Hey Dude Steel Toe Shoes for Work – Do They Make Them? [Safety Alternatives] | Workwear Command (2024)

We all love Hey Dude shoes because they are lightweight and extremely comfortable to wear. Most steel toe shoes are the complete opposite and cause foot pain and fatigue. Do Hey Dude Steel Toe shoes exist? Unfortunately, no, Hey Dude does not currently make steel toe shoes. However, I recently tried 10 different types of steel toe shoes so I could find options that were actually comfortable. In this article I will discuss the best options.

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These are my favorite alternatives to Hey Dude Steel Toe Shoes:

• *My Favorite* – Skechers Cankton Memory Foam Steel Toe Shoes (click here to view)
• Feel/Fit Like Socks – Larnmern Mesh Steel Toe Sock Shoes (click here to view)
• Most Lightweight – Caterpillar Woodward Steel Toe Work Shoes (click here to view)
• Athletic Style – Reebok Work All Terrain Steel Toe Shoes (click here to view)
• Slip On Style – Nautilus Slip-On Westside Steel Toe Work Shoes (click here to view)
• Most Breathable – Reebok Work Men’s Zprint Steel Toe Safety Shoes (click here to view)
• Women’s Memory Foam – Skechers Bisco Steel Toe Memory Foam Shoes (click here to view)
• Women’s Most Lightweight – Caterpillar Woodward Steel Toe Shoe (click here to view)

In this article I want to discuss Hey Dude steel toe alternatives in more detail by highlighting some of my favorite steel toe shoes. I also want to discuss why Hey Dude does not make steel toe shoes.

Steel Toe Shoes Like Hey Dudes

Hey Dude does not currently make steel toe shoes. I recently tried 10 different types of low-top athletic steel toe shoes so I could compare them on many things, including comfort. We will discuss my favorites in the next section. But first, I want to discuss a two slip-on steel toe shoes that are like Hey Dudes.

• Larnmern Steel Toe Sock Shoes – If you want Hey Dude steel toe shoes because you like how Hey Dudes feel like socks against your feet, these Larnmern Steel Toe “Sock” Shoes might be your best option. The upper is made with a lightweight, stretchy mesh material that hugs the foot like a sock. Click here to view these shoes at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

• Nautilus Westside Steel Toe Shoes – These Nautilus Westside safety shoes have a traditional slip-on style that makes if very easy to wear. They have removable insoles so you could swap in a Hey Dude foam insole for added comfort. Click here to view these shoes at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).

Hey Dude Steel Toe Alternatives

As I mentioned above, I recently tried 10 popular steel toe shoes (low-top) so I could compared them on many things, including comfort. Below I want to discuss these three, which are my favorites:

• Skechers Cankton – These were the most comfortable and have the thickest memory foam insoles (learn more below).

• Caterpillar Woodward – These were extremely lightweight -my size 12 weighs 1.09 pounds per shoe (learn more below).

• Reebok All Terrain – These were my favorite running-style shoe and they use memory foam insoles (learn more below).

• Reebok Zprint – These were the most breathable, have an athletic fit, and also use memory foam insoles (learn more below).

No, these aren’t slip-on steel toe shoes like Hey Dudes, but they do all have an athletic style that provides nice comfort. Let’s discuss these four Hey Dude steel toe alternatives in more detail below.

Skechers Cankton Memory Foam Steel Toe Shoes

I recently tried 10 different types of low-top steel toe shoes, and these Skechers Cankton shoes were the most comfortable. Here I am wearing mine:

One thing I love about Hey Dude shoes is they use thick foam insoles. These Skechers Cankton shoes are similar – out of all the steel toe shoes that I tried, these Skechers Cankton steel toe shoes use the thickest memory foam insoles.

In the video below, I tried to capture just how soft and forgiving these insoles are:

Another thing I like about these shoes is although they have an athletic style, they are more durable than many of the other shoes on this list. For example, the toe area has a triple layering of material to keep it from wearing out:

What’s the drawback to these shoes? The bulkiness of these shoes adds weight. Still, don’t expect these shoes to be heavy, but they are heavier than some of the ultra-lightweight shoes we discuss next. My size 12 Skechers Cankton shoes weigh 1.30 pounds per shoe:

If you prefer an ultra-lightweight shoe that still uses memory foam insoles, the Reebok Zprint shoe we discuss next might be a better option. But if you prioritize comfort under the foot, these Skechers Cankton are the best option.

