Updated Mar 1, 2024
Red Wing Iron Ranger Vs. Wolverine 1000 Mile – Which Is the Best Men’s Boot?
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It’s here: the ultimate boot showdown.
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. The two companies’ flagship boots — the Iron Ranger and the 1000 Mile — are true icons of American footwear. 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. 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.
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. I’ve trudged through storms, hiked through blizzards, conditioned and re-conditioned these bad boys. And I think theres a pretty clear winner.
[TEAM RED WING? SHOP THE IRON RANGER IN 6 LEATHERS HERE]
[TEAM WOLVERINE? SHOP THE 1000 MILE HERE]
First Glance
Red Wing Iron Ranger
I own the Amber Harness Iron Ranger, which is the most popular version of the boot. (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.)
The defining feature of the Iron Ranger is the toe cap, which critics correctly call bulbous but I really like. It really emphasizes the fact that unlike the 1,000 Mile it’s not a remotely dressy boot. 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.
The functional aesthetic is further emphasized by the triple stitching, the shiny nickel eyelets, the thick oil-tanned leather, and the sole. 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.
Wolverine 1000 Mile
It’s instantly apparent that this is a more versatile boot. There’s no toe cap, there’s much less triple stitching, and the eyelets are more subdued. 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.
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. The 1000 Mile is less eye catching, less unique, and blends more easily into khakis and a button down. Can you wear it with a suit? No. Is it inconspicuous? For sure.
The leather is prettier, though, and less raw around the edges than Red Wing. 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.
[Related: The 10 Best Dress Boots]
Red Wing vs Wolverine Leather
Red Wing Iron Rangers
- Oil-tanned leather
- Harder to wear in
- Aged very well
This is an oil-tanned leather and to be honest, it’s a little hard to tell where it comes from. Red Wing proudly owns their own tannery, S.B. Foot Tanning Company, but the language on their site doesn’t actually state that this boot’s leather is made there. (It’s much clearer for certain leathers, like their Roughout.)
In any case, it’s a nice, full grain leather that’s remarkably thick, certainly more than two millimeters. That means they’re no fun to wear in (expect blisters) but over the year that I’ve owned them, the leather has slowly and molded to the shape of my foot. That’s the thing with full grain leather: it becomes more you as it ages. This boot was more rugged and stiffer than Wolverine’s, but it can take more of a beating.
As I mentioned above, I conditioned my Iron Rangers with Obenauf’s Leather Oil and it worked a treat; the only complaint I have is that it darkened them a lot. People still like them, but I might have gone with Red Wing’s mink oil-based leather oil if I’d known the leather would change so much. (And if I weren’t so squeamish about using mink oil.)
Wolverine 1000 Mile
- Chromexcel leather
- Creased significantly
- Plenty of loose grain
Chromexcel is a beloved leather from Horween Leather Tannery in Chicago that’s used in a ton of high end
The leather is pretty hard wearing, though, and when it comes to taking care of Chromexcel you can be comfortable with just using Venetian Shoe Cream, which Horween themselves recommend. Wolverine likes to suggest their own leather conditioner that’s made from mink oil and pine pitch, but you don’t need to reinvent the wheel, here. VSC works fine, but Saphir’s Renovateur is also one of Horween’s favorites if you’re more partial to a shiny boot.
Now, I’ve worn better Chromexcel than this. It was much easier to wear in than the Iron Ranger, but within one week the boot developed ugly creases all over the the shaft and the toe break. No, I wasn’t using shoe trees, but this was one week of wear. I can only conclude Wolverine’s leather selection isn’t top notch.
[Related: Venetian Shoe Cream vs Saphr Renovateur]
Sole
Red Wing Iron Ranger
- Cork or Vibram outsole
- Cork midsole, leather insole
- Steel shank
My pair have a flat nitrile cork outsole, but as mentioned above if you bought your pair during or after summer 2018, you probably got the updated version with a 7-millimeter thick Vibram sole. Vibram is a great Italian rubber that has superb grip in rain and snow, but even my cork soles had decent grip, much better than the 1000 Mile.
After the outsole there’s a steel shank for arch support and stability plus a cork midsole and leather insole, both of which slowly molded to the shape of my foot. That sole combined with the (reluctantly) malleable leather made for a shoe that really fits like a glove after the gnarly break-in period.
The Goodyear welt is also worth mentioning since it boosts water resistance, but both boots have the same welt so it’s not great for comparing the two.
Wolverine 1000 Mile’s sole, fresh out of the box
Wolverine 1000 Mile
- Leather sole
- Vibram heel
- Cork midsole, leather insole
- No steel shank
- Less durable heel
The undisputed loser of this section, Wolverine’s flat, butyl-treated leather sole has very poor grip. While it does gradually improve as it gets worn in, you’re rewarded with a very ugly, scraped up outsole that I didn’t love at all.
