WOLVERINE.COM Blog

Re-Boot Yourself - Wolverine Photo Contest

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:55:00 GMT

Even the most rugged soles need a Re-Boot! We know our customers work hard every day and so do their boots. As a way to say thank you, Wolverine is giving them a chance to win a new pair of Wolverine boots. It’s easy – just “Like” our Facebook Page and then share a photo of your well-worn Wolverine boots with us by May 31, 2012 for a chance to win a $200.00 gift card. One grand prize winner will also receive a $500.00 gift card. Everyone who submits a photo will receive a free Wolverine hat.

Click here to submit an entry. We look forward to seeing all the photos!

The wolverine is real, and it's not a baby wolf

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 06:06:00 GMT

Half-way through their journey, the Ramblers Bone guys made a stop in Jackson, Wyoming, late last week to meet up with our friends at the Wolverine Foundation. Back in Rockford we had the chance to talk with Jeff Copeland, founding director of The Wolverine Foundation, as he traveled to his next research location. With more than 20 years of research under his belt, Copeland knows a thing or two about the wolverine and was generous enough to share some insight on this mysterious animal with us.

You have dedicated your life to researching the wolverine – what motivates you?
Introducing folks to the animal. There is an amazing amount of misunderstanding of what the wolverine is – that it’s just a mythical creature or a “baby wolf.” We start from the basic position that the wolverine is a real and rare animal. We try to develop an understanding of what the wolverine is – the more we know about the wolverine the more we can come to appreciate it.

Why is the wolverine so misunderstood?
The reason we know so little about the wolverine is because it’s an animal that doesn’t have any need to associate with humans. Most species that we know a lot about we have regular interactions with; wolves eating livestock, hunting as sport, bird watching, et cetera. We develop our associations with animals based on our interactions with them.

The wolverine is an alpine weasel that lives at high altitudes in extremely cold conditions and deep snow. Historically, these are places where humans couldn’t and wouldn’t want to go, especially in winter. And the wolverine doesn’t live there because we forced them to; it’s adapted to live there. The wolverine also has a very low density population even in high population areas.

Most of what we thought we knew about the wolverine came from North Country trappers, which focused on their tenacity, ferocity, cunning and durability, which also fit with the descriptions of the wolverine in myths and legends.

Has anything changed concerning the wolverine in recent years?
In recent years, with the gain in popularity of extreme winter sports like heli-sking, backcountry skiing and snowmobiling, people have begun to play in wolverine habitat even in the winter. These formerly remote areas are no longer truly remote, which is cause for concern about the potential effects of human presence on wolverines.

How is this interaction part of the Wolverine Foundation’s current project, the Central Idaho Wolverine and Winter Recreation Research Study?
This project is the first attempt to address the issue and come up with an understanding of the interaction between wolverines and humans.

Female wolverines move to reproductive dens in late February, which are located at high elevation under deep snow that insulates the offspring from the cold and hides them from predators. In these dens, the female wolverine will have two or three kits that will remain in the den for 9-10 weeks. During this time, wolverines may be sensitive to human presence or direct disturbance, which may result in den abandonment or displacement from important habit but how a wolverine responds to human presence is not well understood.

We’ve asked recreationists to carry small GPS units to record their winter movements, and a team of researchers is live-trapping wolverines to fit them with GPS collars. From this, we hope to gather a large enough sample of tracks to help us evaluate the relationship between wolverine and human activity.

What is most exciting about this project? What implications will it have?
What we’re most excited about is that we’ve been able to team up with recreationists right from the beginning and they’ve been very supportive of the project. There is no pretentious atmosphere; we both care about the land and want to have good sound science to understand the relationship between humans and wolverines.

As far as implications, we need a large sample size before we generalize across the population. We need to sample enough of the population to make a broad statement, and because wolverines live in such remote areas and there are so few of them, it’s difficult to get a good sample. This is the fourth year of field research for the project, and we’d really like to another four or five years so we can determine consistent trends in the way humans and wolverines interact.

To learn more about the Wolverine Foundation visit wolverinefoundation.org or the Wolverine Foundation’s Facebook page.

Photo courtesy of Clint Long.

Introducing Wolverine PeakFLEX™ comfort technology

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:20:00 GMT

Since 1883, Wolverine’s been crafting comfortable, durable boots for hard-working men everywhere. Always striving for new ways to deliver the most comfortable boots, Wolverine is introducing an innovative midsole technology that addresses the two main stress areas in each step, impact and flex. The Wolverine PeakFLEX midsole design has two unique structural components that enhance comfort: a honey-comb heel design that expands upon impact to absorb shock, and a mid-section designed to mimic the movement of a spine for maximum flexibility through each step.

The Wolverine Bucklin hiker is the first product featuring a Wolverine PeakFLEX midsole. The Bucklin has a lightweight, waterproof leather and mesh upper with wave mesh interior lining to wick away moisture, keeping feet dry and comfortable. A polyurethane footbed provides extra support and cushion, while a genuine rubber outsole offers reliable traction. The Bucklin is available in Brown, Black and Taupe with an optional composite toe rated ASTM F2413-11 M I/75 C/75 EH.

