Feet Up! The Work Boot Thread

willyk57 · May 16, 2013

New Red Wing 899

Doing my part to keep the RW thread on top.

I wanted to show off my new RW 899s. If you are in the U.S. they are part of RWs regular boot line, in other markets they are sold under their Heritage Line as Heritage Loggers.

Red Wing 899

They are stiff out of the box but the RW 953s that I have broke in nicely after three or four weeks. I plan to wear these to the office with chinos or slacks and a dress shirt so they will be getting a little polish. After allot boot shopping i chose these for their style, full leather welt, and because they are a 100% U.S. boot. All that for 240 dollars, I think they are a great buy. Let me know what you think.

Willyk57

feltfan · May 17, 2013

I will admit that those 899s look nice. I have been wearing Red Wings for decades, but I don't buy them anymore.
I do visit my local shop from time to time (hey, free shoelaces) but I never see anything I want to buy. I have a pair
of Red Wing logger boots I must have bought in the mid-90s that are still going strong, after remarkable abuse.
But in my experience for the money you either get something that falls apart in months or you spend enough to have
been able to afford Wesco boots (at least from the factory seconds page, where there is a sale on this month) and there
is just no comparison.

LoveMyHats2 · May 17, 2013

I think Red Wings overall are one of the best, no matter what a price could be. I have perhaps 30 pairs ( most not even out of the boxes yet). I also think Mason brand boots are a very good boot no matter what the price. If you want US Made products from either Red Wings or Mason and you are looking at a catalog from either company, if you see a boot or shoe with an American Flag logo that denotes the boot or shoe is actually made in the US, no flag logo then it is made some place else.

I would personally avoid any boot or shoe made in China for a long list of reasons, but I do not project my thoughts about it to anyone else, as I honestly think it is your choice. Mexico can make some very nice items in the way of boots and shoes, so they are a not so negative factor to me.

I can tell you that Red Wing is very well made, and if they "farm out" something to be made elsewhere, they have factory reps (from the USA) watching every single step of what is being made, including anything made in China. However, my own personal preference I avoid any shoe products made in China.

ManofKent · May 17, 2013

I've been impressed with how my Red Wing Iron Rangers have held up - I treat them roughly, just giving them a coat of Obernaufs in the winter, and they've got a few scuffs and scrapes, but that adds to the look. I do have a pair of Chinese manufactured Red Wing boots (can't remember the model number, but they're more of a bikers boot) and they're not as solidly constructed with a cheaper grade of leather, but then they were substantially cheaper - certainly not bad boots for the price. I picked up the Thorogood Moc Toes from Amazon when they had them on offer - pretty much on a par with Redwing quality IMO.

I'm more of a brogued boots wearer, mainly a couple of pairs of Tricker's Stow (as you can probably guess I'm English), but in general I've been impressed with American work boots, and visually they work well enough with English heritage inspired workwear.

bburtner@moran · May 17, 2013

Nice boots I put my money in Hathorns.

gonnabeadoc · May 17, 2013

I bought pair of the Red Wing Brogue Rangers in black and wore them all winter, they still hardly look used. They are some of the best boots I have ever owned and I got many complements on the styling. I usually done equate Made in USA with quality but I do with Red Wings.

mikespens · May 17, 2013

I own 2 pair of made in USA Red Wings (213 & 9212) and love em, they are fine things. Also have some made in China Irish Setters I bought mainly to try on for fit before I bought USA made online and to support the local Red Wing store. They seem fine so far but admit to not wearing them much. Believe most of production is farmed out overseas except the Heritage series:

http://www.redwingheritage.com/boots#&f=

My beef is it was a seriously inconvenient to get them. Local stores won't stock the Heritage series because they are so expensive compared to the offshore made Red Wings they can't sell them. Ordered mine off the interweb and still had a hard time finding what I wanted. Not to mention not being able to try them on. Hard to support buy local or buy American when you have to jump through hoops to do it. I found better e-site selection for them in Europe and China(!) than in the USA. Guess we can only blame ourselves (Americans) for wanting it all cheap. Just my 2 cents.

willyk57 · May 17, 2013

mikespens said:
My beef is it was a seriously inconvenient to get them. Local stores won't stock the Heritage series because they are so expensive compared to the offshore made Red Wings they can't sell them. Ordered mine off the interweb and still had a hard time finding what I wanted. Not to mention not being able to try them on. Hard to support buy local or buy American when you have to jump through hoops to do it.

