Maven Pivot Steel Toe Work Sneakers vs Skechers Cankton Steel Toe

Buy the Maven Pivot if you want a light, flexible sneaker with a puncture-resistant Kevlar midsole and a slip-resistant rubber outsole. Buy the Skechers Cankton if you want a leather upper, an air-cooled memory foam insole and an electrical hazard rated design. The Maven is the better pick for wet or oily floors and for anyone worried about nails underfoot. The Skechers is the better pick for dry indoor work and for comfort straight out of the box. Owners of the Maven praise the toe protection and low weight but note a break-in period and a heel gap that makes a stepping noise. The Cankton rates 4.4 out of 5 from about 1,900 ratings, and its main trade-off is that the listing does not claim slip resistance.

• Choose the Maven Pivot if you work on wet, oily or cluttered floors and want a light, flexible shoe with a puncture-resistant midsole.
• Choose the Skechers Cankton if you want a leather upper, memory foam cushioning and electrical hazard protection for dry indoor work.