13 Best Lightweight Composite Toe Shoes for Work [Athletic] | Workwear Command (2024)

I put my hands on all of these men’s lightweight composite toe shoes and my conclusion was this: the Reebok Sublite shoes were the lightest in weight and also provided the most comfort under the foot (#1 on the list below). They have an athletic design best for indoor jobs or for those who work on smooth surfaces all day. If you want a lightweight raised-heel shoe for construction, I’d recommend the Caterpillar Streamline shoes (#8 on list below).

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The list below ranks these lightweight composite toe work shoes based on weight, starting with the lightest (weight listed below is based off one size 12 regular shoe):

1. Reebok Sublite Cushion Comp Toe Work Shoes | Weight 0.94 pounds | (click here to view)
2. Rockport Men’s Truflex Composite Toe Work Sneaker | Weight 0.94 pounds | (click here to view)
3. Reebok Astroride Strike Work Composite Toe Shoes | Weight 0.99 pounds | (click here to view)
4. Reebok Men’s Fusion Flexweave Athletic Work Shoe | Weight 1.01 pounds | (click here to view)
5. Timberland PRO Drivetrain Comp Toe Industrial Shoe | Weight 1.03 pounds | (click here to view)
6. Danner Men’s Run Time NMT Shoes | Weight 1.15 pounds | (click here to view)
7. Kodiak Ramble Composite Toe Men’s Work Shoes | Weight 1.25 pounds | (click here to view)
8. Caterpillar Men’s Streamline Comp Toe Work Shoe | Weight 1.26 pounds | (click here to view)
9. Carhartt Force Nano Comp Toe Men’s Work Shoes | Weight 1.28 pounds | (click here to view)
10. KEEN Utility Flint 2 Low Top Composite Toe Shoes | Weight 1.38 pounds | (click here to view)
11. Caterpillar Argon Comp Toe Leather Work Shoe | Weight 1.62 pounds | (click here to view)
12. *Women’s* Reebok Work Sublite Cushion Low Top Composite Toe Shoes (click here to view)
13. *Women’s* Caterpillar Streamline Low Top Composite Toe Work Shoes (click here to view)

Yes, all of these are lightweight, low top composite toe shoes and weigh much less than most work boots, but as you can see above, there is a wide range of weights. We wanted to incorporate a large variety of work shoes, some indoor and some outdoor.

The outdoor shoes are going to be sturdier, with more complex outsoles, and they often have extra cushioning and abrasion support. This means you can expect an outdoor work shoe to have more materials, and to ultimately weigh more than most indoor work shoes.

There are several things to consider when buying a composite toe work shoe. Do you need toe and heel overlays for extra abrasion resistance? Do you need a raised-heel shoe that offers slip protection for climbing ladders? Do you need a gusseted tongue to keep rocks and debris out? How much does weight matter? Does material matter to you?

These are things you will need to consider so that you find a lightweight composite toe shoe that fits your needs on the job. As I mentioned earlier, the Reebok Sublite work shoes (#1 on list) were my favorite for indoor jobs based on the lightweight design and great under-foot cushioning. My size 12 regular only weighed 0.94 pounds and the memory-foam insoles are grooved in a way that relieved stress off the bottom of my foot:

For versatility, I liked the Caterpillar Streamline shoes the best. I felt like they incorporated the athletic, flexible design that we all want in a work shoe, but added in a few extra details (raised heel for ladder support, double abrasion overlay) that make it a versatile shoe that can be used for both indoor and outdoor jobs. Here’s the low-profile squared heel on the Caterpillar Streamline:

I have pictures for all of the men’s shoes on this list, and can give you a perspective on these shoes you can’t find anywhere else. Let’s take a closer look at these low top composite toe work shoes so you can find an option that fits your needs.

Disclaimer: Please understand that we reviewed these shoes to get an accurate understanding of weight, comfort, and features. We did not test the crush resistance of any of these shoes. Because we do not know your job, we cannot guarantee that these shoes will meet the safety demands of your job. Not all composite toes are the same. Always verify the safety toe meets the safety requirements of your job prior to purchase.

