Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill vs Red Wing Blacksmith
99 facts in comparison
Based on 137 Reddit opinions. Higgins MillAllen Edmonds Higgins Mill leads by 6 points.
137 opinions
Higgins Mill leads by 6pts
VS
Reddit's Pick
77%
B
Based on
197 Redditors
Winner
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
~$550
49 opinions
tldr; American dress shoe/boot mainstay. Recraftable, wide size range. Quality dipped after acquisition.
Check pricesVS
71%
B-
Based on
264 Redditors
Red Wing Blacksmith
88 opinions
tldr; Iron Ranger's sleeker sibling. Same quality, no cap toe. Easier to dress up slightly.
Check prices⭐LEA
⭐CON
❤️COM
🔧DUR
📐FIT
52
Points
65
Points
Score by Category
Leather Quality
33%100%
Construction
38%57%
Comfort & Break-in
100%36%
Durability
33%71%
Fit & Sizing
40%23%
Why is Red Wing Blacksmith better than Edmonds Higgins Mill?
- Better leather quality (100% vs 33%)
- Better durability (71% vs 33%)
- Better construction (57% vs 38%)
- Better value (100% vs 67%)
- Briar Oil Slick leather classy with conditioning
- Resolable, but 430 mini-lug stiff
- Size down 0.5 from Brannock
Based on 461 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge
Reddit prefers the Higgins MillAllen Edmonds Higgins Mill
Winning by 6 points (77% vs 71%)
Better comfort
Better fit
Made in Wisconsin
High confidence (461 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 461 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Higgins Mill
7.7/10
197 mentions
Wing Blacksmith
7.1/10
264 mentions
COMFORT
Higgins Mill10.0/10
Wing Blacksmith3.6/10
CONSTRUCTION
Higgins Mill3.8/10
Wing Blacksmith5.7/10
VALUE
Higgins Mill6.7/10
Wing Blacksmith10.0/10
LEATHER QUALITY
Higgins Mill3.3/10
Wing Blacksmith10.0/10
FIT
Higgins Mill4.0/10
Wing Blacksmith2.3/10
DURABILITY
Higgins Mill3.3/10
Wing Blacksmith7.1/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Higgins Mill | Wing Blacksmith |
|---|---|---|
Comfort | 100% | 36% |
Construction | 38% | 57% |
Value | 67% | 100% |
Leather Quality | 33% | 100% |
Fit | 40% | 23% |
Durability | 33% | 71% |
Category Wins
Higgins Mill: 2|Wing Blacksmith: 4
Head to Head
Higgins Mill: 2|Wing Blacksmith: 4
ComfortHiggins Mill
Higgins Mill100%
Wing Blacksmith36%
ConstructionWing Blacksmith
Higgins Mill38%
Wing Blacksmith57%
ValueWing Blacksmith
Higgins Mill67%
Wing Blacksmith100%
Leather QualityWing Blacksmith
Higgins Mill33%
Wing Blacksmith100%
FitHiggins Mill
Higgins Mill40%
Wing Blacksmith23%
DurabilityWing Blacksmith
Higgins Mill33%
Wing Blacksmith71%
Higgins Mill
77%
71%
Wing Blacksmith
Higgins Mill77%
Wing Blacksmith71%
Higgins Mill wins by 6 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill | Red Wing Blacksmith |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Allen Edmonds | Red Wing Shoes |
| Manufacturer | Allen Edmonds | Red Wing Heritage |
| Color | Brown | Various (e.g., Briar Oil Slick, Black Prairie, Copper Rough and Tough) |
| Weight | 4.1 pounds | 1 pound 14.4 ounces |
| Last | — | No. 8 Last |
Key Highlights
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
🇺🇸 Made in Wisconsin
🎨 CXL and Weatherproof options
🪡 GYW construction, resoleable
⚠️ QC concerns post-2017 acquisition
💰 Best during sales at $250-300
Red Wing BlacksmithWinner
👍 Briar Oil Slick leather classy with conditioning
🔄 Resolable, but 430 mini-lug stiff
📏 Size down 0.5 from Brannock
🪡 No midsole - harder underfoot
🇺🇸 Made in USA heritage
Topic Battles
Higgins Mill: 2|Tied: 0|Wing Blacksmith: 3
⭐Leather Quality
Wing Blacksmith winsHiggins Mill
33%
Wing Blacksmith
100%
⭐Construction
Wing Blacksmith winsHiggins Mill
38%
Wing Blacksmith
57%
❤️Comfort & Break-in
Higgins Mill winsHiggins Mill
100%
Wing Blacksmith
36%
🔧Durability
Wing Blacksmith winsHiggins Mill
33%
Wing Blacksmith
71%
📐Fit & Sizing
Higgins Mill winsHiggins Mill
40%
Wing Blacksmith
23%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
Top Criticism
+14 pts“I’ve encountered problems with ‘off the shelf’ Higgins Mill and other AE products. I’m also not a big fan of how they completely ruin the ‘weatherproof’ cxl, might as well remove the Horween name from that garbage. However, let me tell you that my shell Higgins Mill that they made when I placed an order (7 weeks) is one of the best boots I’ve ever worn. And it’s a damn shame that one has to pay $1k just for them to get the basics correct. Those off the shelf HM should be made just as well as the custom ordered shell pair I received, and it’s garbage that there is such a difference.”
r/goodyearwelt
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Red Wing Blacksmith
Best Praise
+8 pts“I love my 3340. The blacksmith is very classic to me, and I agree that the model should be pictured in the dictionary definition of heritage styled boot, no question. CRT is pretty iconic, but Briar Oil Slick takes the cake for me as all-time favorite from SB Foot/Red Wing.”
r/goodyearwelt
ViewTop Criticism
+16 pts“Blacksmith/Iron Ranger are classic. I just hate the lack of a midsole. It's a nonstarter for me. I love your review, and thanks for sharing. I'm glad you enjoy them so much. That's the beauty of a good fitting pair of footwear.”
r/goodyearwelt
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Higgins Mill
Red Wing Blacksmith
📈Historical Price Data
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
Red Wing Blacksmith
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill
All-time low: $276.5(2021-04)
Red Wing Blacksmith
Which is Better?
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill Wins
77%
Mill
vs
71%
Blacksmith
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill leads by 6 points based on 461 Reddit opinions.
Why Higgins MillWinner
- 🇺🇸 Made in Wisconsin
- 🎨 CXL and Weatherproof options
- 🪡 GYW construction, resoleable
Why Wing Blacksmith
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 67%)
- More discussed (264 vs 197)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
19%Positive
Positive
19%Neutral
75%Negative
6%Based on 197 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
23%Positive
Positive
23%Neutral
67%Negative
10%Based on 264 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill or Red Wing Blacksmith?
Based on 461 Reddit comments, Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill is the preferred choice with 77% positive sentiment vs Red Wing Blacksmith's 71%. Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill leads by 6 percentage points.
Should I buy Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill or Red Wing Blacksmith?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill has stronger approval ratings (77% vs 71%). However, Red Wing Blacksmith may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill?
Reddit users highlight: Made in Wisconsin. CXL and Weatherproof options. GYW construction, resoleable. With 197 mentions and 77% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Red Wing Blacksmith?
Reddit users highlight: Briar Oil Slick leather classy with conditioning. Resolable, but 430 mini-lug stiff. Size down 0.5 from Brannock. With 264 mentions and 71% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 461 Reddit comments: 197 about Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill and 264 about Red Wing Blacksmith. Data was sourced from Quality Boots community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
137 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 5/25/2026