This classic with a new Vibram Mini-Lug sole. The 8111 is a rugged 6-Inch boot, featuring premium Amber Harness leather, chrome hardware, speed hooks, Goodyear welt construction, triple stitched quality, plus a durable Vibram 430 Mini-lug sole for grip while maintaining the classic Iron Ranger construction and silhouette. The early history of iron mining on Minnesotas Mesabi Range is intertwined with that of Red Wing Shoe Company. The miners needed tough but comfortable boots that could stand up to the long days and tough conditions a northern Minnesota mine pit presented. Red Wing responded with a boot made of thick leather with an oil resisting outer sole, speed lacing hooks, and a comfortable cork midsole. The defining characteristic of these boots though, was their double layered toe, capped to protect the miners feet from injury as they labored with hand tools and heavy machinery. That boot is still made today, the fittingly named Iron Ranger, and it represents not only Red Wings commitment to making boots for working men and women but also its Minnesota origins.
This classic with a new Vibram Mini-Lug sole. The 8111 is a rugged 6-Inch boot, featuring premium Amber Harness leather, chrome hardware, speed hooks, Goodyear welt construction, triple stitched quality, plus a durable Vibram 430 Mini-lug sole for grip while maintaining the classic Iron Ranger construction and silhouette. The early history of iron mining on Minnesotas Mesabi Range is intertwined with that of Red Wing Shoe Company. The miners needed tough but comfortable boots that could stand up to the long days and tough conditions a northern Minnesota mine pit presented. Red Wing responded with a boot made of thick leather with an oil resisting outer sole, speed lacing hooks, and a comfortable cork midsole. The defining characteristic of these boots though, was their double layered toe, capped to protect the miners feet from injury as they labored with hand tools and heavy machinery. That boot is still made today, the fittingly named Iron Ranger, and it represents not only Red Wings commitment to making boots for working men and women but also its Minnesota origins.
Red Wing Shoes 8111 Iron Ranger - Amber Harness - US14/ EU 48
This classic with a new Vibram Mini-Lug sole. The 8111 is a rugged 6-Inch boot, featuring premium Amber Harness leather, chrome hardware, speed hooks, Goodyear welt construction, triple stitched quality, plus a durable Vibram 430 Mini-lug sole for grip while maintaining the classic Iron Ranger construction and silhouette. The early history of iron mining on Minnesotas Mesabi Range is intertwined with that of Red Wing Shoe Company. The miners needed tough but comfortable boots that could stand up to the long days and tough conditions a northern Minnesota mine pit presented. Red Wing responded with a boot made of thick leather with an oil resisting outer sole, speed lacing hooks, and a comfortable cork midsole. The defining characteristic of these boots though, was their double layered toe, capped to protect the miners feet from injury as they labored with hand tools and heavy machinery. That boot is still made today, the fittingly named Iron Ranger, and it represents not only Red Wings commitment to making boots for working men and women but also its Minnesota origins.
This classic with a new Vibram Mini-Lug sole. The 8111 is a rugged 6-Inch boot, featuring premium Amber Harness leather, chrome hardware, speed hooks, Goodyear welt construction, triple stitched quality, plus a durable Vibram 430 Mini-lug sole for grip while maintaining the classic Iron Ranger construction and silhouette. The early history of iron mining on Minnesotas Mesabi Range is intertwined with that of Red Wing Shoe Company. The miners needed tough but comfortable boots that could stand up to the long days and tough conditions a northern Minnesota mine pit presented. Red Wing responded with a boot made of thick leather with an oil resisting outer sole, speed lacing hooks, and a comfortable cork midsole. The defining characteristic of these boots though, was their double layered toe, capped to protect the miners feet from injury as they labored with hand tools and heavy machinery. That boot is still made today, the fittingly named Iron Ranger, and it represents not only Red Wings commitment to making boots for working men and women but also its Minnesota origins.
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The lowest price for Red Wing Shoes 8111 Iron Ranger - Amber Harness - US14/ EU 48 right now is $454.13 at WOOKI, compared across 3 retailers.
The all-time low was $454.13 on 8 May 2026. That's the lowest price we've ever tracked — a great time to buy.
Prices last updated 8 May 2026.
