The width measurement of your feet alone is not going to help you get the best work boots for narrow feet.
Narrow feet tend to have a low volume overall. Due to this low volume, there could always remain a gap between the foot and the walls of the boots. This gap is even more prominent at the instep and around the ankles.
To fill the gap and support the foot from all sides, certain features are important. A slender toe-to-heel transition, lace-to-toe lacing system, and padded interior are the heart & soul of the best work boots for narrow feet. So, besides a narrow toe box, look for these features as well.
Finding the best work boots for narrow feet is a difficult job as not many options are available on the market. To ease your job, I have curated a list of the most promising products available out there. The products recommended will pamper narrow feet at every step.
Here Are 5 Best Work Boots for Narrow Feet in 2024:
- Danner Men’s Acadia 8″ Work Boots (Best Long Work Boots for Narrow Feet).
- Justin Original Men’s Double Comfort Work Boots (Most Comfortable Work Boots for Narrow Feet).
- Caterpillar Men’s Diagnostic Waterproof Steel-Toe Work Boots (Best Steel Toe Work Boots for Narrow Feet).
- Skechers Men’s Mariner Utility Work Boots (Best Work Boots for Narrow Feet With Flat Arches).
- Ariat Heritage Roper Men’s Pull On Narrow Work Boots (Best Pull On Work Boots for Narrow Feet).
In This Article You'll Know
5 Best Work Boots for Narrow Feet in 2024 with Reviews
Danner Men’s Acadia 8″ Work Boots
- Best For: Long work boots for narrow feet.
- Lacing: Ten pairs of eyelets.
- Padding: Average.
- Base: Wide outsole.
Danner is a well-known name among workers for the quality and durability of its boots. The Acadia boots by the brand continue the legacy and suit people with narrow feet very well. The boots also come with a separate extra-narrow make for people with severely thin feet.
Danner Acadia boots are made using the brand’s 650 last. This is one of the most slender last by the brand that ensures the entire pair end up with a narrow profile. Owing to this last, regardless of your foot size, the boots will always fit you snugly.
Icy on the cake, the lacing system of Danner Acadia comes with ten pairs of eyelets. Such a big lacing area allows you to bring the two sides of the upper close and customize the fit.
The inner padding of Danner Acadia is a bit lacking but enough thick to fill up any gaps between the feet and the walls of the boots. You may feel the need of wearing a thick pair of work socks to supplement the padding.
The wide outsole of Danner Acadia gives your body a base and makes up for the narrow width of your feet. Moreover, the sole is attached to the upper using the brand’s stitch-down construction. This construction method allows you to resole the boots anytime in the future.
Danner Acadia comes with soft footbeds that are not removable. The footbeds work great at absorbing shocks and keeping your feet in comfort.
In short, Danner Acadia could end your search for the best work boots for narrow feet. The fit, comfort, and support features are spot on. Unless your feet are severely thin, order a regular size of these work boots.
Justin Original Men’s Double Comfort Work Boots
- Best For: All-day comfort.
- Lacing: Four pairs of eyelets and four pairs of speed hooks.
- Padding: Soft leather interior.
- Base: Wide outsole.
Justin Original is a premium brand of work boots. Most boots by Justin are made in the USA by union workers. If you have narrow feet and do not mind shelling out a little extra money for quality, this pair is a good option.
The slender toe-heel transition gives the pair a tight interior. The toe-box, heel counter, and shaft of the boots are extra-narrow on purpose- to hold narrow feet firmly from all sides.
The lacing system of the work boots also helps to customize the fit even further. There are four pairs of eyelets, four pairs of speed hooks, and a final pair of knot hooks in the lacing system. Such an arrangement allows you to tie the laces any tight you want.
The Justin work boots are usually not heavily padded. They rely more on their use of premium and soft leather than the added padding. The vamp and entire interior are so soft that you will have a great in-step experience from day one. The height of the vamp and instep are kept low to wrap around low volume feet very well.
The footbeds of these work boots are removable and of very high quality. They are designed with the brand’s seven-layer double-comfort technology. The design ensures that the footbeds will absorb most of the shocks from below and preserve energy to keep you fatigue-free. The removable insoles of these Justin boots are of orthotics quality.
The wide outsole of the boots and a fiberglass shank give the body a great support system. Your stability and performance at work are bound to improve with these boots on.
In short, Justin Original Double Comfort is a great but a bit expensive pair for narrow feet. If you do not mind paying a bit extra for premium products, consider owning this pair.
Caterpillar Men’s Diagnostic Waterproof Steel-Toe Work Boots
- Best For: Steel toe work boots for narrow feet.
- Lacing: Four pairs of eyelets and three pairs of speed hooks.
- Padding: Extra thick.
- Base: Wide and thick outsole.
Caterpillar Men’s diagnostics are for you if you have narrow feet but do not like to wear 8” high work boots. These 6” high work boots will grip your low volume feet very well from all sides. The features of the pair are supportive of people with thin feet.