There is a Vibram heel to help reduce slippage and absorb shock, and I do have to hand it to Wolverine in that regard: it absorbs shock better than the cork sole from Red Wing. But since that shoe now has a Vibram sole I’m confident that today’s Iron Ranger has eclipsed the Wolverine in this regard.
There’s also no shank, so a dress boot, plus the heel of my 1000 Miles started to detach after about a month of wear. The Iron Ranger, on the other hand, has no issues with the heel after more than a year.
Red Wing Vs Wolverine Sizing
- Order a half size down from sneaker size for both boots
- Red Wing has more arch support with shank
- 1000 Mile has better heel support
The sizing is about the same for both brands: you should order a half size down from your sneaker size. I’m between an 11.5 and a 12 on a Brannock device but I’m a solid size 11 in both the Red Wing and the Wolverine boots.
Width-wise, Red Wing has D and EE, Wolverine D and EEE. Folks with narrow widths are out of luck.
Red Wing vs Wolverine Price
Red Wing Iron Ranger
Both on Amazon and on Red Wing’s official site, these shoes run about $349.99. The price can fluctuate a bit and on Nordstrom in particular, they frequently go on sale for under $300. But if you want a pair of these bad boys today, head to Amazon for the best price.
[TEAM RED WING? SHOP THE IRON RANGER IN 6 LEATHERS HERE]
Wolverine 1000 Mile
One pair will set you back $385 on Wolverine’s site but they’re also a little cheaper on Amazon, selling for anywhere between $320 and $360. It’s rare to see them under $350, though, so Red Wing is the clear winner on price.
[TEAM WOLVERINE? SHOP THE 1000 MILE HERE]
Red Wing Iron Ranger Vs Wolverine 1000 Mile: Who Wins?
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the 1000 Mile if you were trying to decide between the two and you wanted a more formal boot that wouldn’t look as out of place with nice khakis. If versatility and dressiness is what you’re after, the Wolverine — while far from a dress boot — is your best option.
But if you’re just looking for a high quality boot you can wear with jeans or khakis, go with the Iron Ranger. It’s cheaper, it has better grip, it’s better at supporting the foot, and most importantly it ages much, much better.
[Related: My list of The Best Boots for Men]
I’d probably buy both boots if they were 360 degrees welted. What’s the point of having goodyear welted shoes if you’re gonna end up with glued heels? I pass.
I mean they’re still able to be resoled, which is the main draw for most folks.
I’m not sure about Wolverine, but the Iron rangers are nailed on. So I wouldn’t worry about durability. It makes it easier for a cobbler to replace just the heel, since that’s usually what wears down first.
Hey there! I’m really interested in the 1000 mile but I hate the creasing. Since you don’t like the creasin on this boot and I hate the other. What else would you recommend that looks similar to the 1000?
Red Wing’s Blacksmith is similar but they don’t use Chromexcel. Viberg’s Service Boot might be up your alley but they’re really expensive. White’s has service boots for about $500. But White’s and Viberg aren’t as bulbous in the toe as the 1000 Mile, if that’s the look you’re going for I’m a bit stumped I’m afraid!
The Oak Street Bootmaker’s Trench Boot sits beautifully between Red Wing and Viberg in price and is very high quality, based on the pair I own.
That’s very true, a great brand
Thanks for your great reviews…Super helpful as I’m looking to purchase my first pair of good boots.
I’ve got my eye on the Wolverine Evans 1000 Mile. It looks just like the 1000 miles but with a 360 degree welt and a rubber sole (from what I can tell). I’m also considering the Thorogood Dodgeville, but these have proven to be impossible to find. And I’m considering the Iron Ranger. Trying to decide between these 3. Do you know of anything I may be missing about the Evans 1000 mile?
Delighted you’ve found the site useful, Sam! Sorry for the delay in my response, I was out on vacation. I agree the Wolverine Evans remedies a lot of my complaints I had about the 1K, so long as the leather quality is decent! Give it a good thorough look for loose grain etc. before taking ’em out in the snow. Yeah I might have wasted my time reviewing the Dodgeville, no one seems to stock it anymore :/
Thanks for this clear-eyed review. I’m actually a bit shocked about the lack of durability of the 1k boot -the fact that the heel started to detach within a month is pretty ridiculous. I really wish things were reversed since the look of the 1k boot is so much better to me than the IR. In the pictures it looks like you’re actually wearing two different sized boots, with the IRs about two sizes larger.
