My dad wore these when I was growing up. When they would eventually wear out my mom would cut holes in the sides of them and plant some sort of flower in them that would grow out the sides and place then outside as a decorative piece.
Man, I've had my Moc's for 5 years now, and I'm so bonded to that boot, it's like a personal relationship. After you both go through the pain of the break-in, you are forever molded and bonded for life. 2 resoles, and hundreds of miles and I can't say enough good things about this boot. I own other, very lovely boots from other boot makers, but I always come back to my Red Wings. I clean and oil the boot at the end of each winter, and the leather just. holds. up. So worth the investment. Love the content team, cheers!!
The red wing moc has a classic look, worn by workers and celebrities alike. They deserve all the praise they get, I have some 877s and they get the most compliments out of all my boots
Good review. I live in St. Paul, MN, 55 minutes from Red Wing HQ. I visit RW every few months to check out the discounted shoes in the basement, often cool, discontinued models like the Beckman, etc. The only thing missing from the video is fitting advice. Fit is everything with these boots. While it varies depending on thickness of the foot, width, etc, this is a good guideline: for the moc toe (aka 23 last): 1/2 size down from Brannock size: for the Iron Ranger/Blacksmith/Beckman (aka 8 last): a full size down from Brannock size as they are wider than the Moc Toe last. The ball of the foot should line up with the widest part of the boot, ideally. It took me a long time to get dialed in to this, and they are now the only boots that really fit my feet without rubbing the toe. For this reason, I can wear thick socks and the taller toe box doesn’t both my big toe. Many of the Moc toe boots can be had in wider widths, too, where most of the Iron Rangers can only be had in a standard “D” width. The Traction Tred is significantly more comfortable all day than the Vibram mini lug, too. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the good content.
Enjoyed the review very much!! Touched on all the key points to help a shopper make a choice. My first boots were a thorogood moc toe. Absolutely love them especially for the price, but two things stand out compared to what I learned in this review. My particular thorogood came with some slight flaws in the stitching at the sole. No problem. I'm gonna wear them hard anyway. And although they are made in USA the materials are globally sourced. The red wing being 100% usa materials is a huge bonus to me. At the end of the day they were ~30% cheaper than the redwing 875. Which makes the thorogood a stellar boot for the lower price point, and I feel worth every penny. But given the slight more quality control and 100% usa materials, the red wing gained new respect from me. Perhaps one day I'll upgrade thanks to this review!
Been using my 875’s as an everyday chore boot. The patina and wear are coming in beautifully. The leather reminds me of Horween Dublin leather with its waxy, oily feel. I still haven’t treated the leather at all, just brushing. I like how the gusseted tongue has formed and doesn’t get in the way, shift around. Still think the footbed is just a tad stiff. Very supportive though, it’ll finally break-in during spring/summer though.
i replaced the soles on my mocs with vibram 2120, black. they look great and are 1/2 pound lighter per boot which makes the boots more comfortable but there's no getting past that overly stiff footbed
This won't speed up the break in process (and this goes for any pair of boots) but when you are breaking them in do not skimp on the socks. I can't guarantee you won't be blister free but a pair of thick merino wool socks plus a properly sized boot will greatly reduce the chances of getting blisters. I've broken in two pairs of Nick's doing this and all I got were a few hot spots. For those who want strictly made in the US stuff off the top of my head check out Minus 33, Darn Tough, Smart Wool, and Woolx.
Great review. Troy walks so fast. I prefer the work version of the boot, the 10875. I hate the way the color changes so drastically, they don’t stop at red orange they keep getting darker and after five years I kinda hate it.
If your getting heartaige line redwings,trust me get them to where they are uncomfortable snug. They will stretch and form to your foot like a glove. I'm a 9.3 on there machine in store. I went with a 8.5 e perfect
Had my 875s over 7 years now and 2 resoles now the upper oro leather and stitching are still 1st class absolutely awesome boots my favourite and i own trumans java waxed flesh and other 2 other redwing weekenders and iron rangers superb video guys!!
Very nice! I was just talking about these boots as a great example of chrome tanned leather that'll still last forever. Love to hear about boots that have gotten MULTIPLE resoles
Always great to see Troy...Was on the fence about Red Wing moc toes for a while. I got a pair of Thursdays and didn't love the wedge sole. I wear them a lot and in different terrain, and wore through through the sole pretty quickly. I got a cobbler to customize them by adding a lug sole, which is a bit more durable. And I got a pair of Grant Stone Brass Boots with the commando sole (which I admittedly don't wear for work,). So I don't think I need another pair of moctoes right now.
