I cant even trust your reviews. I have bought 2 of the boots you said were good and neither lasted a month. Good bad or indifferent it seems once you guys go viral there is no telling what's legit. The Keens lasted a week before delaminating. The Carolinas tore in 3 weeks where the sole meets the leather. The keens warranted the shoe, but the next shoe the heel part collapse and have a big ball in it. Not hating just frustrated there are no good quality shoes anymore.
@@BentonL I mean that's either incredibly unlucky or you're lying on the internet. Carolinas are built well, I've only known about three people that wore them though. I have never heard of a single quality issue with them. And I've worn probably eight sets of keens, never had any of the issues you're saying.
To me the Blacksmith is by far the best looking of all the Red Wing boots. I like the “clean” look. Luckily for me, there is a Red wing shop here in Stockholm, Sweden. I tried out and bought a pair of Blacksmiths in the briar colour and I love them! Thanks for a great video.
It's such a nice looking boot yeah. I prefer the silhouette over the ranger, but I wish it was available in more leathers. The paneling makes it look very tasteful and much more flexible than the iron ranger imo.
I bought a pair of Blacksmith as my first and so far only heritage boots exactly because they are neither overly dressy nor too rugged looking. For me they are in the sweet spot inbetween.
I bought a pair of Blacksmiths a few years ago and I love them! Them not being as "flashy" as the Iron Rangers but having the same build quality was the reason I bought them. Great boots.
@@thehuntstudio17 if these are in your budget and fit your standard of "boring", then you should buy them! They're certainly great quality for the price!
Bought a pair two months ago and I absolutely love them. Super versatile too; they look equally good with a tweed coat, a duffle coat or a flight jacket.
Thank you for checking these out!! I’ve owned a pair of these for 3-4 years and cannot believe they’re not reviewed in much detail anywhere. I picked these because I didn’t care about the toe cap and picked the blacksmith because it was a little more affordable and the reddish brown was only available on the blacksmith.
I love these boots. I have the blacksmiths in black and wore them in my wedding. Also, I got mine as factory seconds for only $149, which is a crazy good deal in my opinion.
@@brandonabney6437 I got these at Nordstrom rack a few years ago. I also picked up a pair of red wing moc toe oxfords 8103 for $99 at Sierra trading post
I’m a tradesman and have been wearing redwing work boots for 20yrs. I bought a pair of blacksmiths about 2 months ago for my first pair of a real heritage style casual boot. I absolutely love them and wear them every chance I get. They had a typical break in period - duct tape directly on the heel under the sock really helps prevent heel blisters during break in btw. They fit my feet perfectly, are surprisingly comfortable, and look great now that they have a bit of wear on them. I also scooped a pair of 1000 miles for 1/2 off and while I do really like the look of the wolverines the RW’s feel like a higher quality boot.
From years of mountaineering experience I wear two pairs of socks initially. I wear a very thin synthetic inner pair with a light pair of wool socks over them. I think it reduces friction on the skin and it definitely reduces blisters on both heel and on toes.
This boot was on my to-buy list for awhile. Finally purchased them over the summer. You don’t know how happy I was to see your review on it haha. I love them even more. Thanks for the vid!
I think you’re right. The Iron Rangers have distinctive and now iconic look. There’s no mistaking the cap toe with four rows of stitching, ,the angled top of the shaft, or the heel/backstay. While I like the subdued, understated look of the blacksmith / beckman boots, I suspect many people that want that look can choose from many other retro service boot options.
My first pair was the 8111 Iron Rangers once I broke them in, I moved into the 875 Classic Mocs while still in the process of breaking them in I got myself a pair of 3345 Blacksmiths and the break in period was drastically easier maybe because I got use to the 8111s but I truly love the Blacksmiths. I want to grow my hertiage boot collection because of Red Wings alone.
I just bought my first pair of real boots on Black Friday. After watching the channel for a while I was leaning toward a pair of Iron Rangers, but decided on the Blacksmiths because of their ability to be dressed up a bit more. Really happy to finally see them on your channel.
For me I like the angled top of the Iron Ranger, but prefer the lack of toe cap on the Blacksmith. Bit of a conundrum. Naturally, I settled on a pair of 877s.
I got a pair of blacksmiths last year I love them I think they look better than the iron Rangers without the toe cap, the toe cap while iconic, makes the boot look too large for my small feet (some have called it a clown shoe jokingly) the blacksmiths don't have the name recognition of the iron ranger but it's literally the same boot as far as I can tell. Over a year now and been holding up great.
I wanted a pair of Blacksmiths but my Redwing store never had them in stock. So I finally bought a pair of Iron Rangers instead. Haven't regretted it, but would still like a pair of Blacksmiths.
I got the Blacksmiths as my first pair of heritage style boots back in 2015 because I preferred the more refined look in comparison to the Iron Ranger. Mine are in a beautiful dark red Briar Oil Slick leather. They’ve held up amazingly well and I’ve received many compliments over the years. An excellent pair of boots!
I also bought my pair in 2015 and they were also my first heritage boot! I adore them to this day. I bought the Ox Blood version. They still look amazing. I've never bothered buying another boot because of how much I like them.
I’ve owned both the IR and more recently the Blacksmith. I’ve loved them both, even though I tend to wear my Moc Toes about twice as often. The latter are just that more comfortable.
When I finally took the plunge into and wanted to get a real heritage boot (after a year of watching this channel), I went into a Red Wing store and tried on both the Blacksmith and Iron Ranger. As someone who grew up in work boots, I just gravitated to the more “boot-like” Iron Ranger over the dressier Blacksmith. The toe cap and heel counter just look more rugged for a daily driver boot
My first Heritage boot was the Red Wing Blacksmith in Copper Rough and Tough. I figured out that the non-toe cap design would be easier to break in, and that this boot had most of the features of the other boots. I think I was right. It was truly not all that difficult to break in, and this kind of leather is exceptional with it's high amount of built in wax and oil. For a boot priced in the low $300 range (I paid $330 a couple of years ago), you get features (good quality thick leather, leather counter cover, true Goodyear welt, quality outsole) that provide for recrafting, and for above average wear and tear over the life. I'd strongly recommend the Blacksmith (3343) or the Beckman (I found one set of these, even though they are no longer made). The Iron Ranger probably is a bit better for heavy work environment where toe protection is a big factor.
Bought the Blacksmiths mainly because it wasn't the Iron Ranger. That and I can use them across a broader range of settings (Business Casual, casual, outdoor hiking).
