We got our feet on Hawx USA Wedge work boots to see how they compare to other brands we wear such as Keen Utility and Wolverine. If you’re new to the brand you’re not alone. It’s a Boot Barn house brand and they don’t appear to be just a cheap name-brand alternative.
Editor’s Note: Check out our best work boots review article for our favorite products for all applications.
Get to Know Hawx USA Wedge Work Boots
Style and Design
From a style standpoint, these boots start life as traditional 6-inch work boots and add a moc toe around the top of the toe box that gives them a distinct look.
They come with either a soft toe or steel toe and are available in a couple of different shades of brown.
As the name indicates, these have a wedge outsole that spreads your weight out over a larger surface area and tends to be more comfortable on hard surfaces than heeled boots. The tread pattern is the shallower style we typically see with wedges and they’re oil/slip-resistant.
Construction
One of the reasons I decided to give these boots a shot is they’re Made in the USA. Hawx uses materials they source globally and builds them on US soil.
The full-grain leather upper connects to the lower with a Goodyear welt. It’s an incredibly reliable, strong method of connecting boots and is what we prefer when we’re looking for work boots to last us a long time.
The upper sections are unlikely to start coming apart with a combination of double and quadruple stitching.
Fit
I’m in a weird place when it comes to work boot size. I’m a size 12 1/2 D (regular width), but very few brands actually make half sizes after 12, so I have to choose between that and a 13. I went with the 13 this time and the fit is about a full size big. It might be closer to a half size once you add the steel toes.
Either way, you may want to get by your local Boot Barn to try them on first. If you’re not close to a Boot Barn store, consider ordering a half-size smaller than normal. If they don’t happen to fit just right, exchanges are free when you use their online return portal and prepaid labels. Just be sure to keep the tags on until you know you’re keeping the boots.
As for the rest of the fit, the toe box area doesn’t squeeze in too far on my toes, and the midsection cuts in just enough to hug my feet without putting too much pressure on them.
Laced through the top eyelets, there’s almost no blister-causing heel movement and tongue pads avoid creating any pressure points on my metatarsals.
Comfort
Hawx’s Ground Support insole is a bit different from most of the stock insoles we see. It has an anti-microbial top layer to help deal with foot odor over a fairly standard foam layer and dual-density heel cushion.
What’s most unusual is the air cushioning in the heel. You can feel the raised section compress with each step.
Pads under the ball of each footbed are an interesting addition. They have a gel-like consistency that adds some additional comfort to your step.
The wedge outsole has some give to it, but it’s not as plush as some of the most recent boots we’ve reviewed. It’s a trade-off that should help the outsole last longer than cushier boots, and that’s a plus if you’re looking for a long-term commitment.
Additional Features
- EH rated
- Puncture-resistant
Hawx USA Wedge Work Boots Price
The soft toe boots we reviewed run $204.99 at regular price and the steel toe version is $10 more. That’s on par with brands we wear using the same construction and materials, though almost none of those are built in the USA.
The Bottom Line
We’re impressed with the construction quality of Hawx USA Wedge work boots and the fact they’re made in the US is a nice bonus. While there are some options that offer a more plush ride, the comfort level is right on par with what we expect from a wedge boot that’s designed to last longer than just 6 months or a year. Our test boots ran large, so try them on in-store or order a half size down.