Last updated at 08/05/2026 21:03:38
Red Wing Men's Iron Ranger Amber Harness Leather Boots 08111D (Shoe Size (US): 14)
Free delivery between 15–22 May
Red Wing Shoes 8111 Iron Ranger - Amber Harness - US14/ EU 48
Delivery between 14–20 May $56.86
Red Wing 8111 Iron Ranger Amber Harness 14
Delivery $53.52
originally posted on redwingshoes.com
I bought a pair of these roughout slate Iron Rangers back in June while in Florida at the Ft. Meyers Redwing store which had an incredible selection of Redwing Heritage boots. I was ecstatic to see the Slate ones since they stood out to me more than the other leathers used in the iron rangers and these specific ones are sold out online. I have been wearing them for about 4 months now and they have broken-in wonderfully! I wear a 10 in sneakers and the 9.5 was the absolute-perfect size for my feet. This is also my first pair of boots with a leather insole and thankfully I expected it to be rough, and rough it was, for a time at least. My feet did not have much aching pain but were real tender and sore after wearing them for a while and gradually got less sore as the ... MoreI bought a pair of these roughout slate Iron Rangers back in June while in Florida at the Ft. Meyers Redwing store which had an incredible selection of Redwing Heritage boots. I was ecstatic to see the Slate ones since they stood out to me more than the other leathers used in the iron rangers and these specific ones are sold out online. I have been wearing them for about 4 months now and they have broken-in wonderfully! I wear a 10 in sneakers and the 9.5 was the absolute-perfect size for my feet. This is also my first pair of boots with a leather insole and thankfully I expected it to be rough, and rough it was, for a time at least. My feet did not have much aching pain but were real tender and sore after wearing them for a while and gradually got less sore as the insole morphed to the shape of my feet. I took these hiking and was shocked at how easy it was to maneuver around rocks and steep edges since my feet were completely supported and gripped by the leather. It felt as if I had more grip than any other pair of boots I've owned. The Vibram mini-lug outsole is also the complete balance between style and ruggedness as you can tackle just about any task without compromising that classic heritage silhouette.That being said, lets talk about this slate leather. I am new to the leather cleaning/conditioning world but I found it extremely difficult to get these to look like the day I got them, which is more desirable to me than the dirty gray color these boots develop on the roughout over time. After using saddle soap and scrubbing vigorously multiple times, they do not look like they did when I first got them or how they look in this picture. Although the roughout is more resistant to scrapes and other factors, it looks dirtier so much faster than the smooth side leathers and if I am being honest, I am not a fan of the way these look when dirty, which is what they will look like most of the time. Every crumb, liquid, or ounce of dirt will show and stay there unless you clean them every day or every week which is not what I am interested in doing.All-in-all a great but not perfect boot for me. Looking back, I wish I got these in Copper Rough and tough or Amber Harness and perhaps a pair of them in 9.5 will be my next target. I would recommend these in another leather. Live and learn. Redwing Heritage is still my favorite boot brand out there and it takes a lot of self-control to not splurge on more of them!
originally posted on redwingshoes.com
I have now bought and exchanged three different sizes of black Iron Rangers over the course of the past two months and I still don't know my proper size. Most recently I returned to the Penn Plaza location after returning size 8.5D and I was taken care of by an employee who suggested a size 9D and an 8.5EE. This employee was less than attentive, disregarded my main concerns, and was also tossing the boots around like they were trash. There was a point where he had actually tossed a boot from one of the benches onto the floor aggressively. This same associate was also tried to convince me that a Brannock device was a completely inaccurate measuring tool and said that the Ultimate Fit machine reading was 100% accurate. Even with my sizing result showing that I do not ... MoreI have now bought and exchanged three different sizes of black Iron Rangers over the course of the past two months and I still don't know my proper size. Most recently I returned to the Penn Plaza location after returning size 8.5D and I was taken care of by an employee who suggested a size 9D and an 8.5EE. This employee was less than attentive, disregarded my main concerns, and was also tossing the boots around like they were trash. There was a point where he had actually tossed a boot from one of the benches onto the floor aggressively. This same associate was also tried to convince me that a Brannock device was a completely inaccurate measuring tool and said that the Ultimate Fit machine reading was 100% accurate. Even with my sizing result showing that I do not have wide feet, the associate insisted that 8.5EE was my size. I returned one day after buying the boots to return them for a full refund. I just want a pair of Iron Rangers in the correct size. It really shouldn't take this long and I shouldn't have to exchange boots this many times based on poor suggestions from employees who don't care about anything except making a sale. Even after buying an insole specifically to make a size 9D fit, I am now left bootless due to poor suggestions and inaccurate information from associates.
