Why Everyone Loves The Iron Ranger
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 มิ.ย. 2024
- The Red Wing Iron Ranger may be the most ubiquitous boot in the world of heritage and rugged style. It's popularity has gained it an almost mythical status as the last word in cool looking boots. But why? After all it's not the cheapest boot, nor the best made, so why has this relatively simple boot captured the hearts of people around the world?
In this video I break down why I think the Red Wing Iron Ranger has gained such popularity and has become the default "first good pair of boots" for many. For reference the pair shown in this video are the first generation Iron Rangers in amber harness leather. In the conditioning segment I use Obenaufs Boot Oil and Red Wing Mink Oil.
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Reviews of clothing, boots, and accessories for men, along with style advice and life philosophy. I've been working with my hands for my entire life as a mechanic, tow truck driver, and eventually a licensed electrician. Being a blue collar guy, I look for certain elements in a product: is it durable? Is it high-quality? Will it perform well over its service life? Whether boots, pants, jackets, or tools I believe it's best to buy once and cry once by getting the best you can afford. With so many options these days, choosing the best product can become a difficult decision, but that's where I come in. Helping you stay stylish, rugged, and handsome.
I don't care where it's made as long as it's made well, and allows you to buy less and buy better. - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Saying that Nicks and other hand made boots, make the Iron Ranger look like a piece of junk is extremely unfair. Yes the Nicks are made a bit more tough, but they are double the price, and the Iron Ranger still holds their ground as a well made boots
My Iron Ranger 8111s were my first real boot. They took a couple weeks to feel comfortable, but the break-in was well worth the amazing boot I have now. I wear them every day at work, where I walk probably about 3 miles per shift, and they've been very comfortable. I've worn them hiking in the Georgia mountains and walking around the Irish countryside, never slipped on anything (they have the cork sole). They also happen to be my most regularly complimented pair of shoes, period. I love that they aren't a pretentious "coffee shop work boot," that are tough in looks alone. I've worn mine while kicking shovels and literally ripping a tree stump out of the ground by hand, using some angry kicks as encouragement, and they were fine. To me, they are the perfect Americana work boot. Stunning yet rugged, contemporary yet timeless. That combination has kept them around for decades, and it's why they'll keep going for decades to come.
The Iron Rangers were the first pair of leather boots that I bought for more than 60 dollars, and now I can't imagine life without them. I wear them for everything - work, cycling, hiking, dates, etc. It was affordable enough for me to get two pairs, but also expensive enough for me to know I was getting quality. Very well made.
Great informative video, I've always thought a lot of the IR but but now I much more respect and have appreciation for its design and function.
Thanks 🙃
Excellent review ! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!
When I was in the navy in the late '80s, when a recruit got to the fleet they would ditch their boondockers asap n get a pair of black steel toed boots that looked exactly like these redwings!
Love the videos. Keep up the great content
As usual my brother. I love your videos and your classic style. Keep'em coming brother. Thanks
Much appreciated man!!!
Carl, I love my Iron Rangers. Thank you for the recommendation for the boot oil. Great video and Gabriel aka the Mensch is an awesome brotha as well. Thanks hermano!
Much appreciated man! Gabe is a good dude and knows how to find a bargain
Javier Sabes dónde sé pueden comprar por internet que sea 100% original? Es que hay muchos piratas por ahí, Saludos.
Great video. I agree with everything you said regarding these boots. The break in period is definitely rough; I felt like I was walking around on slabs of concrete at first. But getting through that is sooo worth it. They're my go to footwear for work and casual, a great boot that oozes manly ruggedness.
Totally worth the break-in period! Theres a reason these have become so popular, and its exactly what you stated.
Clearly, you’ve never worn a real boot before…
Right on Carl!!! I think everyone should jump on the IR bandwagon, especially to support such a great iconic American made heritage brand! Cheers for the shoutout brotha!
Bought one for myself for Christmas in Germany....I love em ♥️. It Starts to Love my feet after 8 days INSIDE wear. The comfort is rising everyday.
What great shoes! Classy yet sturdy. I am totally in love with them. I had been thinking about them for a while, but once I tried them on in the store I bought them immediately. Never regretted it for a second.
