The short answer
If you want one pair, buy the Oliver 34-613 lace-up jogger. It has a steel toe cap, it is certified to the Australian/New Zealand safety footwear standard, it has electrical hazard protection and a heat-resistant sole, and it looks and wears like a sneaker. If money is tight, the Kmart Safety Toe Lace Up Jogger at about $69 carries the AS 2210.3:2019 mark and is a fair first pair for an apprentice.
Before you buy anything, check two things: the shoe carries AS 2210.3:2019 (or the older AS/NZS 2210.3:2009) on the tongue label, and your site lets you wear a low-cut shoe at all. Plenty don't.
What changed since our 2025 list
- Steel is getting harder to find in a sneaker. Most of the big brands' safety joggers, including Puma Safety, Steel Blue, Blundstone and KingGee, now use composite, fibreglass or aluminium caps. Steel-cap sneakers are still made, but the list is shorter.
- The standard hasn't changed. AS 2210.3:2019 is still the current Australian edition. Some retailers mention a "2025" edition; we couldn't find one published, so ignore that claim until Standards Australia lists it.
- Prices have crept up. Mid-range certified joggers now sit around $150 to $210.
Our 2026 picks at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Toe cap | Standard (as listed) | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver 34-613 Lace-Up Jogger | Best overall | Steel, 200 J | AS/NZS 2210.3, EN ISO 20345, ASTM F2413 | $200 |
| Oliver 34-610 Slip-On Jogger | No laces, quick on and off | Steel, 200 J | AS/NZS 2210.3 | $200 |
| Kmart Safety Toe Lace Up Jogger | Budget and apprentices | Steel | AS 2210.3:2019 SB FO SRA | $69 |
| Volley Safety Canvas (steel cap) | Roofers and light trades | Steel | "Benchmark accredited" (check label for AS 2210.3) | $60 to $80 |
| Bata Industrials Sportmates low-cut jogger | Hot days, breathable mesh | Steel or composite, by model | AS 2210.3:2019 | about $110 |
Prices are what Australian retailers listed in October 2026 and will move around. Click through for today's price.
1. Oliver 34-613 Lace-Up Jogger: best overall
Oliver is an Australian brand that has made safety footwear for a long time, and the 34 Series is its everyday range. The 34-613 is a low-ankle, lace-up jogger with a suede upper and a padded collar and tongue.
Why it's our pick
- 200 joule steel toe cap with a scuff bump over the front, which matters when you're kneeling on a slab all day.
- Dual-density polyurethane sole rated to 130°C contact heat, with Oliver's GRIPthane slip-resistant outsole.
- Electrical hazard rated, and resistant to oil, fats and acids.
- Listed to AS/NZS 2210.3, EN ISO 20345 and ASTM F2413, so it suits sites that want any of the three.
Watch for: some listings still quote the 2009 edition of the standard. Check the label in the pair you buy. Suede isn't waterproof, so it's not the shoe for a wet pour.
Approx. price: $200. Check price on Amazon
2. Oliver 34-610 Slip-On Jogger: best without laces
Same steel cap and sole as the 34-613 in a sporty slip-on. Good for supervisors and site managers who are in and out of the site office and the ute all day, and for anyone who's sick of laces catching on reo.
Watch for: slip-ons give less hold around the heel. If you're on ladders or scaffold a lot, the lace-up is the better choice.
Approx. price: $200. Check price on Amazon
3. Kmart Safety Toe Lace Up Jogger: best budget pair
At around $69 this is the cheapest certified steel-cap sneaker we found in Australia. Kmart lists it as AS 2210.3:2019 SB FO SRA certified, with a steel toe and a fuel and oil resistant sole, and it rates well with buyers.
Who it suits: apprentices, labourers in their first year, and anyone who needs a spare pair in the ute.
Watch for: SB is the base rating. It has no penetration-resistant midsole and no anti-static rating, so it's a light-duty shoe. Don't expect a $69 sole to last like a $200 one.
Approx. price: $69 at Kmart (in store and online, model S155234).
4. Volley Safety Canvas: best for roofers
The steel-cap version of the Aussie classic. Volley's herringbone rubber sole is the reason roofers have worn them for decades: it grips on tin and tile far better than a chunky PU sole.
Why it's here
- Steel toe cap, reinforced stitched midsole, moulded rubber sole.
- Light and flexible, which is what you want on a roof pitch.
Watch for: Volley describes these as "Benchmark accredited" but doesn't name the standard on its product pages. Check the tongue label shows AS 2210.3 before you wear them on a site that asks for it. Canvas gives almost no protection from sharp objects or wet concrete.
Approx. price: $60 to $80, going by Volley's own buying guide. Check price on Amazon
5. Bata Industrials Sportmates low-cut jogger: best for hot days
Bata's Sportmates range is aimed at people who'd rather wear a runner. The Striker (NZ name) is a low-cut mesh jogger with a steel toe cap certified to AS 2210.3:2019. In Australia the closest match we could find is the Charger Sportmates low-cut jogger at about $110. Bata makes Sportmates with both steel and composite caps, so ask for the steel-cap model and check the label.