originally posted on redwingshoes.com
I'd been shopping around online for a combat style boot for a long time. I got attached to combat style boots when I was in the army. Theres something about boots that lace up around your ankles that is so comfortable in the way it stablizes your step. It just seems like there aren't a lot of boots of this style that are available for women which are made to the same quality standards as the boots made for men. Most are just garbage. It's difficult to find women's shoes, and particularly, boots, which are goodyear welted period, and ones which are made in the USA. The reason it's important to me to have them made in the USA is that I am a person who gets attached to things sentimentally. I owned a pair of boots once for 17 years. I had them resoled twice in that ... MoreI'd been shopping around online for a combat style boot for a long time. I got attached to combat style boots when I was in the army. Theres something about boots that lace up around your ankles that is so comfortable in the way it stablizes your step. It just seems like there aren't a lot of boots of this style that are available for women which are made to the same quality standards as the boots made for men. Most are just garbage. It's difficult to find women's shoes, and particularly, boots, which are goodyear welted period, and ones which are made in the USA. The reason it's important to me to have them made in the USA is that I am a person who gets attached to things sentimentally. I owned a pair of boots once for 17 years. I had them resoled twice in that time. I take care of things that I own. I love Red Wings because I like the idea that there is a good possibility that in the life of my Iron Rangers, I may have the opportunity to wear them, love them, send them back to Red Wing, Minnesota, one or even two times and have them re-soled or rebuilt and then get them back to wear and love for more years. There are few things in this world that can be had like that. If I buy a shoe, even a really well-made shoe, from another country, in these uncertain times, the chances that I can have that kind of service from the original manufacturer, are really slim. I trust Red Wing. When I was younger and had very little means, I used to buy used Red Wings in thrift stores. I know the quality of Red Wings, inside and out. I know what it takes for a company to exist for over a hundred years in spite of all that has happened in this country. And that is remarkable.So when I wear my Iron Rangers, though they are still new, I enjoy them. They are super comfortable. They required very little breaking in, because for whatever reason, Red Wings and my feet are just simpatico. I've only had one pair of Red Wings, the 6" Mocs, that I really had to "break in" in the traditional way that people talk about when they refer to "breaking in a pair of Red Wings". My Iron Rangers just fit right out of the box. Every time I wear them they feel just better and better. I love them. They are just part of me now. I look forward to putting them on every time I wear them. Looking at them makes me happy. I love the patina they are taking on. I love the wear marks and the ridges and the impressions my feet are making in the insoles. They were worth every penny and more. I kind of want to get a pair in black now. But I sort of feel like I'd be cheating on these. (I realize that's weird.) Yesterday I wore them with cuffed skinny jeans and a cute top and dangly earrings. Today I'm going to wear them with Carhartt bibs to go fishing with my son on the 4th of July. These boots are for real life living.
