An ultra-rare, ultra-cool pair of Iron Rangers

Not only were these boots a special commemorative release, they were only available as a giveaway, not for purchase. I was one of the lucky few who were chosen to get a pair when they were announced in the fall of 2022. I kept them on my shelf for the following year before entering them into the Thunderdome. While Red Wing’s construction is fairly barebones (no midsoles in these!), I personally have found the 8 last to be one of the most comfortable for my feet, and I always enjoyed the chance to throw these boots on. I wore a second pair for the contest, but I found myself favoring these Iron Rangers a lot more. The leather is quite an intriguing fusion between Amber Harness and Oro Legacy. It has a much darker, more caramel-y color than Oro Legacy does, but it still manages to retain that leather’s vibrant orange-sunset undertones, giving it a more lively appearance in comparison to Red Wing’s Copper Rough and Tough, for example. I don’t think anyone will notice at first glance that these aren’t your typical Iron Rangers, but there’s a lot of unique character in this leather that I will continue to enjoy as it evolves even more.