About us

Wide Load began with a simple observation back in 2009: most work boots were built for most feet - but not all feet.

After spending over 30 years in senior management for BUSMC, the world’s largest shoe machinery and materials supplier, I stepped away from corporate life in 2002 and opened a small work boot retail store. Over those years I built solid relationships with Australia’s leading safety boot brands - Oliver, Blundstone, Mongrel, Redback and Steel Blue - and was fortunate to stock them all.

But working face-to-face with customers every day revealed something the industry wasn’t addressing. While the big brands could fit around 95% of people, there was a group of workers with very wide feet or orthotic needs who simply didn’t fit standard boots. To get the width they needed, they had to size up - sometimes two or three sizes - which created more problems than it solved.

That’s where the idea for Wide Load was born: a safety boot engineered from the ground up for wide feet, not just stretched to fit them.

Building a Boot That Didn’t Exist (Yet)

With a background in shoemaking, I knew the secret to a great boot starts with the last - the foundation shape of the entire shoe. I reached out to my good friend Howard Smith from Gadean Footwear in Perth, specialists in custom orthopaedic footwear. Howard provided a true 6E last, generous in width and depth. That last became the backbone of what Wide Load stands for today.

Developing the first Wide Load boot wasn’t easy. Every part, from the steel and composite caps to the midsole and outsole, needed custom tooling. Off-the-shelf components just weren’t built for the width we needed. On top of that, the product had to meet Australian Standards (AS2210.3), and the factory had to be fully accredited by recognised certifiers such as SAI Global and Benchmark.

With help from trusted contacts across the industry and 18 months of persistence, prototypes slowly turned into a finished product - and eventually, a brand.

What Makes Wide Load Different

Wide Load boots aren’t wider by accident. They’re wider by design.

Our anatomically shaped wide-profile steel/composite caps paired with a true 6E last deliver unmatched width, depth and comfort - all while accommodating custom orthotics without squeezing the forefoot. It’s a purpose-built solution for workers who have been overlooked for too long.

To this day, nothing is more rewarding than hearing from customers who finally feel comfortable and supported on the job.

Evolving The Brand

We’re continually improving our materials, quality and comfort. Wide Load is now regularly showcased at the Australian Pedorthic Conferences, and our boots have been approved by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as medical-grade footwear - a milestone we’re extremely proud of.

Listening to customer feedback, we recently added a casual/tactical range featuring three new styles in three new leathers. And we’re not slowing down. Development is already underway on a new composite-cap safety jogger range, set to launch in mid-2026.

At the end of the day, every worker deserves boots that actually fit. I hope Wide Load gives you the comfort and support you’ve been looking for.

- John