True to its reputation

I lived in Houston for a month and then transition to a life in Merida, Mexico. I purposely trained CrossFit and jogged regularly in my rangers to see if they could really survive hard work like they did ‘back in the day’ in the coal mines. I trained so hard in my rangers, that I even temporarily slipped some sneakers on one day and ran the Merida marathon under 5 hours during the patina contest months. After many blisters and sore feet, breaking in the harness leather, I think Redwing has proven it can compete with the highest class of work wear.

It took some time to soften the black harness. Boot’s stiff leather allowed minimal foot movement on day one. I remember some odd looks at the gym when I would wear my redwings. I 4 of the 6 months, I did 2-4CrossFit classes every day, 4/5 times a week. Walking or jogging to and from the gym, 4 miles there and back. Considering how many squat motions I did in a week, the overlay leather on top the ankle was the first thing to break in. That only took a week. Second thing to soften was the toe bend, and the last thing to give was top at the ankle. It took two good sore weeks for it to feel daily wearable with no constant irritation or rubbing. I believe it would have taken longer for the break in, if the sizing wasn’t dang near perfect for me. First thing I noticed, was the harness leather gives heavy wrinkles at the normal foot creases. The leather was thick enough to survive, honestly anything. Most people don’t know that Merida, where I moved too, is 99 percent concrete and never, even and smooth. It’s a steamy, hot, humid, rainy rainforest weather on top of decades old concrete made jungle. You can’t travel two meters before any side walk becomes uneven from normal city wear or uneven due to some residential renovations. Needless to say, I did not break these Redwings on dirt or grass, but all hard concrete. I feel as if it was the toughest match a boot can get. I did help the leather by applying my own leather but care concoction. It was a base of beeswax and over 12 oils/buttery greases. I only applied minimal amount by lotion-ing my hands then touching the leather. Other than that, constant brushing with horse hair brush.

I got lucky with redwing this contest. Years ago I ordered a pair that was awfully too small, and it was the most painful experience I’ve ever had in boots. Thank goodness redwing allowed my return them... Over ten years later, and I wanted to give redwing iron ranger another try. With past experience under my belt, I successfully went with the wide option this go around, and it was perfect. The last truly gives a natural foot shape and makes you feel protected, almost to the level of a nicks boot. The wearability, I feel, is pleasing and holds true to its years and years of sales in the US. If Alden Indy was a 10, and pointy dress shoes were a 5, I give the iron ranger a 8 and the top level.

I purchased the iron ranger this contest for its classic old design. The construction holds true to its reputation in my option. It feels machine made with human touches on it. I will say that my wife wore a women Redwing as one of her contest boots, and unfortunately her style bout was not an iron ranger but similar, yet in no way matched the heavy duty quality from the harness leather. The finishing on mine was real quality while hers felt like a cheap, what a fake, version would come out to be. It was decent, but no wear near the heavy duty, think leather, quality the iron ranger holds.

Considering I wore these boots over concrete all day long, very impressed with its comfort. Did I have to push through a tiny bit of some stiffness under foot, of course, but it did provide high, durable quality for any negative side effects of what a heavy-duty rubber gives. I feel as if adding a leather mid sole in the future would elevate the boot 10 fold. This is something I am considering in future resole of this boot. I don’t believe I would change the 430 mini lug, unless it was a soft yellow Cristy sole.

Unfortunately, I did not deal with oil during the contest.

In the end, yes the price of the redwing might be 20 percent over value, but everyone needs to own at least one pair of redwings in their lifetime. Definite two thumbs up.