I'm about to check now, but I'd love to see this for one of the Xero Shoes boots. But if you do it, you should break your video up into two parts. The first like you're comparing it any other boot, a regular review. The second part could be about how you would improve the boot while staying with the Xero Shoes principles (wide toe box, no heel rise, thin sole, etc).
If you have your iron rangers resoled by redwing with a split sole they will add a full leather midsole. I had mine redone with the vibram roccia split sole and to me it really improved the boot overall.
@@LaymensLameMan I did their full rebuild service which included ad new welt and cork and a few other things, idk if it would be different somehow with the standard resole but it was only a little more this way and got me what I wanted so it was well worth the extra $30 or $40
@kevinl4271 I certainly like the look of the split sole on midsole. If you don't mind...how long did it take to wear out your original soles (nitrile or minilug) and how much of that was on pavement? Mine are 1 1/2 years old with 10% pavement use and a resole is a good way off. Copper R+T looks fantastic. Georgia USA.
I came here to comment on just that feature. I'll add it here...if I was forced to mention an improvement to the iron ranger it would to have a midsole and the relative ease of resoling. In this particular pairing I would also add that the chromeXL will age more gracefully than a suede/rough out. Your taste may vary.
I just walked though my second pair of iron rangers. Bought them brand new in May and wear them almost everyday; the front of the soles are separating from the boot. I love the iron ranger but I need something that lasts more than 4-5 months working in them 60 hours a week.
I wear size 13 Iron Rangers, and i love them. When i was 18, i saved up and bought a pair and have been wearing them literally every single day since (I'm 21 now). I wear em to work, wear em at the forge, fishing, hiking, yard work, renaissance fairs, literally everywhere. Theyre super comfortable, and they always look good. I get compliments on a pair of the redwing Rough Necks that i have, but the iron rangers have never done me wrong and are the best purchase i have ever made
I had leather insoles 1 time.. fart noises constantly.. it’s in my review of the Thursday shoes lol.. never again do I want leather insoles.. horrible.
Great comparison, as always. I like to think that their constructions are "almost the same" but the wolverine has the padding on top of the leather but the ranger has the padding beneath the leather. I personally like standing directly on veg tan and I like cotton lining. Both seem to help regulate the temperature of my feet.
I have three pairs of 1000 mile boots, none have even had the leather in the foot bed roll up. One pair is almost ten years old and still going strong the leather that they use for the outsole is great as is the Horween.
I'd love to see you deconstruct a Canada West WM Moorby boot. It's basically the Canadian version of Iron Ranger/1000 Mile boot, and I love my 3 pairs. Taking a look at the teardown of a Moorby would be awesome!
sooooo..... I watch way too many of these Rose Anvil videos while I'm supposed to be working. :) Great video!!! Love the information. Your channel is AWESOME, and your other one is AWESOME as well. I love the layer-for-layer approach. I literally can watch these all day. Thanks for doing the videos.
Great video! Have you considered doing a series on snake boots? There's hardly any review content for snake boots and it would be cool to see what sets them apart. Boots that come to mind are Danner San Angelo, Russell Turtleskin, and the Chippewa Cutter or Brome. Snake boots are more useful to protect against briars, ticks, and chiggers, but they're marketed as snake boots.
I had a long day of classes yesterday and I was planning on watching this video. had my computer sitting on my chest in bed and long story short I fell asleep for an hour and a half so here we are for round two
Wolverine 1000 mile boots we’re my first real pair of “work” boots. They were literally the biggest disappointment I’ve ever had. I’m pretty sure they used leather scraps to make my boot. I had one boot that was half tan and half dark brown. I also had a crazy pain in one foot. I thought it was because it wasn’t broken in yet but after 6 months on wear, I ended up tossing them and getting some Nick’s & Allen Edmonds. Both were so much more comfortable and I didn’t have the foot pain anymore (I’m suspecting it was because one was significantly narrower than the other)
Great video thank you!! The closer to 30 minutes the better. I find that seems to be a fair time vrs info. Longer videos are definitely welcome i enjoy up to an hr and longer if its kept up beat
It feels like nearly a tie between these two boots, yet with an edge given to the Iron Rangers. I would add that despite Weston's reservations regarding price every time I search for bargains they're always the 1000 Mile. I have a pair in black with the full lug sole that I bought for $165.00. I regularly see pairs around $200.00. I never see Iron Rangers much below MSRP.
I own a pair of both, and I find myself reaching for my 1000 Milers about twice as often as my Iron Rangers. The back stay on the IRs comes up past all but my tallest (winter) socks and rubs my calf, and I just feel like the 1000Ms are more comfortable overall. Both are good shoes though, and I don't regret the purchase of either.
I have to say that I have never experienced the half-sock liner rolling up either. I'm not saying it's never happened, but I DO think that splitting a shoe in half lengthwise with a bandsaw may make it separate more than it would during normal wear.
@@R.J._Lewis I’ve never experienced this either, but Weston called this out as a potential problem in his original 1K video and in this video he acts like it happens in every pair.
I remember him saying one of his favorite pairs of boots were limited edition 1000 Mile, and that they fit his foot perfectly. Think he was disappointed in the materials after cutting them. Had to stop liking them to stay consistent with his stance on materials, and then the liner was what he found for a reason for not liking. The liner issue may happen, but from my experience and what I've seen, is rare, at best. Edit: Don't post comments from a phone, autocorrect is a pain 😅
Love my Iron Rangers but even with them the penny pinching really annoys me. Using reconstituted leather in the heal counter - come on Red Wing, how much are you saving with a couple of square inches of reconstituted leather? Do the job right and we trust the brand, start cutting corners and you’ll end up like the 1,000 Mile example.
Hey Rose Anvil! Great video as always. I love my iron rangers but I wished you would compare the Redwing blacksmiths to the 1k Mile. They are very similar in style but the blacksmiths have a slightly different build to the iron rangers. On another note, I wished you would do a video on a pair of redwing work styles like the supersole 2.0 (style 2414) or the dynaforce (4200). As much as I like you cutting the redwing Mocs/iron rangers, I think the work styles would be more relatable for people on a pair of modern work boots!
While I really like the in-depth breakdown of individual items, I appreciate the side-by-side comparison as someone relatively new to the boot world. Keep up the great work!
