Review: Should Chippewa's Service Utility Boot Be Cheaper?

2021 update: Chippewa has discontinued this boot and their heritage line! Check out the current list of best boots here: https://stridewise.com/best-boots ✪ Check out the 10 Best Boots On the Market! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kuHyyefNGE FULL REVIEW + PICTURES: https://stridewise.com/chippewa-service-utility-boot-review Chippewa’s Service Utility boot has an all-American work boot aesthetic with its round toe, Goodyear welt, and cork midsole. It often gets compared with the Wolverine 1000 Mile, but it’s a lot cheaper — are the downsides worth it? LEATHER This is made from Crazy Horse leather, and note that it’s a lot more yellow than it looks on Amazon, so be prepared. Crazy Horse is made by applying a kind of wax to slightly corrected full grain leather, and the wax strengthens the fibers to the point where the color changes when it's rubbed or scratched. This makes for a very rustic, vintage look that a lot of people love. LEATHER CARE Chippewa recommends an Apache cream, though Venetian shoe cream would also work if you really want to avoid darkening the leather. Want to waterproof them as much as possible? Pick up some Aquaseal for the sole. SOLE There’s a Vibram outsole, a cork midsole, and a steel shank in the middle. The Vibram sole has a lot more grip than your standard leather or oak soles, but it’s not as aesthetically appealing. It’s up to you to decide if that’s a good tradeoff. FIT & SIZING Get a half size down from your normal shoe size. I’m be