![]() Red Wing vs Wolverine Leather Red Wing Iron Rangers Wolverine has opted for the world famous Chromexcel leather from Horween Leather Company, which has a rich pedigree and a richer depth of color, which I’ll discuss in more detail in the next section. The leather is prettier, though, and less raw around the edges than Red Wing. The 1000 Mile is less eye catching, less unique, and blends more easily into khakis and a button down. It’s a pretty wide, to be fair - there are no illusions that this can double as a dress shoe, but the Red Wings are more outdoorsy and knockaround. Like the Iron Ranger it has a 270-degree Goodyear welt and a cork midsole but the shoe aims for the title of all-rounder. There’s no toe cap, there’s much less triple stitching, and the eyelets are more subdued. It’s instantly apparent that this is a more versatile boot. The sole has traditionally been cork but if you’re buying Iron Rangers today, you’re in for a super functional Vibram sole Red Wing changed all of the models’ soles from cork to Vibram in summer 2018. The functional aesthetic is further emphasized by the triple stitching, the shiny nickel eyelets, the thick oil-tanned leather, and the sole. This is comfortably a work boot, designed to be reminiscent of the footwear Red Wing used to make for the iron miners toiling inside the Mesabi Iron Range in Minnesota. It really emphasizes the fact that unlike the 1,000 Mile it’s not a remotely dressy boot. The defining feature of the Iron Ranger is the toe cap, which critics correctly call bulbous but I really like. (Yes, they’ve darkened a bit since I bought them - Obenauf’s Leather Oil did a great job of keeping the leather moist over the years, but Red Wing’s own boot oil probably would have been better for maintaining the color.) I own the Amber Harness Iron Ranger, which is the most popular version of the boot. ![]() Red Wing Iron Ranger Vs Wolverine 1000 Mile: Who Wins?.And I think theres a pretty clear winner. I’ve trudged through storms, hiked through blizzards, conditioned and re-conditioned these bad boys. Which comes out on top? While they have a lot in common, there are also a lot of key differences to take into consideration, particularly with regard to the leather, the sole, and most importantly how they aged - I have owned and worn both boots for months and unlike a lot of comparisons out there, I didn’t buy try on both boots and return one after walking around my living room. ![]() These are some of the most popular boots in America and because they’re so close in price, well, people are constantly comparing the two. Both companies are super old, both boots are considered by many as the perfect entry level boot, they both have 270-degree Goodyear welts, and they both have cult followings. The two companies’ flagship boots - the Iron Ranger and the 1000 Mile - are true icons of American footwear. The question of Red Wing versus Wolverine has been the most hotly debated since time immemorial (or at least since online message boards were invented) and with good cause. ![]()
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