Aren’t Wolverine Raiders impressive? Yes, we are somewhat bound to wear an ugly pair at work. Coming with a ton of features- these boots, shoes and wellingtons are anything but ugly. These are among the best ones as well!
Wolverine is around us since 1883 which is a pretty long time for cobbling. Manufacturers do not survive that long, and once they do, they make a difference. Wolverine has been gaining trust for generations, and they are maintaining the pace. Let us break down the secrets behind Raider boots:
Contents
- 1 Types of Wolverine Raider
- 2 In-depth Review and Analysis of Wolverine Raider Boots and Shoes
- 2.1 Remarks & Suggestions
- 2.2 Better for
- 2.3 User, Expert and Trade Recognition
- 2.4 Price vs. Durability
- 2.5 Comfort
- 2.6 Water, Chemical and Spill Proof
- 2.7 Slip Resistance
- 2.8 Toe Box and Safety
- 2.9 Break-in Time and Fitting
- 2.10 Electrical Hazard
- 2.11 Stylish and Presentable
- 2.12 Breathable and Insulation
- 2.13 Leather, Upper, Lace and Heel
- 2.14 Tongue, Collar and Weight
- 2.15 Insole, Midsole, Shank and Arch Support
- 2.16 Outsole, Construction and Sewing
- 2.17 Anti-odor and Cleanable
- 2.18 Warranty, Return and Post Purchase Service Policy
- 2.19 Brand Faith
- 2.20 Special and Uncommon Features
- 2.21 Cons
- 2.22 Editor’s Boost
- 2.23 Close Alternatives
Types of Wolverine Raider
There are 10 variants.
CarbonMax Safety Toe, EH (the best one)
CarbonMax or carbon nano toe is cutting edge technology, but there’s more on them:
Wolverine Men’s Raider GTX 6″ Work Boot
Steel Toe, EH
6″ Steel-Toe EH Raider Work Boot (W02420)
Amazon’s choice. Excellent fitting report. Satisfactory ratings. 95% 5 stars in 2019.
8″ Steel-Toe EH Raider Work Boot (W02423)
Stunning fitting statement.
Romeo Steel-Toe EH Raider Twin-Gore Work Boot (W02410)
Work Shoe Raider Steel-Toe EH (W04816)
10″ Wellington Steel-Toe EH Raider Work Boot (W02427)
Soft Toe
6″ Raider Work Boot (W02421)
Amazon’s choice. Satisfied buyers. High fitting rate.
8″ Raider Work Boot (W02425)
High ratings, proper fitting.
Raider Work Shoe (W04818)
Amazon’s choice.
10″ Wellington Raider Work Boot
As you know, we review all the boots in a classic manner here at ShoeAsk.com so that you can pick up the best one suiting your job needs.
In-depth Review and Analysis of Wolverine Raider Boots and Shoes
ShoeAsk Points: 98 out of 100
Editorial Recommendation: Very High, editor’s choice
Remarks & Suggestions
Established in Rockford, Michigan in 1883, now being made in China, Raider boots are fantastic. You can rely on them.
Better for
People wear them in sectors like manufacturing, construction, oil, automobile industry, etc. ContourWelt is flexible enough for jobs that require assembly, climbing, and bending:
User, Expert and Trade Recognition
Points 5/5
“Yes, hands down one of the best pair of work boots ever owned.”
People use them from concrete to mud fields, and they find the boots sturdy (obviously! These are not made for mud.) As Wolverine is around for over a century, people recognize these whether they are workmen, shoe specialists, podiatrists, pedorthists or boot sellers.
“I have never had a problem. Worn several pairs for 7 years.”
Our article on choosing and caring explains it well.
Price vs. Durability
Points 5/5
Craftsmen earn money the hard way. There is no way to throw the money for pricey fancy stuff. If you spend for a pair, you pay it so that they can serve you for the maximum time with the most comfort. If you are spending 6-12 USD per month for a premium pair of comfy boots, go for them. We give those pairs a full 5 marks. As the users say:
“I get probably 18 months out of a pair.”
“last pair lasted several years.”
“I’ve had a pair for over a year.”
Please keep in mind that owning more than a pair and wearing them every other day would serve you the most. It is better to own a pair, try them for a month, and if you do not return them, by another pair of the same brand and model. This way, your feet can feel at home. This may double the wear-time of each pair.
Comfort
Points 5/5
There’s no common question on comfort. Straight full marks. For comfort factors, see our list of 14.
