Shopping for boots can be a painful, expensive, time-consuming process. You’re not just looking for some cheap kicks to wear to the gym. You need a pair of workhorse boots that can stand up to a snowstorm and still look good. Or you’re looking for something dressy that can work with your office slacks. Maybe you’re after a combination of the two, or something completely different. Most boot reviews are superficial or knee-jerk reactions that just aren’t that helpful.
In any case you’re going to be spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on these shoes, and you need to know you’re making the right buy for your own individual needs. Having grown up in subtropical Australia before moving to Manhattan, I had no idea what to wear when I was facing my first New York blizzard. I needed more than just sneakers and dress shoes. Finding the right pair of boots for me took a ton of research and outreach because just I couldn’t’ find anything like Stridewise.
Want to know how I rate boots? Check out the Stridewise.com boot review process.
Find Your Perfect Boot
Choosing the right boot shouldn’t be hard. Below are some of the most popular boots I’ve reviewed, broken down by category. And you better believe I’ll keep expanding this page.
The Best Boots of All Time
Arranged by best overall, best moc toe, best chelsea, and more.
American Made Boots
- Red Wing – Iron Ranger
- Red Wing – Blacksmith
- Red Wing – Moc Toe
- Red Wing – Weekender Chelsea
- Wolverine – 1000 Mile
- Thorogood – Heritage Moc Toe
- Danner – Bull Run
- Thursday Boot Company – Vanguard
Classic, Plain Toe Boots
- Thursday Boot Co – President
- Red Wing – Blacksmith
- Oak Street Bootmakers – Trench Boot
- Wolverine – 1000 Mile
- Allen Edmonds – Higgins Mill
- Grant Stone – Diesel Boot
- Dayton – Service Boot
- Viberg – Service Boot
- John Doe Shoes – 420 Boot
- Nisolo – Andres
Newer American Brands
- Thursday Boot Company – Captain
- Rider – Dundalk
- Helm – Muller Boot
- Helm – Zind Boot
- Parkhurst – Delaware
- Sutro – Alder
- Sutro – Charlton
- Oak Street Bootmakers – Lakeshore
- Taft – Jack Boot
- Nisolo – Andres
- Oliver Cabell – SB1
Work Boots
- Timberland – Pro Boondock
- Irish Setter – Wingshooter ST
- Brunt – Perkins
- Brunt – Marin
- Rockrooster – Walker
- Rockrooster – Bakken Chelsea
- Hawx – Legion
- Thorogood – Heritage Moc Toe
Boots Over $500
- Alden – 403 Indy
- White’s – MP Service Boot
- Nicks – Urban Logger
- Truman – Java Waxed Flesh
- Edward Green – Galway
- Viberg – Service Boot
Boots from Abroad
- Bordon – Tukano (Colombia)
- Dayton – Service Boot (Canada)
- Urban Shepherd – Original (Portugal)
- Viberg – Service Boot (Canada)
- Tricker’s – Stow Boot (Great Britain)
- Sagara – Legacy IX (Indonesia)
- Santalum – Mile 85 (Indonesia)
- Beckett Simonon – Dowler Cap Toe
- Beckett Simonon – Douglas Jodhpur
- Beckett Simonon – Gallagher
- R.M. Williams – Comfort Craftsman (Australia)
- Doc Martens – 1460 (Great Britain)
- Edward Green – Galway (Great Britain)
- Meermin – Chestnut Country Calf (Spain)
Comparisons
- Red Wing Vs. Wolverine
- Red Wing Vs. Thursday
- Red Wing Vs. Danner
- Red Wing vs Thorogood
- Viberg Vs. Alden
- Alden Vs. Allen Edmonds Vs. Grant Stone
- Wolverine Vs. Thursday
- Thorogood Vs. Red Wing Vs. Chippewa
- Timberland Vs Doc Martens
Dressier Boots
- Allen Edmonds – Sullivan Street
- Carmina – Chelsea
- Beckett Simonon – Gallagher
- Frye – Jones Lace Up
- To Boot New York – Astoria
- Jack Erwin – Chester
- Meermin – Chestnut Country Calf
- Taft – Jack Boot
- Taft – Dragon Boot
- Danner – Jack II
Chelsea Boots
- Thursday Boot Company – Duke
- Thursday Boot Company – Cavalier
- Astorflex – Bitflex
- R.M. Williams – Comfort Craftsman
- Carmina – Chelsea
- Red Wing – Weekender
- Helm – Holt
- Taylor Stitch – Ranch
Suede Boots
Boot Conditioners (See My Top Picks)
- Cobbler’s Choice Leather Conditioner
- Huberd’s Shoe Grease
- Saphir Renovateur
- Venetian Shoe Cream
- Bickmore Bick 4
- Sof Sole Mink Oil
- Kiwi Conditioning Oil
- Leather Honey
- Red Wing Mink Oil vs Boot Oil
Disclaimer: To keep the lights on, some (not all) of my reviews contain affiliate links. That simply means that if you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission for sending you there. This does not cost you any extra money whatsoever, it just means the origin of the sale is tracked back to Stridewise.