Red Wing Men's Iron Ranger Amber Harness Leather Boots 08111D (Shoe Size (US): 14)
Free delivery between 15–22 May
Red Wing Shoes 8111 Iron Ranger - Amber Harness - US14/ EU 48
Delivery between 14–20 May $56.86
Red Wing 8111 Iron Ranger Amber Harness 14
Delivery $53.52
I bought a pair of these roughout slate Iron Rangers back in June while in Florida at the Ft. Meyers Redwing store which had an incredible selection of Redwing Heritage boots. I was ecstatic to see the Slate ones since they stood out to me more than the other leathers used in the iron rangers and these specific ones are sold out online. I have been wearing them for about 4 months now and they have broken-in wonderfully! I wear a 10 in sneakers and the 9.5 was the absolute-perfect size for my feet. This is also my first pair of boots with a leather insole and thankfully I expected it to be rough, and rough it was, for a time at least. My feet did not have much aching pain but were real tender and sore after wearing them for a while and gradually got less sore as the ... MoreI bought a pair of these roughout slate Iron Rangers back in June while in Florida at the Ft. Meyers Redwing store which had an incredible selection of Redwing Heritage boots. I was ecstatic to see the Slate ones since they stood out to me more than the other leathers used in the iron rangers and these specific ones are sold out online. I have been wearing them for about 4 months now and they have broken-in wonderfully! I wear a 10 in sneakers and the 9.5 was the absolute-perfect size for my feet. This is also my first pair of boots with a leather insole and thankfully I expected it to be rough, and rough it was, for a time at least. My feet did not have much aching pain but were real tender and sore after wearing them for a while and gradually got less sore as the insole morphed to the shape of my feet. I took these hiking and was shocked at how easy it was to maneuver around rocks and steep edges since my feet were completely supported and gripped by the leather. It felt as if I had more grip than any other pair of boots I've owned. The Vibram mini-lug outsole is also the complete balance between style and ruggedness as you can tackle just about any task without compromising that classic heritage silhouette.That being said, lets talk about this slate leather. I am new to the leather cleaning/conditioning world but I found it extremely difficult to get these to look like the day I got them, which is more desirable to me than the dirty gray color these boots develop on the roughout over time. After using saddle soap and scrubbing vigorously multiple times, they do not look like they did when I first got them or how they look in this picture. Although the roughout is more resistant to scrapes and other factors, it looks dirtier so much faster than the smooth side leathers and if I am being honest, I am not a fan of the way these look when dirty, which is what they will look like most of the time. Every crumb, liquid, or ounce of dirt will show and stay there unless you clean them every day or every week which is not what I am interested in doing.All-in-all a great but not perfect boot for me. Looking back, I wish I got these in Copper Rough and tough or Amber Harness and perhaps a pair of them in 9.5 will be my next target. I would recommend these in another leather. Live and learn. Redwing Heritage is still my favorite boot brand out there and it takes a lot of self-control to not splurge on more of them!
I have now bought and exchanged three different sizes of black Iron Rangers over the course of the past two months and I still don't know my proper size. Most recently I returned to the Penn Plaza location after returning size 8.5D and I was taken care of by an employee who suggested a size 9D and an 8.5EE. This employee was less than attentive, disregarded my main concerns, and was also tossing the boots around like they were trash. There was a point where he had actually tossed a boot from one of the benches onto the floor aggressively. This same associate was also tried to convince me that a Brannock device was a completely inaccurate measuring tool and said that the Ultimate Fit machine reading was 100% accurate. Even with my sizing result showing that I do not ... MoreI have now bought and exchanged three different sizes of black Iron Rangers over the course of the past two months and I still don't know my proper size. Most recently I returned to the Penn Plaza location after returning size 8.5D and I was taken care of by an employee who suggested a size 9D and an 8.5EE. This employee was less than attentive, disregarded my main concerns, and was also tossing the boots around like they were trash. There was a point where he had actually tossed a boot from one of the benches onto the floor aggressively. This same associate was also tried to convince me that a Brannock device was a completely inaccurate measuring tool and said that the Ultimate Fit machine reading was 100% accurate. Even with my sizing result showing that I do not have wide feet, the associate insisted that 8.5EE was my size. I returned one day after buying the boots to return them for a full refund. I just want a pair of Iron Rangers in the correct size. It really shouldn't take this long and I shouldn't have to exchange boots this many times based on poor suggestions from employees who don't care about anything except making a sale. Even after buying an insole specifically to make a size 9D fit, I am now left bootless due to poor suggestions and inaccurate information from associates.
