has a lightweight yet protective carbon-fiber toe, plus a KEEN-ReGEN cushioning midsole for comfort and energy return on hard surfaces like concrete floors.
“Excellent pair of work boots I plan to wear around the barn. Everything I was looking for: Carbon fiber toe, oil/slip resistant, waterproof. I have feet with bunions that need room to splay and these fit well.” — Kim
Safety note: After a heavy impact, composite toe work boots may not dent like an aluminum or steel toe, but they can have invisible cracks that damage the integrity of the boots. Always replace boots after a heavy impact, as they may now offer ineffective protection.
“I wear aluminum toe boots. Got any of those?”
Yep. Aluminum toe caps are 30-50% lighter than steel and have a sleeker appearance than a composite safety toe, so some people prefer them.
For aluminum toe boots, try the women’s Seattle 6” Waterproof Boot and the women’s Seattle 8” Waterproof Boot. Both feature KEEN.DRY breathable waterproofing and an oil- and slip-resistant outsole.
“I am a commercial beekeeper and purchased these shoes for doing so. If I were to drop a 50 lb honey super on my foot the aluminum toe would protect me. Thank you for providing women with a quality work boot!” - Bianca
There’s also the women’s Seattle Romeo Boot (aluminum toe). This pull-on Chelsea boot features an EH-rated outsole for extra protection when working with electricity.
“I'm loving my new boots. Wore them all day right out of the box. Did a couple of miles of walking, up on step ladders, up and down hill on dirt on the first day of wear and the boots felt great.” — Bonnie R.
“A met guard is a must-have for my line of work.”
For safety that extends beyond the toe, get a boot with a met guard. The women’s Detroit XT Internal Met Shoe combines a steel toe with internal metatarsal impact protection. This hiking-style pair also features KEEN.KEY-TECH FLEX, which gives greater stability and helps reduce foot fatigue on uneven surfaces (without sacrificing toe flexion).
“I don’t need a protective toe, I just need a sturdy, versatile everyday pair.”
Maybe your job doesn’t require a safety toe, but you still want all the other features. No problem! Here are a few soft toe styles to check out:
The women’s Cincinnati 8” Waterproof Boot is a leather boot with a Goodyear welt construction that will stand up to years of heavy-duty work, yet feels lightweight on the foot. Even though it doesn’t have a true safety toe, the KEEN.PROTECT soft toe still protects against minor impact.
Pro tip: The Cincinnati is also ideal for farmers since it’s made with a barnyard-resistant leather upper that resists the damaging effects of oleic acid, urea, sodium chloride, and ammonium hydroxide.
“Being a union electrician in the construction industry for 24 years strong, I can truly say THIS KEEN boot is the BEST boot ever!!!!! I’ve tried every boot brand known to man/woman and hands down this boot is the best.” — Chanel B.
The women’s Seattle Romeo Boot (soft toe) is a pull-on Chelsea style with a KEEN.PROTECT soft toe. It features an EH-rated outsole for extra protection when working with electricity.
“I work on film sets and so I need something that's sturdy for all day wear, and protects my feet when I'm moving heavy equipment. This one has the added bonus of electrical charge protection, so I can feel safe when I'm helping out the lighting department.” — Sophie
“I tend to get really warm at work, so I need shoes to help me stay cool!”
We got you. When you need to wear safety footwear but also need to keep from overheating, go for the women’s Atlanta Cool II ESD Shoe. The ventilating upper helps release heat to keep your temperature regulated, and the steel toe offers real protection. Plus, KEEN.ReGEN cushioning gives you energy return to keep a spring in your step for hours.
“These shoes are perfect for what I needed them for. I'm a machinist so I'm on my feet for 10 hours a day on hard concrete. My old shoes would make my feet hot and sore. These I can barely tell I have on!” — Malari S.
KEEN spent years perfecting the hiking boot. And then we brought everything we learned back to the jobsite. Whatever your work entails, KEEN Utility boots are proven tough for long days on your feet. We make boots to make your day easier, on and off the clock.@robin.skillings@keenfootwear.com this quote is also used in another guide (the Women's Work Boots Guide). Just a heads up!
