Wolverine 1000 Mile Boot Review

[MarioImpemba]

Happy holidays from my winter beaters

Dang, Courtlands look a lot cooler than I thought.

 

[tricky]

Sorry if this has been posted but just a PSA...ordered Wolverine 1000 miles for 300 Canadian from shoe.me

http://www.shoeme.ca/collections/wolverine-1000-mile

 

[SP1259]

...

Thought I should post this here as well since I put it on Reddit a couple days ago:
I recently picked up a pair of Wolvering 1000 Mile Centennial boots in tan during Bloomingdale's tiered sale event. Given that I regularly mine reddit, styleforum, etc to research purchases before I buy things, I figured this may help someone as well.



Sizing
I wear an 8D in most dress shoes (majority of my collection being Allen Edmonds), and my Allen Edmonds boots are in 8D as well. The Original Chippewas I briefly had in my possession were in 8D, which were probably a full size bigger than what would have fit me in thick thick socks (no 7 or 7.5 was available at the time). I ordered these 1000 Mile in both 7D and 7.5D based on sizing recommendations for other 1000 Mile boots. I had heard that the Centennial version was built on a different last than the regular 1000 Mile, but I haven't found an official confirmation as such.
Putting the 7.5D on I was initially a bit worried they were too small. The width was fine, but I have a high instep and felt the tongue squeezing me a bit. After I loosened the laces a bit they felt much better (wearing medium weight socks). Walking there is a touch of heel slip, and the flex point seems to line up well w/ the wide point of the boot.

Color
Wolverine's tan bison is fairly close to what other shoemakers may call walnut. The pictures are all taken in daylight without flash, as well as white balance corrected to my screen. To me, there aren't a lot of traditional boot colors that aren't beautiful. You can judge for yourself, but I like it. Especially for a casual boot the tan works beautifully.

Quality/Construction
This is my first pair of grained leather boots/shoes, the rest being smooth calf - and certainly my first experience with bison/buffalo. It is quite a bit more pliable and soft in hand out of the box than my AE calfskin shoes/boots. Thickness of the leather is on par with my AE's. On the medial side of the R boot, you can also see some slight natural creasing that you can't make out on most at most angles. There is a heel pad of bison leather as well.
Stitching is generally good, though I'd say not as meticulous as my AE's. The welt stitching is pretty even, and there are a lot of lines that are double or triple stitched. There are several loose ends at random points, which shouldn't affect the boot structurally, but obviously are not ideal. On a dressier boot it would annoy me. As it is, I don't really care but it should be mentioned.
The sole is butyl with a rubber heel. Personally, I think it would have been more fitting to put a mini lug on the whole thing or a dainite sole, but that is a question of style more than what is right or wrong.

Overall impressions
The 1000 Mile boot, in its range of styles, is one of the most discussed and ubiquitous boots in the mid-tier menswear world. This version of it is a nice twist on the original tried-and-true model. The boot, like its standard model, gives off a rugged but dressed-up vibe that works well. One particular issue that affects me having smaller sized feet is that it tends to make shoes look stubbier, especially when under the cuff. Given that work-inspired boots tend to have a more bulbous style toe, this combination can often kill the entire look for me. Luckily, the 1000 Mile has a surprisingly svelte toe box, and cuts a good line in profile and from above. Compared to Original Chippewa boots I tried on, the toe box on the 1000 Mile has a much better shape.
They are listed at $400, which I would not have paid for them. At a discount (of which I paid about half), I'm very pleased with them, despite the minor issues as noted above. Hope this will be helpful to some, as the other 1000 Mile Centennial review was to me as well.




Thanks for this post. It actually convinced me to go with the Buffalo Tan, which I hope looks as it does in your pics vs some of the images I've seen elsewhere that make it look much more yellowish.

 

[d4nimal]

No problem, glad it was of use to you.

 

[Bronson15]

Nordstrom has the McClean on sale again. $237.85 for cap toe 1000 Miles, and I happen to like the open-lacing pattern much more than the $380 Rockfords.

Not that these aren't worth it, but it kinda stings seeing sales like this when you paid full price.

With nice boots (1k, Alden, AE) are there usually crazy sales? I'll be more informed on prices whenever I pick up another pair.

 

[jon4rd]



Not that these aren't worth it, but it kinda stings seeing sales like this when you paid full price.

With nice boots (1k, Alden, AE) are there usually crazy sales? I'll be more informed on prices whenever I pick up another pair.

There are always sales on AE and 1ks. Just have to be on the lookout for them. Not too sure about sales on Alden's maybe someone else could chime in

 

[thefastlife]



Not that these aren't worth it, but it kinda stings seeing sales like this when you paid full price.

With nice boots (1k, Alden, AE) are there usually crazy sales? I'll be more informed on prices whenever I pick up another pair.

i just got 1k's (firsts) for $160 shipped.

 

[FatTuesday]

i just got 1k's (firsts) for $160 shipped.

share please. Where & how?

 

[thefastlife]



share please.  Where & how?

lucked out on an incredible sale

 

[Mead]

The tan centenials are nice, I like the fact that they are lined. I think the regular 1000 mile should be avalaible in a lined version and a rubber sole version.

 

[pojosamaneo]

Quick question, I'm about to leave to do some shopping...where can I try on 1000 mile boots? I hate buying multiple sizes online and returning the ones that don't fit (seems like such a waste), so I'd like to try on some in-store.

I live in Louisiana if that helps, but I'm thinking bigger stores.

 

[jon4rd]

Nordstroms

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]



i just got 1k's (firsts) for $160 shipped.

share please.  Where & how?

lucked out on an incredible sale

I believe when he asked you to share he meant the store you purchased them from

 

[thefastlife]



I believe when he asked you to share he meant the store you purchased them from

Steven Alan website

 

[thefastlife]

andddd they just arrived

http://imgur.com/a/OoQOI#LJdoUv7