Last Updated: March 3, 2022

Red Wing VS. Danner: Who Takes The Crown?

Have you already heard about these two bad boys? Both Red Wing and Danner are American companies that have existed for many, many decades.

They manufacture high-quality shoes for both men and women, in many different styles. Both of them are, however, best known for their work boots, so those will be our primary focus in this review. These are high-quality durable boots, so you could also use them for various outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, hunting, etc.

We’ll take a look at shoes for both men and women from these two companies, and place them side-by-side. And, by the end of this review, you will have enough information to decide which ones are the best for you.

Scroll down for a detailed comparison between Red Wing’s and Danner’s best sellers!

Table Of Contents Show All

Red Wing And Danner Shoes In This Review

For Men

Danner Light II

Danner Crafter

Red Wing King Toe

Red Wing SuperSole

For Women

Danner Mountain Light

Danner Striker Torrent

(Red Wing) Irish Setter Crosby

(Red Wing) Irish Setter Two Harbors

The Companies Behind Danner & Red Wing

If you haven’t heard about these companies before, don’t worry; I’ll introduce you.

Danner is u US-based company that built a name for itself by manufacturing and selling logging boots. They were founded in 1932 and since then they have been creating boots for the working (wo)man.

The company flourished during World War II, as they began manufacturing footwear for workers in the shipyards. Naturally, their range has expanded over the years. Danner now sells many different types of shoes and boots, but their primary focus is still the protection of workers.

Danner actually manufactures boots for USA law enforcement. Surprised? Personally, I think that is an excellent testament to their quality and reliability.

Red Wing is an old, American company. They’ve been around since 1905 and they have no intention of going anywhere. Their Heritage collection is a testament to this, as it is the only collection that’s existed from the start.

They manufacture various different types of shoes under several brand names. Red Wing is also the parent company of Irish Setter shoes, as well as Vasque shoes.

In our review today, we’ll take a look at shoes from the Red Wing Work Boots collection, as well as from the Irish Setter branch. We’ll skip the Heritage collection in this review, as I felt like it would be like comparing apples and oranges since Danner doesn’t really do classic, fashionable boots. But, it is definitely is worth checking out if that kind of boot interests you.

Their Men’s Shoes Compared

Let’s take a look at the most important features of these shoes. I’ll break them down into categories for you, and order them from worst to best.

First, we will look at what the shoes are made of and what kind of technologies they feature. Then we’ll talk about the performance you can expect from the boots, in terms of traction and support.

Next, I will give you advice on sizing so you can get the perfect fit.

And finally, we’ll see how durable they are, and how you can get the most of them, by caring for them properly. So, let’s begin.

	RED WING SUPERSOLE	RED WING KING TOE	DANNER LIGHT II	DANNER CRAFTER

Waterproof	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Shank	Fiberglass	Non-Metallic	Fiberglass	Nylon
Insole	PORON	Texon	Danner Airthotic	Plush Dual-Density
Outsole	Aztec SuperSole	TPU-PU	Vibram Kletterlift	Danner Crafter
Last Type	695	800	650	DCP
Country of Origin	USA	China	USA	Imported
	SEE PRICES	SEE PRICES	SEE PRICES	SEE PRICES

Materials & Technologies

Danner Light II

The upper part of the Danner Light II Boot is made of full-grain leather and Cordura Denier nylon. The nylon is what makes the boot so resistant to scuffs and tears, whereas the leather makes it so strong and durable.

It is also equipped with GORE-TEX liners that make it breathable and waterproof. So, even though no water can get inside the boot, it is still able to release sweat and moisture that is on the inside.

Danner Crafter

The next boot we’re going to look at is the Danner Crafter 6″ Brown Non-Metallic Toe. Its upper part is made of nubuck oiled leather, which is extremely durable. On top of that, the boot also features Danner Dry technology that makes it 100% waterproof.

In addition, the Crafter is also equipped with electrical hazard protection. This means that the soles and heels do not conduct electricity and are electrical shock resistant. So if you work with electricity, you’ll be happy to know that Danner has made an effort to keep you safe.

red wing supersole

Red Wing SuperSole

Red Wing Men’s SuperSole 2.0 6-Inch Boot (Style 606) also features an upper part made of full-grain (Nutmeg Ebbtide) leather. It is also waterproof but it lacks insulation, so it might not be the best choice for colder weather.

One great feature of this boot is the electrical hazard technology. Red Wing goes the extra mile by creating footwear that will protect the wearer from any accidental contact with electrically charged objects. In addition to that, they also feature a fiberglass shank that will shield your feet from any punctures.

Winner: Red Wing King Toe 6-Inch Boot (Style 2240)

Red Wing King Toe 6-Inch Boot (Style 2240) why does it stand out?

The upper part of this boot is also made of full-grain leather. In addition to that, the King Toe is also equipped with the Red Wing Waterproofing System, which ensures that it stays waterproof and breathable.

