The Red Wing vs Wolverine boots debate has been a pressing topic for a long time now due to the popularity of the said brands. Both brands offer many features. That is the very reason why many people find themselves torn between the two leather boots. .
But before we delve deeper into comparing the two, check out a list of the various options by each brand. Just click on either of these two links. You will find a good Red or Wolverine leather work boot that you can enjoy wearing.
You may also want to compare different work shoes models from the same brand name such as Red Wing Iron Ranger vs Blacksmith, Red Wing Blacksmith vs Iron Ranger or Red Wing Iron Ranger vs Wolverine 1000 Mile.
If you don’t know what to choose, just read on and you might just find the answers you need to make a choice.
Red Wing vs Wolverine Work Boots’ Features
Table of Contents
Both Wolverine and Red Wing Boots are American heritage brands that offer the finest safety shoes in the market today. If you ask around, these are the two brands that are the most highly recommended when it comes to the sturdiest footwear.
As you read any Wolverine vs Red Wing reviews, you will see that they tend to have the same target market. However, Red Wing sports a more casual range of styles. Therefore, it’s not too surprising that these two brands are always pitted against each other.
| Feature | Wolverine | Red Wing |
| Excellent Durability | Y | Y |
| Available Styles | Y | X |
| Friendly Price | Y | Y |
Wolverine Vs Red Wing Work Boots | Breaking It Down
Red Wing vs Wolverine work boots share several common features. This makes it more confusing to choose between them. So to keep this guide short, we’ll focus on the subtle differences between the Red Wing Iron Ranger vs Wolverine 1000 mile boots and other models from each boots brand.
Feature #1: Durability
Both Red Wing and boot brands take pride in offering American made products so their durability is easily guaranteed. With the higher quality standards in the US, you can expect both Wolverine and Red Wing boots to last a long while. But how durable can these shoes be?
Feature #2: Available Styles
How a pair of boots looks also plays a huge role in one’s decision so it’s very important to know whether you have ample options from the two brands you’re trying to choose from. In many cases, this can be a deal breaker. Which one has the better offering?
Features can differ across different models within the same brand. For example, Wolverine 1000 Mile may have different features from Blacksmith.
However, since this is not an article on different models under the same brand, we shall look at the general styles that Wolverine or Wing Iron Ranger boots come with.
Feature #3: Price
High-quality shoes are often considered investments. Good materials and top-notch workmanship come at a premium. So if you want the finest picks, you should be ready to spend. While you don’t always have to spend a fortune, having a sizable budget will help.
Of course, if the handwork is good, it is only fair to expect the price to be a bit high. However, your Red Wing Iron, Red Wing Heritage or 1000 Mile should not be too extravagantly priced.
As we have already aforementioned, 1000 Mile costs more than a Red Wing Heritage boot. However, this is not an across-the-board thing so you may find that some sister boots to Iron Ranger can cost more than some models in the Wolverine line.
Which of the two can you afford, though? Find out below.
Feature #4: Build Quality
The Iron Ranger vs 1000 mile battle is indeed epic when it comes to features, price et al. However, the design and build quality for leather boots matters a lot.
For example, some boot models come with high quality Vibram soles. Vibram is to a boot and shoes what Oscars are to film. In this case, the Wings come with full Vibram outsoles with deep treads for traction. However, the 1000 Mile leather boot comes with a leather outsole that has a Vibram heel.
Another thing that we might mention here is that the Iron Ranger is constructed with unfinished leather. Therefore, it may look a bit too rugged, but it is also thicker. On the other hand, the 1000 Mile leather boot comes with polished leather. As a result, the boot scuffs faster and easily. Therefore, polished leather requires more regular care and maintenance.
Any leather boots needs perfect stitching. Thankfully, both the Iron Ranger and 1000 Mile come with excellent stitching. The Iron Ranger leather boot has triple stitching. The 1000 Mile leather boot has single, double and triple stitching.
Put side by side, these two leather boots offer good value for money.
Wolverine Boots: 1
Red Wing: 1
Tie: 1
Pros & Cons
FAQs for Redwing vs Wolverine Work Boot
Buying a work boot pair that can serve you for all time is hard work, especially when you are comparing models such as Red Wing Iron Ranger vs Wolverine 1000 Mile, which come from the Red Wing and Wolverine brands.
Here are the most common questions that people ask:
How do wolverine boots fit?
If you buy a pair of Wolverine 1000 boots and you feel that they fit a bit too tightly, do not return them yet. Well, the 1000 Mile work boots manufacturer says that they come true to size. However, as we have seen with Redwing and other boots, even these ones need to be broken in.
When ordering the boot, just order your regular size. It will fit too snugly for comfort, but it will be okay. “Listen” to your feet when you wear the boot. It might feel too tight at the ball of foot area and on the heel. However, your toes should not touch the edge. If this is the fit condition of your boot, once you break them in, they are going to fit snugly and comfortably.
Do Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots fit true to size? this is another common question that people ask about Wolverine vs Redwing boots. They run slightly bigger, you know, same as many boots. However, this is okay because you can wear them with socks and you can also add an insert to raise them a bit.
Is Wolverine a good brand of boots?
It is for men and women who are looking for comfortable work boots that they can spend long hours in while working. Because of their chic style, these boots come highly recommended. One of their most popular models is the Wolverine 1000 Mile. It is one of the boots similar to Iron Ranger made by RedWing.
With tens of models and styles that you can consider choosing, there is a boot for almost anyone. They make models for men and women. Expect them to run a little large but you will still need to break them in, which could take 2 to 3 days. Even if breaking them in takes a bit longer than that, the resultant comfort and support that you will get from your Wolverine 1000 Mile is worth the wait.
Because Wolverine 1000 Mile vs Red Wing Iron Ranger are always compared side by side, you might wonder whether they are the same.
Most of their features match and they can be used as dress boots. Both of the boots come with 6 inch shafts from the arch. However, the Wolverine 1000 Mile is costlier than the Wing Iron Ranger.
Can you wash Wolverine boots?
Indeed you can. If you spend many hours on a construction site or in the dirt, you will have to give your leather boots a thorough cleaning.
You can wash your 1000 Mile under running water with soap and a brush with soft bristles. Remember, we said that these leather boots come with a polished finish, so you have to be cautious with the scrubbing. Do not be too firm. Keep it gentle.
Are Red Wings waterproof?
You can spend many hours working under wet conditions and the Iron Ranger leather boots will keep you comfortable and dry. However, while leather can be waterproof, it is also breathable and therefore if your feet are in a few inches of water, the leather will soak it in.
Therefore, it cannot be 100% waterproof, but unless you spend all of your time in a few inches of water, you will keep dry and comfortable.
You may also have to recondition your Iron Ranger leather work boot with a waterproof membrane after a while.
Final Verdict
With just a few tidbits, it’s already very easy to see why the Wolverine Boots vs Red Wing Shoes debate rages on. It can really be very hard to choose between the two if you have no idea what you’re looking for.
To make decision making process easier, though, you can always base your pick on their pricing. Actually, these two brands are in very different price points therefore, you can choose one according to your budget. But if your budget is unlimited, Wings tend to offer great bang for your buck.