Brands

The darling of the menswear internet. Viberg transformed from a workboot company into a fashion-forward heritage brand, commanding premium prices for their sleek lasts and exotic leathers.

The dean of American shoemaking. Alden predates the heritage boot trend by a century and continues making dress shoes and boots in Massachusetts using traditional techniques.

The gold standard for made-to-order American work boots. White's represents the top tier of domestic production, with decades-long reputations for durability in actual wildfire smokejumping conditions.

White's younger sibling in Spokane. Founded by a former White's employee, Nick's offers similar handmade quality with slightly more modern aesthetics and excellent customer service.

The most accessible entry point to heritage boots. Red Wing built its reputation on work boots for Minnesota's iron miners and has evolved into the gateway brand for the heritage boot enthusiast.

Best known for the 1000 Mile boot, which used original patterns from 1914. Wolverine pioneered the use of Horween Chromexcel leather in modern heritage boots.

The best value proposition in heritage boots. Grant Stone uses premium materials (Horween leather, Goodyear welt) with overseas manufacturing to deliver boots that punch well above their price point.

The working person's heritage boot. Thorogood offers American-made quality at prices significantly below Red Wing, with the American Heritage line being their standout offering for the heritage enthusiast.

Named after the Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin location. Chippewa occupies a similar space to Thorogood—solid American-made boots at accessible prices, though quality control can be inconsistent.

The DTC disruptor that brought heritage boot styling to a sub-$200 price point. Thursday sacrifices some construction quality for accessibility, making them a reasonable entry point for the curious.