Red Wing boots = Experience

[ol'Red]

I am thinking of purchasing a pair of red wing 4470 pull on steel toes. I consider work boots as tools and trust the input from GJ more than amazon reviews. I have worn georgia boots, rocky, wolverine, and danner boots. All were good boots but I can't seem to get more than 8 months out of boots with the exception of the danners (they were really uncomfortable on concrete). I work primarily on concrete; but spend a good bit of time on gravel and on top of diesels on places you probably aren't suppose to stand.

I am looking for someone with input as to how well the soles (mainly the heels) hold up. Several guys at work have them and are satisfied but none way over 180. Me at 215 am no hoss but put a little more on my feet.

I know there are many quality boot manufactures in the world but I am looking for input on Red Wings.

 

[CWP1616L]

The sole on that 4470 will wear like iron; no need to worry about that.

What wears out on me whenever I have Red Wing boots is the headliner.

 

[allinon72]

After one year and mink oil every 1-2 weeks, I'm having problems with the leather cracking.

 

[madison069]

I wear red wings but it's a mixture of concrete, gravel, dirt, office, and I'm no light guy, 280.

I usually get 2 years out but when it comes to redwings pull on, make sure you go and have them fitted to your feet. That made a difference for me in comfort.

 

[Lightfoot]

I've had a pair for i'm guessing about 8 years. I don't know what number they are. Lot's of time on blacktop, hot and cold, wet and dry. I'm flat footed as a duck, so i had to put my inserts in them to be real comfy, but putting them on is like meeting an old friend. They are very comfortable. Only recently have i thought about having them re-heeled. They are getting a slight taper to them, but have held up really well to have been through what they have. I kinda drag my heels when i get tired so most of the problem is with me, not the boots. I would recommend them highly.

 

[ol'Red]

The sole on that 4470 will wear like iron; no need to worry about that.

What wears out on me whenever I have Red Wing boots is the headliner.

Im not familiar with the headliner. Is that the upper liner in the boot?

 

[CWP1616L]

After one year and mink oil every 1-2 weeks, I'm having problems with the leather cracking.

Forget about the mink oil. Get the liquid oil that comes in a plastic jar with the brush in the cap. After you buy the jar, they refill the jar with oil for free. I don't use the brush it comes with though. I use a paint brush and brush the oil on until the leather is soaked. You'll never have cracks that way.

 

[CWP1616L]

Im not familiar with the headliner. Is that the upper liner in the boot?

Yes it's the liner inside the boot directly above your toes. I have a feeling I'm the only one who wears out the headliner though.

 

[SchuLace]

I bought a pair of Wolverines 2.5 years ago and they were shot in less than a year. I bought a pair of Red Wings 1.5 years ago and they have been awesome. I just a ought another pair to use as hunting/outside of work boots. I wore them all weekend and love them. They are speedy but well worth it IMO.

 

[metaldad]

I wear the style you posted, except not steel toed. I currently cycle thru 4 pairs, oldest being 7 years old, newest 3 months. Keep them clean and oiled, they will last a long time.

 

[ol'Red]

I have never had issues with a headliner but often wear the liner out around the heel. Thanks for the head up, probably won't be a deal breaker seeing as the soles have had good reviews.

 

[JoeSnapOn]

Thanks to a curled up left big toe I wear through headliners. Heck on sneakers Ill eventually wear a hole right through the toe part to the outside. Also socks don't last me long at all. I Can wear a hole in a sock in a day with enough walking but Usually a sock lasts a few wears

 

[ol'Red]

I wear the style you posted, except not steel toed. I currently cycle thru 4 pairs, oldest being 7 years old, newest 3 months. Keep them clean and oiled, they will last a long time.

Good to hear. The sales person at the store said that was the best selling pull on and have customers buy one in steel to for work and one non steel toe for after hours. I kinda took it with a grain of salt as he is in the business of selling boots.

 

[deaddawg58]

+1 on having them fitted at store. I had that done because I wear EE width and Redwings for me are comfortable from day one with no break in time. They last a lot longer than any other brand that I have ever bought.

 

[Rickster]

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/tls/4188882577.html

USED RED WING BOOTS FOR SALE 11 1/2 WIDE ..... PAID $200 PLUS TAX & 230 PLUS TAX ..... LIGHTLY USED ..... OPEN TO REASONABLE OFFERS .....

