10 Best Steel Toed Cowboy Boots For Women

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Last Updated on December 26, 2022

Although most boots are unisex, work boots are designed for all-day wear and heavy-use. This means the perfect fit is essential! We have created a top review list of the best steel-toed cowboy boots for women on the market. When looking for steel-toe boots, it’s important to first understand the safety mechanisms and materials.

How to Choose the Best Steel Toed Cowboy Boots for Women

Requirements

Most horse owners will not be riding in steel toe boots. However, protective toe shoes are a great and sometimes necessary addition to your wardrobe. Many farriers opt to wear protective shoes, whereas some industrial and agricultural worksites also have OSHA requirements due to job site risks. If a farrier sustains a serious foot injury on the job, this can put them out for several months!  Other farm and ranch owners understand the daily operating risks and choose to wear protective boots for their own protection. Regardless of the reasoning, work boots don’t have to be plain boots- there is a variety of steel or composite toe options in cowboy styles, just for women.

Protection

The entire basis of steel or composite toe boots is safety. Like other safety or PPE items, there are standardized safety tests manufacturers utilize to rate their shoes for a certain activity or OSHA requirements. These standards fall under ASTM International, like the riding vests and helmets mentioned in other articles. Protective toe caps fall under ASTM F2412 or F2413. F2413 require toe caps can withstand both impact and compression. Impact testing utilizes heavyweights falling, whereas compression testing utilizes something heavy rolling on to a shoe. Without these ASTM requirements, protective toes could do more damage than good on a regular basis. These minimum safety standards ensure toes will not cave in and crush or trap feet in the event of an accident. This is yet another reason a specific-gender fit is so important for optimal safety.

Materials

There are two primary categories of protective cap shoes- steel toe and composite toe. Steel toes are significantly heavier than composite toe caps. Although safety is a priority, comfort is another huge factor. Weight directly affects a wearer’s comfort and level of fatigue. Metal is a thermal conductor, making composite boots a better choice for cold or winter weather. Composite toes, typically a form of plastic, are thermal insulators that are less likely to transfer heat. Manufacturers tend to make composite toe boots insulated and waterproof, although OSHA and ASTM have no official stance on heat/cooling factors. Much of the preference is drawn from individual preference and comfort, rather than set industry standards.

We have compiled a list of the top women’s steel toe cowboy boots, as well as some ASTM rated composite toe options. These boots have been tried and tested for comfort, durability, and safety. Check out our top picks below:

List of The Best Steel Toed Cowboy Boots for Women

#1 Durango Women’s RD3315 Western Steel-toed Cowboy Boots

Durango nailed western style with this stylish yet practical steel toe work boot! This boot is a beautiful chocolate and Havana brown leather with intricate stitch-work. It is a mid-calf design with mesh lining, a rubber sole, and features a modern square toe. It is rated to withstand up to 75 pounds of both impact and compression and meets Electrical Hazard Standards. Despite the safety features and steel shank stability, this boot offers flexibility and a modest 1.25″ rocker heel for all-day wear.

Pros:

• ASTM F2413
• Electrical Hazard Standards
• All-day comfort
• Beautiful intricate western design
• Lighter in weight
• Moderate price point

Cons:

• 75-pound capacity

#2 Justin Women’s Gypsy Wanette Cowboy Boots Steel Toe

The Gypsy Wanette work boot by Justin features an 11″ shaft and cut-out pull straps for ease. It’s a leather boot with a rubber sole and has J-Flex signature cushion insoles. This boot is a steel toe design but maintains a traditional cowboy boot style. Although the ASTM ratings are not stated, these are Electrical Hazard (EH) rated. More information may be found through Justin Boots directly.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Feminine design
• Comfortable for all-day wear
• Steel toe

Cons:

• Heavier boot

#3 TWISTED X Women’s Steel Toe Lite Western Work Boot

Twisted X is now dominating the western wear and PPE markets. Their boots are in high demand, and we are excited to see a women’s steel toe boot come out. This boot is available in a distressed red or brown and is made of a leather upper with a rubber sole. It has an 11″ full-grain leather shaft with a double stitched storm welt. Air-mesh lining provides greater breathability, and the footbed has a machine washable moisture-wicking insert for serious workdays. Our favorite feature is the oil-resistant outsole, providing extra traction. The steel toe meets ANSI standards and the boot uses a full-length compression-molded EVA midsole for comfort.