I've had very few problems with that famous "breaking them in".
The oxblood IR was my 1st RW purchase. No regrets there.
I want a pair, how well do they patina?
Love the video! I've had mine for a few months. The break-in wasn't AS BAD as I thought, but wasn't a walk in the park either (pun intended?). The profile, shape, design is perfect. Everyone will be different, but I slipped them on the first time, and (almost) regretted buying my moc toe boots first! The moc toes are great, but the RW's have definitely become my go-to boots no matter the occasion.
They're definitely much different boots, and it's the best of both worlds to have one of each in rotation.
I love my iron rangers, i had longer laces installed for the break in, put the originals back on and their my favorite boot.
You should add some shots of you wearing them. Outdoors walking around so people get an idea.
Instructions unclear. Got dick stuck in laces.
Trogdor Burninator That's what she said! 👌🏻
@@V0YAG3R *last night..
Hey Carl, I just got my first pair about a month ago, best pair of boots I’ve ever worn. The redwing manager told me that you can send your boots to redwing for about $100 to get them resoled and that you can request the discontinued Cork sole on your boots. Just an FYI.
I’m am glad I tried these on in a store. The do not run a half size small. I normally wear a 13 in tennis shoes or a 14 in Nikes. I ended up going with a size 12 for the redwings. I have 2 other redwing boots and they are 12.5s and fit great. These boots seem really sturdy, hopping to get 20 years out of them. My dad has a pair or redwings that are coming up on 35 years old.
A half size down from Brannock, be it heel to ball or heel to toe whichever is greater. Sneaker size tends to range on people a bit more. I often wear a 12D in sneakers but am an 11D-11.5D in boots. My true to size is an 11.5D, the ranger is based off the munson last which was a true boot size so half size down from Brannock. IE 11D is a perfect fit with even a thick heavy sock once broken in.
@@Vultain Which means they actually run large... if he goes a half size down that means they're larger than what a shoe or boot of that size would normally be.
@@gregleopoldofficial True, although certain fits I can wear a full size and a half above what I buy a ranger at. Probably just an old comment I was half asleep writing.
I wear a 9 in sneakers but a size 8 Iron Rangers fit me great. To break them in I usually wear them around the house or out for a quick trip to the supermarket before I fully commit to wearing them all day.
I wear 9.5 sneaker, 9 iron ranger
Great video! I absolutely love Redwing work boots, and have owned several pair (high, slip on, steeltoe) I bought a pair of Iron Rangers for more casual wear, and love them. Regarding the sizing, mine are TWO SIZES under what I normally wear!!! I usually wear a 13 in sneaks or hiking boots, the Redwings are an 11! But they fit great and are super comfy.
I’m sorry I haven’t had to do this for awhile…. I have to revoke your man card for 30 days for using the word “ comfy” it just has to be done!!! Lol j/k my friend!
Just picked up a pair off of Ebay for $125; #8111 w/ the cork nitrile sole. Added a small insole for some comfort. Looking forward to wearing these. Enjoy your videos.
You made me feel nostalgic for when I use to spit shine my jump boots.
I just picked up my first pair of these. Reminds me of the paratrooper boots we wore in the 82nd.
Loved the video!!! Definitely a versatile boot.
For sure! Thanks for watching!
Just picked my first pair of Iron ranger boot an hour ago thanks for the videos
Hi Carl and thanks for the info. I'm three months into my pair of 8085's. I really like these boots. I broke them in over the first couple of weeks by walking my dog, pavement and onto a gentle dirt and rock trail. I tend to like firm soles, so the Iron Rangers felt good to me out of the box. I've not used any conditioner and use my horsehair brush once a week or so to knock of dust and dirt. The brushing seems to bring the oils to the surface of the leather and blends scratches and scuffs. I wear them to the office several days per week with chinos and even dressier slacks and I think they look the bomb. I did bend one of the speed hooks when I dropped a can of paint. The good news was that I didn't get hurt and straightened the hook with no issue.
I bought a pair and they're great!