I like the blacksmith shape slightly better than the iron ranger. The fact that it doesn't look as much like a work boot is a benefit in my opinion. The 3345 is my favorite boot of all my Red wings. I have to make myself not reach for them and wear one of the other ones to have a balance. I wish they still offered the splitsole option like in the Beckman. I think it makes it a more attractive booth maybe it's cheaper to manufacture it with the type of soul that's similar to an iron ranger
I have a pair of the black roughout blacksmiths when they first came out. One big difference that i wish all the iron rangers had and only one or two blacksmiths had at one time is mine have the leather toe vamp instead of the cotton canvas that iron rangers have and im guessing all the newer blacksmiths now have. I love the leather toe vamp. Same reason i like my 877 over the 875 is the full leather inside that wraps the whole foot in leather like a moccasin.My wife likes look of blacksmiths also.
I love my blacksmiths. I have the Klondike leather, so it’s black with a brown tea core. I think they are far more versatile than the iron rangers or moc toes, albeit a bit less iconic. It has the traction, durability and quality materials to not be babied, but also the plain toe and minimal styling allows it to be used in a slightly dressier setting. I’m glad you cut it apart. Can you now please cut apart the viberg 2030? They are considered by many to be the gold standard heritage service boot, but I want to see if the incredibly expensive markup is worth it.
I would have a pair, but no wide widths. Last year I did find a pair of Beckman 9016 (a precursor) in 9EE in the factory seconds section of the Red Wing store in Red Wing, MN. Not the color I would choose, but can't be picky. They are darkening up quite nicely and one of my most comfortable pair. A big plus was hardly any break in. I'm also a sucker for the look of a half sole. Love the vids.
Update: Last August I saw that Red Wing added wide widths to the Blacksmith line. I immediately went in to a store only to find out there were basically zero boots in Briar Oil-Slick in my size in the country. The associate at the store offered to call Red Wing and find out when the next run of 3340s was. True to his word a couple day later I got the call that production would be late September or early October. The first week of October I got the call asking if I still wanted the boots. Duh... I went in that Saturday and picked up my new favorite pair of boots. I had no break in from day one. I'd put these up against 1000 milers any day. Nuf said.
I would agree with most of the comments. I have two pair of Blacksmiths and they are by far my favorite Red Wings. I think they just have a classier look. They have a very vintage shoe feel. The Iron Ranger looks longer and that bump toe looks bigger with the cap toe. It looks more like a service boot. I just wish Red Wing would offer more leather options for the Blacksmith. If you get wind of anything new coming out let us know. Great comparison video.
The black prairie blacksmiths (3345) was my first ever Redwings boot and it was the introduction to my boot addiction. I currently have about 15-20 pairs of boots and of all of them, my blacksmiths were the most comfortable pair I’ve owned. I don’t know why, but none of my Iron rangers have gotten to the same comfort level as my blacksmiths. I just recently got them resoled with a leather midsole and leather outsole and it’s the better version of the wolverine 1000 miles.
I have had a pair of blacksmiths for couple years now been really good boots . Thanks for your work on your channel it's best on TH-cam .I could use motorcycle boot reviews.
I think a good point he missed is that the blacksmith is one of only 2 redwings that come in the beautiful black prairie teacore leather which is one of sbfoots best leathers
Thanks for doing this video. I actually do prefer the blacksmith over the Iron Ranger. Would love to see the Redwing Traction Tred Lite done, boot 2441.
Great video! Several years ago I went to a local RW store specifically for a pair of Iron Rangers but walked out with the Blacksmith. I just liked the way they looked better without the toe cap and was happy that I wasn't just another person jumping on the Iron Ranger bandwagon. I don't wear them often but I'm happy to have them in my closet.
Ditto!!!!!! I had to find an older pair of beckman's... they are getting pretty worn out though.... looks like I'll have to got elsware for my next boot that can be dressed up.
Man, I need a list of boots (and leather sneakers!) available in wide widths. I know that RW has a handful, but I wish there were more (and easier to find).
Just bought a pair of Blacksmiths in Black Prairie leather to wear when riding my motorcycle. I’ve also owned and loved a pair of Iron Rangers for many years. I bought the Blacksmiths just for a change of pace, and I couldn’t be happier with them, especially with the shorter break-in period than the Iron Rangers.
I like the Blacksmith more than the Iron Ranger in terms of looks, but they're basically the same price, and the Iron ranger has that toe cap that's gonna make it a lot more durable in the long run. It's a hard sell when, like you pointed out, there's so many similar boots out there to the blacksmith. In a way I think the blacksmith actually helps sell the iron ranger.
@@JRRob3wn Thats one of the first places a boot wear out... hence y'know why the cap toe was invented. Cut and haul some lumber and the front of your boots' leather is gonna be scratched and scuffed to all hell
@@ShutUpBubi Red Wing blacksmith boots aren’t designed for lumberjacks or construction sites. I mean by all means destroy $350 boots by abusing them, it’s your money.
still waiting for blacksmiths in wide. The blacksmiths aren't as popular because they don't come in wide widths. I guarantee if Red Wing just alternated between prioritizing production of Blacksmiths and IR every other year. They'd be just as popular.
you promoting raycons just reading their ad without any research if they are actually good makes me reconsider believing you when u have sponsored boot reviews
the fact i can polish my beckmans makes that such a distinctive boot for me. i love my black cherry featherstone leather its such a departure from other boot leathers and polishing vs unpolished gives the boot a wild degree of optionality.
@@donteherriott5509 EVERY SINGLE PAIR either very rapidly loses their bass playback balance, takes forever to charge after only two months and just simply are overpriced for the lack of quality thereof, is that elaborative enough? You're just pi$$ing Your money into the wind.
I've had the same pair of Raycons for the last 4 years. Other than the clip for the lanyard breaking off(i glued it back together), they still work great for me. I work construction, and these things have held up to a lot of abuse.
I have had my Blacksmiths for 7 years now and they have been great. Took a little to break in but now they are very comfortable. At first I wanted the Iron Ranger but did not like the toe cap.
I have 2 pairs of blacksmiths and I always get compliments on them ESPECIALLY the Briar Oil Slick leather blacksmiths. I also have them in the Prairie black which develops an amazing tea core patina. But the Iron Rangers will always be my favorite.
It was a toss up for me at first but the store I went to was out of blacksmith’s in my size so I tried on the Iron Ranger 8084’s & instantly fell in love.
