I wear engineer boots — the kind with a round toe, single strap and buckle across the instep, and a buckle top closure — regularly. I like the classic design of these boots, as well as their rugged durability. For someone like me — a honest-to-goodness biker — having functional footwear is important for my safety, comfort, and ease of handling my heavyweight motorcycle.

Someone wrote to me about two months ago to ask if I had seen the Wolverine 1000 Mile lineup, which includes short (10 inch/25cm) engineer “Stockton” (model) boots. He wanted to know my opinion. Since I did not own a pair of those boots, I…

…proceeded to do on-line research. There was not much information about the Wolverine boots out there other than Wolverine’s website, which of course would be self-flattering, and then several references to the boots in men’s style forums. Turns out, these boots are marketed mostly at the urban millennials as a fashion item. Such a photo is here.

Well, an image like that was almost enough to cause a visceral reaction down my spine. Bleccchhhh! What masculine biker-type would ever dress like that? But there I go, expressing an opinion about someone’s style and dress when I have said that everyone comes in different shapes and sizes and we should not be judgmental. Okay, I’ll go with that.

But I can judge the boots. I arrived at my next judgment — a US$495 suggested manufacturer’s list price — to be totally off the chart of reasonableness. Then I had another clue of the marketing of these boots, because I saw them on websites from high-end, overpriced, yuppie department stores like Nordstrom and Nieman Marcus. Of course, they were also on the ubiquitous eBay and Amazon… but not at any of the more customary on-line boot retailers where I have been comfortable buying before.

It actually piqued my curiosity to see these boots up close and evaluate them when I saw the boots marketed at such high-end retailers and showing models dressed in “faux urban” style. Could Wolverine Stockton engineer boots really be that good to justify an almost US$500 price tag and truly be comparable to White’s Nomads which cost just about the same?

Finally, a few weeks ago, one of my trusted/true bargain boot retailers had a pair of Wolverine Stockton engineer boots at 1/4 the MSRP because they were factory seconds. Okay, I gave in and bought them. The boots arrived quickly, and I tried them on. Here is my evaluation–

* Fit — true-to-size.
* Leather — Chrome-tanned Horween leather is great, but man, does it scuff very easily.
* Construction — adequate, but many short-cuts observed.
* Single sole.
* The “Vibram” sole is a half-sole in the front and a heel lift (see photo.)
* The sole has no lugs for traction.
* A plastic insert is used to keep the rounded shape in the front, but offers no real protection like a steel toe.
* Calf circumference — good. You don’t need to open the top buckle to pull the boots on. But the circumference is not too wide as to make your pants look funny if you wear pants over them.
* Value for price paid — poor if you paid anywhere near the MSRP of close to US$500.

Looking at a comparably-priced pair of engineer boots — White’s Nomads — I observe HUGE differences. White’s Boots are–

* Fit — larger than actual size. (You need to order White’s stock Nomad boots at least 1/2 to one full size smaller in the length.)
* Leather — Chrome-tanned Horween leather is also used. It scuffs easily, too.
* Double sole, standard.
* Full Vibram 100 lug sole that is screwed on, in addition to being stitched. Nothing is better for traction when operating a heavyweight motorcycle.
* Steel toe
* Calf circumference — larger than Wolverine, but not bad.
* Value for price paid — good, considering the quality of construction, materials, and craftsmanship.

You will also find White’s Boots sold on websites that cater to the working man — bikers, loggers, construction workers, etc. (None of whom would consider shopping at Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom.)

I should point out that both Wolverine Stockton Engineer boots and White’s Nomad engineer boots are made in the USA. As a result, the prices will be higher than other engineer boots made elsewhere.

I have arrived at the judgment that White’s Nomads, which are made of the same leather, but that’s where comparisons stop — are far superior than Wolverine boots. White’s Boots are just made better. You can feel it when you hold a pair of White’s in your hands, and certainly when you wear them.

White’s Boots are solid, rugged, and made to take the gaff. Walk or ride through mud, get caught in the rain, get your boots and jeans wet. No big deal. I doubt an urban millennial adjusting his scarf just so would expose his boots to that kind of abuse.

My personal opinion? I don’t think Wolverine Boots are nearly worth what their list price is. (More photos of my pair of these boots are here).

And if you are like me — a biker who wears boots for protection and safety — then consider other brands where you get more value for the price paid. I still recommend USA-made Chippewa engineer boots for common, everyday, decent engineer boots. For top-of-the-line, last-a-lifetime engineer boots, then consider White’s Nomads or Wesco Boss boots.

Life is short: know how to discern quality boots from marketing appeal.