I have two pairs of 1000 miles; one of them almost 8 years. I don't have Iron Rangers, but do have 877s. For every 1 wear of the 877s, I wear a 1000 mile pair 2-3 times. Never paid more than $300 for the Wolverines because of sales (paid $330ish for the RWs). The sock liner has never been an issue for me, seems like many other boots can have the same issues that you brought up. The leather soles are amazing and highly underrated - cool, breathable, good ground feel. I've heard people say it's the last - the construction of the 1000 mile boots just fits great. Agree about them being two different boots - 1000 mile is more everyday/casual, RWs are more work/rugged/casual. Personally, I think more people would get more satisfaction and wear out of the 1000 mile boots than the Red Wings.
I have a pair of Redwing Beckman (Gentleman Traveler) boots and am glad I got them just before they canceled them. They have the leather lining and leather counter. I think they were discontinued because they weren't stylish enough.
I am fan of chromexcel, so I'm considering Thursday vanguard. I could accept the synthetic material to get more comfort. I like the style personally and the price is also a bit lower.
1,000 mile are better looking and should be compared to AE's Higgins Mill or some such life style boot. 1,000 Mile are on sale all the time, easier to break in, great for everyday wear any occasion. I wouldn't wear them on the factory floor or the construction site unless I picked them up for $250 or so. IMHO
Would be really cool if you turned this into a mini series where you pitted more boots against the Iron Ranger. I can think of a few you could feature, all around a similar price point and build quality. Namely the Jim Green Baobab and Truman boots. The Baobab would be especially interesting given that its over $100 cheaper and, in my opinion, built in the same ballpark of quality as the Iron Ranger.
Can’t wait to get red wings. I recently got into boots and I found a pair of wolverine 1000 for $217 and for that price it was a no brainer. But soon Ill get my wings 😈
There is a lot of talk about break in and how tough it can be. I have iron rangers and I can say that from the first step to my current use, it was not that difficult. The price of a good boot is what kept me from treating them like my combat boots. I will say I was not prepared for how comfortable the iron rangers were to me. I thought I would have to break them in like my cowboy boots and it was night and day. The iron rangers were a little stiff but I didn't feel like I was having to wear them to break in. The price is what keeps me from wearing them all the time but they are pretty comfortable to me. I used to wear an athletic sock and went to a mid length to wear them tho. That was the biggest difference.
I have both. I definitely prefer my Iron Rangers. However, when the weather gets cold, I prefer my 1000 Mile boots with V100 lug soles. Both are good. Sometimes I just feel great wearing the 1000 Mile boots and having that slightly cushy feeling.
You need to correct the price. 1000 miles are always on sale. You can write Wolverine and they will give a 20% code. That's 80 bucks off. I've never bought a pair for over $250. Also a comparison you haven't made is the Allen Edmonds Higgine Mill. Compare it to these guys. And AE is like Wolverine they do sales and I constantly pick up Higgins Mills for $300.
Brother man! You have to call out all these European name brands on their BS! There's no way just because it's a reputable old European brand with a label stamped "made in italy" or "made in france" is it worth 1200 bucks! And these boots look so cheaply made and it's crazy people are legit buying this crap for that much money just because it says GUCCI on their shoes,lol. You gotta expose these guys. And yeah, I'm sure their old vintage stuff is probably made with quality good materials.
Personally, I never liked the vibram soles on the newer Red Wing boots. Most of my Red Wing collection are the nitrile cork soled boots...LOVE THEM! The vibram soles, and I have a few of these too, feels like I'm missing a layer of something in the sole. Not that they are actually too thin, maybe, but it always feels this way to me.
I've had my 1000 Mile boots for about a year and a half. I wear them just about everyday. I've had no issue whatsoever with the sock liner. The only issue I have had is with the laces wearing out and breaking.
Wore Red Wing as work boots for many years and loved them. Never have tried Iron Rangers. Picked up a pair of Wolverines on sale for around a hundred dollars and have found them to be the most comfortable boots that I have ever worn.
I like the iron rangers because of the deeper lug. That tradition is so important for me when my partner and I are at our local brewery trying their latest ipa micro brew. Plus they go great with my selvidge denim pants they especially look nice when I cuff them half way up my calf. Throw in a flannel and my beanie and I’m ready for a night out on our beautifully culturally diverse town.
I really love the look you're talking about, and ipa's even more! The only thing that's missing for me is a pair of Iron Rangers...I hope i'll finally pull the trigger! Greetings from germany 🇩🇪⚽🍺
I got Higgins Mill seconds for the price of those 1kMiles, so I'm back-patting myself. Got a good dice roll, you'd never know there was a problem. They look fine. So, AE vs Alden
I own both and I agree, but even stronger than you do. I've now got 4 pair of Iron Rangers and just the one pair of 1000 Miles. I also did not find the 1000 Miles to be any more comfortable fresh out of the box. I got my 1000 Miles on a factory sale so they were something like 250... for that price I don't hate them, but there's NO CHANCE I would pay 400 bucks for them. Iron Ranger's for the win every day of the week!
I recently bought a pair of Iron Rangers, bit tough to brake in but now I almost use it to go to bed 😂. Thanks for your suggestions and advices Weston, if it weren't for you I'd not have discovered such an extraordinary pair of boots
Just one thing rangers are not made on Munson last. There is Munson ranger that is made on E width Munson last from my reaserched that is obvious per its perforated cap toe. Regular IR is on no8 last that is modified Munson with a bot of the rounder and more symmetrical toe box. At least from the stichdown interview about Red Wing
Another thing is that I've had good experiences with Red Wing retail locations. If you can, it's worth trying on in store - like I went about a half size down, and D->EE width, actually a narrower last on the Ranger imo. Otherwise, they're tough break in for maybe two months. had em for almost a year now and they're great
The red wings I got from a retail location ended up being miserable. Tried breaking them in for over a year. Ended up with damage to my feet and throwing away the boots. They measured my feet and insisted on the sizing. I don't think I could ever go with a boot from them again. Really made me suspect of any "heritage" style boot. Too much money for a boot that fits worse.
@@brufleth6299So in over a year, you were not able to finish breaking them in, you threw them away, and now think all "heritage" boots are a scam? How were you not able to have them broken in after more than 1 year? Also you think an entire style of boots is a scam, because you failed to break in 1 pair of boots? Do you really think a sample size of n=1 is enough to extrapolate that caliber of a conclusion?
Back in the late 80s early 90s i loved wolverine. Then they started making the top cuff so small that i couldn't get my foot to even enter the top. I switched to Red wings and still wish wolverine would make a silp on boot with normal size top cuffs so that i could at least try one on .
Make a 1000 Mile Ranger! Basically an Iron Ranger with full leather midsole, leather stacked heel, pig skin lining. Would also love to see a Canadian boot cut in half. Canada West Moorby or Dayton. Thanks for the great content!!!
