RED WING Blacksmith vs WOLVERINE 1000 Mile | Heritage Boot Showdown

This week's boot battle pits the Red Wing Blacksmith vs the Wolverine 1000 Mile. Which of these two heritage American boot brands will emerge victorious?

The Red Wing Blacksmith and Wolverine 1000 Mile are both VERY similar. They're both from heritage USA brands, both Goodyear welted, and both made with excellent materials.

Red Wing is based in Red Wing, Minnesota, and Wolverine is based in Rockford, Michigan.

Despite all their similarities, there are also a lot of differences. For one, the leather is tanned at different facilities and uses a different process. This creates a fairly stark difference in the finished result as one is shinier than the other.

The soles on both of these boots is different, too, which has big implications for whether or not you can wear them in wet weather.

And yes, I do definitively choose one boot over the other at the end of the video, so make sure you stick around and watch the whole thing.

I compare the Red Wing Blacksmith and the Wolverine 1000 Mile boot based on six categories:

-Style
-Leather Quality
-Sole Quality
-Fit and Sizing
-Break in Period
-Price

For each category, we pick a winner. The boot with the most points at the end of the Boot Battle goes home the victor. Then, we send the BootSpy Award of Excellence to the winning brand's corporate headquarters and never hear anything back from them again. Just kidding, we don't do the last part. Hey, are you still reading this? If so, let me know in the comments below and we'll send you the BootSpy Award of Excellence (non-tangible).

[oldspen]

Glad to see someone comapare the right boot with the 1000 mile instead of the Iron Ranger. Great job!

[daryljones]

Keep in mind you can get the thousand mile with a rubber sole.

[boyethelbert]

I just received my 3345 three weeks ago and I'm loving it.
By the way great review. Keep it up.

[colinkelly]

I love that oxblood color more than probably any color out there. Amazing to me how few boot companies even offer it as an option. Lots of browns out there with hints of oxblood, but not that clean and smooth burgundy color.

[thejonathandoan]

I would choose the Blacksmith, provided I had the proper size. The sole is definitely a deciding factor, but that tea-core leather will patina like no other! Both have a similar style, but the patina, lower price, and better sole make the Blacksmith a winner for me.

[strengthandbulkMadness]

Well the Wolverine with that burgundy chromexel leather looks really nice. Better for a night out on the town. The Red Wing’s for getting dirty and bumming around.

[saddletanboots]

You’re doing a great job. Really love your stuff, keep it up

[davidfrid]

I own those exact Redwings. They're absolutely sweet!

[joe-zjet]

I'm watching this from Japan.
Nice comparison keep it up. I like redwing series.

[RAFchingachgook]

I agree that the vibram sole is going to be safer and more durable. HOWEVER, a leather sole has soul! A leather sole is cool. It is vintage hip. It also has functional advantages in that it flexes much better than a rubber sole. It's more comfortable to wear and to walk in. Overall, it's going to fit you better after break-in. Leather soles have better density and shock absorption. BUT, if you're not constantly aware of your environment you're gonna slip and crack your cranium on the baby food spill in aisle 9. ;)

[slivermartian]

Wearing my rust 1Ks while watching. Good comparison can't go wrong with either!

[bjornnordstrom]

I had the cobbler to put on rubber half soles on my 1000 mile boots. Makes them more weather resistant, improves the grip and easy to resole. Treat them with Saphir Renovateur, always use shoe trees and they look great! Had them for three years now.

[charlesbronson]

Red Wing all the way, the Wolverines look awesome but the quality is inferior compared to RW.

[dcamnc]

I have some RW IR's, I'd love to try some 1000 Miles, but they only come in D width.

[christopherdavisson]

To me the Blacksmith is a superior boot to the 1000 Mile. I've owned both and although I loved my 1000 Mile boots? You can tell the Blacksmiths are higher quality. And at a cheaper price to boot! Plus I love the bump toe of the Blacksmith. But the insides are where the Blacksmith sets it's self apart from the 1000 Mile. Not to mention I've always had loose grain issues with my 1000 Mile boots.

[garattyfisher]

Two amazing boots... And I would have chosen the same boots for exactly the same reason.

[DalanarTV]

I would have to apologies to my cobbler when it comes to resoling the Wolverine. Those heals really suck from what I've been told and on top of that the build/quality control is really poor. The quality of Red Wing is just superior. That's just my take...

[chadgraber]

If only you bought these when W came out with their slim lug sole, your choice may have been different. Great boots and great comparison.

[TheTinkeringMachinist]

You can get the 1000 mile in a Vibram rubber sole. I think its the Evans 1000 mile.

[tq]

My 1000 mile have the same sole as the redwings.