The top view of Caterpillar Diagnostic work boots reveals that the pair is made using a fairly thin last. The toe to heel transition is slim and the toe box is conservative in width. This profile makes the boots to the liking of people with narrow feet.
The four pairs of lacing eyelets and three pairs of speed hooks allow you to bring the two sides of the upper as close as you desire. With a tight knot at the end, the upper of the boots will wrap around your low-volume feet like a second skin.
My favorite feature in Caterpillar Diagnostics is their thickly padded interior. There is enough padding along the vamp, tongue, and collar of the work boots. This padding fills up any gap between your foot and the walls of the boots giving you a very snug fit.
The footbeds of the boots are well-cushioned but a bit lacking to work for long hours. If you go with this pair, I would recommend you replace the insoles to make this pair a true bliss.
The thick and wide rubber sole of Caterpillar Diagnostic work boots will keep you on your feet all day long. The base is slip-resistance and equipped with a steel shank for extra stability and support.
In short, Caterpillar Men’s Diagnostic is a safe bet when it comes to buying the best work boots for narrow feet. Moreover, the pair is affordable and value for money given the features it comes with.
Skechers Men’s Mariner Utility Work Boots
- Best For: Narrow feet with flat arches.
- Lacing: Six pairs of eyelets.
- Padding: Generously padded.
- Base: Wide outsole.
Skechers Mariners are for you if you do not like to wear high-top boots and are a fan of wearing low-cut work boots. The minimalist design of the work boots does not mean the pair is lacking in features in any way. In fact, this is one of the most proven pairs of work boots for people with narrow feet.
The make of Skechers Mariner is narrow but not too conservative. The boots are designed to provide a snug fit but in a roomy way. For most people with narrow feet, the boots will fit very well. But, if you have severely narrow feet, you may want to skip this option altogether.
The lacing system of Skechers Mariner comes with six pairs of eyelets placed closed to each other. This tight placement of eyelets allows you to customize the fit at every inch of the instep. This is a crucial feature to hunt for when buying the best work boots for narrow feet.
Skechers Mariner work boots are generously padded at collars, tongue, and vamp areas. This is exactly how I want it for people with narrow feet. This padding will wrap around your feet and grip them firmly from all sides.
This grip and comfort provided by the work boots are enhanced by the memory foam footbeds. Memory foam is known for its capability to mold into any shape without losing its firmness. Thus, it provides comfort and support at the same time.
The make of the Skechers Mariner work boots is wide and so is the make of its outsole. The wide outsole makes up for the thin feet and provides the body a wide base to disperse weight.
In short, Skechers Mariner work boots are the choice of masses. Go with this pair if you want a firm but relaxed fit. If you are a big guy with heavy weight, this pair is a wise choice for you.
Ariat Heritage Roper Men’s Pull On Narrow Work Boots
- Best For: Pull-on work boots for narrow feet.
- Lacing: No lacing.
- Padding: Soft leather interior.
- Base: Wide outsole.
Ariat Heritage Roper should be your choice if you are a fan of pull-on style work boots. Usually, I recommend work boots with a lace-up design to my readers with narrow feet. But, these pull-on work boots for narrow feet earned a mention in this guide.
The pointed tip, narrow toe box, and slim toe-to-heel transition make Ariat Heritage Roper ideal for narrow feet. When looking from behind the heels, you will barely be able to see the toe box of the boots. This tight profile makes the boots suitable for people with severely thin feet.
The toe to collar transition through the vamp is very conservative.
This is a crucial feature in the absence of a lacing system. The low vamp and instep will grip your low-volume narrow feet very well from all sides.
The interior of the work boots is lined with soft leather and not padded like some other work boots in this guide. The leather lining on the inside is so soft that the boots do not warrant extra padding. However, the seams of the inner lining may be a bit abrasive until broken in. So, start wearing these boots with your work socks on.
The footbeds of Ariat Heritage Roper are fairly cushioned. Together with the brand’s ATS comfort technology, the boots will not let you feel any shock from the below.
The outsole of the boots is quite wide and made of Duratread rubber. The material is slip-resistant to both water and oil. An intelligent tread pattern is also there to keep you on your feet fatigue-free all day long.
In short, do not get fooled by the pull-on design of Ariat Heritage Roper work boots. Like other pairs on the list, the pair is equally ideal for people with narrow feet. If you have narrow feet and want to give this cowboy-style pair a shot, do not let any doubts hold you back.
What to Look for Before Buying the Best Work Boots for Narrow Feet in 2024
Slender Toe-to-Heel Transition
We are looking for work boots with a narrow profile overall. Just a narrow toe box is not going to make the cut here. So, a slender toe-to-heel transition is crucial to look for.
The best way to determine the profile of work boots is to look at them from behind the heels. If you can barely see the toe-box, you have found a good pair for your thin feet.
Lace to Toe Design
The lacing system of work boots is your true companion if you have narrow feet. Laces allow you to bring the two sides of the upper as close as you want. This way, you can customize the fit of the work boots around your instep.