I would like you to focus on an American men's footwear manufacturer: Allen Edmonds. They are based in Wisconsin, they are a classic, iconic brand in men's footwear (mostly dress shoes), and they are under new ownership and are trying to position themselves and their footwear as new and they are trying to relate to new male consumers with their new styles. Specifically, they are now making Chelsea boots, and heritage style boots, and even heritage style military boots. They do have an impressive boot lineup in their current product line, and I do think they are worth a look.
I wear an 9.5 EEE and the last time going to a Redwing store the rep told me just to get a 10 EE to wear. Lets just say I haven't been back to Redwing store in over ten years. Wolverines don't even come close to fitting.
I've had a pair of hawthorne muleskinner iron rangers for probably 10 years now, and they still look and feel amazing. they have the older IR style outsole without the mini lug pattern. I've been thinking about getting them resoled with a foam and rubber vibram hiking style outsole like on the Rose Anvil x Nicks ND3 boots. anyone know a good cobbler in SLC? @RoseAnvil ?
I saw all your boot brand cut in half. So far i can see that the Grant Stone is the best value for the money. Ignore that it's made in china. The Grant Stone boots quality is worth every $$$
Women's Redwing Moctoe vs Men's Classic Moc. We know the women's is focused on immediate comfort, but I don't know what's on the inside. My wife has the women's Redwings and she likes them, but I wonder about durability.
I cut my teeth on 'real boots' (ie. not Skechers or Walmart boots) with Wolverines. Wore them for years as a concrete cutter. Wore Thorogood safety moc-toes for years after that. Now, I wear the Iron Rangers. Frankly, they were all great boots. Nothing beats the Ranger, though. The beauty. The simplicity. The materials. They are like an Opinel for your feet.
I have both, women's boot. 1000 Mile boot is leather outsole, Iron Ranger is the mini lug sole. And I like the feel of my Iron Rangers. They also fit better than the 1000 Miles. Which the widest part of the Wolverines is slanted so it digs into the knuckle of my pinky toe and it hurts at times. I wore them in gravel, desert environment. I felt every little rock under my foot. That being said, I kinda like the Wolverine a little more. I've had them for 2 years, and wore them very often. There are no squishy spots in the sole, the stitches on the bottom are still intact and the top lift has some wear but not worn. The few months I've owned the Iron Ranger will probably last much longer before a resole. Prices: Wolverines $230 (on sale, no longer in production) Iron Rangers $349 (direct from Red Wing store, always being made)
Love the comparison of the two boots - not really the kind I like, but still very interesting. I have a RW 1907s, and once I got through the misery of breaking it in, it's like wearing socks. SO, I was glad to see RW "win." PS - I got one of your scratch-and-dent wallets and love it: and I'll be damned if I can figure out what was "wrong" with it that it ended up on sale. And for the next battle, how about White Perrys vs. RW 875s (or 1907s)?
Love my Iron Ranger 8111s, after about 8 months they fit like a glove and patina perfectly with only one condition at about month 7. Would agree on sizing down, especially since once they break in they can get sloppy and clowny. Breaking in was a solid 3 weeks of semi consistent wear and a few blisters on the heel. Well worth it, most worn shoe now
@@shakebake2680 to be honest....still too tight laterally. I've used mechanical boot stretchers AND stretch/lossening spray. Minimal improvement. Length wise is just fine. I have a pair of red wing mock toes that I've been favoring as a result. Once spring comes around I'll give the iron rangers another serious daily workout hoping they finally get comfortable.
The 1000 mile is trash tho especially the brands history? As you showcased in your cut apart video? So 1000 mile has midsole but trash fiberboard insole.... so just trash cause its a NOT smart design bwsides RED WING ALREADY HAS THE BLACKSMITHS WHICH ARE FARRRRRRRRRRRRRR BETTER THEN THE 1000M.. screw wolverine awful corporate shoe too
The 1000 mile are kool but I love my irs. When I was looking for a non- cap toe, I almost went with the k mile but wound up getting a pair of blacksmiths because I like the irs so much. I dont regret it one bit. Red wing makes a better boot. ( sorry bout the run on sentences wow)
Great review. I was on the fence about the RW Iron Ranger, but I’m pretty well convinced after this review. What are your thoughts on the Canada West W.M Moorby 2801 boot?
I’ve been wearing the Iron Rangers in an auto shop that uses very slick tile. Once the insoles “cured” to automotive chemicals, they’re excellent for slip resistance. I would love to see a focus on anti slip on these boot reviews as well. I tried the Red wing heritage moc toes, but the rubber soles aren’t anti slip enough. They’re my go to non working boots. That would make a cool review idea. Viewing boots as a pair. Boots that complement each other for a work boot then a non work book. For example, I don’t think my Moc toes are a good off day pair to my Iron rangers. The lasts are too dissimilar for my foot.
I have both. While I’ll admit the IR might be a slightly better boot, the 1K Mi is still a serious contender for casual wear. For starters, I prefer the profile/styling of the Wolverine. RA has talked about his hatred for the partial sock liner, but easily fixed by dropping in a leather insole. Cost wise, IR wins too, but also everyone has a pair of IR’s (for good reason)
I agree but also if I’m paying more for the 1k and I’m not getting that leather insole already then what are we doing here you know? In regards to style 1k has IRs beat. However the fact that for that price that it isn’t lasted with a leather insole is a cardinal sin for me lol
@@LaymensLameManAgree 100%. One thing RA fails to mention is that the website popups (while annoying) often offer a 15% discount, which makes the 1K even more attractive.
@@Pasadena_Music yeah, even then though I’d still rather give my money to RW. You’re gonna be paying a lot more on that back end getting the insole replaced with a leather one as oppose to just buying one that already has a leather insole. It all just depends on what you’re willing to pay. For the collectors and dress casuals I would understand getting the 1K. It’s a pretty boot after all. But for the heritage casuals, can’t really beat the IRs.
@@LaymensLameManFor sure. Hard to argue with the IRs being better. I love mine. If 1Ks were $320 like the more comparable RW Blacksmith, or some of the 1K "on-sale" offerings, they would probably do a bit better on these comparisons.
Thanks for the review Weston! When are you going to review Jim Green's Heritage Style boot the Baobabs? Interested in your comparison of those to the Iron Rangers.
Thank you! Great points that I'm considering while choosing to plop down a decent sum for boots. With your recommendations I'll most likely go with the Iron Ranger.