Water, Chemical and Spill Proof
Points 5/5
You can have the usual water resistant as well as Gore-Tex extreme waterproofing system. Buyers report that they usually do not face a problem with waterproofing.
Slip Resistance
Points 5/5
Slip, oil as well as abrasion resistant lugged rubber Multishox® outsole. As a user said: “I go from muddy construction sites to greasy garage floors, and have little problems. These are great boots.”
Toe Box and Safety
Points 5/5
There are three types of toe caps:
- CarbonMax: the best class,
- Steel toe: usual, popular and comparatively heavier; and
- Soft toe: for less risky jobs
CarbonMax is a nanotechnology Safety-Toe. It features ASTM F2413-11 and M I/75 C/75 EH.
If you do not need safety caps, choose one of the others. For more information, see our ultimate guides on safety toe.
Break-in Time and Fitting
Points 5/5
These boots run true to size; fitting well. And there’s a compliment: “Wolverine, they will never be too wide!”
If you face any fitting problems, just wait for a decent break in period. After a few days, they might fit like a glove. If not, you can easily replace them.
Electrical Hazard
Points 5/5
You don’t necessarily need electrical hazard in non-steel toe boots and shoes (unless you are an electrician).
Wolverine Raider safety toe versions have M I/75 C/75 EH safety measurements.
Stylish and Presentable
Points 5/5
These are for work, but you can comfortably wear them elsewhere. Apart from the ordinary dumb looking work boots, wolverines sync pretty well.
Breathable and Insulation
Points 5/5
Breathable mesh linings help keep your feet dry and prevent them from getting too warm. Breathability also helps keep the boots odor free.
Leather, Upper, Lace and Heel
Points 5/5
Full-grain leather upper is a plus point. If you can apply boot oil on a somewhat regular basis for leather protection, it will help the leather prevent scuffs and scratches. Compression pads included which absorb shock and return energy. The heel provides excellent support. Nice laces and awesome eyelets.
Tongue, Collar and Weight
Points 5/5
As you can see from the pictures, the tongue is nicely padded. Not too big, not too small. It will seem natural.
Cushioned collar provides extra comfort and scratch-safety at the upper back of your heel. You will find them lighter than most of the famous boots.
Insole, Midsole, Shank and Arch Support
Points 5/5
MultiShox insole supports and cushions your feet at ease ensuring optimum comfort. The insoles are removable, which may help you choose your own after a particular time.
Polyurethane midsole. The PU shank provides ample support as well as flexibility.
Outsole, Construction and Sewing
Points 5/5
Very comfy rubber lug outsole is puncture proof. Contour Welt® helps the boot bend and flex for maximum athletic performance which is a unique feature of Raider boots. But they are not that much heat resistant if you go to the extreme as this user did:
“I have damaged the soles by kicking hot coals onto a fire. Otherwise never had a problem with soles.” (what can withstand burning coals?)
When it comes to sewing, look at the stitches they did!
Anti-odor and Cleanable
Points 4/5
The tough full-grain leather cleans up easily. Be cautious while cleaning, these are not the cheaper ones. Breathability reduces odor. We could not find whether they have antimicrobial properties or not.
Warranty, Return and Post Purchase Service Policy
Points 5/5
Just like Timberland PRO, Wolverine also provides a 30-day comfort guarantee. You can wear them for 30 days and return if you do not feel comfortable enough.
Brand Faith
Points 5/5
Brand faith counts so that you do not encounter an unpleasant surprise. Wolverine gets a full 5/5 here.
“Have owned several pairs, and I’m pretty hard to please” and, “My favorite work boat for the past twenty years” can describe a lot.
Special and Uncommon Features
Points 5/5
They have a ton of special features, but price, flexibility, durability and look are some we can’t deny.
Cons
Points 4/5
No constant cons found. Some report eyelet pull-out issue. These may not gain superb traction on snow.
Editor’s Boost
Points 5/5
Full ahead, five marks on the spot!
Close Alternatives
Nearly Same
Wolverine Men’s SR Direct-Attach 6 Inch Work Boot
Similar Style
Wolverine Men’s Floorhand 6 Inch Waterproof Soft Toe Work Shoe
Different and Uncommon
Irish Setter Men’s 83605 6 Inch Work Boot
Wolverine Raider boots would not let you down. These are on our top class list. The pricing is significantly less than Red Wing, Danner or Keen while the quality does match their best boots. We would appreciate it so much if you share the post so that others can know the pros and cons.
Let us know what you think, your experience is valuable.