Just received my Goral collab. They sent me the wrong colour but other than that they’re great. The leather quality is outstanding and virtually no break in. I prefer the look of the Red Wing Blacksmith to the Iron Ranger. I imagine Red Wing spends more marketing the Iron Ranger and it does have a way sexier name.
I have the Blacksmiths - I get compliments all the time , great review it's worth every cent ! I think they are more classic then the Iron Rangers because they are more simple.
I have this exact pair of Blacksmiths in size 11 - love them! I tried the Iron Ranger and Blacksmith at the local Red Wing store; I decided that the Blacksmith fit me better even though they are more or less the same boot except for toe cap. I have several toe cap boots and the Blacksmith is a great alternative at a lower price point yet maintaining premium quality (especially compared to the Wolverine 1000 Mile).
Like Paul Revere (The Blacksmith), we riders know the major difference. I wear my Iron Rangers at work when I need a boot that has protection from the environmental variables... where scrapes, scratches, bumps etc wont ruin the boot because of the exta leather in areas receiving most abuse. I wear my Blacksmiths when it's time to ride or die, no excess leather/seams on areas that interact with the motorcycle... like on the toe/heel. Yes, I am all about the Heritage design, my FLSTSCI has the classic Harley-Davidson heel/toe shift lever. That heel/toe shift lever chews up the seam on the toe cap of the Rangers over time, the Blacksmith does not suffer from that because the seams are in the proper place for riders. Rangers for protection while working, Blacksmiths for feel while riding.
I've had a pair of blacksmiths in copper since summer 2015. They were the first pair my Red Wing shop had seen. I wore them as motorcycle boots a lot, and I had them resoled by Red Wing a few years ago after I fell down a flight of wooden stairs due to lack of grip from the original smooth, not lugged soles. (Of course it was the boots!) I have the mini-lugs now and have not fallen down yet! I don't ride nearly as much these days so they don't get the wear that they used to, but they're still great. I picked them over the iron rangers specifically because they were more understated, and the eyelets were available in brass on the blacksmith whereas they are nickel on the iron ranger.
I have basically this pair of boots but 8" tall. Got them in the 1980's. Have been reheeled several times. They have the original cork/rubber soles. Hardly ever wear them anymore, they are more sentimental to me than anything. Love the darn things, so many good memories. Looking now to get a new pair and these seem like what I want.
Here in Minnesota, all of the Red Wings are popular. I love my Blacksmiths. The reddish brown Briar Oil Slick leather looks great without the cap toe, and it’s a nice alternative to the Iron Ranger. It’s certainly not formal by any standard, but it’s more so than the IR as it’s the clean and classic service boot shape. The Blacksmiths also have some leathers not available any other way. The Blacksmiths are the enduring relative of the discontinued Red Wing Beckman, which had a different sole and all eyelets rather than the usual 3 speed hooks.
I have a pair of blacksmiths and love them. I bought them about 8 years ago, and at the time the iron rangers didn't come in the mini-lug sole. I paid to have them resoled about a year ago, and look forward to wearing them for a long time.
I'm glad you cut apart the Blacksmith. I like toe cap boots, but picked up a pair of Blacksmiths in Charcoal a few years ago to wear both in and out of an office workplace. I always wondered if I was getting the same build quality as the more popular IRs. Good to know the construction is of the same quality.
When I was looking to get my first pair of Redwings, the Blacksmiths were my first choice and I looked at them for about a year before I was gonna pull the trigger on them. Well, right when I was about to go purchase them, the 1907's came to my store. It was love at first sight. So I bought them. That was a year ago. I still really like the Blacksmiths and still want to get a pair. So they will most likely be my 2nd pair. It will just boil down to the black or copper Blacksmiths. I'm wearing my 1907's this very moment. Thank you for making this video. I would like to get a pair of iron rangers but there's something about the very top of the boot that I just don't like. That down slope of the top of the boot is just a little strange to me. I feel like it would rub the hell out of the back of my ankles.
It doesn't. I have boney heels and it doesn't bother me. The slant at the top looks quite good on the feet plus your pants are going to cover it anyways. I like the lack of rolled leather at the cuff, the hem of the pants slide over the boot better.
@@JacobFrodsham yeah I guess you're right. I do wear my pants over my boots. I'm not one for the rolled up pants look. But that's good to know, that they don't bother the heel of your foot. There are many iron rangers that I am in love with. The Hawthorne being the one I would buy first.
I bought a pair of Blacksmiths as a birthday gift to myself a few years ago and they are one of my favorite boots. I bought a 13D when i typically wear a 12EE and they fit amazing.
I own three RW. 2 Iron Rangers and one Blacksmith. I cycle through them and can honestly say that there is such a minute difference it is more along the style of pant I am wearing that makes the choice. Great video as always.
the Blacksmith Copper Rough tough will be my next boot: I have the 8111, the Hawthorne muleskinner, and the Black prairie on as well. I work in a clinic and it may be just a touch dressier, so there ya go !
I just got a pair of the red wing roughneck, and I absolutely love these boots. It basically just the mock toe with a lugged outsole, or the blacksmith with a moc toe, and lugged sole as far as I know. I would love to see those babies meet the bandsaw
When I was deciding on my first heritage boot the Iron Ranger was the only boot in my mind as my first pair. That being said, I like the look of the blacksmiths as well. If I were to recommend a heritage boot to someone who wants the look of say the Wolverine 1000 mile, I’d point them in the blacksmiths direction. Thank You for the video and all the work you guys do!
I just bought a pair of Blacksmiths in the Black Prairie leather to go along with my 8828 Moc Toes and my 8111 Iron Rangers. I think this is the trifecta!
I love my Blacksmiths! First and only heritage boots I've bought and they are awesome. You really don't need another pair of boots when you have these.
Don't discount the power of words. Iron Ranger is a very cool name. Blacksmith in comparison sounds much more domestic. People more into form over function would much rather say they wear something called an Iron Ranger. The look of the IR is also much more rugged. I remember when I first kinda started looking into higher end boots, people would swear by the IRs and my immediate thought was that they sounded pretty cool. Then I delved a little deeper and discovered Rose Anvil.
