I wore these nearly everyday for 6 months throwing life at them
After 6 months the patina is just beginning and will be even more interesting in the years to come. The break in process was fairly long and the first month was tough - similar to Iron Ranger. I only brushed these a few times and conditioned 2x with Bick 4. Cleaned off mud a few times with warm water. Super durable boots and the leather lined toe box makes them even tougher than the Iron Ranger IMHO - The brown from the tea core leather is just starting to poke through, but will continue to do so over time. Seemed hotter than Iron Rangers and Aldens with thicker leather and leather lining
The fit is great I went up a half size from Iron Ranger from 10.5 to 11. There was a bit of room, but with thick socks and long days in these boots I think I made the right choice. The sole molds to the foot same as the other Red Wing boots - a pretty wide toe box, but good comfort overall. The arch is minimal - typical of Red Wing
The design is what drew me to these boots and I love how they straddle the line between work and dress - very versatile. The stitching and QC seemed very high - even better than Alden. The leather lining is a nice touch, but makes these a little hotter than Iron Rangers. The hardware was solid - i switched out the laces to leather ones. Super durable boots that I expect to last a lifetime
The sole was perfect - I like the low profile and durability - It’s a harder sole like the Vibram of the Iron Ranger but sleeker. Good traction comfort and cool design like Dr. Sole.
My first patina challenge - I picked these boots because of the versatility. I needed to wear them for field work, office work, dressed up and dressed down. They were a great choice however the 6 month patina wasn’t as dramatic as maybe I would have liked, the upside is they should continue to look good and work in the rotation for years to come. The price was good for the quality, but I did buy them in Japan.