I just got the 877 n the Berlin store. I got an 43 (10D). I tried the half size lower and my outer toes were touching the sides. I asked the sales guy and he told me that it would not stretch outwards so I should get the 43 and not the 42.5. The first couple of days even the 43 hurt my smaller toes and I was scared, fearing that I got the wrong size. After a couple of days wear the sides have relaxed and now it feels so large that I fear I should have gotten the 42.5. They did not have any wide sizes if they did I would have maybe even prefered 42E. So even when going to the store sizing is hard. I have not yet broken in the footbed but everything else is comfortable.
Neat blend of romance and analysis, Troy. The boots appeal to me but I might resent breaking in the manly footbed!? I've gone through many a comfortable-out-of-the-box running shoe style work boots, and resolable boots do appeal. For my first manly boots, albeit fancy boots, however, I recently bought a pair of black Grant Stone Brass Boots. I am mostly through my easy break in of them. Thanks, Nick . . .
I've gone back and forth on if I want the Oro legacy in anything. I love my slate muleskinner mocs, but I've not been wearing them the last 4 months, but twice. I've been spending all my time in my Frank's, or the classic Chelsea's after I get home from work.... 6" of slip on of convenience beat out the superior fit for my house/errand shoe.
I just got my first pair of Red Wing Mocs the 8138. Im not feeling that hard break in like everyone says. I did have to use the red wing leather insoles to dial in that fit.
I have over a dozen boots now, redwing 875, Truman (20 last), parkhurst (602m last), 3 grant stones (leo last), wilcox kern, bordon tukano, helm hollis, danner (rainforest), jim green african ranger and timberland. The 3 boot that fits me the best (marginally above the rest) is the Jim Greens, parkhurst and the Truman's but the rest fit very well (I could wear them all day) with two exceptions and that is the danner (a little snug but not bad) and the Redwing (which I had for 7 months, wearing them twice a week). The redwing length is fine (I have almost 1/2 to 3/4" in the front of the big toe) but the toe box is a bit narrow as well as having a little heel slip. It is the only boot in my collection that occasionally leaves me with slight toe pain in my big toe after wearing them all day. At this point, I only wear them with thin socks. The instep is fine, there good space in the vamp area. I really wanted to love this boot, I like the style, the leather and the sturdiness of the boot. I have used boot stretchers but I have to accept the truth that Redwing 875 Moc Toes are not the best boot for me. I will probably get the whites Perry select as my next moc toe work boot (or the Grant Stone brass boot) and will use the 875 boot to practice resoling when it wears down (I may even rework the toe box to give my an extra 2mm of room). Will also try stretching the toe box again with a custom stretcher that I will make up. It is a shame because I think they look great with a set of jeans and hanging out. But they are my least comfy boot. FYI - I am a 9.5 D on the brannock scale and got the Redwing 9D. My right foot is slightly longer and slightly wider than my left foot. All my boots fit well on my right foot with the exception of the Redwing.
Loved my 875s. IMO, Red Wing makes the best Moc Toe boots out there. I'm sure there are higher quality Moc Toes. That being said? For the price and because of that iconic look, the 875s are coolest Moc Toe boot of all time. I also really love my 1907s and was very fond of my 10877s as well. I'm into a Nick's/White's area now. But I still love Red Wings. Especially their Moc Toe boots.
The oro legacy leather is probably some of my favorite leather and even though I got my 875s two tears ago, I still get excited to wear them to this day. I have really narrow feet (L:10b R:10c) and low arches so 8.5D fits me pretty well. Great video as always Troy. Since I’m also based in NYC and my 875s are getting ready for a resole, are there any cobblers you could recommend in the area?
Troy's a fancy boy and got his boots resoled by Bedo's in Virginia, but Jim's Shoe Repair has a great reputation in NYC. Also hang out with us some time, we are losers with no friends
I own a pair of 875's for about 6 years. The first pair was a D width and too narrow. The pinkies hung out over the side and I got blisters within minutes. Unfortunately they rarely seem to make E width. It's always D or EE. So I ended up getting EE. They were pretty perfect when fresh but loosened up a bit over time and may now be a bit too wide. No big deal though. At least no pinched pinky toes. I had them resoled once. Went to a local Redwing store and they sent them straight back to the factory for the resole. They looked like new afterwards but it was not cheap. Ended up paying $160 for the service.
