Thorogood Boot And Weinbrenner Shoe Co. - Profile, History, And ...

Thorogood is an American workboot brand and the best known subsidiary of Wisconsin footwear company, the Weinbrenner Shoe Co. Since 1892, Weinbrenner has been at the forefront of workboot innovation both on and off the job-site.

Known for its tough work boots, Thorogood has a rich history in the world of workwear, an impressive American manufacturing output, and a retained presence on the jobsite. Despite its utilitarian DNA, Thorogood also finds it boots on the feet of denim heads and other well-dressed folk who want tough, American-made footwear to complement the rest of their well-made garb.

Join us as we take a look back at the history of Thorogood and its parent company, the Weinbrenner Shoe Company, where Thorogood boots are produced today, and where to buy them.

Thorogood’s History and Philosophy

Albert Weinbrenner and an article celebrating 50 years in business. Image via Thorogood.

The roots of Weinbrenner stretch back to 1855, when German immigrant Peter Weinbrenner set up shop as a shoe cobbler in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Peter’s son, Albert, had an entrepreneurial spirit to expand the family name, and after a few years of apprenticing under his father, he partnered with a man named Josheph Peffer to open a storefront that sold boots and shoes in 1892. Albert’s ambitions didn’t stop there, though; in 1900, he purchased a local shoe manufacturer to produce his own line.

The only known image of Albert Weinbrenner via Thorogood.

Production started small with a modest 60 pairs produced per day, but Weinbrenner invested in manufacturing and grew its workforce to around 1200 people — a sizeable number for the time. This growing infrastructure saw production boom to a whopping 8,000 pairs per day by 1916 – among the biggest footwear production outputs in the USA.

Such expansion came at a cost, as Weinbrenner moved to bigger and bigger factories to increase output, his workers demanded better working conditions. Weinbrenner capitulated and reduced the standard workday from 10 to 9 hours without reducing pay. The workers met the offer, and production remained at the same level, despite less time.

Job Fitted! Image via Archival Clothing

Weinbrenner debuted the Thorogood line of work boots in 1917. The philosophy behind the brand was “job-fitted” –  a simple but radical approach at the time. Every job had specific demands and environments, so every job needed its own specialized footwear to match. Thorogood produced specially designed footwear for miners, oil-workers, railworkers, and even one designed for American troops in World War I. The brand was an instant success, and by 1936, Weinbrenner had built a second manufacturing facility in Merrill, Wisconsin, which still operates today.

Image via Archival Clothing

Albert Weinbrenner passed away in 1949, but the company continued to expand and innovate, creating new advances like the first safety-toed workboot in 1942, and the #633 ‘Bruiser’ boot in 1950. Designed for manual labor jobs like roofing and tree surgery, the boot was so popular with Roofers that it became affectionately known as ‘The Roofer’. See the image above for specs and marketing.

60s Thorogood Hike ‘n’ Camp Ads via eBay

In 1960, Thorogood introduced the Hike ‘n’ Camp, a moc-toed boot with a wedge sole, the kind is so popular today. Thorogood was no stranger to making moc toe footwear, but this was its first boot to incorporate a wedge sole that provided extra traction for outdoor activities, in addition to comfort right out of the box — two massive wins for ‘the Tenderfoot Scout’. Red Wing may have produced an extremely similar boot 10 years prior with its 850 Irish Setter, but Thorogood’s wedge-soled, moc-toe boot took off as well. It transcended the campfire and went on to become Weinbrenner’s best-selling boot of all time, widely worn on job sites across the USA.

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Image via Archival Clothing

Thorogood Today

Thorogood’s factory in Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Today, Weinbrenner and Thorogood produce nearly 250 different models of work and safety boots. The company is still based out of its founding home of Wisconsin, but has moved slightly further north to the city of Merrill. The company is employee-owned and committed to keeping a healthy amount of its manufacturing in the USA.

Thorogood boot production in Merrill, Wisconsin. Image via Merrill Foto News.

Weinbrenner is also the largest manufacturer of Made in USA footwear, with the majority of its production coming from two company-owned factories in Merrill and Marshfield, Wisconsin. Nearly all of their products bear a small woven “Made in USA” flag stitched into the seam between the vamp and the front quarter and the Thorogood logo branded on the heel. That said, some products, like the Genesis Series, are assembled abroad.

