Wolverine sent us an email about their new Thunderhead work boot, which they say provides greater performance and superior comfort.
I’ve been meaning to write about Wolverine’s new CarbonMax safety toe technology, but it kept getting away from me. I’ve also been meaning to request a test sample to review, but that too had been backburnered. If you’ve had the opportunity to wear a Wolverine CarbonMax work boots, what do you think of them?
Advertisement
The new Wolverine Thunderhead work boot has 2 main features:
CarbonMax toe cap that is 50% lighter in weight than a standard steel toe cap, and thinner for better fit, while still meeting ASTM standards.
Multi-layer EPX sole
- High density base layer distributes weight and enhances stability
- Low density EVA foam for heel-to-toe cushioning
- Honeycomb heel for impact absorption
- Ribbed spine for flexibility
It also has a breathable mesh and TPU upper with moisture-managing lining that will keep your feet dry.
ETA: Available now on Wolverine.com, later this month at retailers
Price: $120
Colors: Grey/Blue, Lt Brown/Red
Promo video of a similar boot (Wolverine Edge):
Advertisement
More Info(via Wolverine)
See Also(Wolverine Edge via Amazon)
The Thunderhead and Edge look to be extremely similar, with the Edge having waterproof nubuck leather in its construction.
tim
I do not have these but I do have a pair of redwings with a composite toe that’s similar in concept and will say its very very comfortable and light and well worth the extra money spent.
I go through a pair of “good” boots every two to three months and these have outlasted many of their counterparts already.
I say great job wolverine on incorporating this feature.
Mike
Are more places allowing carbon or composite toed boots in most places? Around here it’s steel only at most places.
Also, this is just a rant, but many places do not allow safety footwear that looks like athletic shoes. My favorite pair of Roebuck steel toe/shank boots look like the ones pictured here and I can’t wear them at certain sites. It drives me nuts. They are plainly labeled “STEEL TOE STEEL SHANK” and it’s not like I invested in a leather branding iron to put that label on regular shoes. Doesn’t matter, their inspectors will not allow anything that doesn’t have the appearance of traditional work boots. Move past the ’60s, safety people!
tim
The only problems I’ve ever had with carbon is they aren’t always clearly labeled as safety toe.
And you’re right. Thats ridiculous, and I was kicked off a job in Milwaukee for refusing to change my shoes that were clearly safety toed because they weren’t boots.
JeffT
Yeah, that is absolutely ridiculous!
Mike
Try climbing 12 foot ladders and scaffolding all day with a loaded tool belt and not rolling an ankle. Most sneaker styled boots are banned because of a lack of ankle support.
Milwaukee tool Steve
Your exactly right i’ve rolled a few ankles on scaffolding’s it gets pretty scary not knowing what your next step will be.
tim
This is correct with a true boot vs sneaker thing but the “sneakers” I was kicked off the job for wearing had more ankle support than most of the low top safety boots other contractors on the job were wearing.
In fact the only time I rolled an ankle was after I came back with the “correct” footwear.
As a machine installation contractor sneakers were more adept to the way I have to get in and out of the machinery I installed at the time.
Grady
If they allow “looks like sneakers.” Someone will wear sneakers and lose a foot.
Mike
The “looks like sneakers” argument you gave is what I’ve been told at each worksite that doesn’t allow them. But here’s the problem. Look at the boots pictured in the related posts above. All are traditional looking brown leather work boots. Without peeking, which are safety toe boots and which are not? Not all of them are, and you can’t tell from a distance.
That’s why the inspectors look at each person’s PPE before clearing them to enter the site. Since having a traditional look doesn’t guarantee a safety toe boot, each pair has to be inspected for the appropriate safety feature anyway. If anything, sneaker style boots draw more scrutiny and are less likely than traditional boots to make it through if they aren’t safety toe.
Jay
Wonder if these will pass muster for electrical. Only safety shoes I own have fiberglass toe caps.
Nathan
bet money Wolverine comes out with a set that have the same toe but perhaps a different sole that they have tested to pass Electrical tests.
I say that in they would and usually compete with RedWing. and the Red Wing’s I wear to work have that stamp with their version of composite safety toe.
Richard G.
Will definetely try them out, thank you for the post. So far, for the last 8 years or so, the most comfortable safety boots I found are made by KEEN. They are basically a hiking boots with safety steel/carbon toe protector.
tim
My current pair of red wings is like that as well. I’m usually limited in options as I have to wear black for uniform purposes but these are the best boots I’ve ever had.
Kipp
Absolute most comfortable shoe I have ever worn, KEEN. My feet never hurt, it is like walking on wool carpet barefoot all day everyday, even though it’s concrete. Keen should address the protected toe issue to satisfy everyone. Worn them for eleven years plus.
T
About 10 or so years ago, I aquired a pair of Atlas “boots” – more like a hybrid of a mining boot and running shoe, lol. I have been sold on new school synthetics and composite protection since. There are companies working with aluminum and syn laminates these days for goodness sake. Less weight = more comfortable = less fatigue = more productivity. Heck, I wear a pair of mid sneaker style comp toes as weekend shoes. It is nice to see the market shifting a little more. Im sure there will always be a place for hardcore steel shelled leathers, but why torture yourself otherwise.
cris
For those of you upset about the safety guys or inspectors saying no to certain types of shoes, remember there are different standards for different sites regulated by both the feds and state osha’s as well as the insurance companies.
We ran into the same problem as custom cabinet makers and finish carpenters – trust me no one wants to see a bunch of guys parading thru their home in typical work boots, so we went to a ‘sneaker type’ safety cap shoe, and it was ok with our insurance comp and safety people, however when we went ot some other sites we were refused; Why? they weren’t leather, they were nylon or some other type of cloth. The rational was that they were a fire risk of some sort. That was the local and state osha rules as well as their insurance rules. We all swapped out to something that was more leather covered and haven’t had a problem since – personally I wear thorogood asr’s – composite toes and eh rated. light and comfortable for my wider feet.
Obviously that’s just our/my experiences — your mileage may vary.
Nate 818
I wear Nike air force ones and work between 40-70 hours a week. Just sayin
Acalz
Do you get a set of Claws with purchase ?
Nathan
So where are they made? not that I always harp on that but I seem to more and more these days.
I bought redwings over wolverines the last 2 times because they were made in america with a slight better warranty for a reasonable cost addition.