Carolina Vs. Thorogood: Who Makes Better Boots?

Thorogood and Carolina’s boots are two of the most popular brands of boots, and how they stand out from each other is through quality materials and craftsmanship.

Carolina boots are a famous brand known for their stylish designs, while Thorogood is more traditional and rugged. Carolina boots are popular work boots associated with comfort and durability.

On the other hand, Thorogood boots are more famous for their ruggedness than comfort levels. Their boots are made in America, and the company has a long history of making high-quality American-made boots.

They have a variety of designs, styles, and color options. Unfortunately, Carolina boots tend to be much more expensive than Thorogood boots. This makes them less attractive to most people when buying work boots or just general shoes. So, which do you think would win in a fight?

Thorogood Vs. Carolina: Origins & History

America’s two most popular boot brands are Carolina and Thorogood. Despite their similarities, each boot brand has its distinct style. There are still some factors that can be considered to decide which brand to choose, even though the two brands have many things in common.

The company Thorogood was founded in Milwaukee in 1892 by Albert Weinbrenner. Initially, the company was small until 1917, when they invented the idea of a shoe that fitted a particular job. Over the years, Thorogood went through numerous defining moments, ultimately becoming what it is today.

Founded in 1963, Carolina has been there since then. H.H. Brown Boot Company formerly owned the company. Carolina Shoe Company has been known for its safe, durable, and long-lasting boots ever since. As of 2016, the company operates its main facility from Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Regardless of the brand, their boots are reliable in functionality and durability. Here are the main points to compare when looking at work boots.

Carolina & Thorogood: Comparison

It is often challenging to decide which boots suit your needs among all the options currently available. However, you can learn more about what makes these two brands stand out from the rest in the following section.

Sole Material & Construction

Even though the sole quality is part of the overall quality of a shoe, there are still many details to consider. That’s why we had to address them separately. An example of an outsole is the part that touches the ground. Aside from that, insoles contact your feet and the midsoles between the two.

As for Carolina, the outsoles are made from Vibram, which is a durable kind of rubber. As a result, it provides flexibility, comfort, and at the same time, durability.

Even better, these outsoles do not leave any marks on the ground. When you walk on any surface, you won’t be able to see their traces. The soles of these boots provide you with stability and are slip-resistant.

Furthermore, both the midsole and the insole are made from flexible materials. Particularly, the insoles are made of poron, a material that is common to most sports shoe brands.

The memory foam cushion also has an additional layer. Carolina’s moc toes are extremely comfortable, thanks to this feature.

The outsoles of Thorogood’s boots are made from polyurethane, which the company makes on its own. The company claims this kind of outsole is more durable than Vibram, which is why they switched.

Insoles like Carolina’s are made of poron, whereas midsoles are rubber. Also, Thorogood features similar cushioning. That cushioning is suitable for absorbing shock, which is essential when working in different environments.

Steel Shanks

There is a steel shank on each of them that supports the arch. Their boots also have nearly the same features for the soles, as you can see. If this is the case, how should you choose which one is best?

There are more features to cover, so it’s too soon to jump to any conclusion.

Outsoles

As mentioned above, there are differences in the outsoles. For those of you who have already tried Vibram outsoles, you may also want to try Thorogood’s polyurethane outsoles.

This allows you to see whether they last longer than Vibram. As for us, we ensure that both will give you the rigidity and durability you desire.

Reparability

The soles of Carolina work boots are replaceable, which is another advantage over Thorogood boots. As such, when the soles of a pair wear out, the same outsoles can be replaced.

Overall Quality

Thorogood is the clear winner here in terms of overall quality. This isn’t to say Carolina isn’t good either. The boots from both companies are superior, but Thorogood excels at small things.

They are lightweight at first glance, which may give the impression that they are of low quality.

However, you will be surprised to discover how strong they are once you try them on. The lightweight boots are meant just for comfort but can withstand quite a bit of abuse.

Besides being waterproof and not retaining moisture, Carolina boots are also heat-resistant. Genuine leather is used, which has a degree of flexibility for comfort.

As strong as the boots, even the laces will last for years to come. As well, the collars tend to be padded, and the inside lining is breathable. That’s why professionals, like loggers or lineman workers love to wear Carolina boots.

In the case of Thorogood, they also make leather boots. Featuring chrome tanned leather for superior water resistance and scratch resistance.

In addition, this tanning strengthens the shoes and allows them to age more gracefully.

In summary, both of them are equally good in terms of quality. Nonetheless, Thorogood is a little more durable for extremely picky people who want only the best when it comes to overall durability.

Design

There is barely a discernible difference between the two when it comes to design. Their boots feature almost identical styles and colors. Combined with triple white stitches, they feature a very rigorous appearance.

On the other hand, Thorogood offers more styles under its two major series: American Heritage and 1957. In addition, each of these series includes several different styles. Thorogood likely has the solution to your particular needs.

The variety is also good in Carolina. In addition, they place a lot of emphasis on style. Only at Carolina do you find unique styles. Furthermore, many of their boots come with these laces-attaching D-rings called speed hooks.

Final Words

In short, if you want to lean towards a specific brand, I’d vouch for Thorogood boots. These boots are durable, and they keep your feet warm and dry even in the toughest weather conditions.

They’re a little pricey but well worth the investment. The fit is as advertised, and the leather doesn’t need weeks of break-in.