I have leather soled 1k's. For the daily wear, it's fine, but going onto smooth concrete store floors or vinyl after walking in the wet will have you wondering if you put your heelys on
Nice video! But I do think these boots have different applications and aren't really comparable. Most people acknowledge the Iron Ranger is more for light-duty work and can double as a dressy jeans boot in a pinch. Most people also acknowledge the comic, bulbous toe cap as detracting from the overall beauty. Like I said--most people. I have the exact same pair of 1000 Mile boots as in this video. If I had wanted a pair of light-duty work boots, I would've tried harder to buy a pair of Iron Rangers (my local Red Wing store has weird policies; that's why I didn't get a pair of 1907 Moc Toe boots from them, which is what I really wanted). I went with the 1000 Mile boots because I wanted a nice-looking pair of boots to wear with jeans when going out with my wife. That's their application. There's no way I would've bought a pair of Iron Rangers in that instance. However, I wore Darn Tough boot socks when I went to buy them. I don't recommend this as I ended up with a boot half a size too big once broken in. But I couldn't even get my foot into the boot that would've been my correct size while wearing those boot socks in the store. To solve this, I put one of those Red Wing insoles/foot beds in there, and they fit perfectly. I also believe those Red Wing insoles/foot beds would cover all your issues with the 1000 Mile boots--but at the cost of another ~$50. Keep up the good work on your channels. Cheers!
These are my two favorites, actually. Iron Rangers for me are incredibly comfortable. 1000 Mile boots are almost as comfortable and dress up better. It’s a tie, for me.
I don't think these are on Munson last. They don't look at all like Munson silhouette. There are a few very rare IRs built on Munson, but the standard last RW uses is No. 8 last. I've never heard of Wolverine 1000 miles using Munson (but my info is not exhaustive). I have 4 1000 miles boots and several RWs including 8111s, none are on Munson. I have a couple other boots built on Munson and these look very different.
i would love to see you break down one of my favorites.. LA Sportiva makes a work boot.. I absolutely love them. stiff, like extra stiff, supportive and again that heel cup
A lot of compromises in boots that cost over $400! I'd like to see you do a study on 6" service boots made by WWIIImpressions VS those by SM Wholesale.
I own both. I think the 1000 mile boots are about $100 more than they're worth. They are a fantastic booth, super comfortable, really good build quality, pretty good leather… They're just not worth $400 if they were somewhere around 290 to 320 it would be a great buy.
I own both and prefer the Wolverines. (I have 2 pair of Iron Rangers and 13 pair of 1000 Milers) The Wolverines fit me better, they offer many different leather choices and 3 sole choices. Never pay full price for a Wolverine. You can always find at least a 15% discount code. They often have 20% sales codes. I too am a Brannock size 10 and wear a 9.5 in both brands. I wear boots every day and I have never experienced the insole issue you mentioned.
So weird that Wolverine went with the full leather midsole and then cheaped out on the insole. I have a pair of Iron Rangers and definitely like the leather insole.
I have been tracking my miles on my Wolverines; I want to see how they look at exactly 1,000 miles of wear. I'm at 223 so far. I can't compare them to Red Wings, don't have any. But, I can compare them to Thursdays, Danners, and Kodiaks. They definitely feel durable, but they are narrower and offer less arch support than those other boots.
I didn't even realise it's not a main channel video until you mentioned it at the end. It's a great application of the information you know from analyzing the boots, it's more practical in a sense.
Before you found out the innards of the 1000 mile, you liked them a lot. I don't know about bottoming out effect. But you gave a defensible analysis. I'm finding my new Red Wing Blacksmith a surprisingly good fit and easy break in. My Wolverine BLVD's are even more cheaply made than the Red Wings, but they feel and wear great too. So the bottom line for me: great leather and design. Interesting to learn that your two boots are both the Munson last. Oh, and do you mean cotton TWILL?
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I'm about to check now, but I'd love to see this for one of the Xero Shoes boots. But if you do it, you should break your video up into two parts. The first like you're comparing it any other boot, a regular review. The second part could be about how you would improve the boot while staying with the Xero Shoes principles (wide toe box, no heel rise, thin sole, etc).
If you have your iron rangers resoled by redwing with a split sole they will add a full leather midsole. I had mine redone with the vibram roccia split sole and to me it really improved the boot overall.
That's awesome! Key info.
I can imagine! The Ranger is so hard under foot sometimes.
That’s dope because now I can get the blacksmiths and have them resoled into a makeshift beckman 😂
@@LaymensLameMan I did their full rebuild service which included ad new welt and cork and a few other things, idk if it would be different somehow with the standard resole but it was only a little more this way and got me what I wanted so it was well worth the extra $30 or $40
@kevinl4271 I certainly like the look of the split sole on midsole. If you don't mind...how long did it take to wear out your original soles (nitrile or minilug) and how much of that was on pavement? Mine are 1 1/2 years old with 10% pavement use and a resole is a good way off. Copper R+T looks fantastic. Georgia USA.
Iv had a pair of a 1000 mile boot and I have had it for 10 years now and had it resoled 3 times. I love these dang books.
The best thing about the Iron Ranger is that it doesn't have any glaring weaknesses.
I came here to comment on just that feature. I'll add it here...if I was forced to mention an improvement to the iron ranger it would to have a midsole and the relative ease of resoling.
In this particular pairing I would also add that the chromeXL will age more gracefully than a suede/rough out. Your taste may vary.
The Midsole is the only weakness, it’s just so hard underfoot sometimes.
@@93DracoX The lack thereof, it doesn't have a midsole.
I just walked though my second pair of iron rangers. Bought them brand new in May and wear them almost everyday; the front of the soles are separating from the boot. I love the iron ranger but I need something that lasts more than 4-5 months working in them 60 hours a week.
@@millenialmemoirsgo back to the store. I cannot believe they won’t fix it for free.
I wear size 13 Iron Rangers, and i love them. When i was 18, i saved up and bought a pair and have been wearing them literally every single day since (I'm 21 now). I wear em to work, wear em at the forge, fishing, hiking, yard work, renaissance fairs, literally everywhere. Theyre super comfortable, and they always look good. I get compliments on a pair of the redwing Rough Necks that i have, but the iron rangers have never done me wrong and are the best purchase i have ever made
The leather insoles in my Iron Rangers really let me feel the concrete to its fullest.
I had leather insoles 1 time.. fart noises constantly.. it’s in my review of the Thursday shoes lol.. never again do I want leather insoles.. horrible.
I own both of these boots. The Iron Rangers are the clear winner for me. The leather quality is better and the build of the boots is legendary.
