Parkhurst Allen vs Red Wing Blacksmith

104 facts in comparison

Based on 190 Reddit opinions. Parkhurst Allen leads by 10 points.

190 opinions
Parkhurst Allen leads by 10pts
Reddit's Pick
PA
Parkhurst Allen
81%
B+
Based on
279 Redditors
Winner

Parkhurst Allen

102 opinions

tldr; Small batch American maker. Excellent materials, handmade quality. Allen model is beloved.

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VS
Red Wing Blacksmith
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.

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Leather QualityConstructionComfort & Break-inDurabilityFit & Sizing
LEA
CON
❤️COM
🔧DUR
📐FIT
85
Points
65
Points

Score by Category

Leather Quality
100%100%
Construction
82%57%
Comfort & Break-in
88%36%
Durability
100%71%
Fit & Sizing
38%23%

Why is Red Wing Blacksmith better than Parkhurst Allen?

  • Briar Oil Slick leather classy with conditioning
  • Resolable, but 430 mini-lug stiff
  • Size down 0.5 from Brannock
Based on 543 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge

Reddit prefers the Parkhurst Allen

Winning by 10 points (81% vs 71%)

Better fit
Better comfort
Better construction
High confidence (543 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 543 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Parkhurst Allen
8.1/10
279 mentions
Wing Blacksmith
7.1/10
264 mentions
FIT
Parkhurst Allen3.8/10
Wing Blacksmith2.3/10
LEATHER QUALITY
Parkhurst Allen10.0/10
Wing Blacksmith10.0/10
COMFORT
Parkhurst Allen8.8/10
Wing Blacksmith3.6/10
VALUE
Parkhurst Allen10.0/10
Wing Blacksmith10.0/10
CONSTRUCTION
Parkhurst Allen8.2/10
Wing Blacksmith5.7/10
DURABILITY
Parkhurst Allen10.0/10
Wing Blacksmith7.1/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Parkhurst Allen: 4|Wing Blacksmith: 0
FitParkhurst Allen
Parkhurst Allen38%
Wing Blacksmith23%
Leather Quality
Parkhurst Allen100%
Wing Blacksmith100%
ComfortParkhurst Allen
Parkhurst Allen88%
Wing Blacksmith36%
Value
Parkhurst Allen100%
Wing Blacksmith100%
ConstructionParkhurst Allen
Parkhurst Allen82%
Wing Blacksmith57%
DurabilityParkhurst Allen
Parkhurst Allen100%
Wing Blacksmith71%
Parkhurst Allen81%
Wing Blacksmith71%
Parkhurst Allen wins by 10 points

Key Specs

SpecParkhurst AllenRed Wing Blacksmith
Construction
Goodyear Welted
Goodyear Welt
Last
602 last
No. 8 Last
Upper Material
Full-grain leather
Sole
Dainite studded rubber sole
Lining
Leather lining at the vamp area

Key Highlights

Parkhurst AllenWinner
🇺🇸 Made in Pennsylvania
🪡 GYW construction
👞 Service boot silhouette
💰 Great value at $350-400
📏 Runs TTS
Red Wing Blacksmith
👍 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

Parkhurst Allen: 4|Tied: 1|Wing Blacksmith: 0
Leather Quality
Parkhurst Allen
100%
Wing Blacksmith
100%
Construction
Parkhurst Allen wins
Parkhurst Allen
82%
Wing Blacksmith
57%
❤️Comfort & Break-in
Parkhurst Allen wins
Parkhurst Allen
88%
Wing Blacksmith
36%
🔧Durability
Parkhurst Allen wins
Parkhurst Allen
100%
Wing Blacksmith
71%
📐Fit & Sizing
Parkhurst Allen wins
Parkhurst Allen
38%
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 Parkhurst Allen

Best Praise
+51 pts
Parkhurst is a damn fine boot and Andrew is a good dude.
r/goodyearwelt
View
Top Criticism
+3 pts
**Parkhurst - The Allen - Dune Roughout (Read Notes!)** **Size: 9 - 9.5D** **Price:** **~~$300~~** **$205 shipped via USPS Ground Advantage to CONUS** **Pictures:** [HERE](https://imgur.com/a/URGRzGW) **Notes on Sizing**: This pair does not have a size label on it. I am speculating that they are 9 or 9.5D. For context, I typically wear 9.5EE in Red Wing and Grant Stone. This pair has a slightly low instep and is too narrow for me. Based on the [Parkhurst FAQ](https://www.parkhurstbrand.com/pages/faq), I believe these are 9-9.5D. In the photo album, I tried my best to provide measurements from the outsole of the boot. **Due to the uncertainty in sizing, I will allow returns (you will have to pay for return shipping)**. **Other Notes:** I have confirmed with Parkhurst (see end of photo album) that these are Dune Roughout boots. As far as I can tell, they are in new condition, if not tried on a few times as there is no wear on the sole and the leather seems untouched. I'll note that the waxed cotton laces seem too short and may need replacement. Otherwise, nothing else seems wrong with the boots. **All transactions will be through PayPal. The price will drop with every BST thread! Please message with any questions or photo requests.**
r/goodyearwelt
View
3 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
View
Top 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
View
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Red Wing Blacksmith
Red Wing Blacksmith

Which is Better?

Parkhurst Allen Wins
81%
Allen
vs
71%
Blacksmith

Parkhurst Allen leads by 10 points based on 543 Reddit opinions.

Why Parkhurst AllenWinner
  • 🇺🇸 Made in Pennsylvania
  • 🪡 GYW construction
  • 👞 Service boot silhouette
Why Wing Blacksmith
  • 👍 Briar Oil Slick leather classy with conditioning
  • 🔄 Resolable, but 430 mini-lug stiff

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

30%Positive
Positive
30%
Neutral
64%
Negative
6%
Based on 279 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

23%Positive
Positive
23%
Neutral
67%
Negative
10%
Based on 264 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Parkhurst Allen or Red Wing Blacksmith?
Based on 543 Reddit comments, Parkhurst Allen is the preferred choice with 81% positive sentiment vs Red Wing Blacksmith's 71%. Parkhurst Allen leads by 10 percentage points.
Should I buy Parkhurst Allen or Red Wing Blacksmith?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Parkhurst Allen has stronger approval ratings (81% vs 71%). However, Red Wing Blacksmith may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Parkhurst Allen?
Reddit users highlight: Made in Pennsylvania. GYW construction. Service boot silhouette. With 279 mentions and 81% 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 543 Reddit comments: 279 about Parkhurst Allen 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.

190 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 5/31/2026