My Favorite Lightweight Composite Toe Shoes

Reebok Sublite Cushion Composite Toe Work Shoes

I have tried 15 different comp toe work shoes, and these are by far my favorite based on comfort. The memory foam insole they use on these shoes (Reebok calls it “Memory Tech Massage”) provides a level of comfort under the foot that none of the other composite toe shoes I tried could match. In my opinion, these are the best composite toe work shoes to use indoors.

Here I am wearing these shoes (in my experience these fit true to size):

This is the current price of these Reebok lightweight composite toe work shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shoes:

The main takeaway here is lightweight comfort. This shoe tied for the most lightweight shoe I reviewed, and in my opinion it also provides the best underfoot comfort. If you are looking for maximum comfort that won’t weigh your feet down, these are your best option.

Although this shoe has a gusseted tongue to help hold out debris, the punched eyelets and mesh uppers won’t hold out water, and the outsole does not have a raised heel. Because of this, it would probably be best to use these shoes for indoor jobs, or for outdoor jobs that work on smooth surfaces in dry climates.

Click here to buythese Reebok Sublite Cushion comp toe work shoes available at Amazon(affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.

Caterpillar Men’s Streamline Comp Toe Work Shoe

One huge problem with lightweight composite toe shoes is the large majority of options don’t have a raised heel. Instead, they go for an athletic design to maximize comfort and minimize weight. For many jobs, that might be fine, but for those of you who spend all day going up and down a ladder, the raised heel can be an added layer of protection against slipping.

That’s why I like these Caterpillar Streamline Shoes. Yes, they still have a lightweight design that can be used indoors, but these shoes have a couple extra features (including a raised heel) that many other lightweight composite toe work shoes don’t. This allows these Caterpillar Streamline shoes to fit a wider variety of jobs.

To be clear, this is still a low-profile raised heel – we aren’t talking about an inch heel like you would find on many work boots. So, no, this shoe won’t provide as much slip protection on a ladder that a work boot might, but for some jobs, a squared heel helps, and these Caterpillar Streamline Shoes provide you a raised-heel option that you don’t find in many work shoes.

I own the S/D (static dissipative) version of these shoes. In my experience these fit true to size. Here I am wearing these shoes:

This is the current price of these Caterpillar lightweight composite toe work shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shoes:

The main takeaway here is these shoes have a sturdier design that the Reebok shoes, and when you combine that with the low-profile raised heel, this shoe fits a wider variety of jobs both indoor and outdoor. Yes, if you are looking for the lightest-weight option, I’d stick with Reebok. But these shoes still are very lightweight compared to the market, and give you outdoor versatility.

Now, to be clear, these shoes are not waterproof, so they might not makes sense for all environments. And no, the raised heel won’t provide the same slip protection that a rugged outdoor boot will. But these shoes give you a lightweight, athletic design that incorporates some of those important outdoor features (raised heel, tongue gusset, extra abrasion resistance) to make these shoes more versatile than other lightweight composite toe shoes.

Click here to buythese Caterpillar Streamline work shoes available at Amazon(affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.

Reebok Astroride Strike Work Composite Toe Shoes

These shoes are very similar to the Reebok Sublite shoes we just discussed first, they just use a different type of memory-foam insole, and altogether, weigh a bit more than the Reebok Sublite shoes from earlier. These are also very comfortable safety shoes, and were probably my second favorite pair of shoes for under-foot comfort.

Here’s what my Reebok Astroride shoes look like (in my experience these shoes fit true to size):

This is the current price of these Reebok lightweight composite toe work shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shoes:

Overall, this is another great lightweight indoor option, and if you don’t like the grooved outsole of the first Reebok shoes from earlier, perhaps you like the outsole design on these shoes better. But these two Reebok shoes are very similar, and fill the same need, so which is best for you might come down to style. I personally thought the massage insoles on the Reebok Sublite shoes were more comfortable.

Click here to buythese Reebok Astroride Strike comp toe work shoes available at Amazon(affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.

Rockport Men’s Truflex Composite Toe Work Sneaker

These Rockport shoes tied the Reebok Sublite shoes for the lightest-weight shoe I tested (0.94 pounds per shoe for a size 12 regular). The design is obviously ultra-lightweight and won’t weigh your feet down.

