Wolverine Overpass Review | Are they tough enough?

In the world of affordable work boots, few brands are better known and offer more options than Wolverine. In this review, we’re going to take a look at the Wolverine Overpass Carbon Max boots, which are basically Wolverine’s equivalent of Timberland’s Boondock Pro boots I’ve previously reviewed. 

Now, some of the things we’ll cover in this review are whether or not the Wolverine Overpass boots are comfortable, how durable they are, what the heck a contour welt is, and if they have the safety features your job requires.

Why Trust Us? On-the-Job, Expert Tested Work Boot Reviews

If you’ve been reading my Stridewise reviews for a while now, then you probably already know what I do for work and how I review boots.

But if you’re new here, I’m a welder and sheet metal fabricator who’s been in these trades for 20 years now. I’ve also written quite a few boot reviews ranging from cheap boots to $500+ handmade work boots, and I think after wearing all those boots and all the years I’ve put into blue-collar work, I have a good take on whether a pair of boots will be worth your money or not.

Pros & Cons: The Wolverine Overpass

In a rush? Check out these pros and cons to see if the Overpass is for you.

Pros

• Very comfortable 
• Lightweight (due to cemented build and nylon shank)
• Built-in rubber toe bumper
• High-quality, removable insole
• Affordable 
• Flexible

Cons

• Not resoleable
• Implied to be resoleable
• Waterproof
• Thin leather 

Leather & Design: Wolverine Overpass

• Uses thin (1.8mm) Nubuck leather
• Ups durability with “Carbon Max” material in the forefoot and a rubber toe bumper

As is the case with many affordable work boots, Wolverine had to use cheaper materials to bring costs down.

In this case, the leather was one of those cost cutting measures. Coming in at 1.8mm thick, the nubuck leather the Overpass boots use might be a little too thin and soft for heavy duty work, but it’ll do the job if you need lighter weight boots that offer stability, and two levels of toe protection: the composite toe is ASTM F2413-18 M/I/C EH rated and it’s covered in abrasion resistant rubber on the exterior.

the composite toe is ASTM F2413-18 M/I/C EH rated and it’s covered in abrasion resistant rubber on the exterior.

This is one of Wolverine’s “Carbonmax” boots, a term referring to “millions of nanotubes that form a honeycomb pattern, which creates a strong toe while using less material.” It’s a high tech way to make a boot durable but lightweight, which I love.

The Carbonmax is concentrated in the forefoot area, and there’s also an abrasion-resistant synthetic bumper protecting the toe and the sides of the foot. This all does a good job of adding extra protection to the thinner leather — you won’t expose that safety toe any time soon.

What’s This “Contour Welt” Construction on Wolverine’s Overpass?

• Contour Welt is a marketing term for a directly attached foam midsole, so:
• It’s not a Goodyear welt
• The orange “welt” stitching is decorative, not functional
• This construction means it’s not resoleable, but you do get greater flexibility and comfort in its place

So what the heck is the Contour Welt that Wolverine keeps talking about on the product page and in their marketing?

Well, it’s mostly a marketing gimmick, and it’s certainly not a Goodyear welt.

Now, this is what drives me crazy about the budget boot brands: they use buzzwords and phrases that can be a bit misleading, such as “Contour Welt,” which could give the impression that the boot actually has a Goodyear welted design.

(That’s a term referring to a traditional way of making boots resoleable, water resistant, and tough — it also makes them stiff and expensive, which these boots aren’t, so my gripe is more with the marketing team than the boots themselves.)

Alright, that’s what the contour welt isn’t. What it is is basically a directly attached foam midsole that is over-molded around the sides of the boot. The outsole is then glued to the midsole.

The orange welt stitching running down the sides of the Contour welt doesn’t actually serve a purpose and is there to give the boots the look of having a more durable design than they do.

That said, the boots are far more flexible than a Goodyear welted boot. It’s sort of the trade-off you get with a glued construction boot. You give up durability, but you get flexibility and little to no break-in in return.

Comfort and Insole: Wolverine Overpass 

The Overpass are actually pretty damn comfortable to wear. The toe box is shaped in a way that allows for a more natural toe splay, and the Ortholite insoles are very soft.

In my opinion, these insoles really make the boot.

They are very thick and have really great arch support for not being an orthotic insole. In my opinion, these insoles really make the boot.

Combine that with the flexible Contour Welt and the soft rubber outsole, and you get a boot that has a very sneaker-like feel to it with no break-in period at all. 

Sizing & Fit: Wolverine Overpass

• Fits true Brannock measurement
• Not very wide

I’d say they fit true to size like most mass-produced work boots do. I’m an 11.5 on a Brannock device and an 11.5 in the Overpass as well. I’d say you’re safe to buy them in your normal work boot size. The boots aren’t super wide, but fortunately they’re available in a wide width — something that’s not so common for cheaper boots.

Safety: Wolverine Overpass

• ASTM-compliant composite safety toe
• ASTM-compliant EH rating
• Slip-resistant outsole

In terms of safety the Wolverine Overpass should meet the safety requirements for most employers and job sites. Protecting your toes is an ASTM-compliant composite safety toe. The boots are also EH-rated, meeting  ASTM standards for electrical hazards. The outsole is also slip-resistant.

Waterproofing: Wolverine Overpass

• Waterproof and moisture-wicking liner
• Treated leather

The Overpass is pretty waterproof. It’s not really marketed as such, but the combination of waterproof leather, cemented construction, and a moisture wicking mesh liner mean it handles water very well.

When I put the boots to the test by filling my sink with water and letting them sit for a half hour, they stayed dry inside — but keep in mind that boots like this will only stay dry for so long. If you’re standing in water frequently at work for long periods, you may want to consider a rubber work boot like Muck Boots.

Price & Value: Wolverine Overpass

• $164.95

Normally, the Wolverine Overpass is priced at $164.95, which is in line with other similarly made boots. It also frequently goes on sale, and it’s available on Amazon where prices can sometimes drop as well.

They’re not resoleable, which many consider the hallmark of a good value boot, but they’re so inexpensive that replacing them is cheap.

Wolverine Overpass vs the Competition

The most comparable boots I’ve reviewed to the Overpass are the Timberland Boondock Pro and the Brunt Perkins.

While Brunt is the most comparable, it is far, far less comfortable than the Overpass. Since they are basically the same price, I’d recommend going with the Overpass over Brunt.

The Timberland Boondock Pro is very similar, but way more heavy-duty and runs about $199. A good option if the Overpass isn’t heavyweight enough, but an unnecessary one if you need a light duty boot like, well, the Overpass! 

Final Thoughts

All in all, I think the Overpass is a good boot for its price point. Even though the leather is thin, it is counterbalanced by the rubber toe guard and the abrasion-resistant synthetic material around the forefoot. It’s definitely more comfortable and better, in my opinion, than Brunt’s Perkins boot and the Wolverine Durashocks.