The boot gets its name from the Red Wing’s King Toe technology, which gives you 44% more toe room than their regular steel toe boots. This is where the boot really shines. And, because your safety is Red Wing’s primary concern, these also feature the electric hazard technology and a non-metallic shank.

Traction & Support

Danner Crafter

In terms of traction, the Crafter features an oil-and-slip resistant Danner Crafter outsole. You won’t have to watch where you step at work, and the 90º heel also enhances traction and support on steep terrain. In addition to that, the boot also has an Airthotic heel clip that maximizes support.

Red Wing King Toe

The King Toe has a non-marking TPU-PU outsole that gives you excellent traction. It is slip, oil/gas, chemical, abrasion, and heat resistant (that’s a lot, I know).

And in addition to that, the defined heel will give you arch and ankle support in every step.

Winner: Tie Between Red Wing SuperSole and Danner Light II

red wing supersole sole

Red Wing SuperSole

The 606 boot features an Aztec Super Sole 2.0 outsole that provides excellent slip, oil/gas, chemical, abrasion, and heat resistance. In plain English, this simply means that they have excellent traction, and will not fail you whatever you step on. This is only reinforced by the 90º defined heel.

Danner Light II

The Danner Light II Boot features a Vibram Kletterlift outsole. The heel of the outsole provides excellent shock absorption, and the rubber compound will give you great traction and stability on both dry and wet surfaces. In addition to that, you should also have plenty of arch and ankle support in these.

Fit & Comfort

Danner Light II

The Light II features an Airthotic footbed that should provide you with plenty of comfort and support.

In terms of getting the perfect fit, you’ll want to order half a size smaller than what you usually wear, because these are a bit roomier than standard.

Red Wing King Toe

With the Red Wing 2240, I suggest you order your usual size. They should fit perfectly, and you’ll have plenty of room to wiggle your toes thanks to the King Toe Technology.

They are also equipped with a Texon insole, which you should consider switching out, as it is not the best insole on the market.

Red Wing SuperSole

In terms of sizing, I suggest that you order the 606 in the size that you usually wear. They run true-to-size, and so should be a perfect fit.

They also come with a soft PORON insole, which will keep you comfortable with every step.

Winner: Danner Crafter 6″ Brown Non-Metallic Toe

Danner Crafter

The Crafter runs true-to-size with a somewhat broader toe box that allows for a more responsive and athletic fit. And to ensure your utmost comfort, Danner equipped the boot with a plush dual-density footbed. These look like the most comfortable option, which is why they outshine the others.

Durability & Care

All of these are high-quality boots, made of high-quality materials. They should last you a very long time (at least a couple of years) and much more if you take proper care of them.

But, which ones will last you longer?

Danner offers recrafting services for certain boots from their range (the Light II is recraftable, but the Crafter isn’t), which will do wonders in terms of their durability. So obviously, the Light II will last longer than the Crafter.

The recrafting service includes replacing parts, restitching, and leather care. They do charge a fee for this (and a $10 fee for cleaning your boots if you send them dirty), which sucks, but it’s good to have the option to let them clean them at least.

When it comes to Red Wing, the reports of the durability of their footwear are somewhat polarising.

The King Toe might not even make it through the first year without losing its waterproofness. The leather on these boots is also prone to scuffs and marks, which really is a shame since they do appear to be very sturdy.

Winner: Red Wing Men’s SuperSole 2.0 6-Inch Boot (Style 606)

On the other hand, The SuperSole 2.0could last you for many many years, if you take proper care of it and send it in for recrafting once in a while. Because of this, it is the obvious winner – imagine having a pair of boots that will last longer than your laptop!

Their Women’s Shoes Compared

Women who spend a lot of time on their feet also need to choose the appropriate footwear for work. Both Red Wing and Danner work shoes are often worn by nurses, police officers, postmen, and many other women whose work requires them to be on their feet a lot

Red Wing shoes featured in this part of the review are from the Irish Setter branch, as there was much more variety in this range than in their regular work shoe collection.

I’ll review the women’s shoes the same way I reviewed the men’s shoes, so just sit back and scroll down for all the information you could possibly need to make an informed decision.

	IRISH SETTER CROSBY	IRISH SETTER TWO HARBORS	DANNER STRIKER TORRENT	DANNER MOUNTAIN LIGHT

Waterproof	Yes	Yes	Yes	Not Fully
Shank	Non-Metallic	Nylon	Nylon	Fiberglass
Insole	Removable Memory Foam EVA	Texon	Cushioning Polyurethane	–
Outsole	Rubber Diamond Tred	Rubber Diamond Tred	Vibram Striker Torrent	Vibram Kletterlift
Last Type	L157	–	650	650 M
Country of Origin	–	–	Imported	USA
	SEE PRICES	SEE PRICES	SEE PRICES	SEE PRICES