The main drawback here is this is a very simple shoe, built with the goal to deliver a lightweight, comfortable composite toe sneaker that has more of a casual style. This is not a sneaker that prioritizes abrasion resistance and other necessary work shoe qualities (in fairness, it does have heel abrasion reinforcement).

But not every worker out there needs a shoe built for rugged work. These might fit in nicely as business casual work sneakers for those of you who spend part of your day in an office and part of the day on a work floor, and need a composite toe shoe for protection.

Here I am wearing these Rockport shoes:

This is the current price of these Rockport lightweight composite toe work shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shoes:

The main takeaway here is these aren’t built for rugged work, but do give you a nice option that can pair easily with khakis and function as a work sneaker for those of you who spend time in an office and on a work floor. Again, these tied for the lightest-weight sneaker I tested, and really prioritize a minimalistic design that keeps weight down.

Click here to buythese Rockport composite toe work shoes available at Amazon(affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.

KEEN Utility Men’s Flint 2 Low Top Composite Toe Work Shoes

KEEN is well-known for making hiking-style work shoes that combine a durable build with a comfortable, flexible style. I wanted to highlight these shoes because they are another good option for those of you who work outside in a more rugged environment.

These shoes are made, in part, with water-resistant leather and feature outsoles that are designed to disperse moisture quickly for increased traction. Combine that with a raised heel and extra abrasion resistance and these shoes can fit outdoor work much better than some of the athletic composite toe shoes we discussed earlier.

Here I am wearing these KEEN shoes:

This is the current price of these KEEN lightweight composite toe work shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about these shoes:

These are going to be more rugged than the Reebok shoes I recommended for indoor work. These shoes are good for landscaping and construction type jobs that need more abrasion resistance and things like a raised heel to navigate uneven terrain.

These aren’t waterproof shoes, but they are made in part with water-resistant leather, and the mesh liner wicks away sweat to help keep your feet dry. The raised lace eyelets in combination with the bootie-style tongue help prevent rocks and debris from lodging inside the shoe.

Click here to buythese KEEN composite toe work shoes available at Amazon(affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.

Other Lightweight Composite Toe Shoes to Consider

Reebok Men’s Fusion Flexweave Athletic Work Shoe

This is another super lightweight athletic-style Reebok composite toe shoe. The thing I really like about these shoes is the breathability. As you can see in the picture below, you can actually see through the mesh upper of these shoes. In my opinion, this is the most breathable shoe on this list.

These composite toe shoes have abrasion reinforcement on the toe and heel, and also have a gusseted tongue to help keep debris out. Despite that, they’re probably best for indoor work, or light-duty outdoor work due to the lightweight design and flat bottom.

This is the current price of these Reebok lightweight comp toe shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience these shoes fit true to size. Wide sizing is available. To read more, visit my article about the best breathable composite toe shoes.

Timberland PRO Drivetrain Comp Toe Industrial Shoe

What stands out about these Timberland work shoes compared to the other shoes on this list is the amount of padding up around the collar. If you are someone who really prioritizes a comfortable collar, these might be a great choice for you.

Overall, pretty standard design here. These shoes have a composite toe with abrasion overlay on both the toe and the heel. There is a gusseted tongue to help keep debris out, but the lightweight design and flat outsole mean that, just like the Reebok shoe above, these shoes are best used indoors or for light-duty outdoor work on reliable surfaces.

This is the current price of these Timberland lightweight comp toe shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience these shoes fit true to size. These shoes have anti-microbial treatment to help reduce odor.

Danner Men’s Run Time NMT Shoes

Danner is well-known for making both work boots and hiking shoes, so it is no surprise that they offer athletic style safety-toe shoes. These are NMT shoes (non-metallic toe) that can also function as trail safety running shoe. They have a lightweight design made with textile uppers.

In general, these are best used for indoor work and other types of light-duty work, but they do have a very small low-profile raised heel that you can see in the picture below. This shoe has toe and heel abrasion guards and has a flexible design. The weight of 1.15 pounds does put it behind some of the other indoor work shoes on this list as far as weight.

This is the current price of these Danner NMT shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience these shoes fit true to size. Wide sizing is available.