Wolverine Corsair Boots—Tested and Recommended by the Handyman Club of America

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:26:00 GMT

For the April/May issue of HANDY Magazine, the Handyman Club of America put our very own Corsair work boots to the test. With our innovative Wolverine MultiShox® and Wolverine Contour Welt™ comfort technologies, plus ArmorTek™ guard on the toe area to protect against abrasion, these boots are the perfect combination of tough and comfortable. But don’t just take our word for it.

HANDY Magazine selected 31 wear-testers to try the Corsair in environments from farming and yard work to construction and welding. The Corsair received an impressive 96% approval rating. Here’s what some of the testers had to say:

“The main reason I recommend the Wolverine Corsair boot is because I wore the boots right out of the box for a day and it felt like the boot was custom made just for my feet.” – Robert S.

“Spent a lot of time crawling on knees which can take the toes out of shoes in a day or two. These shoes did not show any wear at all.” – James W.

“For all day wear, they surely provide all day comfort. I appreciate their quality construction. The attention to detail in production is easily apparent.” – David B.

“Based on 45 years of wearing safety boots, these are the BEST EVER!” – Stu B.

Check out the Corsair Boot, available in waterproof 6”, 8” or Wellington styles, with soft toe or composite safety toe to fit the demands of any job.

Introducing Ramblers Bone

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:01:00 GMT

On April 5th, American born photographers Mikael Kennedy and Sean Sullivan will set out from Los Angeles, CA, deep into the country on a 5,600-mile road trip to explore the heart of America. In a project titled Ramblers Bone, Sullivan and Kennedy, both veteran travelers of the American highways, will spend 30-days exploring the southwest and documenting their travels on www.ramblersbone.com and on twitter @ramblersbone. Stayed tuned for updates and stops along the way.

Wolverine is proud to sponsor these two artists, letting them loose on the two-lane black tops and dirt roads of America deep into the wilderness of the West. We will send them off from The Stronghold on Thursday, April 5 from 6-9 p.m. (1625 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA, 90291, www.thestronghold.com).

Sean Sullivan & Mikael Kennedy

Photo: Noah Emrich/novh.us

The Wolverine Corsair in Popular Mechanics

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:44:00 GMT

Check out the Wolverine Corsair boot in the February edition of Popular Mechanics Magazine! (Boot #6, for the Mason.)

View the Corsair on Wolverine.com for more information and learn more about Wolverine Contour Welt Technology!

Coming soon for Spring: The Pulsar and the Flare

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:14:00 GMT

Check out some of our new hiking styles at HikingBoots.com. Both styles will be available this Spring!

Wolverine® receives 12th Plus Award win for Design Excellence in Work Footwear

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:19:00 GMT

Wolverine is honored to recieve the 2011 Plus Award for Design Excellence in Work Footwear! Check out the award and news release below!

Wolverine® receives 12th Plus Award win for Design Excellence in Work Footwear

Feb. 8, 2012 - Retailers nationwide have once again recognized Wolverine for design excellence in work footwear; the brand received its 12th Plus Award for Design Excellence in the work footwear category last week.

“Congratulations to Wolverine for winning an unprecedented 12th Plus Award in the Work category,” stated Greg Dutter, Editorial Director of Footwear Plus Magazine. “This award reflects Wolverine’s ability to continually answer workplace performance demands.”

Footwear Plus conducts its Plus Awards annually, surveying thousands of footwear retailers nationwide and honoring overall design excellence in 20 categories. Wolverine has taken home the award in the work category for 12 of the 13 years since the awards debuted.

“Work has been the foundation of the Wolverine brand for more than 125 years. Innovating new technologies is part of our culture,” said Ted Gedra, President of the Heritage Group, a division of Wolverine Worldwide. “We are proud that our retail partners have recognized Wolverine as the industry leader in innovation.”

Wolverine’s continued success is due in part to the performance and innovation of its 2011 product offering and its patented comfort technologies. Key products introductions included the Wolverine Corsair work boot featuring Contour Welt® technology, designed to deliver the flexibility of a sport shoe with the durability and support of a traditional work boot. The Corsair combines proven comfort technologies like Contour Welt and Wolverine MultiShox® with new enhanced materials like Wolverine ArmorTek™, an abrasion resistant wrap around the toe and sides of the boot protecting high wear areas and increasing overall durability.

Another key introduction in 2011 was a series of made-in-the-U.S.A. work boots including the Wolverine Northman boot. Made in Wolverine’s Big Rapids, Mich., factory the Northman is inspired by Wolverine’s history of crafting work boots with classic design, timeless construction methods and materials that are built to perform and last. The Northman has a traditional silhouette, Goodyear™ Welt construction and high quality U.S. made materials like Horween® leather and a Vibram® 360° outsole. Visit our You Tube channel to see how the Northman is made.