Have you investigated the Evan style of the 1K? It has a Vibram sole and costs a bit more, so it may overcome some of the deficits you identified. Another option, looks-wise, is the Redwing Blacksmith. It has a look similar to the 1k but hopefully less quality control issues.
I actually don’t know if you’ve reviewed either of these since it’s a bit hard to find a definite list of all your reviews -is there a link to an archive somewhere? I keep finding reviews I missed from the usual dropdowns Thanks!.
Thanks for the kind words Aaron! If you like the look of the 1K buu want Red Wing quality just get the Red Wing Blacksmith, they’re prettttty similar. The Beckman might be a good option too. Haven’t tried the Evan style of the 1K but I have heard a lot about it and it does seem like it would remedy a lot of my complaints 🙂
Here are the reviews! http://www.stridewise.com/boot-reviews
Thanks again for the review, this was very valuable information. I actually ended up going to a Red Wing store (there was one about 10 minutes from my house). I tried on both the Blacksmith and the Iron Ranger. I have a weird size (they suggested I get a 7.5) so there was only Charcoal Rough and Tough for the Blacksmith and Oxblood Mesa for the IR. To my surprise the IR did not look as bulbous and rustic as I thought it would, but as the salesman pointed out a 7.5 will naturally look small (logical I guess). In any case I was very happy with how they both looked and I impulse purchased both pairs, figuring they would go with very different clothes. People have especially commented on how much they like the Blacksmith, but I’m happy with both. In comparison the IR has been much harder to break in, but this could be a function of the hardness of the leather type rather than the shoe.
Keep up the good work, Nick!
Thought I would pint out that now Wolverine has switched from the 270 t a full 360 degree Goodyear welt stitch. I first noticed it when looking at the custom options on the 1000 mile boot. The picture showed the stitching going all the way around. I then searched it and I guess they advo it by adding 360 to the end of a few marketing advo pieces to the name. But I think the Evans version taught them people wanted what was a very small cot addition to the boot.
I personally like rugged boots so I love the Iron Ranger. I also like to wear in my quality boots shoes cloths. Thus I want it to last a nd last so I really like the thicker leather and longer break in of the IRs. But I must say they have cheapen out on the welt is so penny pitching and its effect on the highest sheer stress part of the sole, the heal just makes me less confident long terms i.e yrs old use with resoling etc. Its a shame as I want the IRs with the 360 degree or the 1Ks with the leather from the IRs. Can’t the two hook up and have a baby dammit!?!
I like a boot with a decent breakin on a decent quality boot as to me it shows the leather is likely going to last. Its sort of like jeans from the premid 90s when they all went cheap on the demin. It took months to get fully worn in a good pair of levis. You also wore them numerous times before washing. But like so many footwear everyone wanted more and more profit which is the curse of any public traded company as shares MUST go up. Thus we have 10x the crap footwear and far less options for quality and in jeans its almost nonexistent. Not only that but people in general want instant satisfaction. Break in boots or jeans no way. Much better to use for a few months and throw away. Sad as they will never know the felling and satisfaction of pulling on a well worn in set of jeans and sliding your feet into those well worn in perfectly to your feet boots. It just creates such as secure satisfying mind set. It literally adds zen and over all confidence from something familiar and is uniquely your.
A man who knows his boots! I’ve started reviewing raw denim as well, Tim, check it out: https://stridewise.com/studio-dartisan-denim-review-g003/
So do you prefer Red Wing or Wolverine??
Hi Nick,
I would like to add my perspective on both of these boots. I own a pair of Iron Ranger 8111 for several years now (cork sole). I love them, they are still in great shape and seem to last forever. Recently, I was looking for a new boot and was impressed by the Wolverine 1000 Mile classics. Then I came across your head-to-head comparison review which was so elegantly and professionally presented, and extremely valuable followed by the 1000 Mile single review. It had me order a pair of the 1000 Mile the next day. I have them now for over a month, and enjoy them immensely. I must say the downsides you raised on this boot were incredibly accurate (creases quickly, less robust etc), but in my opinion there is something about them that is worth the investment. I have no doubt they will not last as long as my Iron Rangers, but I will make the best of them for as long as possible.
Since then, I have reviewed your website in general and would like to compliment you on a job well done!!! Keep up the good work!!! I personally will be following …
Thanks,
David
Yeah the Wolverines are fine boots, Chromexcel is a nice leather, they’re pretty versatile. Definitely the Iron Ranger is tougher and cooler. But if you’re going to have two boots there are worse couples out there! Glad you like the site David, I appreciate your comment.
Solid review and I like both boots for the positives you pointed out. Would the IR be an option for hiking? I’m guessing not for the 1000 miles, right?
Are there any similar quality boots that you’d recommend that would double as a casual boot that could also be at home in the woods?