I just found your channel. I live 5 min from Belleville Illinois and have lived there for many years. I worked at Belleville Boot for 7 years. I even got to see landmine boot prototypes that had a "V" shaped piece of steel in it to help deflect the blast around the body. The bottom looked like the bottom of a lego block lol. I made my own boots mix and match like put pilot sole on the 880 arctic and a friend put dollar bills in the polyurethane mold when forming the sole so he has boot soles with money literally built in. Also made a cut down boot to form a slipper as I got a call from a buddy who was in Iraq and he co said he could wear slippers around as long as he had steel toes so my boss let me cut down a pair and rework it. They used to sell factory flaws around Christmas to employees for like $15 a pair at least in 2010
I went with the Iron Ranger after wearing both models (IR and Blacksmith, same size, width and leather) for a day or so at home. No issues with Iron Ranger (I also did not experience any break in issues afterwards) but some discomfort with Blacksmith at back of my legs where the shaft ends. Blacksmith shaft is not angled at the top and thus a bit shorter at the back. Blacksmith shaft also has a bulge on top (not sure if thats the correct term, but its edge is thicker than the more or less 'flat' leather and top of IR shaft). I like the look of both boots but since one fitted perfectly from the start, it was an easy choice for me.
I have blacksmiths in both Copper R&T and Black Prairie (wearing these right now as I write this) and I love them both. I greatly prefer the plain toe over the cap toe of the Iron Rangers. Just my preference but I'm very glad they have the blacksmiths, if they didn't, I would have had to go with a different maker.
I went to Redwing store to get properly fitted versus guessing and ordering online. I really wanted the Iron Ranger but the Black in my size was out of stock…so salesman talked me in to the Blacksmith. No regrets as they are more sleek than the rugged look of the IR. I’m a female but bought the male boots 😊
The first pair of redwings i was going to buy were the blacksmiths. The guy at the redwing store wanted me to go a whole size up from true to fit. I declined. I ended up going with the beckman true to size with toe wiggle in EE. that’s the main draw back of the blacksmith, is that it’s not offered in wide sizes for some reason 🤷🏻♂️. My second pair was the iron rangers, at first i didn’t like the toe cap but it has grown on me.
I had those copper colored blacksmiths and I used them while shoeing horses before I switched to barefoot boots. I loved them and thought the plain toe was very cool looking and comfortable. I also think the collar detail is such a good design and should be on more boots. It gives it such a finished, quality look in my opinion. I bought them primarily because they were cheaper than the redwings but also because I’m a sentimentalist and liked the fact that I’m a blacksmith wearing blacksmith boots.
I like it. In fact, I may have purchased it, had I known about it, instead of my iron rangers. They might have more success by using a slightly different last with a bit lower toe and add leather outsole between the cork and the mini-lug, then bump the price a bit to match the iron ranger.
It is actually a very popular boot amongst Red Wing boot owners. Just not as popular amongst general boot people. I have a pair of those exact boots (Black Smith in Copper Rough and Tough). And I love em. They are my daily work boot. The leather is a Nubuck (same thats used in the 1907s which I also have a pair of) and they age very nicely. It's been a great boot over the last two years. Even though I own too many pairs of boots already? Eventually, I will be getting another pair of these. They are probably second only to the 875 for me as far as Red Wings go.
Another thing I'd like to add. I owned a pair of 1000 Mile boots and thought they were cool. But I sold them as soon as I got the Blacksmiths. Not only did the quality seem better with the Blacksmiths, but the bump toe looks better IMO as well. I absolutely love the streamlined looks of these boots.
If I had to choose one pair of footwear to wear for the rest of my life, I’m going with my blacksmiths. They’re the most comfortable and versatile shoe I own, and have perfectly molded to the shape of my feet. I wear them almost every single day. Still waiting for my ND3s though. We’ll see if those replace them.
I got a pair of blacksmiths in 2017, and I love them. I get them mainly because I felt like they were iron rangers without the toe cap, and I felt the toe cap looked to “bulbusy” on my feet. I’ve had them resoled, and I really love them.
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Raycons are just rematched Chinese trash. Come on man what are you doing?
@@greuju He's sold out to the highest bidder. Too bad, used to be a good channel
Bro, you didn’t even cut the Raycons in half. What even are you doing?
I cant even trust your reviews. I have bought 2 of the boots you said were good and neither lasted a month. Good bad or indifferent it seems once you guys go viral there is no telling what's legit. The Keens lasted a week before delaminating. The Carolinas tore in 3 weeks where the sole meets the leather. The keens warranted the shoe, but the next shoe the heel part collapse and have a big ball in it. Not hating just frustrated there are no good quality shoes anymore.
@@BentonL I mean that's either incredibly unlucky or you're lying on the internet. Carolinas are built well, I've only known about three people that wore them though. I have never heard of a single quality issue with them.
And I've worn probably eight sets of keens, never had any of the issues you're saying.
I have a pair of Beckmans from about 20 years ago that Redwing has discontinued. They look like the Blacksmith. They're all broken in and I love them
Think they rereleased those in Japan now btw
To me the Blacksmith is by far the best looking of all the Red Wing boots. I like the “clean” look. Luckily for me, there is a Red wing shop here in Stockholm, Sweden. I tried out and bought a pair of Blacksmiths in the briar colour and I love them! Thanks for a great video.
It's such a nice looking boot yeah. I prefer the silhouette over the ranger, but I wish it was available in more leathers.
The paneling makes it look very tasteful and much more flexible than the iron ranger imo.
Indeed it’s a much better looking boot. Simple sexy and super versatile.
I bought a pair of Blacksmith as my first and so far only heritage boots exactly because they are neither overly dressy nor too rugged looking. For me they are in the sweet spot inbetween.
I bought a pair of Blacksmiths a few years ago and I love them! Them not being as "flashy" as the Iron Rangers but having the same build quality was the reason I bought them. Great boots.
Same here. Love mine.
Same
I want a pair of boring , great quality boots
@@thehuntstudio17 if these are in your budget and fit your standard of "boring", then you should buy them! They're certainly great quality for the price!
Iron rangers flashy??
One contributing factor is the blacksmith doesn’t come in wide sizes.
Does now. Mine is wide. One color doesn't, though Briar - and of course it was the one I liked the most.
They come in both "D" and "EE". in both 3343 and 3345. Just not the 3340 (D only)
Bought a pair two months ago and I absolutely love them. Super versatile too; they look equally good with a tweed coat, a duffle coat or a flight jacket.
Thank you for checking these out!! I’ve owned a pair of these for 3-4 years and cannot believe they’re not reviewed in much detail anywhere. I picked these because I didn’t care about the toe cap and picked the blacksmith because it was a little more affordable and the reddish brown was only available on the blacksmith.
I love these boots. I have the blacksmiths in black and wore them in my wedding. Also, I got mine as factory seconds for only $149, which is a crazy good deal in my opinion.
Jesus where can I find factory seconds
Where's a good place to find factory seconds?