That has always been my gripe as well. I find that website marketing photos don't always do a very good job capturing the finish of item, especially leather ones.

mikespens said:
Guess we can only blame ourselves (Americans) for wanting it all cheap.

It is frustrating but, when the general population demands disposable; cheep is what we get.

Best,
Willyk57

HudsonHawk · May 17, 2013

Just a comment, but I have several pairs of those "Made in China" Red Wings, and they are fantastic, as good of quality as any boot I've ever owned made anywhere in the world.

bretron · Jun 10, 2013

What are your favorite boots with Vintage Leather Jackets?

I'm obsessively (guess with me that's a given :lol

planning my next boot purchase. Thought I'd drag my fellow jacket collectors into the fold. What boots do you find yourself wearing the most with your favorite vljs (eg A2s, half-belts cafes, etc)? No wrong answers here ( except Schitz and his blue Cros

), post fit pics if ya got em!

schitzo · Jun 10, 2013

Don't get me wrong, crocs are great, but they're not exactly 4 season footwear. And there is of course a time and a place for boots.

I've been to Northampton - it's the home of traditional shoe making in England - twice lately looking at shoes and boots. I haven't found anything in the right colour for me yet, but two brands that have impressed me are Loake and Alfred Sargent. For the first I think their Bedale boot in mahogany is a very nice quality wide fitting boot

http://www.sam-turner.co.uk/clothin...ahogany.html?gclid=CILghuzw2bcCFYTItAodTCwASw

Grayland · Jun 10, 2013

While nowhere near the build quality of Whites/Wesco, I really enjoy my Wolverine 1000's. I like the look quite a bit and it isn't like I actually work in them.

http://www.wolverine.com/US/en/1000MileCollection

gtdean48 · Jun 10, 2013

Breaking in a pair of Iron Rangers but wear these with all leather jackets, vintage or otherwise...

Insurrection/ThurstonBros · Jun 10, 2013

Vintage engineer or cowboy boots!

blazerbud · Jun 10, 2013

In Order:
1. RedWings Iron Rangers in brown, look more like Amber Harness
2. Filson upland moc toe
3. Chippewa 6" (a cheap good looking boot that I wear when damage is likely)

robrinay · Jun 10, 2013

I just bought a pair of French Foreign Legion boots for £30 in nos condition. Can't send a pic but I'll put an ebay link in 'vintage finds' to an identical if rather overpriced pair (not in this thread for fear of bartenders). They are incredibly well made and surprisingly comfortable and should last for generations - like some of my vljs have already.
See vintage finds for the link - they often come up on eBay and are usually much cheaper.

Dr H · Jun 10, 2013

RM Williams Comfort Turnout.

wanz · Jun 10, 2013

RM Williams Craftsman for me... although I just noticed that they sold a stake in the company to Louis Vuitton Group.

thor · Jun 10, 2013

Grayland said:
While nowhere near the build quality of Whites/Wesco, I really enjoy my Wolverine 1000's. I like the look quite a bit and it isn't like I actually work in them.

http://www.wolverine.com/US/en/1000MileCollection

+1

Edward · Jun 10, 2013

Depending on the situation, I would opt for workboots along the lines of Iron Rangers or similar, something more akin to a city shoe such as Loake brogue boots, or a pair of engineer boots. If the latter, definitely those without a steel toe cap are preferable as I find they tend to have a snugger fit, thus more comfortable to walk in all day. Loose boots feel like wellies...

I've found (always on eBay) that Caterpillar do some very nice boots in the same stylistic ballpark as RedWing's vintage type offerings. RRP is typically GBP120 or so (markedly cheaper than the street price for Red Wings), but they can usually be found for half that.

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