Great video! I am pretty new to the boot game and I made the bold move of buying the 8138's and 8111 and then a pair of 8111's so would be interesting if you did a similar video on the Iron rangers. I think i was one of the lucky ones I didn't find the break bad on either boot
Great video but your audio is way too quiet. When I listen to your videos I usually have to have the volume turned all the way up. But with other UA-cam channels. I only need them up about halfway. This becomes an issue when I'm in the car and the road noise and whatnot drowns out your audio.
often imitated, never duplicated! i just got some thursday diplomats in their 'harvest' color that's meant to be just like the 875s, but they absolutely could not get the orange color right
I definitely need a pair being I heard that the flat soles are good for lower back pain. I work in trades and could definitely use something like that.
I went to the redwing store to buy these exact boots. then I tried them on. the last just didn't agree with my foot. I put on the iron ranger, and it fit way better, so I ended up with those. I might try the 1907, but they don't come in this great leather.
That's too bad but kudos to knowing what's right for your foot. I've bought many boots and endured pinched pinkies just because I like the way they look. Do right by your feet, Jonathan!!
Why can’t Red Wing just make lasts and boots that are the purported size instead of confusing their customers? If this has been asked before, I apologize. I have three pairs so I’m a fan of their boots and your videos.
@@toodamnskippy6220 it is weird. the thing is all boot companies do this so at this point if you started a boot company and used True Sizes you'd probably get more returns than you would if they'd gone this route!
@@Stridewise thanks. This sizing policy must contribute to an unnecessarily high rate of returns, customer confusion and dissatisfaction. And yet, is there a more popular boot. Go figure.
I rock two sets of thorogoods, the 1957 and the crazyhorse sets, buuuut I’ve been very tempted by a set of iron rangers or the classic Mocs for my after work boots!
I wear a 12D athletic shoe, 11.5D in the iron ranger, and a 13D in the 875 but that’s also with a nice footbed. Feel cramped in the toe box? Go up. Nice a narrow last that’ll stretch over time. Not sure why folks are worried about a clown shoe look. Embrace it.
I totally understand the need for a upland game boot for walking around the streets of New York City, and shame on all those fools who think a 6" boot is a sufficient statement of manliness for the urban outdoorsman. I wore Red Wing for years for work when I got a union contract allowance to replace them periodically, but in the last decade of my work life, I switched to Thorogood and have not regretted it. The chief reasons are (not in order) the cost, the break in, and the durability of the outsole. The Thorogood duramax wedge outlasts the Red Wing soles by at least 20%. This means fewer resoles over the life of the boot. They come with a premium cushioned insole, but I took them out immediately for a more comfortable fit. The cork molded to my feet in good time, and they now fit like comfortable slippers. I'm about 2/3 the way through my second sole on my 7 year old 814-4200 boots (The 6" variety because out here in rural America, I'm no manly New Yorker😉), and these boots show no sign of an end to their life. Truck driving (flatbed and van), hiking, yard work, home remodeling, and general kicking around have not resulted in adverse performance, or them wearing out. And, like Red Wing, Thorogood are built in America by union workers. Are the Red Wings better? That's a tough call if you factor in all elements. But sure, you will eventually be happy with your Red Wings, and won't likely regret getting them. But that was also my experience with Thorogood, at a lower price and easier break in.
Thanks for this thoughtful comment! Red Wing do indeed get worn for work, even the heritage ones, but even as a dainty New Yorker if someone asked me which was best for work I'd say Thorogood, like you. I even did a whole video saying so here! ua-cam.com/video/V1nH65PKyfg/v-deo.html
Ah, good catch! I remember learning that when mine got resoled. I guess you could call it a difference in terminology if you wanted to be really generous, and who wouldn't want to be generous to old Troy
After a decade or more of wearing the RW Blacksmith, Merchant, and chukka I decided to get a pair of 875’s from the RW store in London. First time I wore them a friend asked why I was wearing an odd pair of boots. He was right as the left moc toe was tongue shaped and the right was over an inch wider and horseshoe shaped. A year later I went to Son of a Stag in London and bought the 8138’s. Told shopkeeper about the 875’s and he very kindly got me a ruler to measure them. They seemed ok. Got them home to find I’d bought another odd pair as the sides were all different heights. I now own two expensive pairs of dog walking boots. Be very careful when buying RW mocs guys.