I’m a Hvac contractor and have worn sneakers for the last 30 years, and have just got into wearing red wing heritage boots, first was the iron rangers, but I was worrying about breaking them in after watching all these videos and yes they we’re much different than sneakers but I decided to suck it up and worked in them 14 hours a day for 7 or 8 days strait and they feel great now. So I also bought the 875 and picked up a pair of 8130s new old stock boots on eBay and there feeling great now. I will wear my moc toes for work alternating them every other day. And I’ll save my IR for fun time. And yes I wear a 15 in sneaks and 14D in RW. Back and knees feel so much better at the end of the day. the difference in the support was so amazing my NB 990s hardly get worn anymore. Thanks for letting me rattle on. Great video though.
Great video! I’m in the market for my first real pair of boots and seriously considering these. I want something I can wear in a casual office environment but also get beat up on the weekends that is going to last a long time. Was looking at the Thursday Captain as well, but worried about the build quality and if they will last and feel comfortable 5-10 years from now.
Beauty and toughness together I love it
A great analysis and critique of the Iron Ranger. For many years, I have worn Red Wing's in one form or another - they are top drawer boots.
Thank you very much sir!
The Red Wing store local to me had both sole options in stock as of yesterday. I opted for the Vibram sole. As mentioned, I went a half size down. A full size down would have been ok but they were getting tight in the heel.
I like these boots, they remind me of my old military jump boots. I use to get them and resole them with the Vibram lugged sole.
I love my Iron Rangers and can’t wait to get my 2nd pair soon. I am getting the Blacksmith now though. When I like a shoe brand I stick with it. I was strictly Clark’s for over 15 years but because of CJ cooks videos he peaked my interest to RW.
just went to the store and tried these on, im pretty certain these are my next purchase. I loved them. I wear a size 10 shoe and i tried the 9.5 boot which fit like a glove, stiff AF but it was a satisfying experience because i could feel the quality.
How long did it take for you to break them in?
You're absolutely right, I've had mine for a couple of years and still my favorites.
The best!
Love my iron rangers. I wound up with a 1/2 size smaller than I normally wear, just like you said. Although I had no break in issues. They felt pretty good right out of the box and just got better with time.
Nice vid, the oxblood ones reign supreme IMO
"that's what she said!!" Hahaha
I’ve already got a pair of Moc toes and Beckmann’s but can’t wait to add a pair of these in the rotation.
I'm pretty much a Red Wing Iron Ranger addict. Picked up my first pair of Iron Rangers in oxblood and then had to get a black pair for the motorcycle. I just recently got a pair of the Red Wing Moc Toe in copper rough and tough and they are awesome as well. I've purchased all my boots through factory second sellers and have gotten amazing deals. These boots only get better with age so I'm not worried about a small scuff on a factory second boot.
Good video. One triviality: you said they "run small." They actually run pretty big: I wear an 11.5 when my Brannock size is close to 12.5 (12.3) and I wear a 13 in most athletic shoes. One trick I've learned with Iron Rangers (or any stiff leather boot where you can't push down the toe to check for room): Toss in a $1.00 insole from Target. At the end of a couple hours, take out the insole and you can see how your feet sit inside the boots. Because these boots run large, the 13 insole fits my 11.5 boots perfectly.
Yes, I noticed when he said " they run a little bit small " , " so I ordered a half size down " . So if they actually ran small wouldn't you order a half size UP from what you normally wear?
@@jmsbenedict69 Correct. This is a common mistake I hear when people describe fit. When shoes run big, that means they are large for their size and you would get a smaller size than you might normally get. Fit is both subjective and objective, but generally, moc toe is Brannock size or 1/2 size down, and 8 last (Iron Ranger, Blacksmith, Beckman, Rover, Classic Chelsea, etc) is 1/2 size or full size down from Brannock size. I think the “sneaker size” advice is too varied because shoes all have different ideas on how shoes fit AND there are different fits within same brands. For example, Adidas OG originals run smaller than modern Adidas styles, etc.
It amazes me the way different people can get a totally different experience from wearing the exact same boots. Someone in the comments here says IRs could withstand a nuclear blast, another says the soles of his cracked open from standing on a rocky surface.