Inside Thorogood’s Marchfield, Wisconsin, manufacturing facility, which has been in operation for over 120 years. Image via Tyler Rickenbach/USA Today Network-Wisconsin

Despite their job-specific applications, Thorogood boots are also worn casually and are available in many major retailers, including Amazon and Dave’s New York, and independent retailers like Railcar.

Folks often find themselves tossing up between a pair of Red Wings or Thorogoods when entering the heritage work boot game. Red Wing certainly has more of a fashion presence due to the marketing and popularity of its “Heritage” line (Iron Ranger, etc.), but Thorogood offers boots of the same, if not higher quality, at times, especially considering the brand’s commitment to remaining wholly utilitarian. It’s also worth noting that Thorogood boots are typically $50-$100 less than Red Wing Heritage models.

Thorogood did experiment with its own heritage line – the ‘1892’ collection. The Thorogood 1892 line resurrected models from the brand’s long history and constructed them using 100% American components. Sadly, this line was discontinued.

Cross-section of a Thorogood 6″ Round Boot from our review.

Construction and Iconic Models

Image via Work World

Thorogood’s most recognizable models come in many colors, heights, and leathers, and often have the option for a safety-reinforced toebox. Most of its boots are made in the USA using globally-sourced components, including American leather. The majority of Thorogood offerings are constructed with:

• Maxwear Wedge™ sole
• 360-degree Goodyear Storm welt for increased waterproofing
• Fiberglass shank
• Cork molding layer
• Synthetic EVA footbed
• Triple-stitched upper
• Combination eyelets and speedhooks

6″ Moc Toe

Thorogood’s most iconic model was debuted in 1960 as the Hike ‘n Camp, a wedge-soled 6-inch moc-toe boot. The Hike ‘n Camp became the official boot of the Boy Scouts but was quickly adopted by construction workers and can still be found on job sites all across the world. Today, they call it simply the 6″ Moc Toe (seen above in Trail Crazy Horse leather)

Available at Railcar for $255.

8″ Moc Toe

Thorogood’s Moc Toe silhouette also comes in an 8″ height for increased stability, protection from hazards, and less chance of water ingress.

Available at Railcar for $270.

Lace-to-Toe Roofer’s Boot

Image via Zappos.

The Lace-to-Toe Roofer’s boot was introduced in 1950 and has remained pretty much unchanged ever since. Roofing required a shoe with grip and that maintained rigidity throughout the foot, hence the extended laces that go all the way to the front of the boot.

This design also shifted the rest of the design forward so the vamp extends throughout the entire shoe. That large a piece of leather, however, left it more exposed and vulnerable to damage, so Thorogood included an extra layer of leather that’s triple-stitched and reinforced with rivets.

Currently very scarce, the odd size is sporadically available on Amazon for $260.

8″ Plain Toe Boot

Available at Thorogood’s Amazon Shop from $219.

Thorogood Boot FAQs

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Question	Answer
Where are Thorogood Boots Made?	Most Thorogood Boots are made in the USA using globally-sourced components. Some products, including those from the Genesis Series, are assembled abroad in countries like the Dominican Republic.
Are Thorogood Boots Waterproof?	This depends on the model, but many Thorogood boots are made with a 360-degree Goodyear Storm welt for increased water-resistance. Many models also come in a waterproof option.
Where can I buy Thorogood Boots?	You can buy Thorogood Boots at many retailers, but the brand’s Amazon Shop has the best range of options.
How long do Thorogood Boots last?	This depends on the activities you perform in your Thorogood boots, but it’s worth noting that many Thorogood boots, including their iconic Moc Toe boots, can be re-soled thanks to Goodyear welt construction. Any boot constructed from a Goodyear welt construction can be re-soled if the welt is serviceable.
How do Thorogood boots fit?	Thorogood boots come in a range of width sizings, and different models fit differently. They generally fit true-to-size, with notoriously roomy toe-box areas.
Why are Thorogood Boots so expensive?	Thorogood boots cost more than other workwear boot makers due to Thorogood’s commitment to USA manufacturing. That said, Thorogood boots cost less than other comparable brands, including Red Wing Heritage.

Lead image via Merrill Foto News.