Wolverine 1000 Mile – Our Favorite Editions of the Iconic Work Boot (and More)

Trust is a funny turn of phrase to throw around when it comes to shopping for rugged leather boots, is it not? Well, when you really step back and think about it, it actually makes a ton of sense. Shopping the crowded boot market is all about trust, in fact. It’s about sifting through the have’s and the have-not’s, the brands that you know you can rely on and the brands built on flash, show and styles that chase trends without standing the test of time. One brand that stands the test of time in our book? Wolverine, hands-down and no questions asked (if you do have questions, please hold them until the end). In fact, the Wolverine 1000 Mile boots, as you’ll find out, are some of the most-loved boots on the market. They’re just one reason to check out this exceptional company.

We might be waxing poetic but hey, the right pair of leather boots, like Wolverine leather boots, can wax poetic in their own way. Don’t believe us? Well, when sorting through what we mentioned is an overcrowded market for leather boots, you want a pair of boots you can wear day in and day out as you build your own stories from coast to coast. For that, you need boots you can trust, boots built to last and boots that you don’t have to worry about. That means boots that won’t break a lace, or develop a hole, or wear down way too quickly. And that, my friends, is why you need work boots from Wolverine.

See, trust is crucial, and you need a brand, like the fine, Michigan-based folks at Wolverine, that you can believe in. You need to know the brand making your boots isn’t out to make a quick buck — they’re out to make boots the right way, with richly crafted leathers, sturdy stitching and durable sole construction. If you’re anything like us, you know that boots need to serve multiple purposes, be it grueling days on the job site or more laidback times hiking, camping, brewing beer (yes, brewing beer!) or better still, imbibing your favorite whiskey.

Wolverine’s heritage is actually uniquely suited to all of those pursuits, given the brand’s proximity to Beer City U.S.A (that’d be Grand Rapids, a point of pride for Pure Michigan). Throw in the fact that the harsh winters in the Mitten State (and the tough climate of fall and spring) lends itself quite well to a pair of durable leather boots, and you’ve got your new favorite bootmaker (and much more).

In fact, it’s also even cooler that Wolverine has both recognized its heritage and decided to embrace the future. The brand still does quite the job making Wolverine 1000 Mile boots and plenty of durable leather boots that are ready for the toughest jobs and the toughest conditions, but they’ve also started making slimmed-down sneakers, cool-as-heck dress boots and the like, all the better to outfit your footwear rotation solely with the best Wolverine boots and sneakers on the planet. No one makes ’em like Wolverine, and one trial run will certainly prove that much.

The fact that many Wolverine boots can be resoled (stay tuned for more on that) is also a major bonus. The more you wear Wolverine boots, the better they get, and then, the process continues (in the best way possible).

After all, boots are made for action, they’re made for getting things done and they’re certainly not meant to be kept in the box or coddled. Wolverine boots, then are the best leather boots you can buy for every single darn thing on your list. But before you lace ’em up, you’ve got to know what to look for when shopping for Wolverine 1000 Mile boots (and more from the heritage brand).

How to Buy Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots (and more)

  • Know your size: Wolverine 1000 Mile boots are not only a sight to behold in terms of style points, they’re also a pair of boots made to be worn to plenty of places where only the hardest-wearing gear will do. That’s where the proper fit comes into play. Wolverine boots tend to run larger, so size down at least a half-size (and perhaps a full size if you need to wear particularly thick socks). Reason being, although boots will feel more snug a half-size smaller at first, the leather will stretch and wear over time, breaking in and molding to your foot.
  • Know your leather: This goes for Wolverine’s surprisingly stylish sneakers as well as its rugged leather work boots, but many Wolverine boots are made with simply beautiful and rich Horween leather out of Chicago (especially the Wolverine 1000 Mile boots). Wolverine’s job site-approved work boots are often waterproof or designed to defend against shocks, but its 1000 Mile boots aren’t quite shock-resistant or made to stand up to incredibly heavy rain or snow. That being said, you can still wear the crap out of ’em.
  • Know your style: We mentioned that Wolverine makes a wide variety of boots and sneakers, including its more refined and dressier Wolverine BLVD collection of sleek boots and classic men’s sneakers. If we had it our way, we’d be able to pick up multiple pairs of 1000 Mile boots, plus the BLVD boots, plus some sneakers for casual style, and then we’d be able to do it all over again. If that sounds like the best way to upgrade your footwear rotation, go for it.