Yea I think the insole roll up is more of a theoretical issue then one in practice. I have 2 pairs and neither have that issue
Great comparison, as always. I like to think that their constructions are "almost the same" but the wolverine has the padding on top of the leather but the ranger has the padding beneath the leather.
I personally like standing directly on veg tan and I like cotton lining. Both seem to help regulate the temperature of my feet.
The wolverine 1000 mile are often on sale on 3rd party websites for under $200
I have three pairs of 1000 mile boots, none have even had the leather in the foot bed roll up. One pair is almost ten years old and still going strong the leather that they use for the outsole is great as is the Horween.
I'd love to see you deconstruct a Canada West WM Moorby boot. It's basically the Canadian version of Iron Ranger/1000 Mile boot, and I love my 3 pairs. Taking a look at the teardown of a Moorby would be awesome!
I have a pair of 2816 and love them. Still in great shape after 2-3 years of hard use. Just one of pulls has stretched.
sooooo..... I watch way too many of these Rose Anvil videos while I'm supposed to be working. :) Great video!!! Love the information. Your channel is AWESOME, and your other one is AWESOME as well. I love the layer-for-layer approach. I literally can watch these all day. Thanks for doing the videos.
Man, I absolutely love the look of those Iron rangers.
Great video! Have you considered doing a series on snake boots? There's hardly any review content for snake boots and it would be cool to see what sets them apart. Boots that come to mind are Danner San Angelo, Russell Turtleskin, and the Chippewa Cutter or Brome.
Snake boots are more useful to protect against briars, ticks, and chiggers, but they're marketed as snake boots.
Both are Michigan teams so it’s all good!
I had a long day of classes yesterday and I was planning on watching this video. had my computer sitting on my chest in bed and long story short I fell asleep for an hour and a half so here we are for round two
Wolverine 1000 mile boots we’re my first real pair of “work” boots. They were literally the biggest disappointment I’ve ever had. I’m pretty sure they used leather scraps to make my boot. I had one boot that was half tan and half dark brown. I also had a crazy pain in one foot. I thought it was because it wasn’t broken in yet but after 6 months on wear, I ended up tossing them and getting some Nick’s & Allen Edmonds. Both were so much more comfortable and I didn’t have the foot pain anymore (I’m suspecting it was because one was significantly narrower than the other)
Great and thorough analysis. Thanks!
Great video thank you!!
The closer to 30 minutes the better. I find that seems to be a fair time vrs info.
Longer videos are definitely welcome i enjoy up to an hr and longer if its kept up beat
It feels like nearly a tie between these two boots, yet with an edge given to the Iron Rangers. I would add that despite Weston's reservations regarding price every time I search for bargains they're always the 1000 Mile. I have a pair in black with the full lug sole that I bought for $165.00. I regularly see pairs around $200.00. I never see Iron Rangers much below MSRP.
A local shoe store sells returns at a steep discount. Picked up Wolverines for around a hundred dollars with a promotion sale.
Does this store sell online ? If so, what’s their site
I own a pair of both, and I find myself reaching for my 1000 Milers about twice as often as my Iron Rangers. The back stay on the IRs comes up past all but my tallest (winter) socks and rubs my calf, and I just feel like the 1000Ms are more comfortable overall.
Both are good shoes though, and I don't regret the purchase of either.
I have to say that I have never experienced the half-sock liner rolling up either. I'm not saying it's never happened, but I DO think that splitting a shoe in half lengthwise with a bandsaw may make it separate more than it would during normal wear.
@@R.J._Lewis I’ve never experienced this either, but Weston called this out as a potential problem in his original 1K video and in this video he acts like it happens in every pair.
I remember him saying one of his favorite pairs of boots were limited edition 1000 Mile, and that they fit his foot perfectly. Think he was disappointed in the materials after cutting them. Had to stop liking them to stay consistent with his stance on materials, and then the liner was what he found for a reason for not liking. The liner issue may happen, but from my experience and what I've seen, is rare, at best.
Edit: Don't post comments from a phone, autocorrect is a pain 😅
I love my Red Wing Blacksmith boots. I went with them over the Iron Ranger because I'm not a fan of the cap toe.
Love my Iron Rangers but even with them the penny pinching really annoys me. Using reconstituted leather in the heal counter - come on Red Wing, how much are you saving with a couple of square inches of reconstituted leather? Do the job right and we trust the brand, start cutting corners and you’ll end up like the 1,000 Mile example.
Hey Rose Anvil! Great video as always. I love my iron rangers but I wished you would compare the Redwing blacksmiths to the 1k Mile. They are very similar in style but the blacksmiths have a slightly different build to the iron rangers.
On another note, I wished you would do a video on a pair of redwing work styles like the supersole 2.0 (style 2414) or the dynaforce (4200). As much as I like you cutting the redwing Mocs/iron rangers, I think the work styles would be more relatable for people on a pair of modern work boots!
While I really like the in-depth breakdown of individual items, I appreciate the side-by-side comparison as someone relatively new to the boot world.
Keep up the great work!
I have two pairs of 1000 miles; one of them almost 8 years. I don't have Iron Rangers, but do have 877s. For every 1 wear of the 877s, I wear a 1000 mile pair 2-3 times. Never paid more than $300 for the Wolverines because of sales (paid $330ish for the RWs). The sock liner has never been an issue for me, seems like many other boots can have the same issues that you brought up. The leather soles are amazing and highly underrated - cool, breathable, good ground feel. I've heard people say it's the last - the construction of the 1000 mile boots just fits great.
Agree about them being two different boots - 1000 mile is more everyday/casual, RWs are more work/rugged/casual. Personally, I think more people would get more satisfaction and wear out of the 1000 mile boots than the Red Wings.
Boot battle ❌
Booty Battle ✅
I have a pair of Redwing Beckman (Gentleman Traveler) boots and am glad I got them just before they canceled them. They have the leather lining and leather counter. I think they were discontinued because they weren't stylish enough.
I am fan of chromexcel, so I'm considering Thursday vanguard. I could accept the synthetic material to get more comfort. I like the style personally and the price is also a bit lower.
1,000 mile are better looking and should be compared to AE's Higgins Mill or some such life style boot. 1,000 Mile are on sale all the time, easier to break in, great for everyday wear any occasion. I wouldn't wear them on the factory floor or the construction site unless I picked them up for $250 or so. IMHO
Would be really cool if you turned this into a mini series where you pitted more boots against the Iron Ranger. I can think of a few you could feature, all around a similar price point and build quality. Namely the Jim Green Baobab and Truman boots. The Baobab would be especially interesting given that its over $100 cheaper and, in my opinion, built in the same ballpark of quality as the Iron Ranger.