I'd been shopping around online for a combat style boot for a long time. I got attached to combat style boots when I was in the army. Theres something about boots that lace up around your ankles that is so comfortable in the way it stablizes your step. It just seems like there aren't a lot of boots of this style that are available for women which are made to the same quality standards as the boots made for men. Most are just garbage. It's difficult to find women's shoes, and particularly, boots, which are goodyear welted period, and ones which are made in the USA. The reason it's important to me to have them made in the USA is that I am a person who gets attached to things sentimentally. I owned a pair of boots once for 17 years. I had them resoled twice in that ... MoreI'd been shopping around online for a combat style boot for a long time. I got attached to combat style boots when I was in the army. Theres something about boots that lace up around your ankles that is so comfortable in the way it stablizes your step. It just seems like there aren't a lot of boots of this style that are available for women which are made to the same quality standards as the boots made for men. Most are just garbage. It's difficult to find women's shoes, and particularly, boots, which are goodyear welted period, and ones which are made in the USA. The reason it's important to me to have them made in the USA is that I am a person who gets attached to things sentimentally. I owned a pair of boots once for 17 years. I had them resoled twice in that time. I take care of things that I own. I love Red Wings because I like the idea that there is a good possibility that in the life of my Iron Rangers, I may have the opportunity to wear them, love them, send them back to Red Wing, Minnesota, one or even two times and have them re-soled or rebuilt and then get them back to wear and love for more years. There are few things in this world that can be had like that. If I buy a shoe, even a really well-made shoe, from another country, in these uncertain times, the chances that I can have that kind of service from the original manufacturer, are really slim. I trust Red Wing. When I was younger and had very little means, I used to buy used Red Wings in thrift stores. I know the quality of Red Wings, inside and out. I know what it takes for a company to exist for over a hundred years in spite of all that has happened in this country. And that is remarkable.So when I wear my Iron Rangers, though they are still new, I enjoy them. They are super comfortable. They required very little breaking in, because for whatever reason, Red Wings and my feet are just simpatico. I've only had one pair of Red Wings, the 6" Mocs, that I really had to "break in" in the traditional way that people talk about when they refer to "breaking in a pair of Red Wings". My Iron Rangers just fit right out of the box. Every time I wear them they feel just better and better. I love them. They are just part of me now. I look forward to putting them on every time I wear them. Looking at them makes me happy. I love the patina they are taking on. I love the wear marks and the ridges and the impressions my feet are making in the insoles. They were worth every penny and more. I kind of want to get a pair in black now. But I sort of feel like I'd be cheating on these. (I realize that's weird.) Yesterday I wore them with cuffed skinny jeans and a cute top and dangly earrings. Today I'm going to wear them with Carhartt bibs to go fishing with my son on the 4th of July. These boots are for real life living.
I bought these boots in Copper almost two years ago, and I could not love them more. I'm a person who appreciates and is willing to pay for quality, and these stand out as one of the highest quality products I've ever bought. The leather is thick and tough, the construction is bulletproof, and I love knowing they were handmade by craftsmen in the United States. They feel straight from another century, before things were mass produced and cheaply made.I have worn these boots in every situation from hiking to camping to date nights in the city to my job in corporate finance. They've seen me on excursions across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. The more experiences I have in them, the more attached to them I seem to become, which is fine with me, ... MoreI bought these boots in Copper almost two years ago, and I could not love them more. I'm a person who appreciates and is willing to pay for quality, and these stand out as one of the highest quality products I've ever bought. The leather is thick and tough, the construction is bulletproof, and I love knowing they were handmade by craftsmen in the United States. They feel straight from another century, before things were mass produced and cheaply made.I have worn these boots in every situation from hiking to camping to date nights in the city to my job in corporate finance. They've seen me on excursions across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. The more experiences I have in them, the more attached to them I seem to become, which is fine with me, because I fully expect them to last a lifetime.I will say that comments about the break-in period are valid. These boots were not comfortable at first. In fact, they hurt quite a bit. But I had read enough to be prepared and correctly believed the initial discomfort would be worth it. Once that break-in period was over, the leather softened and formed to my feet to the point that these boots now feel like an extension of me.It's amazing how many compliments I get on these, and it's always cool to meet someone else wearing them. People who own these boots really love them and love talking about them. If you're someone like me who values quality over quantity, invest in a pair of Iron Rangers. You won't regret it.
