Brands
Thorogood vs Danner
Both USA-built, both resoleable, two different constructions.
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Quick picks
| # | Product | Best for | Toe & rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Thorogood American Heritage 6" Moc Toe Safety Toe MAXWear Wedge (804-4200) A Goodyear-welted, USA-built wedge with a steel toe and an EH rating — the default answer for anyone who stands on a flat hard floor and wants a boot that can be resoled. | Thorogood: welted wedge | Steel safety toe, moc toe shapeASTM F2413-18, EH | |
| 2 | Danner Bull Run Moc Toe 8" Steel Toe Stitchdown construction gives the Bull Run a wider platform than a welted boot of the same size — more stable underfoot, and handcrafted in the USA. | Danner: stitchdown platform | Steel safety toe, moc toe shapeSteel safety toe meets ASTM F2413 for impact and compression | |
| 3 |  Danner Quarry USA 8" Alloy Toe Work Boot A USA-built 8-inch boot with an alloy toe, a 90-degree heel and a non-linear lug pattern designed to shed debris rather than pack it. | Danner: lugs and a 90° heel | Alloy safety toe — a lighter alternative to steelMeets ASTM F2413 for impact and compression; non-conductive soles meet ASTM F2413 for electrical hazard (EH) resistance in dry conditions |
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The comparison
| Thorogood | Danner | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Goodyear storm welt | Handcrafted stitchdown (Bull Run); Quarry USA built in Portland |
| Platform width | Standard welted width | Wider — stitchdown extends the platform beyond the upper |
| Sole options | MAXWear Wedge — flat, slip-resistant | Danner Wedge on the Bull Run; non-linear lug with a 90° heel on the Quarry USA |
| Toe options | Steel toe or plain toe, moc shape | Steel toe (Bull Run), alloy toe (Quarry USA) |
| Widths published | D and EE across sizes 7-14 | Not published on the models checked |
| Origin claim | Made in USA with USA and globally sourced components | Bull Run built in the USA; Quarry USA made in Portland, Oregon |
| Break-in | Two to three weeks unlined | Three to four weeks — stitchdown takes longer |
What stitchdown actually buys you
In a stitchdown boot the upper is flared outward and stitched down onto the midsole, rather than being turned inward and attached to a welt. Danner states the result directly: a wider platform and increased stability underfoot.
That is genuinely useful if you stand on joists, on uneven ground, or on anything narrow — a wider base is a wider base. Two things worth knowing. The extra width is outside the upper, so it does not change the size you take or give your foot more room. And a stitchdown boot takes longer to break in, because there is more structure to soften.
What the Goodyear welt buys you
A storm welt is the most widely serviced resoleable construction in existence. Any competent cobbler can resole one, prices are well established, and you are not dependent on a single factory. Thorogood's version pairs it with a composite shank, which keeps metal out from underfoot.
The welt is also flatter and more standard in profile, which some people prefer indoors — a stitchdown platform edge can catch on things in tight spaces.
The real fork: your ground
Construction is where the marketing argument lives; sole geometry is where the actual decision lives.
Thorogood, in the American Heritage line, is a wedge maker. Flat, slip-resistant, superb on concrete and decking, and with no heel breast for a rung.
Danner offers both. The Bull Run runs the same wedge logic with a non-marking, debris-shedding outsole. The Quarry USA goes the other way entirely: a non-linear lug pattern for traction and debris release, and a 90-degree heel for rungs and edges.
If your ground is broken or you climb, Danner has a boot for it and Thorogood's wedge line does not. If your ground is flat, both work. The reasoning is in wedge sole vs lug sole.
Buy Thorogood if…
- You stand on concrete, decking or finished floors.
- You want published width options — D and EE across the full size run.
- You want the most widely serviceable resoleable construction.
- You want an unlined boot for summer and for faster molding.
Buy Danner if…
- Your ground is broken, muddy or uneven.
- You want a 90-degree heel for rungs and edges.
- You want the widest, most stable platform available in this class.
- You want an alloy toe rather than steel, for the weight.
Where both lose
Neither publishes a weight, which makes comparing them on weight impossible without holding both. Neither of the models compared here is waterproof — Thorogood's 1957 Series and Danner's GTX Bull Run are the waterproof variants, at higher prices.
And both take weeks to break in. If you need boots comfortable on Monday, neither of these is the answer — buy cemented and accept the shorter life.
The picks in full
Illustrative category photo — not this model#1 — Thorogood: welted wedge
Thorogood American Heritage 6" Moc Toe Safety Toe MAXWear Wedge (804-4200)
A Goodyear-welted, USA-built wedge with a steel toe and an EH rating — the default answer for anyone who stands on a flat hard floor and wants a boot that can be resoled.
Published specifications
- Toe
- Steel safety toe, moc toe shape
- Safety rating
- ASTM F2413-18, EH
- Upper
- Tobacco full-grain American leather, unlined
- Outsole
- MAXWear Wedge slip-resistant outsole
- Midsole / shank
- Rubber midsole with composite shank
- Construction
- Goodyear storm welt
- Waterproof
- Not waterproof
- Insulation
- Not insulated
- Widths
- D and EE, sizes 7-14 in both widths
- Weight
- Not published on the manufacturer page
- Made in
- Made in USA with USA and globally sourced components
Specifications read from Thorogood product page (804-4200) on 2026-09-27. We have not worn this boot.
