Xena Workwear Safety Boots Review

*Today’s post was made possible by Xena Workwear, and features gifted product for the purposes of a candid review. All opinions are my own.

I thought I’d take a break from home décor content today to talk about a veryyyyy practical addition to my wardrobe: new Valence safety boots from Xena Workwear. The brand reached out to me earlier this month to talk through the idea of a partnership, and at first, I thought my lifestyle didn’t really warrant the need for ASTM-certified, OSHA-compliant boots. But then I imagined my weekly routine of moving really heavy furniture by myself, schlepping potted plants up and down brick steps (that aren’t really to code…), and climbing ladders to stretch up to out-of-reach shelves, and I realized that I was actually the perfect candidate for safety boots—and you might be, too!

This was my first time learning about the Xena Workwear brand, but after doing a little research, I was hooked. It’s a woman-owned company that was founded because of the huge absence of safety boots designed to fit the feet of women specifically. Men’s feet are just built differently, and it was time that someone came out with a line of safety boots that followed the natural shape of a woman’s foot, could keep her safe, and look good doing it.

My new steel-toe Valence boots are anti-slip and so comfortable to wear around the house as I work on projects. I’m embarrassed to admit that, before, my go-to work shoes for heavy lifting around our home were flip flops, and even occasionally slippers. I’m not proud of this fact, and it could have cost me a lot—both physically and financially—if I had had an accident (which, frankly, was bound to happen at some point). I feel much more confident and protected now with these boots.

Yes, they’re awesome for house projects and running out to the hardware store to do more heavy lifting in the lumber and paint can aisles, but I also really appreciate how stylish these boots are. I have worn them out to the apple orchard, our favorite winery tasting room, and even the grocery store. It’s nice to know that I don’t look like I’m wearing hugely practical boots. They have the same vibe as any of my more fashion-forward boots, and I think that’s such a clever combination. The Valence have dual elastic on either side and pull-tabs with a hidden front tab to make them super easy to pull on and off, and after just a few wears, I can feel the leather softening to contour perfectly to my feet and ankles, too. Such a dream!

If you want to try a pair out for yourself, use my code DREAMGREENDIY20 to get $20 off. Did I mention that each pair is handcrafted in North America? I got them in the responsibly-sourced Chestnut Full Grain Leather, by the way, and chose my normal shoe size, 7.5. I have pretty narrow feet, but the “Regular” works just fine for me. Leave a comment if you have any questions, and I’ll be sure to share more details.

*I earn a small percentage from purchases made using the affiliate links above. Affiliate links are not sponsored. Rest assured that I never recommend products we wouldn’t use or don’t already love ourselves.