After visiting three Redwing stores in the greater San Antonio Texas area, I finally managed to locate a pair of iron ranger boots size 8.5 in which the left and right boot pair where similar size in the towbox. Upon visiting the first two stores which had limited inventory due to their sale volume, the third store fortunately had four pairs of 8.5 boots in stock. However, out of the four pair I was only able to find one pr which the left toebox was nearly equal in size to the right. Same issue with all others tried on in various store… an obvious visible difference of the toebox size, the left boot toebox appeared to be .5 to .25 smaller then the right. I’ve worn this model of boot over half of my life and never dealt with this toebox size inconsistency.After ... MoreAfter visiting three Redwing stores in the greater San Antonio Texas area, I finally managed to locate a pair of iron ranger boots size 8.5 in which the left and right boot pair where similar size in the towbox. Upon visiting the first two stores which had limited inventory due to their sale volume, the third store fortunately had four pairs of 8.5 boots in stock. However, out of the four pair I was only able to find one pr which the left toebox was nearly equal in size to the right. Same issue with all others tried on in various store… an obvious visible difference of the toebox size, the left boot toebox appeared to be .5 to .25 smaller then the right. I’ve worn this model of boot over half of my life and never dealt with this toebox size inconsistency.After visiting numerous stores and trying on 8 pairs of boots in the same size, out of necessity I needed to move forward with a purchase, even though the left boot visibly appeared and felt to be .25-.5 smaller than the right boot, I was willing to take the chance on a purchase.In the process of paying the store manager informed me once I began wearing the boots, I could not return them to the store for an exchange.After a week of break-in consisting of saddle soap and RedWing leather conditioner after they dried well, I began to wear the boots on a daily basis with heavy socks. It became immediately apparent after the first week how tight the left boot toebox was compared to the right boot . It’s difficult to believe these boots were built on the same last size, it ultimately comes down to craftsmanship and quality control. I grew up in the shoe repair business studying under my father, a cobbler by trade…given the reason that I’m appalled to think that this is the best Redwing product that can be put out.While I’d like to work with stretching to achieve more width in the left toebox area, you just can’t fix what failed in the manufacturing process.At this point I’m convinced the only way to find a matched pair of boots would be to go to the factory and hand select a pair as they come off the assembly line.In the end, while I can express my dismay in this review section, it’s more than likely the farthest this aggravation will go… to expect a proper sized (towbox) well matched pair of boots as a replacement to ensure the customer is fully satisfied, seems like a fore gone era….
I felt compelled to write this review of the Red Wing Iron Ranger boot, as much of what I had read and seen on the internet reviews almost stopped me from purchasing them. I will preface this by saying during my working years I wore boots as my primary footwear. I have worn primarily combat style and tactical boots for work. I have been retired for five years now and have been in tennis shoe style footwear for the most part. I currently own a pair of casual dress boots which the Iron Rangers are replacing.The above background info covers some of the framework one could use in making the choice to buy or not. I wear a size 11 tennis shoes, a size 11D in boots.Some of the reviews I read spoke of the hard break in time these boots have. Some equated this to people ... MoreI felt compelled to write this review of the Red Wing Iron Ranger boot, as much of what I had read and seen on the internet reviews almost stopped me from purchasing them. I will preface this by saying during my working years I wore boots as my primary footwear. I have worn primarily combat style and tactical boots for work. I have been retired for five years now and have been in tennis shoe style footwear for the most part. I currently own a pair of casual dress boots which the Iron Rangers are replacing.The above background info covers some of the framework one could use in making the choice to buy or not. I wear a size 11 tennis shoes, a size 11D in boots.Some of the reviews I read spoke of the hard break in time these boots have. Some equated this to people used to wearing tennis shoes and not boots, others mention the hard stiff leather the boots are made of as well as the lack of a cushion insole. All of this could sway a person from purchasing the Iron Ranger boots, especially if you are not familiar with Red Wing boots. This was the position I was in.I chose to go to a brick and mortar Red Wing Store rather than purchase online. I would highly recommend doing this if you have a store in your area. When I got to the store in Toledo, Ohio I had my fit measured by the Ultimate Fit Profile scanner which gives a digital profile of your foot including your actual size. My size was 11.8 and 11.3. The sales associate recommended we try both 11 and 10.5 as the Iron Ranger boots have a tendency to run a little large. The sales associate advised that the boot should have plenty of room in the toe box and should fit snug on the sides. In time, he advised, the leather will soften and stretch. I chose the size 10.5 as the size 11 slipped slightly in the back of the heal.I wore the boots all day on a long road trip with no issues. The second wearing was all day as well which included an evening concert which was all standing on hard surface. I have experienced absolutely no issues in regard to a hard break in. These boots are high quality boots made to last. They are not soft and cushioned like a tennis shoe so it is a different wearing experience if you are used to that type of footwear. If you are a boot wearer you will have no problem with the Iron Rangers. If you are used to cushion type footwear I would advise to give them a try and give it a little time to get yourself used to the feel of a boot. The leather will soften with wear and these boots will serve you well.Red Wing, you got this one right! I love these boots and I will always maintain a pair as my go to everyday boot. So glad to be back in a boot especially one as well made as these.
