Wolverine

Wolverine was founded in 1883 by G.A. Krause as a small leather tannery with a handful of employees in Rockford, Michigan. With relentless craftsmanship, the Michigan company produced work boots and gloves famous for comfort and toughness. By 1903, Krause and his sons were producing 300 boots a day in their new factory. That same year, their thriving business brought electricity to Rockford, Michigan, which remains their home today.

In 1908, the Krauses built the Wolverine tannery and began supplying their shoe factory with horsehide. In 1910, the company opened its own tannery on Main Street in Rockford, Michigan, making full use of the recently developed chrome tanning process. Horsehide was the primary product of the tannery for over 45 years, with workers appreciating its soft yet durable characteristics.

In 1914, the Wolverine brand name was chosen for shoes made of Wolverine horsehide leather. The company continued to grow through the 20th century, and in 1964 changed its name to Wolverine World Wide, Inc. In 1965, the company became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, marking its transition from a regional family business to a global corporation.

The Original 1000 Mile boot was first introduced in the 1910s and named because it offered 1000 miles of wear. Workers loved its soft, long-lasting shell horsehide leather, which made it ideal for farmers and workers in the logging industry. The boot gained its reputation through practical use in demanding work environments across the northern states.

The 1000 Mile line includes several variants: the 1000 Mile Cap-Toe Boot, 1000 Mile Moc-Toe Boot, 1000 Mile Evans Boot, and 1000 Mile Krause.

While the original 1000 Mile boots used shell horsehide leather, the current production has evolved to use full-grain Chromexcel leather from the Horween tannery in Chicago. This change reflects both material availability and continued commitment to premium leather sourcing from established American suppliers.

Wolverine heritage boots use Goodyear welt construction, which allows boots to be resoled for years of wear. The construction includes a fiberboard insole with cork filling in the welt cavity and a fiberglass shank for support. The heritage line features 270-degree Goodyear welt construction, where the stitching runs around the perimeter but disappears under the heel.

Current Wolverine heritage boots feature premium leather sourced from Horween Leather Company in Chicago, Illinois. The construction includes classic leather outsoles with Vibram heels from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and flat waxed cotton laces from Landrum, South Carolina. This approach emphasizes American manufacturing and sourcing for the heritage line.

Heritage boots are handcrafted in the United States, specifically in Michigan, supporting American workers and manufacturing traditions. The broader Wolverine World Wide corporation operates manufacturing plants in the United States, China, Mexico, Guatemala, Bangladesh, the Dominican Republic, and Vietnam, maintaining stringent quality control procedures across all locations to ensure durability, comfort, and performance standards.

Wolverine boots typically run half a size larger than standard sneakers, with sizing comparable to other heritage boot brands including Red Wing, Thursday, and Timberland. The 1000 Mile and BLVD collections feature non-removable insoles and offer plenty of room in the toe area. Standard boots come in D width, with some models offering 3E width options for wider feet.