Red Wing boots = Experience
- Thread starter ol'Red
- Start date
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
Redwing 2235's here.
Composite safety toe (required due to work environment.)
Never had a problem with them.
We get a work shoe truck twice a year and corporate often offers vouchers at certain levels so never have to pay reatail.
Soles wear over time, but then again, they are &^%$ shoes. Name me a pair that doesn't.
Some find them pricey but with all of the local support they are very worthy of pro use and abuse and alwyas a fix nearby if a problem.
At least for me.
Composite safety toe (required due to work environment.)
Never had a problem with them.
We get a work shoe truck twice a year and corporate often offers vouchers at certain levels so never have to pay reatail.
Soles wear over time, but then again, they are &^%$ shoes. Name me a pair that doesn't.
Some find them pricey but with all of the local support they are very worthy of pro use and abuse and alwyas a fix nearby if a problem.
At least for me.
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CORTEZSS69
Well-known member
I bought my 4470's the first of April. They have been great, they are very comfortable after break in. That took about month for break in. They have kept my feet dry when I'm in rain or the field. And now that its getting colder I was worried about my feet getting cold with the steel toe. But they have been great. I walk all day in them and I'm on concrete all day.
I also mink oil and clean mine every 3 to 4 weeks. I had a set of Rocky long range before these and they were super comfortable but the inner liner of the boot came apart within about the first 90 days. So my Rocky dealer offered me another pair or my money back and I took the money and bought the Red Wings.
My only complaint is that I think they are kinda heavy, but all the other good things make up for that. My heels are showing wear but nothing to horrible. The soles look great with every little show of wear.
Also remember that Red Wing offers a 30 day fit warranty and they can be returned with a receipt if you don't like them. Hope this helps.
I also mink oil and clean mine every 3 to 4 weeks. I had a set of Rocky long range before these and they were super comfortable but the inner liner of the boot came apart within about the first 90 days. So my Rocky dealer offered me another pair or my money back and I took the money and bought the Red Wings.
My only complaint is that I think they are kinda heavy, but all the other good things make up for that. My heels are showing wear but nothing to horrible. The soles look great with every little show of wear.
Also remember that Red Wing offers a 30 day fit warranty and they can be returned with a receipt if you don't like them. Hope this helps.
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j p smith
Well-known member
What is the oil you are referring to? I wear 595's. I used to clean them with saddle soap but it seems to dry them out over time.
ScurvyPete
Well-known member
I clean mine with saddle soap, and then use the mink oil paste. I haven't seen any problems as far as leather cracking.
Ft.ValloniaStreaker
Well-known member
I spray mine with WD-40......do it in the grass or gravel, concrete can get mighty slippery.
CORTEZSS69
Well-known member
Also buy a couple pairs of Red Wing boot socks they are great, they wont fall down after five minutes. Ten bucks a pair but well worth the money.
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
My feet go too used to military boots and I had a bucnh of trouble when I got out and switched to "regular" work boots about 20 years ago. Ive tried many brands / styles. Red Wings have been the longest lasting boots I have owned. Also stay the most comfortable overall - I've had some brands that still appeared fine, but deteriorated sole made my feet hurt too much to continue wearing them. Red Wings where the first brand that I could stand to wear for a full year in the shop. For care / maint: I wash mine regularly in hydraulic oil and dust them off with weld spatter and grinding dust - been working fine so far.
CORTEZSS69
Well-known member
I went to clean mine tonight and they are the 2270, which I think are the waterproof version of the 4470. I made a mistake. Any way you go your feet will thank you.
57JoeFoMoPar
Well-known member
I don't do work for a living that require boots, but I do wear Red Wings as casual/fashion footwear. I've had a pair of Iron Rangers that have been outstanding. Same goes for a pair of Beckmans. Look great, fit great, wear like iron... hard to beat.
Tinner
Well-known member
I wear the 2270's and I know I am pretty tough on boots, constantly in mud/water, around a lot of concrete dust, pvc glue/ cleaner, and just general harshness. The 2270 is the most comfortable pair of boots I've had. They have gotten pretty torn up over the last 11 months. I've been planning on getting a new pair in January, and I dont know if my currents are repairable, but I'll see what they say.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
Honda guy
Well-known member
Only one word you need to know for leather care, Obenauf's.
+1 on the Obenaufs. It's what RedBack recommends for use on their boots. In fact I just got through treating mine with Obenaufs Heavy Duty LP, a couple hours ago. Good stuff
Mickey O
Well-known member
Red Wing used to make darn good boots in the USA. Now they import sub-assemblies and do the final assembly here in the US and then call them USA made when they're nothing more than Asian junk and they are quite deceptive about it. Read an article about this years back, contacted Red Wing and never heard back. Haven't bought a pair of their boots since and all my previous boots were Red Wing (still have some of my old ones), I'm not paying top dollar for Asian junk.
In my experience redwing is very straight forward on there tags. For instance.. My 926's say Made in the USA with imported materials. I know when I was boot shopping I had it narrowed down to 2 separate pair of red wings, one was china and the other was made here with global materials. I chose the lesser of 2 evils..
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Tinner
Well-known member
They make boots in China, in USA with imported materials, and in USA with American materials. It's all very clear which are which if you look on their website. You get what you pay for.
sharkytm
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I wear 2226's. I work on the ocean, and they see very hard use and harsh treatment. I get about three years out of a pair, with proper care. They are USA made with imported materials. I also have a pair of unlined 2206's, which are USA made with USA leather. They are gorgeous, and still look new after two years of occasional use.
I'm a fan of the stores... I get free oiling, free laces, and great service.
I'm a fan of the stores... I get free oiling, free laces, and great service.
Mickey O
Well-known member
They must have been caught because a few years back the were putting USA Made on shoes were just assembled here or maybe they changed the labels because people are more accepting of the Made in the USA with imported materials now.
I'll look for the article, it was a while back and I didn't have much luck searching for it yesterday, but to summarize; Red Wing was being deceptive.
I recall reading the article myself, IRC it might have been linked here. What I don't remember if there was foul play on Redwing or if they where just acting within the guidelines off the FTC COO, or simply skirting the guidelines.
Mickey O
Well-known member
I don't recall the specifics in the article, but I did send them an email from a customer of 20 + years (me) and they never responded. I'll have to search all of my email accounts and see if I can find it.
I work in Red Wing, though not at the Shoe (as its referred to around here). They are still made here. Hell, there is even a leather tannery in here in town. Some components are imported and they are plainly clear about it on the site.
They DO, however, also have a line of boots and shoes that are outsourced and his often causes confusion for many people.
I know the folks that stitched and made my 926s so YES, they are made here in Red Wing, MN. Good stuff.
They DO, however, also have a line of boots and shoes that are outsourced and his often causes confusion for many people.
I know the folks that stitched and made my 926s so YES, they are made here in Red Wing, MN. Good stuff.
It comes in a big plastic jar and says "Boot Oil" on it. That's all it says besides the Red Wing logo above it. The cap on the jar is metal and has a brush going through it. When they refill the jar, the oil they refill it with comes out of a gallon size can that looks like a paint thinner can.