The breaking-in period is the thing that puzzles me most. Nearly everyone says it's very tough going. Well I bought my 8112s in "oro-iginal" saddle leather almost four years ago and from day one I felt like I was like wearing slippers. I used to walk to work in them every day, about 55 mins each way over pavement and gravel (I spent most of the time behind a desk, I wasn't working on the railroad all the livelong day or anything like that), and never got a single blister. I did use the RW mink oil which they sold me when I bought the boots, but it probably wasn't necessary.
As for sizing, if it's any help to anyone I wear a UK size 9 and I got 8-&-a-half in IRs. If you're in London I recommend going to the Red Wing shop (there's only one). Try before you buy.
It’s all hype. People exaggerate both ways, I’ve beaten the snot out of my first pair and every time I thought they were going to fail they shrugged it off like a champ. A flooded yard, walking through a creek, hvac, and construction jobs I’ve been through a lot and they have earned my loyalty. There’s plenty of haters out there and I would never say they’re perfect but they are pretty damn good.
I have them in black and Hawthorne mule skinner. I recently bought a pair of Helm boots, and am extremely impressed by the craftsmanship.
I haven't tried Helm yet, how would you compare them to the Iron Rangers in terms of build quality?
Carl Murawski I would say the build quality is equal to or better than the Redwings. There are a few details, such as the white midsole that really make them stand out. I have a pair of the Marion Olives, which get more compliments than any other boot I own. They are also about 75 dollars more than Iron Rangers. I’ll be in Austin in April and I look forward to visiting their retail store.
What a great channel,holy f...
keep on the excellent work man 👊🏻🥾
Haha I certainly will try!!!
He is very right. I have a pair of blacksmiths in copper rough and tough that I bout about 1.5 years ago and they are a very dark brown now.
Hey Carl! Who’s slingin’ the tunes on this vid? Thanks! Great content!
If you're still wondering its called "Cookies and Cream" by Chester Malone
My Iron Ranger 8111 has arrived yesterday and I love it!
Never heard of the thing. But now I want a pair. LoL
Yes IR is my first boot! Really like the arch shaped one piece heel counter and the nice curve collar. Thanks Carl~!
I agree, they're a perfect marriage of form and function.
Love my oxblood ones. I have three others as well. Love my Red Wing Boots. :)
Carl, great wrap-up! My intro into the boot world was last year via TBC's "The Captain." I sized down a half to 11.5 D. They fit me very well, are a fine, sleek boot that I wear dressed up, but about a week ago I got my first pair of Iron Ranger and ... man...these things are sexy beasts! I know TBC is all the rage lately but really the Iron Ranger is the way to go if you're looking for a more casual 'round the year look--which is mine. I got the Rangers in size 11 (sized down a full size) EE. My width is almost an EE, though considered a wide-ish D. The Captain D width accommodates my foot just fine because of its thinner Chromexcel leather, but the Iron Rangers' rough tough leather needed a EE. I cannot bring myself to take them off, they're so incredible. I am not finding the break-in period so tough. Only a week in and having only walked about 10 miles in them and wearing them 8+ hrs. a day, half the time standing, I find them pretty comfortable. Only 2 spots on the sides that sort of bother me, but nothing really. I find it a bit hard to drive my little stick shift car in them, but again...I'll get used to it. Overall, I love them more than any other type of footwear. They are beasts...they can handle anything, they keep me warm, they look fantastic with raw or selvedge denim, and are just friggin' cool looking workhorses. I call them the Sherpas of boots. I've found myself shelving TBC's Captains in favour of the Iron Ranger pretty much daylong and year-round. I'll keep The Captains for...shee shee froo froo type outings (of which are very few for me in my life), and cannot wait to see what the Iron Rangers look like and feel like a few years in. Thanks again for your channel and also for your selvedge denim reviews. Cheers from NC!
I couldn't agree more! The Iron Rangers really are superior in every way, but mostly their enduring comfort after several years of wear. My Thursdays went flat and are very uncomfortable now, I haven't worn them in months.
Hello Carl. My 18 year old son just started his apprenticeship in Carpentry, but after a 1 month his heals and toes are in pain. Definitely after working boots. Tried to put Gel pads, didn't work. Was looking Iron Rangers boots,but price is really not affordable at the moment and there's different styles, not sure which one is better. I would appreciate any advice you could give or any ideas what boots he could try for the lower cost. Thank you
i bought my iron rangers 4 years ago and i put them to work in the winter or when i go to the forest and they still look awesome. one of the best investments i have ever made.