You know I’m not that big into hiking so it’s hard to say, sorry. They’re good in wet weather and the Vibram mini lug has good grip. I’d probably be thinking more about a Commando sole but, hey, I’m not that into hiking. Sorry Ryan!
Great review! I’d like to give my 2 cents as I’d like to help give back 🙂
So I’ve purchased both the Oxblood Iron Rangers and the Stone Plain Evans Wolverine 1000, and I’ve worn them both for about one year now. Here are my impressions:
BOOT: IRs are way tougher leather (it’s Mesa leather which is known to be tougher than even other IR leathers). They took much longer to break in, and in fact the Ws were very comfortable right out of the box. There’s no contest in terms of comfort tbh, even after many uses of the IRs. IRs are wearable don’t get me wrong, but they gave me blisters at first, and the leather is still far less soft even after conforming to my foot.
My foot bottom is also much comfier in the Ws than the IRs wrt to the sole. Not sure why, maybe the structure and cork in the Ws is just better…?
TL:DR Ws I can wear all day, IRs I’ve had to take them off and re-lace them up just this week after wearing them for a few hours.
SOLE: Tie more/less. My Ws have vibram mini lugs so they have decent grip unlike the older leather sole versions. The IRs do have more tread and therefore more traction. I use the IRs in winter and they’re solid performers.
LOOKS: Ws don’t have the toe cap and the IRs do. I like both. But I bought the Ws in lighter color to be worn as casual stylish spring/summer/fall good weather and it works **amazingly** for that. Tons of compliments. I bought my oxblood IRs as more rugged for winter or fall wear, and for a bit of rugged style with dark jeans, and they also work great this way. I’ve been complimented a bunch with the IRs too (although I think it’s more the colour in late fall that makes them work so well). The toe cap definitely takes away from its ability to work as a pure stylish boot, but since I’m a tall athletic gym going guy, I pull it off well. Not sure how well a shorter or skinnier guy would fare. (As a style comparable, I wear a Panerai watch). I’m not trying to be cocky btw, as I’ve yet to find a good Chelsea that suits me and I’d love to pull that boot off…
TOUGHNESS: IRs clear winner. I’ve worm them in winter with zero upkeep. Cleaned them up this fall and leather is good as new. Tougher leather makes a big difference. Ws scratch easy, and needs a bit more care. But still not excessive amounts. Ws are aging nicely with the scuffs. IRs look near new (not a bad thing due to the very dark oxblood color). I would NOT wear my Ws in winter. No idea what salt would do to them but I don’t want to find out!!
Conclusion: Ws are the way to go for me. FAR more comfortable with the more supple leather. Looks better too, due to lack of bulbous toe cap on IRs, yet still clearly a ‘manly’ boot, which is what I wanted. Caveat is that the IRs are better for the tougher winter weather, and even stylistically they look good for the late fall and winter months (to match the rest of my thicker material’d pants sweaters and coats), but I’m not sure I’d like to wear them in hotter/lighter material wearing summer months as much. IRs have somewhat easier care too.
Hope this helps some people!
Nick, I appreciate your thoughtful comment, man. Glad it’s here for others to read. Didn’t know about RW’s Mesa leather, sounds really interesting. Hope they’ve broken in a bit? I think the toecap makes the IRs more eye catching, just because the Wolverines are so normal looking — just my opinion! A lot of people love Red Wing’s Williston Chelsea if you’re looking to make that leap! Great you’ve got two boots you love and know when to wear them.
Dude! I JUST read a totally unrelated article from you about soy and testosterone (great article btw)! I got through it then was about to start looking at the comments and I see your face avatar and did a ‘wait a minute….’ double take. Lol you’re everywhere
As for the boots, yes the IRs are well broken in, but they’ll just never be as supple as the Ws are.
I do like the toe cap and the overall look too! But let’s not fool anyone, style wise the toe cap makes them less formal (and harder to pull off business casual).
I’ll give those Chelseas a go thx!
Keep up the great work!
Haha! Yep, you found my day job. Stridewise is my night job 🙂 You’re right the Chromexcel will always be more supple than the oil tanned IRs, good observation. Glad you like the site and hope you find boots you love! I’m getting a review of the RW Chelseas up in the next month or so.
Both Red Wing and Wolverine work boots are made of premium-grade materials with cutting-edge safety technology, tested to meet workplace requirements. Plus, they are close in price, making it even trickier to choose between them.
, Redwings are a good choice to take into account. One pair of mine is about 20 years old, but the soles did need to be changed once these Chucks are amazing! They are expensive, but given how long they last, they end up being the most economical choice! i loved it!
20 years, wow! Yep, they’re definitely the smart, economical purchase once you take longevity into account.