@@brandonabney6437 I got these at Nordstrom rack a few years ago. I also picked up a pair of red wing moc toe oxfords 8103 for $99 at Sierra trading post
@@jonathannelson7292 it seems that these deals come around pretty seldom these days
That's a deal lol
I’m a tradesman and have been wearing redwing work boots for 20yrs. I bought a pair of blacksmiths about 2 months ago for my first pair of a real heritage style casual boot. I absolutely love them and wear them every chance I get. They had a typical break in period - duct tape directly on the heel under the sock really helps prevent heel blisters during break in btw. They fit my feet perfectly, are surprisingly comfortable, and look great now that they have a bit of wear on them. I also scooped a pair of 1000 miles for 1/2 off and while I do really like the look of the wolverines the RW’s feel like a higher quality boot.
From years of mountaineering experience I wear two pairs of socks initially. I wear a very thin synthetic inner pair with a light pair of wool socks over them. I think it reduces friction on the skin and it definitely reduces blisters on both heel and on toes.
This boot was on my to-buy list for awhile. Finally purchased them over the summer. You don’t know how happy I was to see your review on it haha. I love them even more. Thanks for the vid!
I think you’re right. The Iron Rangers have distinctive and now iconic look. There’s no mistaking the cap toe with four rows of stitching, ,the angled top of the shaft, or the heel/backstay.
While I like the subdued, understated look of the blacksmith / beckman boots, I suspect many people that want that look can choose from many other retro service boot options.
Yeah. Why go for this when unmarked exists. Or Truman? Whatever there's so many decent service boots
Love my blacksmiths, got them in black prairie , wear them every chance I get.
My first pair was the 8111 Iron Rangers once I broke them in, I moved into the 875 Classic Mocs while still in the process of breaking them in I got myself a pair of 3345 Blacksmiths and the break in period was drastically easier maybe because I got use to the 8111s but I truly love the Blacksmiths. I want to grow my hertiage boot collection because of Red Wings alone.
I just bought my first pair of real boots on Black Friday. After watching the channel for a while I was leaning toward a pair of Iron Rangers, but decided on the Blacksmiths because of their ability to be dressed up a bit more. Really happy to finally see them on your channel.
For me I like the angled top of the Iron Ranger, but prefer the lack of toe cap on the Blacksmith. Bit of a conundrum. Naturally, I settled on a pair of 877s.
I had the same dilemma. I just bought a pair of adidas sandals
YES I love the angled top wish more boots did the same
Yeah but the angled top is almost always covered by pants
@@jcarter7731 🤣
@@wyattcollins957so, you’re one of those pants-wearers, then?
Just bought this boot one week ago and they already fit so well. So happy with them.
I got a pair of blacksmiths last year I love them I think they look better than the iron Rangers without the toe cap, the toe cap while iconic, makes the boot look too large for my small feet (some have called it a clown shoe jokingly) the blacksmiths don't have the name recognition of the iron ranger but it's literally the same boot as far as I can tell. Over a year now and been holding up great.
I wanted a pair of Blacksmiths but my Redwing store never had them in stock. So I finally bought a pair of Iron Rangers instead. Haven't regretted it, but would still like a pair of Blacksmiths.
That's how I ended up with my Iron Rangers! (Which I love)
I got the Blacksmiths as my first pair of heritage style boots back in 2015 because I preferred the more refined look in comparison to the Iron Ranger. Mine are in a beautiful dark red Briar Oil Slick leather. They’ve held up amazingly well and I’ve received many compliments over the years. An excellent pair of boots!
I also bought my pair in 2015 and they were also my first heritage boot! I adore them to this day. I bought the Ox Blood version. They still look amazing. I've never bothered buying another boot because of how much I like them.
I’ve owned both the IR and more recently the Blacksmith. I’ve loved them both, even though I tend to wear my Moc Toes about twice as often. The latter are just that more comfortable.
When I finally took the plunge into and wanted to get a real heritage boot (after a year of watching this channel), I went into a Red Wing store and tried on both the Blacksmith and Iron Ranger. As someone who grew up in work boots, I just gravitated to the more “boot-like” Iron Ranger over the dressier Blacksmith. The toe cap and heel counter just look more rugged for a daily driver boot
I've owned a pair of Blacksmiths since 2015. They were my first real boots. I adore them and they get worn daily during the winter.
My first Heritage boot was the Red Wing Blacksmith in Copper Rough and Tough. I figured out that the non-toe cap design would be easier to break in, and that this boot had most of the features of the other boots. I think I was right. It was truly not all that difficult to break in, and this kind of leather is exceptional with it's high amount of built in wax and oil. For a boot priced in the low $300 range (I paid $330 a couple of years ago), you get features (good quality thick leather, leather counter cover, true Goodyear welt, quality outsole) that provide for recrafting, and for above average wear and tear over the life. I'd strongly recommend the Blacksmith (3343) or the Beckman (I found one set of these, even though they are no longer made). The Iron Ranger probably is a bit better for heavy work environment where toe protection is a big factor.
Bought the Blacksmiths mainly because it wasn't the Iron Ranger. That and I can use them across a broader range of settings (Business Casual, casual, outdoor hiking).
I like the blacksmith shape slightly better than the iron ranger. The fact that it doesn't look as much like a work boot is a benefit in my opinion. The 3345 is my favorite boot of all my Red wings. I have to make myself not reach for them and wear one of the other ones to have a balance. I wish they still offered the splitsole option like in the Beckman. I think it makes it a more attractive booth maybe it's cheaper to manufacture it with the type of soul that's similar to an iron ranger
When the sole would need to be replaced
I've been wearing them for years now... aside from being harsh the first couple of weeks, they are great. Once broken in, you will love them.
Love my Blacksmiths more than my Iron Rangers. If they were offered in more leather choices, I would own more of them.
I have a pair of the black roughout blacksmiths when they first came out. One big difference that i wish all the iron rangers had and only one or two blacksmiths had at one time is mine have the leather toe vamp instead of the cotton canvas that iron rangers have and im guessing all the newer blacksmiths now have. I love the leather toe vamp. Same reason i like my 877 over the 875 is the full leather inside that wraps the whole foot in leather like a moccasin.My wife likes look of blacksmiths also.
I have a pair of Blacksmiths 2955 and the toe vamp is also leather lined. I didn’t realized they changed that.