Boots that last decades with soles that last months. Comfy to wear all day but hurt my feet if actually walking over 4 miles as hard underfoot on soles of feet. Comfort wise I prefer my 8138 oil slicks possibly because the leathers thinner.
I just want to know, coz I own two pairs of 8131s, are those the 875s jusy in a different color or a totally different model? They do have the redwing logo on the latter side and the 875s dont... just curious
Hi guys! I also like this boot, but I am not sure about the size. I am 10.5 Nike size and have a wide feet, so what size Moc toe to buy? I do not have EE or a half size option. Thanks!
Any other good mocs for slimmer fitting pants? Debating between these, brass boots, or the perry moc toe. The red wings are just ao iconic, but I'm worried about versatility for casual wear.
The wedge traction tred sole wears off on the heels in a year of wear or so, depending on how much you drag the heels... that is the biggest con. As for the leather, it is nice but it gets quite dark and even dull with wear, I prefer their rough out leathers. Iconic and well made boot anyhow.
I own 875s and 877s, 6” and 8” boots. The 875s are very comfortable. But, the 877s are cut differently, almost from a single piece, which makes them more comfortable, IMHO. The Oro Leather feels so similar to the Harness leathers. Very oily and stiff when new. Very soft and flexible when broken in. Over the years I have found the secret to breaking in new leather boots is heat, specifically your own body heat. Wear them around the house for the first 10-100 hours.
Agree, the 877 is actually pretty different! We go into those details in the best red wings video in the description. The Oro Legacy leather is harder than any of their other leathers, I had a chat with Red Wing in my IR Traction Tred video where they explain it a bit. It's their rarest leather, you see it on very few of their boots.
Sadly, I heard from Red Wing's customer service team that they are discontinuing sizes of the 875 at the smaller and larger ends of the spectrum. I hope they were misinformed. I'm guessing the economy and pandemic have taken their toll on demand for these.
I’m a huge red wing heritage boot fanatic. I must have over 30 different pairs, but I do not own a pair of the 875’s. I’m not sure why it never appealed to me.
How funny! When I learned how different this leather is I kinda wanted a pair, but I have my (unpopular) IR Traction Treds in it. My first boot was a charcoal moc so i never went for the oro.
@@Stridewise I have a few IRs and a couple Moc Toes. After the regular Moc Toes, I got the Roughnecks for winter. The long lugs of that sole make it the perfect winter boot here in Minnesota with a thick sock. I had the IR Traction Tred shoes, too. They are extremely comfortable and the easiest break in ever. My only minor issue with the IR TT was that the padded insole developed a few wrinkles under the ball of my foot, which I could feel through the socks. I addressed this with a thin insole. As others have noted, it’s important to get the right size. Red Wing stores have a way to make 3D visual models of your feet. I have narrow feet and measure 12.3 on the Brannock device. I take a 12D in the 23 last (Moc Toe) and an 11.5D in the 8 last (IR, Beckman, Blacksmith, etc). One way to see how they fit on your feet is to use an insole for a day: take it out and you can see exactly how close the big toe is to the front of the boot.
Good review. I live in St. Paul, MN, 55 minutes from Red Wing HQ. I visit RW every few months to check out the discounted shoes in the basement, often cool, discontinued models like the Beckman, etc. The only thing missing from the video is fitting advice. Fit is everything with these boots. While it varies depending on thickness of the foot, width, etc, this is a good guideline: for the moc toe (aka 23 last): 1/2 size down from Brannock size: for the Iron Ranger/Blacksmith/Beckman (aka 8 last): a full size down from Brannock size as they are wider than the Moc Toe last. The ball of the foot should line up with the widest part of the boot, ideally. It took me a long time to get dialed in to this, and they are now the only boots that really fit my feet without rubbing the toe. For this reason, I can wear thick socks and the taller toe box doesn’t both my big toe. Many of the Moc toe boots can be had in wider widths, too, where most of the Iron Rangers can only be had in a standard “D” width. The Traction Tred is significantly more comfortable all day than the Vibram mini lug, too. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the good content.