What works
- Goodyear storm welt is a resoleable construction, not a disposable one
- Flat wedge spreads load evenly on concrete instead of concentrating it under a heel
- Unlined upper breaks in to the foot rather than around a liner
- EE width is stocked across the whole size run, not just the middle
What doesn't
- Not waterproof and not insulated — the unlined upper soaks
- A flat wedge gives up bite on mud, gravel and ladder rungs
- Manufacturer publishes no weight figure, so weight comparisons are guesswork
Who this is wrong for
Anyone working outdoors on soft or uneven ground, or in standing water. The wedge has no lugs to bite and the unlined upper is not waterproof.
Sizing
Thorogood's moc-toe last is widely reported to run large; owner reviews consistently suggest going a half size down from a measured Brannock length. D and EE are both stocked, so take the width rather than sizing up for room.
Illustrative category photo — not this model#2 — Danner: stitchdown platform
Danner Bull Run Moc Toe 8" Steel Toe
Stitchdown construction gives the Bull Run a wider platform than a welted boot of the same size — more stable underfoot, and handcrafted in the USA.
Published specifications
- Toe
- Steel safety toe, moc toe shape
- Safety rating
- Steel safety toe meets ASTM F2413 for impact and compression
- Upper
- Tobacco leather upper
- Outsole
- Danner Wedge outsole — non-marking, oil- and slip-resistant, won't track debris
- Midsole / shank
- Not published on the manufacturer page
- Construction
- Handcrafted stitchdown construction
- Waterproof
- Not waterproof in this version; a GTX version is listed separately
- Insulation
- Not insulated
- Made in
- Built in the USA
Specifications read from Danner product page (Bull Run Moc Toe 8" steel toe) on 2026-09-27. We have not worn this boot.
What works
- Stitchdown is the most stable of the resoleable constructions
- Non-marking wedge works indoors and out
- A US-built moc toe with a safety cap, which is a short list
What doesn't
- Not waterproof — the GTX version costs more
- Stitchdown boots take longer to break in than cemented ones
- No published weight
Who this is wrong for
Anyone who needs the boot comfortable on day one. Stitchdown leather needs real break-in; buy it three weeks before you need it.
Sizing
Stitchdown adds a visible platform edge but not interior room. Size to your measured length; the extra width you see is outside the upper, not inside it.
Illustrative category photo — not this model#3 — Danner: lugs and a 90° heel
Danner Quarry USA 8" Alloy Toe Work Boot
A USA-built 8-inch boot with an alloy toe, a 90-degree heel and a non-linear lug pattern designed to shed debris rather than pack it.
Published specifications
- Toe
- Alloy safety toe — a lighter alternative to steel
- Safety rating
- Meets ASTM F2413 for impact and compression; non-conductive soles meet ASTM F2413 for electrical hazard (EH) resistance in dry conditions
- Upper
- Leather upper, triple-stitched with hyper-strong thread
- Outsole
- Exclusive Danner outsole with a 90° heel, oil- and slip-resistant rubber compound, and a non-linear lug pattern for traction and debris release
- Midsole / shank
- Not published on the manufacturer page
- Construction
- Not published as a welt construction on this page
- Waterproof
- Not stated on the alloy-toe Quarry USA page
- Insulation
- Not stated on the alloy-toe Quarry USA page
- Made in
- Made in Portland, Oregon
Specifications read from Danner product page (Quarry USA 8" alloy toe) on 2026-09-27. We have not worn this boot.
What works
- The debris-release claim is a real design choice, and you feel it in mud
- 90° heel breast is what you want on a rung or a roof edge
- US-built at a price below the handmade makers
What doesn't
- Alloy is metal: it conducts cold and trips detectors
- Danner does not publish waterproofing on this model — do not assume it
- 8-inch shaft is slow to get on and off
Who this is wrong for
Flat-floor indoor trades. Lugs on a polished concrete floor are wasted, and they carry grit onto finished surfaces.
Sizing
Danner's work lasts are fairly true to size but firm through the midfoot. If you have a high instep, lace the lower eyelets loosely for the first week.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thorogood or Danner better?
Both are US-built and resoleable, so the decision is usually about ground. Thorogood's American Heritage is a flat wedge for hard flat surfaces; Danner offers both a wedge (Bull Run) and a lugged 90-degree heel (Quarry USA) for broken ground and climbing. Danner's stitchdown also gives a wider, more stable platform.
What is stitchdown construction?
The upper is flared outward and stitched down onto the midsole rather than turned inward onto a welt. Danner states this produces a wider platform and increased stability underfoot. It is resoleable and rebuildable, and it takes longer to break in than a welted boot.
Are Danner boots made in the USA?
Some lines are. Danner states the Bull Run is built in the USA and that the Quarry USA is now made in Portland, Oregon. Danner also sells imported lines, so it is a per-model question — check the origin on the specific boot.
Which breaks in faster, Thorogood or Danner?
Thorogood, generally. An unlined Goodyear-welted boot takes roughly two to three weeks; a handcrafted stitchdown boot takes three to four. There is more structure in a stitchdown to soften, which is the same thing that makes the platform more stable.
Sources
- Nicks Boots — resoling vs rebuilding — A maker explaining the difference, with its own published service prices
- ASTM F2413 protective footwear standard — technical summary — Label format, the mandatory I and C designations, and each optional code