I love the leather on these boots. It's high quality and beautiful and wears very well without any real upkeep or maintenance. My only complaint is the break-in around the collar. The way the very back of the collar hits my legs, it's rubbing and chaffing against my socks leaving painful horizontal marks on the back of my lower calf. I bought another pair in Copper Rough & Tough and don't have this issue at all (have worn another pair in amber harness for 20 years without this issue too). I think it's because the muleskinner leather is not as stiff so it doesn't hold a round "leg shape" like the stiffer copper leather. I hope in time it will break in to hold a rounder shape against my leg instead of laying so horizontal and cutting/rubbing across the back of my ... MoreI love the leather on these boots. It's high quality and beautiful and wears very well without any real upkeep or maintenance. My only complaint is the break-in around the collar. The way the very back of the collar hits my legs, it's rubbing and chaffing against my socks leaving painful horizontal marks on the back of my lower calf. I bought another pair in Copper Rough & Tough and don't have this issue at all (have worn another pair in amber harness for 20 years without this issue too). I think it's because the muleskinner leather is not as stiff so it doesn't hold a round "leg shape" like the stiffer copper leather. I hope in time it will break in to hold a rounder shape against my leg instead of laying so horizontal and cutting/rubbing across the back of my lower calf. For the price, nothing compares to the Iron Ranger. It's a fantastic boot that you can have and rebuild for many years if not decades. Sure you can spend twice the money and find even better boots out there, but short of custom handmade boots, Iron Rangers are some of the best I've ever worn.
So I know it says to "Avoid writing about customer service," but in this case Redwing customer service is the only reason I'm giving these 2 stars. I'm now on my 4th pair of these and while customer service has been superb, after over a year I still don't have an adequate pair of boots. Quality of materials is there, but craftmanship, consistency and QC are lacking.First pair, purchased back in Oct. of '22... Immediately impressed by the boots. These I wore the most to the point that the right boot felt like it was made for my foot. The issue was the left boot always felt too long. I tried to wear it off and on but after I started having an issue with the ball of my left foot that I suspected was due to this boot so I put them away last spring. Broke them out ... MoreSo I know it says to "Avoid writing about customer service," but in this case Redwing customer service is the only reason I'm giving these 2 stars. I'm now on my 4th pair of these and while customer service has been superb, after over a year I still don't have an adequate pair of boots. Quality of materials is there, but craftmanship, consistency and QC are lacking.First pair, purchased back in Oct. of '22... Immediately impressed by the boots. These I wore the most to the point that the right boot felt like it was made for my foot. The issue was the left boot always felt too long. I tried to wear it off and on but after I started having an issue with the ball of my left foot that I suspected was due to this boot so I put them away last spring. Broke them out again in August and it was immediately apparent the left boot was an issue. Finally measured and confirmed that the left boot was indeed about 1/4" longer than the right. Contacted customer service and they didn't hesitate to send me a return label (boots were still in the year warranty period) and were quick to turn around a replacement pair after confirming that the left boot was indeed defective.Second pair... after a couple of days of breaking them in it started to be apparent that the left boot was much wider than the right. To the point that I had the laces pulled about as tight as you could pull them and the boot was still loose. Right boot again felt great. Customer service was quick on the return and again confirmed and issue, "the heel pad on the left boot was wider set".Third pair... left boot good to go (actually still noticeably looser than the right but wearable). Now the right boot is somehow too tight in the toe box to the point it rubbed my toe raw. Thought maybe it was a break-in issue so kept at it until it was finally clear there was a problem. Bummer since I've had 2 perfect right boots up to this point that I had to return and now I have one I can't wear. Customer service processed return again, but less communication and while I was sent another pair, this time it was a "goodwill replacement".Forth pair... left boot is perfect. Right boot a little better but still tight in the toe box to the point it rubs the outside of my foot/toes again. Not as bad as the last pair, but still uncomfortable. Based on my last experience I'm thinking I'm about at the end of the line with customer service so I'm just keeping these with the hope that they'll eventually break in enough to wear for an entire day.As I was writing this I remembered that I've actually had 5 pairs of these in my possession as I originally ordered 2 different sizes. I sent the smaller size back due to fit, but I wouldn't have kept them anyway as the one sole made a clicking sound similar to a jar lid that's had the safety seal broken.I want to love these boots and originally planned on purchasing other colors, but after my experience so far I think I'll stay away from Redwing for a little while. The potential is there and if I could have just kept my first right boot (or even my second) I'd have a great pair finally but instead I'm left with a combination of boots I still can't wear longer than few hours.