 

[Hiball]

Yes it's the liner inside the boot directly above your toes. I have a feeling I'm the only one who wears out the headliner though.

/cut your toe nails.

 

[CWP1616L]

/cut your toe nails.

I do ... all the time. I don't like long toe nails.

 

[Burgerkong]

I like these. Iron Rangers.

 

[davethorik]

I have had excellent luck with Red Wing products. My first set of workboots was in their Worx line and those held up fantastically. My 2nd pair was Red Wing steel toe with a vibram hiking boot sole. They are still going strong, at almost 6 years old. I just bought a pair steel toed flat sole ankle height back in early 2012 and they are still super comfy.

The one bummer was they don't have much 14EE in the stores, but they came in pretty fast and were shipped directly to me.

 

[Rogue1987]

A big +1 to Red Wings from me. I've worn a pair of 2414's every day for the last three years, and I am tough as hell on my boots. Made in the USA to boot! (Haaaaa)

 

[Hiball]

Redwing 926 here..

 

[michael murder]

I have a pair Red Wings for wildland fire fighting. They put up with a ton of abuse, extreme heat, mud, ash. I always oiled them up and they haven't failed me yet still wearing them after 6 seasons of fire fighting.

 

[chrisa7164]

I've been wearing the same pair of Redwings for 17 yrs. I've had to resole them once. Still have the same laces ( don't ask me how that happened)

 

[Grayguy]

Same as ever here, one pair of redwings per year, soles are shot(coming apart in chunks) , leather is starting to crack/tear up. I'll get a new pair in January /February like every year

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[1950mercury]

Im a comercial hvac tech and thats all i wear a pair lasts me more than 5 years...

Its sad but most ate no longer made in the us. The last pair i bought were 6in high non insulated non steel to there the ones with the clearish sole and they were 220 that was 5 years ago.

Im going to get a 2nd pair of boots thurogoods ( not sure on spelling) they are us made and look like rw for about 1/2 price most of the shop has switched over to them

 

[ol'Red]

Thanks for the input. Looks like good reviews across the board. Will probably stop in tomorrow and get the boots.

 

[bad12jr]

I have worn the sole out of 4 pair of 1123 over 6 years. which is the non steel toe version. I drag my feet bad. I'm on my second pair of 4470. I work at a power plant and they see coal,oil, limestone, gypsum, ash and a number of other things. Hold up great.

I also recommend buying the better insoles the sell. Do a lot better on concrete I think.

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[Swan]

10 years and countless miles walking on my Red Wing motorcycle boots and the treads starting to get thin and I have one hole developing above my big toe. I love them and these are the ones made just up the river from me in Red Wing, MN. I picked up a cheap, barely used pair from ebay this summer and they are now made in China. Of course I do not like them as much and I am having my original pair resoled and the hole patched. You get what you pay and since everyone's feet are different, it is important to try them before buying.

 

[Strictly Gravy]

Another +1 on redwings. I've had Rocky's and wolverines and Justin work boots. All 3 of those have gone in the trash and I am back to wearing my old redwings on the job site. Going on 5 years now I think.

 

[Mustang1167]

I've spent the last few years in redwings. I get about 3 years out of a pair. Railroad ballast tears up the soles and I take an angle grinder to the soles to get some extra tread out of them about 2 years into it. Has worked like a charm on 2 pairs of 4420 loggers.

 

[bad12jr]

My redwing dealer who is also a family friend said the worx line and few others are made in China. The 4470 is still a us made boot. Much better quality.

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[ephotrod]

Redwings don't last try Justin or Chippwa they hold up better and are usually cheaper. The two pairs of redwings I have bought lasted a year or less. I'm on my third year with my justins and just had them resoled.

 

[CWP1616L]

The 4470 is still a U.S. made boot.

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Fixed it for yuh.

 

[Thumper68]

Been wearing redwings for over 20 years, I have also tried all the rest, my well oiled 15 yo ones are still my favs, but those I only use while I have my current pair out for repair.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I am thinking of purchasing a pair of red wing 4470 pull on steel toes. I consider work boots as tools and trust the input from GJ more than amazon reviews. I have worn georgia boots, rocky, wolverine, and danner boots. All were good boots but I can't seem to get more than 8 months out of boots with the exception of the danners (they were really uncomfortable on concrete). I work primarily on concrete; but spend a good bit of time on gravel and on top of diesels on places you probably aren't suppose to stand.

