In this article we discuss the best wedge work boots made in the USA. Wedge sole work boots are popular because the flat sole helps take some of the stress off of your feet, and allows for a more comfortable work day.
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These are our choices for the best wedge work boots made in the USA:
- Thorogood Men’s American Heritage 6″ Moc Toe 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 6″ Work Boots (click here to view)
- Thorogood Men’s 1957 Series Moc Wedge Work Boots (click here to view)
- Nicks Boots Traveler Moderate Arch Wedge Work Boots (click here to view)
- White’s Foreman Lace-to-Toe Wedge Boots (click here to view)
- Thorogood Men’s American Heritage 11″ Wellington Pull-On Work Boots (click here to view)
- Danner Men’s Bull Run Cristy 8″ Round Toe Work Boots (click here to view)
- Danner Men’s Quarry 8 Inch Wedge Work Boots (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Red Wing USA Heritage Classic Work 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 cheap boot companies have 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. Although price can fluctuate, in my experience, Carolina Shoe Company offers some of the most affordable USA wedge work boots.
If you want a wedge work boot made in the USA, but don’t want to pay $250 or more, I would suggest checking out the Carolina style CA7011 – click here to view it at their website.
Best Wedge 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 steel toe). Here is a look at mine:
This is the current price of these Thorogood American Heritage Moc Toe Wedge 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, andhave 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. Mine are 8 inch work boots.
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. I also like the Thorogood 1957 Boots.
If you look at our list at the top of the article, you will see that we’ve included three versions of the Thorogood American Heritage boots in our rankings.
Our list includes the moc-toe version (which I own), the round-toe version, and the pull-on version, all of which have a wedge outsole. I personally like the moc-toe style, but all three of these styles are great options, and it just comes down to personal preference.
Here is what the round-toe version looks like:
This is the current price of these Thorogood round-toe work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Just like the moc-toe version, you can buy these round-toe boots in both a safety-toe and a plain-toe.
The Thorogood American Heritage pull-on boots are 11″ boots, with a round toe. Here’s what they look like:
This is the current price of these Thorogood pull-on work boots available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Overall, the selection of pull-on wedge boots made in the USA is much less than the selection of lace-up wedge boots made in the USA. If you prefer pull-on, this is a nice option.
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.
**For waterproof boots, visit our article about the best waterproof wedge boots.
Red Wing Heritage Classic Moc Work Boots
Red Wing Shoe Company was founded 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 wedge 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 first. Although these can function just fine as work boots, many people love wearing Red Wing boots as casual boots.
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 Wedge 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 a wedge boot. The Danner Bull Run boots are wedge work boots made in the USA.
Here is what the Danner Bull Run Moc-Toe work boots look like:
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 safety and plain toe).
This is what the round-toe Danner Bull Run wedge boots look like:
**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.
Carolina USA Wedge Work Boots
Carolina Shoe Company is another popular boot brand. Carolina still makes a lot of their boots here in the USA, including a wedge work boot.
In my experience, Carolina boots are a bit more affordable than other types of USA-made work boots. If you are shopping for wedge work boots made in the USA, but don’t want to spend $250 or more, these Carolina Wedge Boots might be a nice option for you.
Click here to view the Carolina USA Wedge Work Boots (affiliate link takes you to Carolina Shoe’s website). The style number for these boots is CA7011.
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).
These boots are offered in both a plain-toe and a safety-toe. The safety toe version is CA7811. Click here to view the Carolina USA Wedge Work Boots (affiliate link takes you to Carolina Shoe’s website).
Custom Wedge Work Boots Made in the USA
As I mentioned earlier in the article, Nicks Boots and White’s Boots are two premium boot companies that custom make boots to fit the unique shape of your feet.
If you’re looking for wedge work boots made in the USA, these boots would top our list if we were ranking on quality alone (and not also price). Handmade custom boots are not cheap, and Nicks Boots and White’s Boots might be out of the price range that some of you are hoping to spend.
Now, the argument can be made that boots of this quality eventually save you money in the long run because they hold up longer than cheaper stock boots. Regardless, the price of these boots may be out of the comfort zone that some of you are looking to spend.
Both Nicks and White’s will use custom measurements that you submit to help shape the boot to specifically fit your feet. The process itself differs a bit for each company.
I personally do not have foot pain, and so buying standard stock work boots are fine for me. And it’s important to note that the boots we’ve already covered on this list are still considered premium work boots. But what they don’t do is custom fit a boot to your foot like Nicks and White’s will.