B
Would love to see him go over some trumans!
-Wolverine makes better boots than Red Wing. There is a huge difference in the sole, you can see it in this video. Red Wing skimp on the sole.
I have both. I wear the 1000 miles if I’m doing much walking.
Finally the most famous brands battle here🙀🙀
Can’t wait to get red wings. I recently got into boots and I found a pair of wolverine 1000 for $217 and for that price it was a no brainer. But soon Ill get my wings 😈
There is a lot of talk about break in and how tough it can be. I have iron rangers and I can say that from the first step to my current use, it was not that difficult. The price of a good boot is what kept me from treating them like my combat boots. I will say I was not prepared for how comfortable the iron rangers were to me. I thought I would have to break them in like my cowboy boots and it was night and day. The iron rangers were a little stiff but I didn't feel like I was having to wear them to break in. The price is what keeps me from wearing them all the time but they are pretty comfortable to me. I used to wear an athletic sock and went to a mid length to wear them tho. That was the biggest difference.
I have both. I definitely prefer my Iron Rangers. However, when the weather gets cold, I prefer my 1000 Mile boots with V100 lug soles. Both are good. Sometimes I just feel great wearing the 1000 Mile boots and having that slightly cushy feeling.
You need to correct the price. 1000 miles are always on sale. You can write Wolverine and they will give a 20% code. That's 80 bucks off. I've never bought a pair for over $250.
Also a comparison you haven't made is the Allen Edmonds Higgine Mill. Compare it to these guys. And AE is like Wolverine they do sales and I constantly pick up Higgins Mills for $300.
Brother man! You have to call out all these European name brands on their BS! There's no way just because it's a reputable old European brand with a label stamped "made in italy" or "made in france" is it worth 1200 bucks! And these boots look so cheaply made and it's crazy people are legit buying this crap for that much money just because it says GUCCI on their shoes,lol. You gotta expose these guys. And yeah, I'm sure their old vintage stuff is probably made with quality good materials.
Personally, I never liked the vibram soles on the newer Red Wing boots. Most of my Red Wing collection are the nitrile cork soled boots...LOVE THEM! The vibram soles, and I have a few of these too, feels like I'm missing a layer of something in the sole. Not that they are actually too thin, maybe, but it always feels this way to me.
I've had my 1000 Mile boots for about a year and a half. I wear them just about everyday. I've had no issue whatsoever with the sock liner. The only issue I have had is with the laces wearing out and breaking.
Wore Red Wing as work boots for many years and loved them. Never have tried Iron Rangers. Picked up a pair of Wolverines on sale for around a hundred dollars and have found them to be the most comfortable boots that I have ever worn.
Would you recommend one over the other?
@@nathantran471 I have not tried Iron Rangers so can’t say
I like the iron rangers because of the deeper lug. That tradition is so important for me when my partner and I are at our local brewery trying their latest ipa micro brew. Plus they go great with my selvidge denim pants they especially look nice when I cuff them half way up my calf. Throw in a flannel and my beanie and I’m ready for a night out on our beautifully culturally diverse town.
I really love the look you're talking about, and ipa's even more! The only thing that's missing for me is a pair of Iron Rangers...I hope i'll finally pull the trigger!
Greetings from germany 🇩🇪⚽🍺
I got Higgins Mill seconds for the price of those 1kMiles, so I'm back-patting myself. Got a good dice roll, you'd never know there was a problem. They look fine.
So, AE vs Alden
I own both and I agree, but even stronger than you do. I've now got 4 pair of Iron Rangers and just the one pair of 1000 Miles. I also did not find the 1000 Miles to be any more comfortable fresh out of the box. I got my 1000 Miles on a factory sale so they were something like 250... for that price I don't hate them, but there's NO CHANCE I would pay 400 bucks for them. Iron Ranger's for the win every day of the week!
I recently bought a pair of Iron Rangers, bit tough to brake in but now I almost use it to go to bed 😂. Thanks for your suggestions and advices Weston, if it weren't for you I'd not have discovered such an extraordinary pair of boots
That cork is real hard to break in eh
I just got a pair of iron rangers. I notice quite a bit of lateral squeezing midfoot pressure. Did yours loosen up in that location?
@@---rg1gb yes same for mine, it takes time and patience but then it loosen up 👍
Got it. Thank you for the response!@@massimoschianchi7821
Just one thing rangers are not made on Munson last. There is Munson ranger that is made on E width Munson last from my reaserched that is obvious per its perforated cap toe. Regular IR is on no8 last that is modified Munson with a bot of the rounder and more symmetrical toe box. At least from the stichdown interview about Red Wing
Another thing is that I've had good experiences with Red Wing retail locations. If you can, it's worth trying on in store - like I went about a half size down, and D->EE width, actually a narrower last on the Ranger imo. Otherwise, they're tough break in for maybe two months. had em for almost a year now and they're great
The red wings I got from a retail location ended up being miserable. Tried breaking them in for over a year. Ended up with damage to my feet and throwing away the boots. They measured my feet and insisted on the sizing.
I don't think I could ever go with a boot from them again. Really made me suspect of any "heritage" style boot. Too much money for a boot that fits worse.
@@brufleth6299So in over a year, you were not able to finish breaking them in, you threw them away, and now think all "heritage" boots are a scam?
How were you not able to have them broken in after more than 1 year? Also you think an entire style of boots is a scam, because you failed to break in 1 pair of boots? Do you really think a sample size of n=1 is enough to extrapolate that caliber of a conclusion?
Wolverine seems to be a better option. You're more likely to find them heavily discounted.
I own both and prefer the wolverines just because they fit me better
Back in the late 80s early 90s i loved wolverine. Then they started making the top cuff so small that i couldn't get my foot to even enter the top. I switched to Red wings and still wish wolverine would make a silp on boot with normal size top cuffs so that i could at least try one on .
Make a 1000 Mile Ranger! Basically an Iron Ranger with full leather midsole, leather stacked heel, pig skin lining.
Would also love to see a Canadian boot cut in half. Canada West Moorby or Dayton.
Thanks for the great content!!!
Iron rangers are a great boot, can’t beat them for the price
I would like you to focus on an American men's footwear manufacturer: Allen Edmonds. They are based in Wisconsin, they are a classic, iconic brand in men's footwear (mostly dress shoes), and they are under new ownership and are trying to position themselves and their footwear as new and they are trying to relate to new male consumers with their new styles. Specifically, they are now making Chelsea boots, and heritage style boots, and even heritage style military boots. They do have an impressive boot lineup in their current product line, and I do think they are worth a look.
