The wedge versus lugged decision usually gets made for fashion reasons. It shouldn't. The sole is a tool — match it to the surface.
Wedge soles. Flat, full-contact, usually cream or tan rubber. Distributes your weight across the whole footprint. Doesn't track mud or gravel into a clean space. Gives you better feel on ladders and on finished surfaces — drywall, subfloor, finished concrete. Wears flat, not chunky.
Lugged soles. Aggressive treads with deep voids. Grips loose terrain — dirt, gravel, snow, mud. Sheds debris between treads. Won't kill you on a ladder but isn't ideal — the tread can catch on rungs. Tracks dirt indoors. Wears unevenly, with the heel chunks going first.
The cleanest fit. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, finish guys, restaurant kitchen workers — wedge. Framers, masons, landscapers, utility, anyone outside on broken ground — lugged. Concrete pourers actually go either way and most pick wedge for the comfort.
The real failure mode is wearing a lugged sole inside a finished home. The homeowner sees the dirt trail and the contractor loses the next job. Buy the boot for the surface, not the look. Plenty of Thorogood and Red Wing options on both walls of the shop.