A lot of folks in small to medium size woodworking operations don’t bother with safety shoes or boots. They are more focused on comfort than worried about tools,lumber, furniture, or cabinets dropping on their feet.

I’ve felt much the same way for a long time, but in recent years, several manufacturers have introduced safety shoes that compete with trendy sneakers on looks and comfort while offering lightweight composite toes to protect from impacts. Recently, I’ve been trying the new Speedworks utility shoes from Keen.

Key features
These shoes have an athletic look with two-tone styling and a sneaker shape that disguises the safety features. That includes non-metallic, carbon fiber safety toes that are 15% lighter than typical metal safety toes but still offer serious protection from dangerous impacts.

Inside the shoe, compression-resistant Keen ReGEN+ midsoles claim to offer 60% energy return with every step. Outside, the sole is oil- and slip-resistant.

Stepping out
I’ve been wearing these for a couple of months inside and outside the shop. I put some miles on them walking trade shows and in long sessions in the shop. With some safety shoes I’ve tried, you definitely feel the reinforcement in the toe box. With these, the only time I think of the safety toes is if I drop something on my foot and realize the protection is there.

They are flexible when and where you need flexibility. They look just like regular athletic shoes, so they don’t attract extra attention. I have high arches and generally appreciate shoes with a bit more arch support, but these were fine. The soles are grippy and sure-footed.

Footwear is a very personal choice, so everyone should make their own judgments about comfort and style. These shoes are available in regular and wide sizes in men’s sizes 7-15 and in women’s sizes 5-11. The colors and graphics vary a bit between the men’s and women’s models, but the main features are the same.

Learn more at keenfootwear.com.