Keep these considerations in mind, find the pair or pairs that work for you and again, wear the absolute heck out of them every single day. They’re built to last, they can take it and they’ll only get better with age. Oh, and without further ado, here are our favorites.

Our Favorite Wolverine Boots to Buy Right Now

Wolverine Original 1000 Mile Boots

Wolverine Original 1000 Mile Boots

It wouldn’t be a post on the best boots to buy from Wolverine without starting things the right way, of course. The Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots are practically legendary in our book, crafted with the aforementioned Horween leather (a favorite out of Chicago), plus a Goodyear™ welt  — this means the boot can be resoled once you’ve worn them over and over (and over). Pick from some rugged, stylish colors in shades of black or brown, and know that they’ll only get better with age.

Wolverine 1000 Mile Wedge Boots

Wolverine 1000 Mile Wedge Boots

If you can’t get enough of Wolverine work boots in the famed 1000 Mile silhouette, you’re assuredly in luck, because Wolverine is here to save the day with these dependable wedge boots. The Wedge Boot style is a new addition as of last fall, made to provide more comfort and a springy step. That makes these the rare pair of lightweight boots you can wear in the spring and summer with light wash denim, and it helps that the durable Essex leather also hails from Horween (this is a different variety than the leather found in the original 100 Mile boots). Either way, the quality is top-notch.

Wolverine Dragon’s Milk 1000 Mile Boots

Wolverine Dragon’s Milk 1000 Mile Boots

We told you that Wolverine boots were best paired with the pursuits found in the brand’s home state of Michigan, so it’s fitting that Wolverine worked with famed West Michigan brewer New Holland on an update of the 1000 Mile Boots. The collaboration pays homage to the excellent and incredibly well-balanced Dragon’s Milk Stout produced by New Holland, the best-selling stout in the country. The resulting boots are nothing short of a sight to behold. Get your hands on them, then wear ’em to the brewery with pride the next time you find yourself in Michigan.

Wolverine BLVD Cap Toe Boots

Wolverine BLVD Cap Toe Boots

If you want to step up your footwear game in a way that’s dressy but ever-so-slightly rugged, look for a pair of durable Wolverine boots that you can wear with selvedge denim or with a winter suit. That pair of boots, my friends, would be the excellent Wolverine BLVD Cap Toe Boots, made with a burnished leather in a slimmed-down silhouette. You can wear these with indigo jeans and a henley as readily as you can team them with a wool suit come fall and winter. Oh, and take it from this author: These are about as comfortable as dress boots get.

Wolverine BLVD Low Sneakers

Wolverine BLVD Low Sneakers

If you thought you were going to have to switch to rocking boots 24/7 (actually, a style move we can get behind), well, think again. Wolverine’s BLVD line also includes some surprisingly sleek and well-made leather sneakers, a nice alternative when you wan to give your rugged leather boots a break. You see, we love Wolverine 100 Mile boots, but it pays off to have some versatile sneakers in your rotation.

Wolverine BLVD Chelsea Boots

Wolverine BLVD Chelsea Boots

You see, Wolverine is so much more than just the Wolverine 1000 Mile boots, and as much as we dig those iconic boots, we’re all about having a wide variety of boot styles on hand at any given moment. For all those times you want to channel a bit of rock n’roll energy, step out in some sharp black leather Chelsea boots from Wolverine. You’ll be glad you did.

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Beau Hayhoe
Beau is Brooklyn-based style and lifestyle writer. He covers menswear, gear, spirits, craft beer and music. When not writing, Beau can be found shopping for vinyl or sipping on a Brooklyn beer.