I wear an 9.5 EEE and the last time going to a Redwing store the rep told me just to get a 10 EE to wear. Lets just say I haven't been back to Redwing store in over ten years. Wolverines don't even come close to fitting.
It wpuld be really cool to see red wing work boots cut in half like the 2414 supersole 2.0. Thats probably the most common work boot i see on site
I agreee let’s see more work boots and less hipster boots
I've had a pair of hawthorne muleskinner iron rangers for probably 10 years now, and they still look and feel amazing. they have the older IR style outsole without the mini lug pattern. I've been thinking about getting them resoled with a foam and rubber vibram hiking style outsole like on the Rose Anvil x Nicks ND3 boots. anyone know a good cobbler in SLC? @RoseAnvil ?
I saw all your boot brand cut in half. So far i can see that the Grant Stone is the best value for the money. Ignore that it's made in china. The Grant Stone boots quality is worth every $$$
The Charley Crockett tshirt is under appreciated
What boots do you guys want to see in the next “Boot Battle”?
How about analyzing some boots from Frye? I've always been curious if they're a quality brand or just hype. Thanks for considering.
Jk 300 vs nicks
FRYE Prisoner boot, please 🙏🏻
Women's Redwing Moctoe vs Men's Classic Moc. We know the women's is focused on immediate comfort, but I don't know what's on the inside. My wife has the women's Redwings and she likes them, but I wonder about durability.
Fracap 🥾🥾
I cut my teeth on 'real boots' (ie. not Skechers or Walmart boots) with Wolverines. Wore them for years as a concrete cutter. Wore Thorogood safety moc-toes for years after that. Now, I wear the Iron Rangers. Frankly, they were all great boots. Nothing beats the Ranger, though. The beauty. The simplicity. The materials. They are like an Opinel for your feet.
Man, I would like set of Iron Rangers, but they don't make a 13EE, just 13D. As I've gotten older, I really NEED the EE.
I have both, women's boot. 1000 Mile boot is leather outsole, Iron Ranger is the mini lug sole. And I like the feel of my Iron Rangers. They also fit better than the 1000 Miles. Which the widest part of the Wolverines is slanted so it digs into the knuckle of my pinky toe and it hurts at times. I wore them in gravel, desert environment. I felt every little rock under my foot.
That being said, I kinda like the Wolverine a little more. I've had them for 2 years, and wore them very often. There are no squishy spots in the sole, the stitches on the bottom are still intact and the top lift has some wear but not worn.
The few months I've owned the Iron Ranger will probably last much longer before a resole.
Prices:
Wolverines $230 (on sale, no longer in production)
Iron Rangers $349 (direct from Red Wing store, always being made)
Love the comparison of the two boots - not really the kind I like, but still very interesting. I have a RW 1907s, and once I got through the misery of breaking it in, it's like wearing socks. SO, I was glad to see RW "win." PS - I got one of your scratch-and-dent wallets and love it: and I'll be damned if I can figure out what was "wrong" with it that it ended up on sale. And for the next battle, how about White Perrys vs. RW 875s (or 1907s)?
Love my Iron Ranger 8111s, after about 8 months they fit like a glove and patina perfectly with only one condition at about month 7. Would agree on sizing down, especially since once they break in they can get sloppy and clowny. Breaking in was a solid 3 weeks of semi consistent wear and a few blisters on the heel. Well worth it, most worn shoe now
I just got a pair of iron rangers. I notice quite a bit of lateral squeezing midfoot pressure. Did yours loosen up in that location?
@@---rg1gbyes they do. How’s your coming along?
@@shakebake2680 to be honest....still too tight laterally. I've used mechanical boot stretchers AND stretch/lossening spray. Minimal improvement. Length wise is just fine. I have a pair of red wing mock toes that I've been favoring as a result. Once spring comes around I'll give the iron rangers another serious daily workout hoping they finally get comfortable.
Better comparison would be a red wing blacksmith against a 1000 mile
I shure would like to see a comparison between Franks $350 patriot against Drews $350 10" logger.
The 1000 mile is trash tho especially the brands history? As you showcased in your cut apart video?
So 1000 mile has midsole but trash fiberboard insole.... so just trash cause its a NOT smart design
bwsides RED WING ALREADY HAS THE BLACKSMITHS WHICH ARE FARRRRRRRRRRRRRR BETTER THEN THE 1000M.. screw wolverine awful corporate shoe too
The 1000 mile are kool but I love my irs. When I was looking for a non- cap toe, I almost went with the k mile but wound up getting a pair of blacksmiths because I like the irs so much. I dont regret it one bit. Red wing makes a better boot. ( sorry bout the run on sentences wow)
The winner is and will always be Vibram! Hahahaha!
Great review.
I was on the fence about the RW Iron Ranger, but I’m pretty well convinced after this review.
What are your thoughts on the Canada West W.M Moorby 2801 boot?
I’ve been wearing the Iron Rangers in an auto shop that uses very slick tile. Once the insoles “cured” to automotive chemicals, they’re excellent for slip resistance. I would love to see a focus on anti slip on these boot reviews as well. I tried the Red wing heritage moc toes, but the rubber soles aren’t anti slip enough. They’re my go to non working boots.
That would make a cool review idea. Viewing boots as a pair. Boots that complement each other for a work boot then a non work book. For example, I don’t think my Moc toes are a good off day pair to my Iron rangers. The lasts are too dissimilar for my foot.
I have both. While I’ll admit the IR might be a slightly better boot, the 1K Mi is still a serious contender for casual wear. For starters, I prefer the profile/styling of the Wolverine. RA has talked about his hatred for the partial sock liner, but easily fixed by dropping in a leather insole. Cost wise, IR wins too, but also everyone has a pair of IR’s (for good reason)
I agree but also if I’m paying more for the 1k and I’m not getting that leather insole already then what are we doing here you know? In regards to style 1k has IRs beat. However the fact that for that price that it isn’t lasted with a leather insole is a cardinal sin for me lol
@@LaymensLameManAgree 100%. One thing RA fails to mention is that the website popups (while annoying) often offer a 15% discount, which makes the 1K even more attractive.
@@Pasadena_Music yeah, even then though I’d still rather give my money to RW. You’re gonna be paying a lot more on that back end getting the insole replaced with a leather one as oppose to just buying one that already has a leather insole. It all just depends on what you’re willing to pay. For the collectors and dress casuals I would understand getting the 1K. It’s a pretty boot after all. But for the heritage casuals, can’t really beat the IRs.