I love my blacksmiths. I have the Klondike leather, so it’s black with a brown tea core. I think they are far more versatile than the iron rangers or moc toes, albeit a bit less iconic. It has the traction, durability and quality materials to not be babied, but also the plain toe and minimal styling allows it to be used in a slightly dressier setting. I’m glad you cut it apart.
Can you now please cut apart the viberg 2030? They are considered by many to be the gold standard heritage service boot, but I want to see if the incredibly expensive markup is worth it.
My Blacksmiths in Briar oil slick are so comfortable and the color and grains definitely attract attention.
I have wanted a pair of the blacksmith boots for a long time now. It's definitely on my list of needs.
I would have a pair, but no wide widths. Last year I did find a pair of Beckman 9016 (a precursor) in 9EE in the factory seconds section of the Red Wing store in Red Wing, MN. Not the color I would choose, but can't be picky. They are darkening up quite nicely and one of my most comfortable pair. A big plus was hardly any break in. I'm also a sucker for the look of a half sole. Love the vids.
Update: Last August I saw that Red Wing added wide widths to the Blacksmith line. I immediately went in to a store only to find out there were basically zero boots in Briar Oil-Slick in my size in the country. The associate at the store offered to call Red Wing and find out when the next run of 3340s was. True to his word a couple day later I got the call that production would be late September or early October. The first week of October I got the call asking if I still wanted the boots. Duh... I went in that Saturday and picked up my new favorite pair of boots. I had no break in from day one. I'd put these up against 1000 milers any day. Nuf said.
Thanks for the tips and hard work that goes into these vids. I look forward to all the content drop. Keep shining Rose Anvil!
I would agree with most of the comments. I have two pair of Blacksmiths and they are by far my favorite Red Wings. I think they just have a classier look. They have a very vintage shoe feel. The Iron Ranger looks longer and that bump toe looks bigger with the cap toe. It looks more like a service boot. I just wish Red Wing would offer more leather options for the Blacksmith. If you get wind of anything new coming out let us know. Great comparison video.
The black prairie blacksmiths (3345) was my first ever Redwings boot and it was the introduction to my boot addiction. I currently have about 15-20 pairs of boots and of all of them, my blacksmiths were the most comfortable pair I’ve owned. I don’t know why, but none of my Iron rangers have gotten to the same comfort level as my blacksmiths. I just recently got them resoled with a leather midsole and leather outsole and it’s the better version of the wolverine 1000 miles.
Hard to find people talking about the comfort.
I have had a pair of blacksmiths for couple years now been really good boots . Thanks for your work on your channel it's best on TH-cam .I could use motorcycle boot reviews.
I think a good point he missed is that the blacksmith is one of only 2 redwings that come in the beautiful black prairie teacore leather which is one of sbfoots best leathers
Great point. I’ve been real happy with the prairie leather.
I love Blacksmiths and own 3 pairs, I just never warmed to the toe-cap on the Iron Rangers. Blacksmiths are my favourite boots.
Thanks for doing this video. I actually do prefer the blacksmith over the Iron Ranger. Would love to see the Redwing Traction Tred Lite done, boot 2441.
Great video! Several years ago I went to a local RW store specifically for a pair of Iron Rangers but walked out with the Blacksmith. I just liked the way they looked better without the toe cap and was happy that I wasn't just another person jumping on the Iron Ranger bandwagon. I don't wear them often but I'm happy to have them in my closet.
I would own a pair of Blacksmiths if they were available in wide width.
THIS ! I don't understand why they don't do this, its even the same last as the Iron Ranger.
The reason why I got the roughnecks instead 🤷🏽
That's always been my biggest gripe with Red Wing. They need to offer all there boots in an E and EE width.
Ditto!!!!!! I had to find an older pair of beckman's... they are getting pretty worn out though.... looks like I'll have to got elsware for my next boot that can be dressed up.
Man, I need a list of boots (and leather sneakers!) available in wide widths. I know that RW has a handful, but I wish there were more (and easier to find).
Just bought a pair of Blacksmiths in Black Prairie leather to wear when riding my motorcycle. I’ve also owned and loved a pair of Iron Rangers for many years. I bought the Blacksmiths just for a change of pace, and I couldn’t be happier with them, especially with the shorter break-in period than the Iron Rangers.
Why does the toe box appear to curl up on both redwing shoes?
@@star9732got it, thank you.
I bought these earlier this year. I love them. Once I'm finished with the break-in they will be my daily rides.
I like the Blacksmith more than the Iron Ranger in terms of looks, but they're basically the same price, and the Iron ranger has that toe cap that's gonna make it a lot more durable in the long run. It's a hard sell when, like you pointed out, there's so many similar boots out there to the blacksmith. In a way I think the blacksmith actually helps sell the iron ranger.
Damn bro, what are you doing to your boots to wear through the leather on the toes?
@@JRRob3wn Thats one of the first places a boot wear out... hence y'know why the cap toe was invented. Cut and haul some lumber and the front of your boots' leather is gonna be scratched and scuffed to all hell
@@ShutUpBubi Red Wing blacksmith boots aren’t designed for lumberjacks or construction sites. I mean by all means destroy $350 boots by abusing them, it’s your money.
@@ShutUpBubi It depends on your use case - hence why there's a number of boots, like these Blacksmiths, without toe caps
@@JRRob3wnFr lol mine only see nice jeans and city lights lol don’t need em to be bulletproof
I have had my Blacksmith's for years. They are far and away my favorite boot.
still waiting for blacksmiths in wide. The blacksmiths aren't as popular because they don't come in wide widths. I guarantee if Red Wing just alternated between prioritizing production of Blacksmiths and IR every other year. They'd be just as popular.
Same. Wide sizes would boost sales I think.
No. No that’s not it. Most places don’t even stock wide width Iron Rangers.
Same. I bought a pair of Iron Ranger’s a week ago. Wanted the Blacksmith’s but they weren’t available in wide.
Same for me - otherwise I’d own them.
Agreed. Same with the new heritage Chelsea. We need wide!
Thanks Rose Anvil my Origins just arrived. I wouldn’t have known about their mission without your show. They look very similar to these boots.
you promoting raycons just reading their ad without any research if they are actually good makes me reconsider believing you when u have sponsored boot reviews
Yup sponsored boot reviews always end up viewed positively
Ngl, I cringe when these big TH-camrs do Raycon ads. The bag must be enormous.
Cough ahem Thursday ahem
He takes 20k for a full video review
Do tell please. I was actually thinking about buying a set recently haha
the fact i can polish my beckmans makes that such a distinctive boot for me. i love my black cherry featherstone leather its such a departure from other boot leathers and polishing vs unpolished gives the boot a wild degree of optionality.