Click here to buy these Skechers Cankton comfortable safety shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). The Skechers Cankton are men’s shoes, but the Skechers Bisco is a similar women’s option that uses the thick memory foam. Click here to view the Skechers Bisco women’s steel toe shoe.

Reebok Zprint Steel Toe Shoes

The Reebok Zprint Steel Toe shoes have a very athletic design and the two things that stand out the most about these shoes are the breathability (they were the most breathable steel toe shoes that I tried) and the soft memory foam insoles. Here I am wearing these shoes:

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These Reebok Zprint shoes have unique memory foam insoles that also have groove pods that help relieve stress off the bottom of my foot (Reebok calls this insole “MemoryTech Massage”). In the video below, I tried to capture just how soft these Reebok MemoryTech Massage insoles are:

What makes these steel toe shoes a great alternative to Hey Dude steel toe shoes is these Reebok Zprint shoes are extremely breathable. For example, when I hold mine up to the light, you can actually see light passing through the shoe:

These shoes are also very lightweight for steel toe shoes (but the Caterpillar Woodward shoes we discuss next weigh even less). My Reebok Zprint weighs 1.15 pounds for a size 12 shoe:

What is the drawback to these shoes? Like most low-top comfortable safety shoes, these shoes are not built for rugged work. Yes, they have a thin toe-overlay to provide some extra durability, but these shoes are built for light-duty work on predictable terrain.

The outsole is very similar to a running shoe, which adds comfort and flexibility, but they won’t make sense for rugged terrain or for workers that climb ladders all day.

Click here to view the current price of these Reebok Zprint shoes available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These shoes will be a nice alternative to Hey Dude steel toe shoes if you prioritize breathability. In my experience, these shoes fit true to size.

Caterpillar Woodward Steel Toe Shoes

What makes these Caterpillar Woodward steel toe shoes stand out from other options? These weigh less than all the other steel toe shoes that I tried. They are very lightweight for a steel toe shoe. My size 12 shoe weighs only 1.09 pounds per shoe.

These comfortable safety shoes feel like lightweight running shoes on my foot. However, they don’t have thick memory foam insoles like the Skechers Cankton and Reebok Zprint, so if you are looking for a soft sole safety shoe, those two options may be best. Still, these Caterpillar Woodward shoes are very comfortable to wear.

These shoes are available for both men and women. This is the current price of these Caterpillar Woodward shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, these shoes fit true to size.

Reebok All Terrain Steel Toe Shoes

As I mentioned earlier, one drawback to athletic safety shoes is most options are built for indoor, flat surfaces. These Reebok All Terrain steel toe shoes are a bit different. They have more complex outsoles that can handle a wider range of terrains (still, they aren’t made for ultra-rugged terrain).

These shoes are very breathable, flexible, and lightweight for a safety shoe. And, yes, these shoes use memory foam insoles for comfort. As you can see below, mine use the Reebok MemoryTech insoles:

Click here to buy these Reebok All Terrain steel toe comfortable safety shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These are my favorite Hey Dude steel toe alternatives if you prefer your safety shoe to feel like a running shoe on your foot.

Why Doesn’t Hey Dude Make Steel Toe Shoes?

Hey Dude is a brand known for comfortable shoes that are lightweight and stylish, primarily focused on casual wear. They have not ventured into making steel-toe shoes because it is not within their brand’s core competencies or target market.

Relaxed, slip-on style does not lend itself well to safety shoes. Steel-toe shoes typically have laces or straps that allow for a snug and secure fit around the foot. This helps to prevent the shoe from slipping off or shifting during physical activity, which can be dangerous in a work environment.

Hey Dude’s slip-on style, while convenient for casual wear, may not provide the necessary level of support and stability required for safety, and is likely a major reason why Hey Dude steel toe shoes don’t exist. Hey Dude shoes are not certified slip-resistant.

Also, steel-toe shoes often have additional features, such as reinforced soles and puncture-resistant materials, that may not be compatible with Hey Dude’s current design aesthetic. Hey Dude’s shoes are designed to be lightweight and breathable, which may not be possible with the added features required for a safety shoe.

Because of that, Hey Dude may feel that it is better to focus on their core competencies of creating comfortable and stylish casual shoes, rather than branching out into a market that does not align with their current brand values and design principles.