See, I knew you had good taste!
great pair of boots. you are so right about the break in period. it took me a year to get mine to where i can wear them for more than a few hours. they hurt so bad i only wore them once a week or so. now i love them. best boots. i have the copper rough and tough.
Was thinking of getting a pair of Iron Rangers. Are they really that bad to wear from new? Wouldn't a soft inlay sole make them more comfortable from the get-go?
MySecretMachine only took a week for me to break in
A YEAR??? Really??
@@Rfpepe7295 they were so uncomfortable to me that i barely wore them. actual wear time was probably like a month.
@@dep1001 for me it wasn't the sole that hurt but everything else. the first time i wore them i took a short walk around the block. by the time i got home i had blisters on both heels. they were pretty stiff out of the box. later i used some Red Wing boot conditioner which helped alot. the following winter i put on some neutral shoe polish to add some shine and repel snow and rain. now they are my best dress boots
Fantastik video. Spot on!
Picked mine up in 2016. Love em.
Great looking boot! Love to know how you care for it. What products specifically?
Hey Carl! I want to buy a pair of these but I've had boots darken from treating with leather conditioner. I personally but the Walmart Kiwi leather conditioner but I understand mink oil also darkens substantially.. I want the amber harness color so would buying the copper and then treating it darken to the amber color? Or is there another color that would darken to roughly the amber color?
My Red Wing rough neck I've had for 7 years and still has another 7 years left on them. I get compliments on them all the time...
What color are the boots in the video? Love that color! I'm new to all this boot stuff lol. But just realized I love boots! Haha
Very similar to the Corcoran jump boots I wore as a paratrooper in the army. I still wear them today.
I was surprised when I purchased my first pair. I usually wear a 13 but the boot I purchased was an 11! I bought instore and recommend everyone do that as well. Great video!
I was perfectly happy with some Carolina logging boots for quite some time so I’m sure I’ll be thrilled when I receive the iron rangers I just ordered. Damn I’m pumped guys lol.
I have a RedWing moc toe boot and love it as a daily boot. I also wear RedWing boots at the firehouse as my work boot. This Iron Ranger looks like a slightly "upscale" boot to wear daily with jeans.
Just bought of pair of 8085's. RW now has a boot fitting process that makes a 3d image of your foot. It's pretty cool. I'm a 7.7 on my right foot and a 7.6 on my left foot. The sizing also told me that I'm a thin size E. It also shows shoes instep, arch and a few other measurements as compared to most men. It also recommended one of several footbeds but I opted out and am wearing them as bought. My 7.5 D's fit fine.
Recommended to me by my boss...Those boots they have a look and line about them, that just cant get tired of looking at them ! They just scream action!!..I loved my Red Wings..
Copper rough and tough..was my favorite kind around $120 back then.
Just paid $350.00 for mins
I usually wear a 10 in everything. My foot is normal/not fat and 9 fit me best.
Great channel.
Great vid.
I had zero break in problems. Not kidding. I mean they FELT new. And after two years they're like a glove, but the break in is exaggerated in my experience.
If you wear them brand new to a hard days work for 8 to 10 hours...
You will know what "break in" means.
calholli they don’t give you breaks when you tend bar at the Blue Oyster?
@@LLUrbanAchiever I'm sure you would have sore feet there too.. But I was referring to outdoor work, like construction or tree work ect... When you are carrying heavy lumber and logs on uneven terrain all day, your feet feel it the most. I'll go through boots in a few months unless they are high end like red wing or thorogood ect.... but boots that last are usually the most uncomfortable-- especially those first couple weeks.
"that's what she said!!" Hahaha
Great vid! Was thinking of getting a pair of Iron Rangers. Are they really that bad to wear from new? Wouldn't a soft inlay sole make them more comfortable from the get-go? Thanks
Well of course it depends on the foot. For example, I have a high instep and typically have a lot of pain at the top of my foot. Other people have different proportions which will affect the break-in differently. I think it’s really all due to the fact that the boot is stiff and uses thick leather which makes it a little hard to break in if you come from the world of sneakers.