Watch for: mesh breathes well in a Queensland summer but lets in dust, water and concrete splash.
Approx. price: about $110. Check price on Amazon
Not fussed about steel? Composite options worth a look
A composite or fibreglass cap passes the same Australian tests as steel: a 200 joule impact and a 15 kN compression load. It's lighter, doesn't conduct heat or cold, and won't set off a metal detector. If your site only asks for "safety toe", these are good shoes.
- Blundstone 793 Active Safety Jogger: composite cap, AS 2210.3:2019 Class II, about $150 to $185.
- Puma Safety Pace 2.0: fibreglass cap, AS 2210.3:2019, light and sporty.
- KingGee Comptec G44: composite cap, about $169.
- Steel Blue Torquay: composite cap and toe guard, AS/NZS 2210.3, about $295 to $305. Dearest on the list but very comfortable for long days.
How to read the label: what the ratings mean
The tongue label tells you what the shoe has been tested for. The codes follow the same pattern as the European standard.
- AS 2210.3:2019: the current Australian safety footwear standard. Every shoe with a safety toe cap sold for work should carry it (or the older AS/NZS 2210.3:2009).
- SB: basic safety shoe. Toe cap tested to 200 J impact and 15 kN compression, nothing else.
- S1: SB plus closed heel, anti-static and a shock-absorbing heel.
- S1P: S1 plus a penetration-resistant midsole, which stops a nail coming up through the sole.
- S3: S1P plus a water-resistant upper and a cleated sole.
- SRA / SRB / SRC: slip resistance tested on tiles with detergent (A), on steel with glycerol (B), or both (C). SRC is best.
- FO: fuel oil resistant sole. HRO: heat resistant outsole. EH: electrical hazard rated.
On a building site, S1P or better is what we'd look for. Nails in offcuts are the most common way a sneaker sole fails.
When a sneaker is the wrong shoe
After 26 years on residential sites, my view is simple: a safety sneaker is a great shoe for the right job and the wrong shoe for a lot of others.
A sneaker is fine for: fit-off, fixing and finishing, cabinetry, painting, electrical and plumbing fit-off, site supervision on a finished slab, and roofing (with the right sole).
Wear a boot instead for: earthworks, slab prep and concrete pours, demolition, scaffolding, anywhere you're walking on uneven ground or rubble, and wet weather. You need the ankle support and a sealed upper.
Check your site rules first. Many commercial builders and civil contractors require an ankle-high safety boot as site PPE, and you'll be sent home in sneakers whatever the label says. Residential builders vary, so ask the site supervisor before you buy.
Fit, care and when to replace them
- Try them on in the afternoon with the socks you work in. Feet swell during the day.
- Leave a thumb's width in front of your longest toe. Your toes should never touch the cap.
- Replace them after a big hit. A toe cap that has taken a heavy impact or a crush may be bent or cracked inside, even if the outside looks fine. It won't protect you the same way again.
- Replace them when the tread is gone or the sole has split. Most sneakers on site last 6 to 12 months of daily wear.
- Your employer may pay. Under work health and safety laws, a business that requires PPE generally has to provide it. If you're self-employed, safety footwear is usually a tax-deductible work expense (check with your accountant).
Frequently asked questions
Are steel-cap sneakers as safe as steel-cap boots?
For the toes, yes, if both carry AS 2210.3. The toe cap is tested the same way. What a sneaker gives up is ankle support, and often penetration and water resistance.
Is steel better than composite?
Not for protection. Both pass the same 200 J and 15 kN tests. Steel caps are usually slimmer and cheaper. Composite is lighter and better in heat, cold, and around metal detectors.
Can I wear safety sneakers bought overseas?
Shoes certified only to EN ISO 20345 (Europe) or ASTM F2413 (USA) may protect you just as well, but many Australian sites ask for the AS 2210.3 mark. Check before you buy, especially from cheap online marketplaces where certification claims are often unverified.
Do steel caps get hot or cold?
They can conduct heat and cold more than composite. Most people don't notice in a sneaker, but on a hot roof or a frosty morning pour you might.
Our verdict for 2026
- Best overall: Oliver 34-613 Lace-Up Jogger.
- Best slip-on: Oliver 34-610.
- Best budget: Kmart Safety Toe Lace Up Jogger.
- Best for roofers: Volley Safety Canvas (check the label for AS 2210.3).
Whichever you pick, read the tongue label, check your site rules, and remember a sneaker is a fit-off shoe, not a slab-pour shoe.
Further Reading
Top Men’s Waterproof Construction Boots: 2024 ReviewChoosing the right footwear is important for ensuring safety in construction sites and similar demanding work environments. This article reviews the best waterproof construction boots for men available in 2022. Comfort, durability, and protection are considered in this guide.
Best Cold Weather Construction Gloves 2025Frozen fingers and dropped tools? Not on your site. Discover the best cold weather construction gloves of 2025—built to keep you warm, safe, and in control, no matter how low the temperature drops.