I’ve had a pair of copper blacksmiths for 3 years. Love these boots. They take a beating, and conditioning brings them right back.
Raycons are trash
Would you care to elaborate?
@@donteherriott5509 EVERY SINGLE PAIR either very rapidly loses their bass playback balance, takes forever to charge after only two months and just simply are overpriced for the lack of quality thereof, is that elaborative enough? You're just pi$$ing Your money into the wind.
I've had the same pair of Raycons for the last 4 years. Other than the clip for the lanyard breaking off(i glued it back together), they still work great for me. I work construction, and these things have held up to a lot of abuse.
I thought that the question was appropriate considering your declarative statement lacked evidence.
No, they’re fine. Overpriced, and that’s it.
I have had my Blacksmiths for 7 years now and they have been great. Took a little to break in but now they are very comfortable. At first I wanted the Iron Ranger but did not like the toe cap.
I have 2 pairs of blacksmiths and I always get compliments on them ESPECIALLY the Briar Oil Slick leather blacksmiths. I also have them in the Prairie black which develops an amazing tea core patina. But the Iron Rangers will always be my favorite.
I love my blacksmiths! I have 2 iron rangers, 1 mock and 1 blacksmith. I’d have to say the blacksmith’s are my favorite of the bunch.
It was a toss up for me at first but the store I went to was out of blacksmith’s in my size so I tried on the Iron Ranger 8084’s & instantly fell in love.
Just received my Goral collab. They sent me the wrong colour but other than that they’re great. The leather quality is outstanding and virtually no break in.
I prefer the look of the Red Wing Blacksmith to the Iron Ranger. I imagine Red Wing spends more marketing the Iron Ranger and it does have a way sexier name.
Finally! I'm glad you're reviewing these at last!
I have the Blacksmiths - I get compliments all the time , great review it's worth every cent ! I think they are more classic then the Iron Rangers because they are more simple.
I have this exact pair of Blacksmiths in size 11 - love them! I tried the Iron Ranger and Blacksmith at the local Red Wing store; I decided that the Blacksmith fit me better even though they are more or less the same boot except for toe cap. I have several toe cap boots and the Blacksmith is a great alternative at a lower price point yet maintaining premium quality (especially compared to the Wolverine 1000 Mile).
Just ordered a pair this morning.. can’t wait. Try to pair out on for looks here in Raleigh North Carolina and loved it.
I own a pair of Iron Rangers with the dark hard sole and a pair of Blacksmiths with the soft sole of the mocktoes.
I love both
Like Paul Revere (The Blacksmith), we riders know the major difference. I wear my Iron Rangers at work when I need a boot that has protection from the environmental variables... where scrapes, scratches, bumps etc wont ruin the boot because of the exta leather in areas receiving most abuse. I wear my Blacksmiths when it's time to ride or die, no excess leather/seams on areas that interact with the motorcycle... like on the toe/heel.
Yes, I am all about the Heritage design, my FLSTSCI has the classic Harley-Davidson heel/toe shift lever. That heel/toe shift lever chews up the seam on the toe cap of the Rangers over time, the Blacksmith does not suffer from that because the seams are in the proper place for riders. Rangers for protection while working, Blacksmiths for feel while riding.
I've had a pair of blacksmiths in copper since summer 2015. They were the first pair my Red Wing shop had seen. I wore them as motorcycle boots a lot, and I had them resoled by Red Wing a few years ago after I fell down a flight of wooden stairs due to lack of grip from the original smooth, not lugged soles. (Of course it was the boots!) I have the mini-lugs now and have not fallen down yet! I don't ride nearly as much these days so they don't get the wear that they used to, but they're still great.
I picked them over the iron rangers specifically because they were more understated, and the eyelets were available in brass on the blacksmith whereas they are nickel on the iron ranger.
I have basically this pair of boots but 8" tall. Got them in the 1980's. Have been reheeled several times. They have the original cork/rubber soles. Hardly ever wear them anymore, they are more sentimental to me than anything. Love the darn things, so many good memories. Looking now to get a new pair and these seem like what I want.
Here in Minnesota, all of the Red Wings are popular. I love my Blacksmiths. The reddish brown Briar Oil Slick leather looks great without the cap toe, and it’s a nice alternative to the Iron Ranger. It’s certainly not formal by any standard, but it’s more so than the IR as it’s the clean and classic service boot shape. The Blacksmiths also have some leathers not available any other way. The Blacksmiths are the enduring relative of the discontinued Red Wing Beckman, which had a different sole and all eyelets rather than the usual 3 speed hooks.
I have a pair of blacksmiths and love them. I bought them about 8 years ago, and at the time the iron rangers didn't come in the mini-lug sole. I paid to have them resoled about a year ago, and look forward to wearing them for a long time.
I'm glad you cut apart the Blacksmith. I like toe cap boots, but picked up a pair of Blacksmiths in Charcoal a few years ago to wear both in and out of an office workplace. I always wondered if I was getting the same build quality as the more popular IRs. Good to know the construction is of the same quality.
When I was looking to get my first pair of Redwings, the Blacksmiths were my first choice and I looked at them for about a year before I was gonna pull the trigger on them. Well, right when I was about to go purchase them, the 1907's came to my store. It was love at first sight. So I bought them. That was a year ago. I still really like the Blacksmiths and still want to get a pair. So they will most likely be my 2nd pair. It will just boil down to the black or copper Blacksmiths. I'm wearing my 1907's this very moment. Thank you for making this video. I would like to get a pair of iron rangers but there's something about the very top of the boot that I just don't like. That down slope of the top of the boot is just a little strange to me. I feel like it would rub the hell out of the back of my ankles.
It doesn't. I have boney heels and it doesn't bother me. The slant at the top looks quite good on the feet plus your pants are going to cover it anyways. I like the lack of rolled leather at the cuff, the hem of the pants slide over the boot better.
@@JacobFrodsham yeah I guess you're right. I do wear my pants over my boots. I'm not one for the rolled up pants look. But that's good to know, that they don't bother the heel of your foot. There are many iron rangers that I am in love with. The Hawthorne being the one I would buy first.
I bought a pair of Blacksmiths as a birthday gift to myself a few years ago and they are one of my favorite boots. I bought a 13D when i typically wear a 12EE and they fit amazing.