I love the 'That's what she said' moment :) :) :)
Hahaha, I had reservations about keeping it in there but I figured it would get few chuckles.
@@CarlMurawski 😀😀😀 As a big fan of 'The Office' I appreciated it immensely
Just got my first pair of iron rangers!
Just got mine yesterday! How are yours coming along?
They run big. Size down half to a full size. Most people recommend a full size down from sneakers.
That’s what I was about to write. Got fitted in store for a pair, thought I would need an 11.5 ( my standard boot size) but the guy at the store put me in a 10.5 and he was completely right. Everyone’s feet are different, but every time I hear some one recommending that the run “small”, I definitely raise an eyebrow
@@ahastar1141 I agree that anytime I hear it or they, run small or big (shoes, coats, pants, shirts, etc. I get a little nervous. At least twice I've gone by the reviewers who all say to go up or down a size and get the item and the size is way off. It's especially frustrating when like the majority of peoples opinion ALL say to order it like so. Following folks recommendations only worked out for me once. Probably something to learn from that?
Not all the time and I can attest to this.
Taking my Converse high top size (9US) for example, I go 8.5 with my Iron Rangers. The size 8 was way too tight for me even if I used thinner socks.
Tl;dr - YMMV
I had to go down 2 full sizes (european sizes) and I still feel they are a touch too big after wearing them for a while.
i wear size 11 nike/jordan and got a 9.5 in iron rangers
Just got a pair Iron Rangers and a pair of Blacksmith’s. They are cool and look good with a pair of selvage jeans. Thanks Carl
Thank you!!:)
Thank you for watching!
I’ve been wearing my pair for a little over 7,5 years right now. Resoled them last year. They only get more comfortable every year.
how much does it cost to get them resoled?
Alex Stratton I paid about €90 to get the original redwing sole on the boot again.
Again, you nailed it. Everything explained very well in a short video.
I have several redwings and the iron ranger was treated very bad. Worked with them on our property in mud, dust and so on. I really beat the sh### out of them and they're still great. So regarding quality, these are one of my favorites.
Even if they're dirty, take a cigar and a scotch, listening to Chuck Berry (Memphis Tennessee) and they're clean again quite fast, while having a nice patina. Where I live, we do not have snow, so I was buying the cork version. Personally I found the vibram version a bit chunky. Sad that they discontinued the cork version, would be better to have a choice...
Keep up the great work. I really enjoy your videos
Thank you so much for the kind words!
I’d kinda want to get a pair of these after hearing so much about them. Additionally I’m glad they’re using Vibram rubber now.
Although since I’ve got wide feet I’m a little concerned about the sizing. Hopefully I can try them out at the local redwing outlet.
How good are these for colder weather such as rain and snow? Do your feet freeze in them? Also in terms of the warmer months are they too hot to wear? I’ve only ever worn sneakers in the Summer, Spring, and Fall and one pair of winter boots throughout the winter. I’m looking to try something new if I can. But I also want to know how appropriate these boots are as everyday footwear and some occasional hiking. I want to get something that’ll really last a long time, but that is also versatile.
They are fairly wide in the toe box, at least.
Oh yes! I skipped the breakin period by buying second hand in nearly new condition. Then I got the boots soaked in a rain storm and they molded to my feet. Now they’re the most comfortable boots I’ve ever owned. And I’ve gotten more compliments on them than any other item of clothing I’ve ever owned.
Life hack! Love it!
I’ve had mine for about hour and they feel great! I’ve just spent 4 months breaking in my Nicks builder pro’s so these are a piece of cake! I got the copper’s
I have gotten more compliments wearing these boots than any other boot or shoe for that matter, and I have a lot of shoes!
Can you do a guide on how to clean and condition dress boots vs work boots?
It's weird, I keep hearing people say this boot is everywhere, and super popular. I'm sure it's popular, but I've never seen anyone wearing them in person. I've seen people wear Wolverine boots, and even Corcorans, but never the Iron Ranger.
Funny, I just ordered a pair of Corcorans last week. Should get to me by the end of the year.
