Original Chippewa vs Red Wing boots

Both Red Wing and Chippewa offer great quality boots and share some similarities. But here we are going to point out the main differences so you can make a more informed boot buying decision.

Differences in leather: One thing to note when choosing a new pair of boots is what kind of leather each brand features on their uppers. Red Wing uses S.B. Tanning leather on their boots while Chippewa uses Horween leather. Both of these leathers are manufactured in the USA and are high quality leathers. On the Beckham boot however, Red Wing uses a more “dressy” leather that can be found in dress shoes. Chippewa uses a rougher leather that is more on par with work boots.

Red Wing vs Chippewa : Made in USA Both brands manufacture their boots in the USA. Chippewa boots however are made in the USA from imported materials, namely their Vibram soles that are made in Italy. This does not necessarily mean a lower quality boot as their boots are each handcrafted by American workers.

Different soles: The soles on the Red Wing Beckham are lugged to handle tougher weather conditions but some Red Wing Iron Ranger models come with smoother cork soles that are not ideal for wet or snowy conditions. With Chippewa boots you will get thick Vibram soles that are usually lugged. These Vibram soles do much better in inclement weather and is something to keep in mind if you plan on wearing your boots in the winter months.

Conclusion: We at FindYourBoots do believe that you shouldn’t skimp on a great pair of boots. And we encourage everyone in the market for a new pair of boots to purchase the best quality they can afford. So just to keep it honest we will say that some of the boots on this list will not be as good quality as authentic Red Wing heritage boots: You just can’t beat the quality leather, handcrafted build, and overall quality that comes from a Made in USA Red Wing Heritage boot. But we’ve done our best to recommend the best quality cheaper alternatives to Red Wing boots that we could find.