Kodiak Ramble Composite Toe Men’s Work Shoes

This is another standard lightweight, athletic work shoe geared more for an indoor environment. These shoes weigh 1.25 pounds per shoe (size 12) and have a flexible, responsive design. One thing I think stands out about these shoes compared to other athletic composite toe work shoes, is these shoes use a nylon material on the upper that, to the touch, feels more abrasion resistant than the textile uppers used on other shoes.

Even though the heel on these shoes are raised a little bit, all things considered, this is still an indoor work shoe made for light-duty work. It has a comfortable design including the heel strap that connects to the laces and helps stabilize the fit.

In my experience these shoes fit true to size. Wide sizing is available.

Carhartt Force Nano Comp Toe Men’s Work Shoes

Like most other indoor shoes, these shoes are made with textile uppers and a foam midsole to help control weight. They have abrasion resistance on the toe and heel and a gusseted tongue to hold out debris. The outsole has an athletic style with no raised heel. I liked these shoes, but the drawback is they just weigh more than the other indoor shoes on this list.

One thing I think stands out about these shoes in a positive way is an elastic-like collar that allows the shoe to sit very comfortably against the ankle. These shoes also have a moisture wicking lining to help keep your feet dry and have a flexible design that is easy to move around in.

This is the current price of these Carhartt low top composite toe work shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience these shoes fit true to size. Wide sizing is available.

Caterpillar Argon Comp Toe Leather Work Shoe

These are the heaviest shoes on our list, but we wanted to include a leather work shoe option. And no, these uppers don’t have 100% leather (there is some textile blended in to control weight), but these shoes have more leather on the upper than any other shoes on our list.

These low top composite toe work shoes have abrasion resistance on both the toe and the heel. The tongue is gusseted to help keep debris out, and the leather build makes this a versatile shoe that can be worn in a wide variety of jobs both indoor and outdoor (light duty).

This is the current price of these Caterpillar low top composite toe shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience these shoes fit true to size. Wide sizing is available.

5 Things to Consider When Buying Lightweight Composite Toe Shoes

Abrasion Resistance

For many jobs, it is important to have shoes that have extra abrasion resistance on the toe and heel to not only provide a little extra protection to your foot, but also to help the material of the shoe hold up over time. Most (but not all) of the options on this list have abrasion resistance on both the toe and heel.

Tongue Gusset

A gusseted tongue is a tongue that is attached to the shoe not only at the base of the tongue, but also on the side of the tongue. This helps prevent debris and water from slipping through the laces down into the work shoe.

Obviously this is a bit more important for outdoor work, but even most of the indoor work shoes on this list have a gusseted tongue.

Attached Lace Eyelets

Some work shoes will attach lace eyelets so they don’t have to punch holes in the shoe. Fewer holes means a less chance that water or debris can slip through. If you are worried about debris, you might want to make sure the shoes you choose have attached eyelets.

For example, the KEEN shoes on our list have attached eyelets:

Raised Heel

I discussed this throughout, but one issue with wearing athletic low top composite toe work shoes is many styles are built with flat outsoles that don’t have a raised heel. Although flat outsoles can be more comfortable, for some jobs the raised heel can provide extra slip resistance.

No, you can’t find work shoes that have large, inch-sized heels like work boots, but there are some shoes (like the Caterpillar Streamline shoes on our list) that have a low-profile raised heel that offers some slip protection.

Durability

Yes, lightweight composite toe work shoes may be appealing because they help relieve some stress on your feet during a long day of work, but these types of shoes will lack durability. Textile uppers reduce weight, but they won’t hold up long term like leather will.

The upper on these types of shoes is attached to the outsole using a glue or cementing material. This also helps reduce weight, but don’t expect glue to hold up forever. Lightweight foam midsoles also reduce weight, but won’t offer long term comfort like a leather or rubber midsole you’d find in a premium work boot.

I say all of that to just remind you that there are pros and cons to lightweight work shoes, and just make sure they make sense for your job. If you work in a rugged environment, these types of textile shoes are not always a great option.

Lightweight composite toe shoes are best used for light-duty work. If you work in a rugged environment, perhaps a composite toe hiker boot might make more sense. For steel toe options, visit our article about the best lightweight steel toe shoes.