My dude.. it looks mostly like a jumpboot/WW2 boot. It looks cool thats why its loved. The price is decent.. expensive enough to be quality and cheap enough to be affordable for most. Thats it.
Had a pair of 8111's for about fifteen years; resoled twice. Great boots! Went and bought another pair today, with the new soles. I agree, the new sole material is better, but the boots don't look the same; because the new soles are thinner. They should have made the new soles a few millimeters thicker to keep the look. Heck, I would have paid a few more dollars for that. But that's just me; they don't look the same. As far as feeling the same; we'll see in about a month. LOL!!!
I've thought about getting mine resoled. They just become such a glove and so flexible that I don't want to mess anything up.
so Carl I am looking for some boots what would you suggest. I am very very hard on boots. I usually walk threw the bottoms of every pair of boots i have ever worn.
Iron Rangers was the first leather boot I've own and it blew my mind how comfortable boots can be after they form to your feet. Break-in wasn't bad either with boot socks.
I just bought a pair this weekend how long is the break-in
Thanks, Mario
@@Guabasa74 Its been a while but I would say about 2 to 3 weeks. If they don't fit like a glove at 4 weeks you probably bought the wrong size.
I distress colored mine. Rag w/ acetone to strip away color. Swiped in some gun oil on a rag, little buff here and there. Lots of depth and color tones.
They run small? Was that a mis-speak? I’ve found they tend run pretty large. I went a full size down, and there is still loads of room in the toe. A great video, tho!
Its a misspeak - he said run small then size down
Had to go down a full size.
@G K if you go down a size, these run big. Confusing right? :)
Me too. Went down a full size. Almost feel like I could go down another half size but may have fixed it with some insoles.
It’s a really good question cause I hear it so much. I wear 11.5 normally and when I got sized I found I’m gonna need a size 10!
mine fit great from day 1, hardly any break in..I was surprised!
We had Red Wing boots in my military fire fighting days.. I than used them during my welding days however the rubber heels got fucked up by slag real bad they kept going though!
I've had my IR's a year to this week. What I've found with conditioning/cleaning is, when you saddle soap them, it'll bring them back to the original color, but as soon as you put on any kind of conditioner/mink oil, they darken. One post I read said that if you saddle soap them once every week or two, then the moisture added during that process is enough to keep them from drying out and you can keep the original color. I tried it for a bit but decided that I just didn't feel good without having some added protection for them. I like the oiled color almost as much as the original copper rough and tough. Either way, these are GREAT boots that I expect to have in use for at least 20 years, with the occasional resole. Buy good quality, take care of it, and it will last.
What about using the Redwing "leather cream" or similar product. Supposed to retain more of the original color but also doesn't have as much protection from elements. More of a leather conditioner.
@@jeffloucks2120 I used a jar of that when I first got them, and it still changed the color. It changed less than mink oil or other products, but it absolutely changes the color. But I also felt like it didn't quite protect the leather as much as a mink oil. So, at least for this winter season, I'm sticking with mink oil and enjoy the darkened, patina-like color of the boot.
People say the break in on these is rough but I found mine broke in quite quickly. After wearing them about 5 times they felt great. If they get better over time I will be in heaven because they are damn comfortable right now.
I have them in Black, I find them very classy and easy to dress up in.
hi guys...i just bought a pair of iron ranger amber...and luv em!...now im working to break em in...i also like the blacksmith and the classic mocs!...may be doing more shopping soon?...
I live in Australia over here they are very very expensive but I still own few pairs because they are extremely comfortable and look great. I basically wear a pair every day
Thank you for mentioning the break in period! I finally got my first pair and started to question if they should be this uncomfortable. Looking forward to getting these broken in and wearing them for years to come.
I've had a pair of Ox Bloods for a couple years now and had to get a pair of Dr. Sholl's insoles to soften the ride a bit. Otherwise, an excellent boot in style, function, and the overall statement they make, especially in an urban environment.
Red Wings are good boots. I’ve wore them a lot in my life time, but I switched over to Chippewas about 25 years ago. I’m my opinion they are the best! I’m still wearing the 2 pairs I brought back then and they have 25 more years left in them!
David