Red Wing Boots - Your Opinion

[bespoken pa]

Amber Harness?

 

[willis88]

Look much better with those laces

 

[Schnurretiger]



Amber Harness?

Yes.

Agree, the leather laces are much nicer!

 

[ElBron21]



Yes.

Agree, the leather laces are much nicer!

Yeah good choice of laces. I have those, it'll 2 years in August, and honestly they stay that same color really. Or at least the patina hasn't altered the color of mine, which I really like. And I'm hard on my boots but keep a strict regiment of once a month clean and oiling.
Those boots walk that fine line of work and dressy.
Now the muleskinner iron rangers, i think it's impossible to keep that honey color. Ive had mine for almost 4 years and they look completely different with that roughed out leather look almost completely turned smooth and dark. I don't mind bc I get a ton of compliments on them and it's nice to own a pair that you completely don't care about, if that makes sense..

 

[ElBron21]

See what i mean?

 

[bl@ster]

This RAWR Denim article shows why Red Wing Heritage construction is better than competitor boots from Chippewa and Thorogood. When they cut the boots in half, check out the cork filling and real leather insole on the RW's whereas the Chippewa's cut corners with crappy synthetic foam core and synthetic insole:

http://www.rawrdenim.com/2015/06/red-wing-iron-ranger-best-entry-level-boot/
http://www.rawrdenim.com/2015/06/chippewa-service-boot-entry-level-boot-showdown/

Red Wing Iron Ranger:

Chippewa Original Service Boots:

 

[BootGuy]

Does anyone have photos of the round toe boots?

It looks like the shaft is shorter than the Beckmans but I can't find anything other than stock photos of them.

 

[Schnurretiger]



See what i mean?

Thanks, this is one of the most interesting pics of wear on the Muleskinners I have ever seen. Did you treat them with anything, or is this just the normal patina? The look similar to my M43 Roughouts after treating them with Snoseal.

 

[ElBron21]



Does anyone have photos of the round toe boots?

It looks like the shaft is shorter than the Beckmans but I can't find anything other than stock photos of them.

Which round toe boots, the blacksmiths?

 

[ElBron21]



Thanks, this is one of the most interesting pics of wear on the Muleskinners I have ever seen. Did you treat them with anything, or is this just the normal patina? The look similar to my M43 Roughouts after treating them with Snoseal.

I had just put bickmore no.4 on them before that pic (my favorite conditioner), so that wasn't the most accurate depiction. I'll post a up to date pic at the end of this, they're a bit lighter now that they've absorbed it. But, not that much difference. They continue to lighten up until I condition them again.
There's a history to this pair, it was my first pair of any nice leather I had owned. The roughed out suede look started to rub off and disappear on the toe and heel first just from normal wear n tear, giving way to a darker chestnut like color, then the rest followed. They just started to smooth out, for lack of better wording. The only parts that look like the original color is round the eyelets and tongue. But I should add i did not take care of them properly initially...I didn't know better.
I wore them every day, all day for about 2 years before I ordered a new, second pair of red wings . I went in the store and they were like, wtf you should've oiled these like 20x already. So they oiled them with their red wing pitch oil, which isn't the right kind for that type of leather so they darkened them more. I think that slightly added to the permanent change in color, but I didn't mind though, and since I've treated them with shinola mink oil and now bickmore no.4 to keep them healthy.
Also my irish wolfhound ate half of the right boot when she was a puppy, which is why I went in for the second pair. Jeans hide the damage, mostly, so I still rock them at work and to baseball games and like i said i get tons of compliments from these still. I think it's because of their aged look, and they do need a new sole badly. I just think I'll replace them with a brand new pair eventually instead of replacing the outsole on a half eaten boot...

There's my wolfhound, threw that in for ***** and grins. No longer a puppy, thank God..

 

[ElBron21]

That shmuck in the picture is a buddy of mine.
Here's a pic of the other boot.

 

[Schnurretiger]

Thanks for the info! Very good to know for future purchases. Right now, I'm still in this phase of being a RW-owner:



But it's getting better.

 

[ElBron21]

For some reason, luckily, red wings have never given me blisters or much discomfort. Even when they're in the break-in period. I read about people having problems often, and I have seen some buddies struggle with new pairs. Maybe its because a size 8D fits me perfect from the get go, that and quality socks but idk

 

[BootGuy]

Which round toe boots, the blacksmiths?

These:



It seems like in most photos I've seen of them the shaft of the boot is shorter than the Beckmans.

 

[ElBron21]



These: It seems like in most photos I've seen of them the shaft of the boot is shorter than the Beckmans.

Perhaps.. It could just appear that way because those are shaped differently than the Beckmans, with a more gradual incline from cap to top of heel? I bet they are close to being a 6" boot if they aren't already. I have seen those in person and I don't remember noticing them being shorter than my Beckmans but don't quote me on that. They're a great color either way!