It’s also worth noting that both Nicks and White’s do make boots with standard configurations. So if you like their boots, but don’t want to go through the custom process, you can just buy the boot made with a standard configuration.
Nicks Boots Traveler Wedge Work Boots
Nicks Boots was founded in 1964 in Spokane WA, and has always specialized in making premium, handmade work boots. That tradition is still their guiding principle today, and why they are very popular for people looking for the best work boots on the market.
As we just discussed above, these boots would be at the top of the list, but we also tried to factor in price. Not everyone wants to spend this much on a work boot.
Again, the argument can be made that boots of this quality eventually save you money in the long run because they hold up longer than cheaper boots. Regardless, you’ll need to consider if the price is within your current budget.
If you are looking for a wedge sole boot from Nicks, you’ll want to check out the Nicks Traveler Work Boots. Click here to view these boots at NicksBoots.com to see custom design features and current price.
This boot can be ordered with standard configuration, or you can get it custom fit for your foot.
If you opt for custom, once Nicks gets the needed measurements of your feet, they will match the shape of your foot to a specific last mold that fits it. A last mold is used during the boot making process to help shape a boot.
Again, to be clear, Nicks does offer stock boots that are just made from standard lasts. So if you don’t feel like going through the custom process, you can buy a Nicks Boot with standard configuration.
But if you are someone who really struggles with foot pain, and you spend all day on your feet, getting a pair of custom Nicks with a wedge sole might be a great option for some relief.
Yes, due to the detailed hand-making process, these boots are not cheap. But buying a pair of Nicks is kinda like making an investment. These boots will last a long time, provide custom comfort, and of course, they can be re-crafted if needed.
If you want to learn more about the boot making process at Nicks, I would suggest watching this video.
White’s Foreman Lace-to-Toe Wedge Boots
White’s Boots has been a family-owned business since it was founded in 1920. Just like Nicks Boots that we covered above, White’s is also located in Spokane WA.
This area of the country has a deep-rooted tradition in boot making due to the expansive logging industry that has existed in this region for multiple generations.
Also, just like Nick Boots we covered above, White’s boots will allow you to order a custom fit boot. Yes, they also sell boots with standard configurations, but if you want a boot custom made to fit the unique shape of your feet, this is another great option.
White’s Foreman Boots are lace-to-toe wedge work boots made in the USA. Click here to see the design of these White’s Foreman boots, and the current price.
These boots use Vibram outsoles. If you prefer Vibram, visit our article about the best Vibram wedge sole boots.
To learn more about the custom boot-making process at White’s, click here.
The Benefits of Wedge Work Boots
If you work on a factory floor, or even on some construction sites, you need something that is tough, but also appropriate for that environment. For example, you absolutely don’t need to wear a heavy-duty outdoor boot if you work in a factory.
Logger boots and other types of heavy-duty outdoor boots use aggressive lug patterns to provide traction in harsh outdoor conditions. If you are working inside, or on a smooth surface, you don’t need that.
If you work on a factory floor, you need a boot that can, yes, provide proper support and toughness, but with a build and style that is more appropriate and comfortable for an indoor environment. Many factory jobs are great opportunities to turn to a more comfortable wedge sole boot.
I see people all the time working on a factory floor with a heavy-duty boot that has a rugged lug pattern. It’s overkill, and it’s stealing comfort.
Wedge soles are comfortable, in part, because the flat sole helps evenly distribute the stress across the entire bottom of the foot. Standard raised heel boots, although rugged and great for uneven terrain, focus themajority of the stress to specific spots on your foot, like your heel or toe pad. This can lead to irritation.
A wedge sole work boot is a comfortable alternative to a raised heel boot. But again, it’s about matching your needs with a boot. ***If you’re looking for a winter wedge boot, visit our article about the best insulated wedge sole work boots.
If you work on harsh, uneven terrain, a wedge sole boot does not make much sense for you (because you need a raised heel to help prevent slipping). But if you work on concrete, tile, plywood, carpet, or packed dirt (etc), wearing a wedge sole work boot is a great way to add some comfort (my favorite wedge sole cowboy boots).
In this article we discussed the best wedge boots made in the USA. If you are interested in products made in the USA, consider our other articles:
- Best Work Pants Made in the USA
- Best Rubber Boots Made in the USA
- Best Logger Boots Made in the USA
- Best Overalls Made in the USA
- Best Composite Toe Boots Made in the USA
- Best Steel Toe Boots Made in the USA