Join us for the 28th Annual Resolution Run!

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Wolverine is proud to sponsor the 28th annual Resolution run on New Year’s Eve, Saturday Dec. 31 at 3:30 p.m. in East Grand Rapids. The four mile run/walk around Reeds Lake will support Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Pediatric Oncology Resource Team.

P.O.R.T. is a non-profit organization that supports families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer or other life-threatening diseases. From care bags for unexpected hospital stays, to super sibs clubs for siblings of diagnosed children and support groups for their parents, P.O.R.T. helps families in the most difficult situations.

Race entrants are asked to donate $5 to P.O.R.T. with their entry fee, which Wolverine matches dollar for dollar. Every entrant who donates at least $5 to P.O.R.T. will be entered into the Charity Challenge drawing; the grand prize winner will receive an airline ticket to anywhere in the continental United States. Numerous other door prizes and giveaways also will be part of the drawing.

Online registration is available at classicrace.com and signmeup.com, and all registrants will receive a 2011 Resolution Run T-shirt! Start your New Year on the right track with some active fun for a wonderful cause!

Introducing the Wolverine SwampMonster

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:58:00 GMT

A brand new style from Wolverine, the SwampMonster shell’s unique composition and design prevent dirt and mud from collecting on the boot, allowing you to clean up with ease. A streamlined outsole is durable and aggressive yet extremely lightweight with biting edges to give you solid footing no matter what you’re standing in. The SwampMonster work boot is available in 6” and pull-on wellington styles.

Watch Jason Cameron explain the benefits of Wolverine SwampMonster boots in the video below!

The Northman: Made in the USA

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:17:00 GMT

Wolverine is paying homage to its more than 125-year history with a new made in the USA work boot, the men’s Northman. Hand-crafted by the hard working men and women in Wolverine’s Big Rapids, Mich. factory, the boots combine time-tested construction methods and performance technologies for premium work boots that are built to perform and last.

Get and insiders look at Wolverine’s factory and the construction process of the Northman with Jason Cameron.

About the Northman
The Northman features a Horween leather upper – the gold standard of leather – and Goodyear Welt construction for maximum durability. The Northman also has breathable GORE-TEX® waterproof lining to ensure feet stay dry and comfortable, and is available with or without Thinsulate Ultra Insulation for warmth. Get yours in brown or black with an optional steel toe today.

Gearing Up for Hunting Season

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 04:00:00 GMT

It’s beginning to feel a lot like fall here in Michigan, which means that hunting season is just around the corner! One of Wolverine's brand new hunting boot styles, the Dogwood SwampMonster Boot, was recenlty featured in one of our favorite magazines, Outdoor Life (Boot #6).

Contour Welt: Ultimate Durability meets Ultimate Comfort

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:50:00 GMT

We’re gearing up for fall with a new Contour Welt style, the Corsair. The boot features Wolverine Contour Welt technology, which is designed to be as durable and tough as a traditional work boot with the comfort of an athletic shoe. The Corsair also features Wolverine ArmorTek™, a unique abrasion-resistant material that maintains the strength and flexibility of traditional leather but is significantly more durable and won’t crack or split. Covering the toe and wrapping around the sides of the boot, ArmorTek reduces wear and tear on these high wear areas and extends the life of the boot. Be sure to check out all our Contour Welt styles, and watch the video below to learn about Contour Welt technology from TV Host and licensed contractor Jason Cameron.>

Introducing Wolverine ICS for Fall 2011

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:43:00 GMT

New for fall 2011, Wolverine is introducing a brand new collection of outdoor boots and shoes featuring Wolverine ICS technology. Wolverine ICS is designed to help you hike longer, climb higher and go further by providing personalized comfort and backed by a 30 Day Comfort Guarantee. By adjusting the gel disc under the insole, you can choose from one of four comfort settings – cushion, firm, inner or outer support – depending on your individual needs.

In order to perfect Wolverine ICS, Wolverine has performed qualitative consumer research, quantitative online research and numerous wear tests with passionate outdoor adventures. Based on focus groups, online surveys and field tests, Wolverine analyzed what serious outdoorsmen and women desire in their footwear; much of the effectiveness of Wolverine ICS in meeting those needs rests on this extensive research.

Check out the Wolverine ICS video below and learn more about how Wolverine ICS can work for you!

Paper to Product

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:51:00 GMT

Welcome to the Wolverine Den – your online place for everything Wolverine, from FACEBOOK, Twitter, videos and the latest news.

Wolverine has been designing and making boots since 1883. While we understand all that goes into making a great, comfortable pair of boots we also realize most people aren’t familiar with the day-to-day processes that bring a work boot to life. So we created a video series called “American Tradition” to give you behind-the-scenes look at Wolverine.

“Paper to Product” is the first video in the series, which uncovers our process for developing a work boot, from the initial design concept to testing of the final product. TV host and licensed contractor, Jason Cameron, recently visited our company headquarters in Rockford, MI and to meet the folks at Wolverine and discover how our boots are made.