Look for work boots that have a large area dedicated to the lacing system. We do not want work boots with 3-4 pairs of lacing eyelets but 8-10 pairs of lacing eyelets at least.
If possible, opt for lace-to-toe work boots. In such work boots, the lacing system starts just a bit above the toe box and runs all the way up until the end of the shaft. This way, you will be able to customize fit for every inch on your feet.
Padded Interior
Due to your low-volume feet, it is important that the vamp, tongue, and collar areas of the work boots are padded. This padding serves two purposes. First, it will fill up any gap between your feet and the walls of the work boots. Second, it will mold around your feet pampering every inch of them. The more padding, the better.
Cushioned Footbeds
For narrow feet, the quality of cushioning under the feet is very important. First, the cushioning ensures the comfort of your feet. Second, the cushioning absorbs shocks coming your way.
The low-volume feet are not very capable of combating impacts. These are the cushioned footbeds that make the feet capable of fighting impacts.
So, get work boots with well-cushioned footbeds or replace the insoles later.
Wide Outsole
The best men’s work boots for narrow feet should come with a wide outsole to make up for thin feet. This gives your body a wide base while standing or walking. This wide base helps disperse body weight better and improves your stability at work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Measure How Narrow Your Feet Are?
To know if you have narrow feet or not, you need to measure two different numbers- the length and the width of your feet. The combination of these two numbers will determine how narrow your feet are. Here’s how to do it right:
- Place two papers parallel on the floor and tape them from all corners.
- Place your feet on the papers and ask someone to draw the outline of your feet.
- With a ruler, measure both the length and width of your feet at the widest and longest area.
- Now run the numbers through the chart given below to find out if you have narrow, regular, or wide feet.
- Match with the numbers closest to your measurements to determine your size.
Length (US Men) | Width (Narrow/B) | Width (Average/D) | Width (Wide/E) |
6 | 3 5/16″ | 3 1/2″ | 3 11/16″ |
6.5 | 3 5/16″ | 3 5/8″ | 3 3/4″ |
7 | 3 3/8″ | 3 5/8″ | 3 3/4″ |
7.5 | 3 3/8″ | 3 11/16″ | 3 15/16″ |
8 | 3 1/2″ | 3 3/4″ | 3 15/16″ |
8.5 | 3 5/8″ | 3 3/4″ | 4″ |
9 | 3 5/8″ | 3 15/16″ | 4 1/8″ |
9.5 | 3 11/16″ | 3 15/16″ | 4 1/8″ |
10 | 3 3/4″ | 4″ | 4 3/16″ |
10.5 | 3 3/4″ | 4 1/8″ | 4 5/16″ |
11 | 3 15/16″ | 4 1/8″ | 4 5/16″ |
11.5 | 3 15/16″ | 4 3/16″ | 4 3/8″ |
12 | 4″ | 4 5/16″ | 4 3/8″ |
12.5 | 4 1/8″ | 4 5/16″ | 4 1/2″ |
13 | 4 1/8″ | 4 5/16″ | 4 5/8″ |
13.5 | 4 3/16″ | 4 3/8″ | 4 3/4″ |
How to Lace Work Boots When You Have Narrow Feet?
In the case of narrow feet, we want to use a tight lacing technique. The best way to do that is to skip a pair of eyelets in the middle while lacing up your work boots. Here’s how:
- Begin by lacing your boots in standard zig-zag style.
- Skip a pair of eyelets somewhere in the middle.
- Continue lacing your boots in standard zig-zag style.
- Run the laces around the speed hooks as well.
- Tie a tight knot at the end.
What if You Buy Wide Work Boots with Narrow Feet?
I would not recommend it. If you wear wide work boots on narrow feet, there will always remain some space between your feet and the walls of the boots. This space will make your feet slide around inside the boots causing blisters on them. This sliding around of your feet will also compromise your stability at work. So, avoid wearing wide boots for narrow feet at all costs.
Can You Insert Orthotics in Your Work Boots for Narrow Feet?
Yes, you can insert orthotics in your work boots for narrow feet. For this to do, your work boots should come with removable insoles. If your work boots do not have removable insoles, inserting orthotics will make them too tight.
Can You Make Your Existing Work Boots Smaller to Fit Your Narrow Feet?
Yes, you can make your existing work boots smaller to some extent. Just insert a pair of thick insoles into your work boots and they will reduce the space available inside the pair.
You can alter the size of your work boots up to half a size by inserting or removing insoles. However, this does not make up for the low volume of your feet around the instep area.
The Verdict
Danner Men’s Acadia 8″ Work Boots top this list of the best work boots for narrow feet. All options given in this guide are great but Danner Acadia boots have an edge over others.
If you have narrow feet, here you have the recipe for a custom fit- get the right work boots and tie the laces properly. The combination will improve your stability, comfort, and performance at work. Over to you. Thanks.