Red Wing Shoes is, simply, the most iconic American bootmaker. Since 1905, Red Wing has produced its boots within the United States and maintains to supply top-notch great. But in case you’re looking to buy a stylish and durable pair of work boots, the Minnesota-primarily based bootmaker isn’t the only name inside the Midwestern footwear game. Thorogood, a Wisconsin-based totally paintings boot producer, has been turning in quality footwear for 125 years.
Like Red Wing, Thorogood continues to fabricate its work boots within the United States, and their boots surely run at a greater budget-friendly charge than Red Wings’. But the logo has flown in large part under the radar for the informal purchaser. Perhaps their continued awareness on the workwear market puts them out of the limelight. So what’s the deal with Thorogood? Here are a few thoughts at the footwear, primarily based on arms-on (or uh, toes-on) testing.
What We Like About Thorogood Boots
While I don’t personal a pair of Red Wings for direct evaluation, I can hopefully say that Thorogood boots are relaxed, fashionable and sturdy, and a worthwhile purchase for every body searching for paintings boots.
Thorogood makes quite some exceptional varieties of boots, and the shoes I’ve owned for the beyond three or four years are the apparent-toe 6″ boots with out a metallic-toe. If you’re more of a moc-toe fanatic, the obvious-toe boots are similar to Thorogood’s 6″ moc-feet.
I can’t say for certain what number of miles I’ve put on them, and whilst I’ve genuinely no longer worn them each day or placed them via working situations, Thorogood boots are greater than durable enough for the informal boot wearer. Does my pair appearance kinda beat up now? Yeah, but they’re paintings boots; scuffs and signs of damage are part of the enchantment.
Many work boots are stiff and have a long smash-in period. But Thorogood’s boots are very at ease. The collar is cushioned to help the ankle, even as the heel counter is dependent in a manner that conforms to the natural shape of the foot. The leather is soft but sturdy, and the boots are fairly breathable. The toe box is relaxed and roomy as nicely. I can’t speak to the brand new smash-in period, because I really bought my Thorogood Boots 2d-hand. But at least in phrases of breaking them in to suit my feet, it changed into a painless procedure.
Thorogood’s boots have a wedge sole that’s made from polyurethane and is called their MaxWear wedge. It’s oil- and slip-resistant, which means you could simply walk on any type of ground, moist or dry, without worrying about slipping. And even as I’ve by no means attempted to wear them on a device keep ground, the slip-resistance has come in handy in wet climate. Unsurprisingly, after years of wear, the backs of the soles have worn down incredibly. But they’re still a protracted way far from wanting to be replaced.
The soles are attached to the shoes using a Goodyear storm-welt. As the name suggests, a storm-welt enables keep water from coming into the shoes. The key element that sets a Goodyear-welted shoe apart from other forms of soles is that they can be re-soled. That manner that after the wedge sole absolutely wears out, a skilled cobbler could be able to sew a brand new sole onto the footwear. It’s no longer a reasonably-priced system, however it’s drastically much less highly-priced (and wasteful) than just chucking your used shoes.
Thorogood’s 6″ moc-toe and simple-toe boots have seven eyelets. The three lowest ones are conventional punched eyelets, even as the center three are hooked eyelets, also known as pace hooks. The top is a punched eyelet, which you’re not going to use. The 3 velocity hooks make it very easy to lace and unlace these boots. Plus, the sturdy leather-based pull tab adds an extra layer of comfort while pulling the boots on. The uppers are made from oil-tanned leather-based and the internal has a cotton drill lining. A fiberglass shank helps the shoe preserve its form. A Poron cushioned insole is blanketed with Thorogood’s boots.
What We Don’t Like About The Thorogood Boots
In phrases of appears, Red Wing’s boots have a style side. The greater stitching alongside the leather-based higher on the Thorogood boots arguably detracts from the smooth look seen on Red Wing’s boots. Thorogood’s ordinary boots also are now not water resistant, despite the fact that Thorogood does promote waterproof versions of its famous boots. Thorogood’s boots are chrome-tanned, instead of vegetable-tanned, that’s a mark against it for leather purists. Also unsurprisingly, the white wedge soles will entice a good buy of dust; they gained’t live smooth and white for terribly lengthy. Like loads of fellows’s boots, those generally tend to run slightly huge. I’m typically a 10.5, but my Thorogood’s are a length 10. It’s a reasonably minor gripe, however it’s something to be aware of.
The Verdict
Thorogood’s boots are union-made within the United States and tend to run more or less $40 to $60 much less than Red Wing boots. The footwear have lasted me years, on top of however many miles the preceding owner put on them. The leather uppers are tender and flexible, whilst the MaxWear wedge sole offers help and balance. If you’re seeking out American-made boots and need consolation, style and pleasant, Thorogood have to be in your radar and to your shopping cart.