When Chippewa Boots was founded in 1901, among the first products it made was its logger boot.
More than a century later, Chippewa’s Super Logger steel-toed boot is still being crafted for those who want rugged, safe, and comfortable footwear — even if they’re not in the logging industry.
Billy Lovell, product manager for Chippewa, recently appeared in a four-part video that describes the features of the Super Logger. The first clip serves as an introduction:
You can watch Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of the video series. We’ve condensed Lovell’s explanations about the boot.
— Starting with the bottom, Lovell talked about the Super Logger’s Vibram Tacoma outsole, with its deep and aggressive tread.
“One of the key things is the high heel,” he said. “The reason logger boots have tall heels so when guys are standing on the logs, the heel and the fore part of the boot straddle the log and have stable footing.”
The Vibram compound of the outsole also assures better traction in wet or dry conditions.
— A leather midsole board “provides stability for the boot and prevents it from twisting while you’re climbing on logs, getting up ladders, jumping on a shovel, or whatever you’re doing.”
— On top of a rubber midsole is a leather wedge, from the back of the heel to just behind the ball of the foot, “to provide more stability and make sure the boot doesn’t twist and torque.”
— The boot’s Goodyear leather storm welt keeps debris from being trapped between the outsole and the rest of the boot. “As the boot flexes throughout its lifetime, it doesn’t allow those small particles of debris to work their way between the welt and the upper, cutting the threads and causing separation,” Lovell explained.
— The boot’s protective steel toe meets American Society for Testing and Materials safety standards for impact, compression, and electrical shock. “The electrical hazard aspect of this boot means the boots have been tested for conditions up to 16,000 volts,” he said.
— The Super Logger includes a one-inch-wide steel shank for foot support. “When you look at the shank, you’ll see three ribs to provide more strength to keep it from bending and twisting.”
— The boot is made with heavyweight Bay Apache leather. “It has a lot of oil and wax content. When you bend the leather, it becomes a lighter color. What this is doing is the oils and waxes in the leather are being pushed away from the surface by the pressure created by the fold. It is waterproof, it’s rugged, and a very good, outdoors-y type leather.”
— Inside the boot is a ruby red Dri-Lex lining that not only feels nice, but is tough. “The key is it has a very high abrasion resistance. That means when your foot goes inside and out, it’s not going to wear a hole in the lining.”
The lining also contains a waterproof Chip-A-Tex membrane. “This lining is going to wick the moisture from your foot and pass it through this waterproof membrane on the other side, so it’s creating a dry area for your foot.”
— The boot is lined with Thinsulate 400-gram insulation, which Lovell says is similar to insulation in homes. “It traps air in the insulation fibers and makes a warm barrier around your foot.”
Lovell said it’s not advantageous to add more than 400 grams of Thinsulate in the boot. “As you compress the insulation over the toe and heel, it’s losing its insulating characteristics. With 400-gram, it’s not too thick, and it doesn’t compress down as much.”
— The cushioned collar, Lovell says, is designed to prevent fatigue in the back of the legs and Achilles tendon.
— The boot comes withe a removable polyurethane cushioned insert. “It absorbs shock from the bottom and gives support for push-off … gives you a spring in your step, so to speak.” Lovell also said the insert can be machine-washed and air-dried for reuse.
— To hold the laces, the shaft contains hex-shaped eyelets and milled studs of antique brass. “They’re non-tarnishable, meaning they’re not going to rust. They’re made with a heavy-gauge metal, and they’re not going to bend, break, or come apart.” Washers on the back of the eyelets and studs add durability.
— Even the wax-coated laces, Lovell said, are made to stand up to use and abuse. “When you tie these laces, the wax is going to prevent the laces from coming loose. The wax will stick the laces to each other and form sort of a bond. Another thing the wax does is it gives a protective coating on the laces to keep them from absorbing moisture so they’re not going to rot.”
— Attached to the first row of the laces is an American flag lace keeper.
“This is something we put in the boots to remind us that these are hand-crafted in the U.S.A., in Carthage, Mo.”
— The leathers in the boot are stitched together with multiple rows of heavy-duty nylon thread that won’t break or unravel.
Lovell concluded:
“We have a ton of components and craftsmanship that we put into these Super Loggers. That’s why we feel these are the best of the best in the industry. That’s what makes it a Super Logger.”
If the toughness and craftsmanship of this boot sound like something your looking for, order your Chippewa Supper Logger from Drysdales today. And browse our other Chippewa work boots as well.