Pros:

• Meets ANSI safety standards
• Built for comfort
• Extra traction
• Quality materials
• Stitching to withstand the elements

Cons:

• More expensive
• No ASTM rating

#4 Ariat Women’s Krista Pull-on Steel Toe Western Cowboy Boot

The Krista boot by Ariat hardly looks like a steel toe! Full-grain leather has a lower shaft height of 9 inches, a six-row stitch pattern, and a rubber sole. It’s ASTM F2413 rated as well as EH and has a non-marking outsole. They are extremely lightweight for steel toe shoes and look like regular cowboy boots when being worn. They also feature a feminine leather lining in baby pink.

Pros:

• ASTM certified
• EH certified
• Moderately priced for the quality
• Look like normal cowboy boots with a rubber sole
• Lightweight for steel toes

Cons:

• Less calf coverage (if an issue)

#5 ARIAT Women’s Fatbaby Steel Toe Work Boot

The popular Fatbaby boot is now available in a steel toe option! A 100% leather upper with a synthetic sole, the Fatbaby has an 8″ shaft with a generous 14″ boot opening. So comfortable you can even go from work to saddle and ride in this boot! It has an oil-resistant outsole and is marked at an affordable price. If you love the original fit and comfort of the Fatbaby, this Ariat design is the steel toe work boot you need!

Pros:

• Oil-resistant outsole
• Original Fatbaby design
• Affordable

Cons:

• Rating unknown

#6 ARIAT Tracey Steel Toed Cowgirl Boots

We love the simplicity of the Tracey work boot by Ariat. This design is a 9-inch shaft featuring full-grain leather and a six-row stitch pattern, on top of anti-slip and oil-resistant soles. This boot is best suited for wide feet and has a 90-degree heel and Duratread outsole. It’s EH and ASTM F2413 rated, and the light composite toe provides all-day comfort. If you are looking for all-day wear and a generous fit, this is your protective boot.

Pros:

• Same Ariat western style with safety
• ASTM and EH approved
• Lightweight composite toe
• Wider fit for more comfort
• Extra heel stability

Cons:

• Won’t work for narrow feet (slipping/lack of stability)
• Plain color options

#7 Twisted X Women’s Lite Cowboy Western Work Boot Composite Toe

Talk about STYLE! This Twisted X Caiman print boot is our number one pick for safety boots with flair. It has a standard 11-inch shaft with full-grain leather Caiman print, a 1.25″ heel, and a discreet rubber sole. It features a roomy composite square toe, and an oil and slip-resistant rubber outer sole. The memory foam footbed and composite shank will have you forgetting you’re even wearing safety boots.  This is a pair you can wear to town and not feel out of place!

Pros:

• Surprisingly moderately priced
• Western fashion
• Anti-slip/oil outer sole
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Safety ratings unknown

#8 Rocky Original Ride FLX Women’s Composite Toe Waterproof Western Boot

We love the distressed look of this Rocky Ride FLX composite boot. It has a full-grain SPR upper leather, EVA midsole for comfort, and an oil/slip-resistant outsole. Our favorite feature: A 1-year guarantee for waterproofing via the Rocky Vapor Pass technology!  This boot is ASTM certified and lightweight.

Pros:

• Vintage distressed finish
• ASTM certified
• Lightweight composite toe
• Guaranteed waterproof

Cons:

• More expensive

#9 Ariat Round up D Toe Wingtip Western Women’s Cowboy Work Boots

Ariat has quite a lineup in women’s safety boots- this is the Wingtip cowboy boot, available in multiple colors! This leather upper is a mid-calf design with the EVA midsole. It’s EH and ASTM F2413 compliant. The mesh lining will keep you cool and mold to your foot. Excellent craftsmanship means you’ll get plenty of wear out of this design.

Pros:

• Moderately priced
• Color selection
• High quality

Cons:

• Heavier boot
• Sizing varies from other Ariat styles

#10 Honorable Mention: Caterpillar Women’s Revolver Steel Toe Work Boot

Although not a cowboy boot, we have to mention the “OG” Caterpillar Revolver boot. Simplistic in style, this boot is also a full leather and rubber sole steel-toe boot with an EH and ASTM rating. Although not one of the lighter boots, this is a top pick of female farriers across the nation. It endures the elements well and provides excellent comfort and stability once broken in. The generous boot opening can go over or underpants as needed. Moderately priced, this boot is built for tough work by tough women.

Pros:

• Moderately priced
• ASTM and EH rated
• High quality
• Endures wear and tear, poor weather conditions

Cons:

• Plain appearance
• Not a western boot

Do you wear safety boots around the farm or for your job? Do you prefer the cowboy boot look?

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