I am looking for someone with input as to how well the soles (mainly the heels) hold up. Several guys at work have them and are satisfied but none way over 180. Me at 215 am no hoss but put a little more on my feet.

I know there are many quality boot manufactures in the world but I am looking for input on Red Wings.

Would you be willing to work in (steel toed) tactical boots? Because that's pretty much where you should be, honestly because of the uneven surfaces. I would go with bates.

Not that the wear would be any better but better support for how you're working.

 

[ScurvyPete]

For all you guys with worn-out Red Wings, watch this.

Also, read this.

The price for replacing is $95.00 per pair. This cost includes a prepaid shipping label (for shipping to and from Red Wing Shoe Company), sole replacement, new laces, and an oil, silicone, or shoe polish treatment...
If you have questions or concerns regarding our shoe repair options or to request a shipping label, phone our repair staff at 1-800-328-9453, or email us at: [email protected]. Our Repair Shop is staffed from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm CST Monday through Thursday and 6:00 am to 12:00 pm on Friday

You're welcome

EDIT: For what it's worth, since June of 2012, I can probably count on two hands the number of days that I haven't worn my 202's. I bought them new (as factory seconds- there was a scuff in the leather at the heel of one of the boots), and in that time I spent about 28 straight days cleaning out 30 horse stalls every day, three months this summer working on concrete in urea fertilizer bins (nitrogen is real hard on boots), plus walking on sidewalks/roads/etc. going to and from class every day during the school year.
The soles are starting to look like NASCAR slicks at the end of the race, but the leather is still good (which surprises me, especially with the fertilizer work and the ammonia from all the horse piss). The only thing about the leather is that around the toe and along the sides near the sole (like where the side of my foot makes it kinda "bulge"), the leather has somewhat permanently scuffed and "hardened", and the mink oil doesn't seem to last more than three weeks in these areas before it starts to look more dried out.
I'm trying to talk my girlfriend into paying for the Red Wing repair deal for a Christmas gift, but when it comes time to buy another boot, I'll definitely be buying another pair.
Also, I weigh 250 if that makes a difference.

Sorry for the wall of text

 

[ScurvyPete]

Here's what I was talking about. You can see the difference in the leather between the shank of the boot and around the foot area.
Second photo is what both soles look like, and third photo is a close-up of the sole of the right boot.
I hope this helps.

 

[WWIIjeep]

I am looking for someone with input as to how well the soles (mainly the heels) hold up. Several guys at work have them and are satisfied but none way over 180. Me at 215 am no hoss but put a little more on my feet.

I weigh about the same as you--actually about 205 now, but I was at 215 for a long time, and I've been wearing Red Wings for 35+ years. I've had other brands too, but the Red Wings have always been the best-wearing and most comfortable.

I've had the 4470 and still have a pair, but I prefer the 2230 and suggest that you check out that style too. The 2230 is almost the same boot--11" pull-on--but has a wider, rounder, toe box, and a mini-lug sole with much better slip-resistance than the 4470 if you're climbing on things.

For me, wear is about the same between the two styles. I tend to wear out the soles a little bit faster than the heels. I generally have mine re-soled instead of replaced (as long as the uppers are still in good shape) so I don't have to break in a new pair as often, and tend to get a couple of years of wear out of them between re-soles or replacement.

They're comfortable enough that I wear them quite a bit outside of work too, including a lot of walking and climbing on rocks and shale and gravel.

 

[Scotsman1886]

I bought a pair in '87. After wearing "texas steer" for years before. I put those Red Wings on and it was like I'd worn them for moths. Fantastic! And at the time, it ws the most I had ever spent on work boots.
I had them a month when I was tased with a wood floor install. Well after two days on my knees, the toes were worn out on both. Not a reflection on the quality, it was my fault but I still kick myself over it.

I think they make the best boots out there

 

[Steinmetz]

I own several pairs. I still own the first pair of "Irish Setters" that I bought when I was in high school a looooong time ago (resoled at least four times). Years ago, a portion of the Red Wing line was made by the Mason Shoe Co.