I purchased this boot wanting a great quality made in USA boot that I could shine up and wear for business etc.At first the boot looked great and after a break in period felt good too.In just a matter of around 6 months it started to develop cracks even with me using Huber boot oil recommended for them and Kiwi black liquid shine wax.I have hunting boots that have been mistreated and rode hard and put up wet that still look great. But these boots have now went beyond cracks but are peeling. A Red Wing boot that has been babied and not even put to work looks worse than my work boots or hunting boots that are years and years and one pair over 15 years older. For the price they cost this is very unsatisfactory. Though they appear to be put together well they are ... MoreI purchased this boot wanting a great quality made in USA boot that I could shine up and wear for business etc.At first the boot looked great and after a break in period felt good too.In just a matter of around 6 months it started to develop cracks even with me using Huber boot oil recommended for them and Kiwi black liquid shine wax.I have hunting boots that have been mistreated and rode hard and put up wet that still look great. But these boots have now went beyond cracks but are peeling. A Red Wing boot that has been babied and not even put to work looks worse than my work boots or hunting boots that are years and years and one pair over 15 years older. For the price they cost this is very unsatisfactory. Though they appear to be put together well they are not holding up and uglied out too quick. I've been caring for boots since I was a kid and this is the worst pair to hold up and the most expensive pair aside from a pair of hiking boots. I have 25 year old leather dress shoes that look like the day I bought them. Those hiking boots are 30 years old now and are in great shape. The other boot that can be seen in the pic is older than these boots and is worn in a steel factory etc plus gets some time in the farm mud and then hosed off with high pressure. These boots should do better. Maybe I have a pair of duds but if they are all like this I would stay away.
I just received these yesterday and even though I am just starting to "break them in" I feel the need to comment on how these boots are when fresh out of the box. I got them in my normal size instead of going down a half because I have sensitive toes on my right foot and want plenty of room for them. There is no heel slip, my feet don't move around in them, and my toes are about 1/2 in. from the tip, so I think that was the right choice. The workmanship and feel of the boot in your hands screams quality, and the leather smell is intoxicating. The thing that surprised me most is how they felt when I put them on and when I walked the dog in them this morning. I have read and watched quite a few reviews on these boots and so many have said they are a bear to break in, ... MoreI just received these yesterday and even though I am just starting to "break them in" I feel the need to comment on how these boots are when fresh out of the box. I got them in my normal size instead of going down a half because I have sensitive toes on my right foot and want plenty of room for them. There is no heel slip, my feet don't move around in them, and my toes are about 1/2 in. from the tip, so I think that was the right choice. The workmanship and feel of the boot in your hands screams quality, and the leather smell is intoxicating. The thing that surprised me most is how they felt when I put them on and when I walked the dog in them this morning. I have read and watched quite a few reviews on these boots and so many have said they are a bear to break in, but compared to other boots I have, these are a literal and figurative walk in the park. They are very comfortable while breaking in compared to all of the other boots I have. My Docs, Solovairs and Dingos have all been WAY harder on my feet when breaking them in. The only area where I would give the Docs and Solovairs a slight edge over these is in their looks. Don't get me wrong. I love the looks of the Iron Ranger, but you just can't beat the look of a classic 8 eye British boot. Or can you? I bet if Red Wing came out with a USA made Red Wing quality boot in that style they would sell like hotcakes.