I own three RW. 2 Iron Rangers and one Blacksmith. I cycle through them and can honestly say that there is such a minute difference it is more along the style of pant I am wearing that makes the choice. Great video as always.
the Blacksmith Copper Rough tough will be my next boot: I have the 8111, the Hawthorne muleskinner, and the Black prairie on as well. I work in a clinic and it may be just a touch dressier, so there ya go !
Please check out Silverado boots. Made by Abilene boot company. Based in Somerset PA. Claims to be USA made
I just got a pair of the red wing roughneck, and I absolutely love these boots. It basically just the mock toe with a lugged outsole, or the blacksmith with a moc toe, and lugged sole as far as I know. I would love to see those babies meet the bandsaw
I will be picking up a pair of the blacksmiths... I dont care for the toe cap, but I do like red wing boots. Thank you for another great video.
When I was deciding on my first heritage boot the Iron Ranger was the only boot in my mind as my
first pair. That being said, I like the look of the blacksmiths as well. If I were to recommend a heritage boot to someone who wants the look of say the Wolverine 1000 mile, I’d point them in the blacksmiths direction. Thank You for the video and all the work you guys do!
Ich denke diese Redwing Modelle werden immer den Zeitgeist treffen. Einfach zeitlos
I just bought a pair of Blacksmiths in the Black Prairie leather to go along with my 8828 Moc Toes and my 8111 Iron Rangers. I think this is the trifecta!
Really like the look of the Blacksmith. Good to know, it’s just as well made as the Iron Ranger. Great and informative video, as always.
I love my Blacksmiths! First and only heritage boots I've bought and they are awesome. You really don't need another pair of boots when you have these.
The Blacksmith is my 1st Redwing boot, and so far, i love them.
Don't discount the power of words. Iron Ranger is a very cool name. Blacksmith in comparison sounds much more domestic. People more into form over function would much rather say they wear something called an Iron Ranger. The look of the IR is also much more rugged. I remember when I first kinda started looking into higher end boots, people would swear by the IRs and my immediate thought was that they sounded pretty cool. Then I delved a little deeper and discovered Rose Anvil.
I just found your channel. I live 5 min from Belleville Illinois and have lived there for many years. I worked at Belleville Boot for 7 years. I even got to see landmine boot prototypes that had a "V" shaped piece of steel in it to help deflect the blast around the body. The bottom looked like the bottom of a lego block lol. I made my own boots mix and match like put pilot sole on the 880 arctic and a friend put dollar bills in the polyurethane mold when forming the sole so he has boot soles with money literally built in. Also made a cut down boot to form a slipper as I got a call from a buddy who was in Iraq and he co said he could wear slippers around as long as he had steel toes so my boss let me cut down a pair and rework it. They used to sell factory flaws around Christmas to employees for like $15 a pair at least in 2010
I went with the Iron Ranger after wearing both models (IR and Blacksmith, same size, width and leather) for a day or so at home. No issues with Iron Ranger (I also did not experience any break in issues afterwards) but some discomfort with Blacksmith at back of my legs where the shaft ends. Blacksmith shaft is not angled at the top and thus a bit shorter at the back. Blacksmith shaft also has a bulge on top (not sure if thats the correct term, but its edge is thicker than the more or less 'flat' leather and top of IR shaft). I like the look of both boots but since one fitted perfectly from the start, it was an easy choice for me.
I own the exact pair of Blacksmiths in this video and they are the best boots I own. Currently own 3 pair of Red Wings.
I have blacksmiths in both Copper R&T and Black Prairie (wearing these right now as I write this) and I love them both. I greatly prefer the plain toe over the cap toe of the Iron Rangers. Just my preference but I'm very glad they have the blacksmiths, if they didn't, I would have had to go with a different maker.
I went to Redwing store to get properly fitted versus guessing and ordering online. I really wanted the Iron Ranger but the Black in my size was out of stock…so salesman talked me in to the Blacksmith. No regrets as they are more sleek than the rugged look of the IR. I’m a female but bought the male boots 😊
The first pair of redwings i was going to buy were the blacksmiths. The guy at the redwing store wanted me to go a whole size up from true to fit. I declined. I ended up going with the beckman true to size with toe wiggle in EE. that’s the main draw back of the blacksmith, is that it’s not offered in wide sizes for some reason 🤷🏻♂️. My second pair was the iron rangers, at first i didn’t like the toe cap but it has grown on me.
The Blacksmith was my first Redwing boots. It’s an awesome boot.
I had those copper colored blacksmiths and I used them while shoeing horses before I switched to barefoot boots. I loved them and thought the plain toe was very cool looking and comfortable. I also think the collar detail is such a good design and should be on more boots. It gives it such a finished, quality look in my opinion. I bought them primarily because they were cheaper than the redwings but also because I’m a sentimentalist and liked the fact that I’m a blacksmith wearing blacksmith boots.
I like it. In fact, I may have purchased it, had I known about it, instead of my iron rangers. They might have more success by using a slightly different last with a bit lower toe and add leather outsole between the cork and the mini-lug, then bump the price a bit to match the iron ranger.
It is actually a very popular boot amongst Red Wing boot owners. Just not as popular amongst general boot people. I have a pair of those exact boots (Black Smith in Copper Rough and Tough). And I love em. They are my daily work boot. The leather is a Nubuck (same thats used in the 1907s which I also have a pair of) and they age very nicely. It's been a great boot over the last two years. Even though I own too many pairs of boots already? Eventually, I will be getting another pair of these. They are probably second only to the 875 for me as far as Red Wings go.
Another thing I'd like to add. I owned a pair of 1000 Mile boots and thought they were cool. But I sold them as soon as I got the Blacksmiths. Not only did the quality seem better with the Blacksmiths, but the bump toe looks better IMO as well. I absolutely love the streamlined looks of these boots.
The Blacksmith looks great.
It reminds me of the Whites C350 Cruiser.
I literally went with the Iron Ranger because of the looks, that toe cap adds so much to the look.
If I had to choose one pair of footwear to wear for the rest of my life, I’m going with my blacksmiths. They’re the most comfortable and versatile shoe I own, and have perfectly molded to the shape of my feet. I wear them almost every single day.
Still waiting for my ND3s though. We’ll see if those replace them.
I got a pair of blacksmiths in 2017, and I love them. I get them mainly because I felt like they were iron rangers without the toe cap, and I felt the toe cap looked to “bulbusy” on my feet. I’ve had them resoled, and I really love them.
I have brown iron rangers and black blacksmiths, perfect pairing.
First real boots I bought and love em. The versatility sold me
I have the Red Wing Blacksmith boot and I really love it. It’s comfortable and very stable.