@@LaymensLameManFor sure. Hard to argue with the IRs being better. I love mine. If 1Ks were $320 like the more comparable RW Blacksmith, or some of the 1K "on-sale" offerings, they would probably do a bit better on these comparisons.
@@Pasadena_Musichello, fun fact, red wing offers a 15% discount to any union worker, so your 350 is more like 300.
No shoes are worth $100 let along $300-$600. If you’re paying that much for shoes you have more money than brains and you’ll eventually lose it all
Thanks for the review Weston! When are you going to review Jim Green's Heritage Style boot the Baobabs? Interested in your comparison of those to the Iron Rangers.
Danner super Rain Forests.. made in America with American products.. Alico
Thank you! Great points that I'm considering while choosing to plop down a decent sum for boots. With your recommendations I'll most likely go with the Iron Ranger.
I have leather soled 1k's. For the daily wear, it's fine, but going onto smooth concrete store floors or vinyl after walking in the wet will have you wondering if you put your heelys on
Nice video! But I do think these boots have different applications and aren't really comparable. Most people acknowledge the Iron Ranger is more for light-duty work and can double as a dressy jeans boot in a pinch. Most people also acknowledge the comic, bulbous toe cap as detracting from the overall beauty. Like I said--most people.
I have the exact same pair of 1000 Mile boots as in this video. If I had wanted a pair of light-duty work boots, I would've tried harder to buy a pair of Iron Rangers (my local Red Wing store has weird policies; that's why I didn't get a pair of 1907 Moc Toe boots from them, which is what I really wanted). I went with the 1000 Mile boots because I wanted a nice-looking pair of boots to wear with jeans when going out with my wife. That's their application. There's no way I would've bought a pair of Iron Rangers in that instance.
However, I wore Darn Tough boot socks when I went to buy them. I don't recommend this as I ended up with a boot half a size too big once broken in. But I couldn't even get my foot into the boot that would've been my correct size while wearing those boot socks in the store. To solve this, I put one of those Red Wing insoles/foot beds in there, and they fit perfectly. I also believe those Red Wing insoles/foot beds would cover all your issues with the 1000 Mile boots--but at the cost of another ~$50.
Keep up the good work on your channels. Cheers!
Wolverine - doesn’t come in wide sizes. Iron rangers qc is horrible. Nicks / whites for me.
These are my two favorites, actually. Iron Rangers for me are incredibly comfortable. 1000 Mile boots are almost as comfortable and dress up better. It’s a tie, for me.
Hey Weston, great video! I would love to see a cut-in-half comparison video for the Red Wing 877 vs Red Wing 10877!
Are they both really on a Munson last, or is it just a similar type last?
I don't think these are on Munson last. They don't look at all like Munson silhouette. There are a few very rare IRs built on Munson, but the standard last RW uses is No. 8 last. I've never heard of Wolverine 1000 miles using Munson (but my info is not exhaustive).
I have 4 1000 miles boots and several RWs including 8111s, none are on Munson. I have a couple other boots built on Munson and these look very different.
Both boots could have made their boot a bit better. Which do I like the look more? The 1000 miles,
i would love to see you break down one of my favorites.. LA Sportiva makes a work boot.. I absolutely love them. stiff, like extra stiff, supportive and again that heel cup
A lot of compromises in boots that cost over $400!
I'd like to see you do a study on 6" service boots made by WWIIImpressions VS those by SM Wholesale.
Can you review the Red Wing 2406? The sole is a key feature for longevity.
Honestly, I think a better comparison would be the Red Wing Blacksmith boot, as it is the same style as the 1k miles.
Only thing I don't like about Iron Ranger. The top is not rolled, bite into my leg a little. Simple roll at top would be great.
I own both. I think the 1000 mile boots are about $100 more than they're worth. They are a fantastic booth, super comfortable, really good build quality, pretty good leather… They're just not worth $400 if they were somewhere around 290 to 320 it would be a great buy.
Amazon has them for $243. Been that way for awhile. At that price I would consider them if I didn't already have a pair of Iron Rangers.
If you keep an eye on sales, you can get them for much less than the listed price. I have 2 pair and paid less than $300 both times.
I wish the iron ranger would bring back the slate color in EE width
I own both and prefer the Wolverines. (I have 2 pair of Iron Rangers and 13 pair of 1000 Milers) The Wolverines fit me better, they offer many different leather choices and 3 sole choices. Never pay full price for a Wolverine. You can always find at least a 15% discount code. They often have 20% sales codes. I too am a Brannock size 10 and wear a 9.5 in both brands. I wear boots every day and I have never experienced the insole issue you mentioned.
Ya stating the full price almost feels disingenuous cuz of how often they're on sale. How AE Higgins Mills, have any?
@@SeeveJo Yes I have the Higgins Mills, they are good boots and very comfortable. I didn't size-down on them.
Why have you gone through so many pairs of 1000 Milers?
@@j_taylor I haven't "gone through" any of them. I wear all of them in rotation.
13 pairs! That's a lot of cocaine and hookers.
Please do a review of churches or Cheney's
I prefer the look of the 1000 Mile which sent me looking at the Blacksmith. So here I am wearing Jim Greens.
So weird that Wolverine went with the full leather midsole and then cheaped out on the insole. I have a pair of Iron Rangers and definitely like the leather insole.
I have been tracking my miles on my Wolverines; I want to see how they look at exactly 1,000 miles of wear. I'm at 223 so far. I can't compare them to Red Wings, don't have any. But, I can compare them to Thursdays, Danners, and Kodiaks. They definitely feel durable, but they are narrower and offer less arch support than those other boots.
I didn't even realise it's not a main channel video until you mentioned it at the end. It's a great application of the information you know from analyzing the boots, it's more practical in a sense.
Frye prisoner boot cut in half, please
No width sizes other then D for Wolverine, so no go for me.
Before you found out the innards of the 1000 mile, you liked them a lot. I don't know about bottoming out effect. But you gave a defensible analysis. I'm finding my new Red Wing Blacksmith a surprisingly good fit and easy break in. My Wolverine BLVD's are even more cheaply made than the Red Wings, but they feel and wear great too. So the bottom line for me: great leather and design. Interesting to learn that your two boots are both the Munson last. Oh, and do you mean cotton TWILL?
Cotton drill is correct. Drill is a type of twill with a less uni-directional weave. Canvas can be made in either weave.