It’s a great boot, but unfortunately it’s built on a poorly designed last with an oddly narrow toe box. It’s really difficult to find a proper fit on these. If you get a size that fits in the toe box and doesn’t squeeze your toes, the rest of the boot is too big.
Are there better boots that exist? Yes. But better boots start at $200 more than Red Wings. Imo they are simply the best boot for price to quality ratio.
100%, it's also important to emphasize there's really nothing like this particular Oro leather. it's really hard for red wing to make which is why they use it on so few models
These boots may be a work boot "mainstay" and "icon" in North America but pretty much don't exist in Europe. I have never seen anybody wear this type of boots "in real life" though no doubt some people do wear them as fashion items as there are a handful of shops that sell Red Wing in the UK and I own Rover 2950's myself. This type of boot doesn't appear in work environments though and generally wouldn't be acceptable for Health and Safety reasons in many industries.
@@Stridewise It is strange because there's loads of American stuff that have come across, obviously influenced by TV and cinema. And stores selling "Americana" have been around for decades and are not a new phenomenon. Many brands like Timberland have successfully transitioned their products into everyday items yet this style of boot doesn't really appear at all.
@@UnknownUser-rb9pd I have to agree. I’m also living in Europe. After I got invested in the boot industry a little more I tend to look what boots other people wear and I can say I’ve seen like one pair of Red Wings and that was an Iron Ranger. Everyone wears Dr Martens though.
Given that this channel has reviewed this boot before and made a declaration about what it thinks the best moc toe on the market actually is this feels like a paid advertisement and there are better American made moc toe boots on the market. If this was a history of the moc toe it gets credit. There is no factory or work site in my region where anyone would be allowed on site with this boot, but that’s different safety standards. This is like saying no jeans on the market beat Levi’s because Levi’s were the first. If this is your starter moc toe great, but that’s where it ends IMO. To each their own.🙄🤷♂️🧐
Haha does it! I like the GS Brass Boot better, sure, but this is still the most iconic American boot and it deserves its popularity, I don't think I've said anything that undermines what Troy says in this video
I always appreciate the feedback. Ultimately, Nick and I (often) have different opinions. Truth of the matter is I genuinely love these boots and could find very little fault with them. But then again, sometimes I do get a bit taken by the romance of a products history!
@@troybarmore5832 I don’t think it’s a bad video or product, we all have our favourites. Just felt it covered old ground and outside of say retail or landscaping doesn’t qualify to modern safety standards for a worksite. The nostalgia aspect was bang on. Always look forward to more content on the channel.😎👍🤘
@@davidcallan7844 I think it's OK to cover a boot years after an initial review, I'm actually planning to redo a few of my old videos, like iron rangers, wolverines, alden indy. I know a lot more than I did when I made those 5(!) years ago!
![BEST and WORST Moc Toe Boots - [TIER LIST]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BEoJkTpQ01k/mqdefault.jpg)
My dad wore these when I was growing up. When they would eventually wear out my mom would cut holes in the sides of them and plant some sort of flower in them that would grow out the sides and place then outside as a decorative piece.
Recently purchased the 875 as my first red wing boot and I couldn’t be happier
Man, I've had my Moc's for 5 years now, and I'm so bonded to that boot, it's like a personal relationship. After you both go through the pain of the break-in, you are forever molded and bonded for life. 2 resoles, and hundreds of miles and I can't say enough good things about this boot. I own other, very lovely boots from other boot makers, but I always come back to my Red Wings. I clean and oil the boot at the end of each winter, and the leather just. holds. up. So worth the investment.
Love the content team, cheers!!
The red wing moc has a classic look, worn by workers and celebrities alike. They deserve all the praise they get, I have some 877s and they get the most compliments out of all my boots
I just sold mine and instantly regretted it, they're so lovely!
How do you think these compare to the White's or brass boot in terms of looks and casual wear versatility?
I can’t say enough about this boot , been buying these boots for over 25 yrs now ,for both work and fashion. Absolutely worth every penny 💯🫡
so happy to see someone else who loves their boots so much
Good review. I live in St. Paul, MN, 55 minutes from Red Wing HQ. I visit RW every few months to check out the discounted shoes in the basement, often cool, discontinued models like the Beckman, etc. The only thing missing from the video is fitting advice. Fit is everything with these boots. While it varies depending on thickness of the foot, width, etc, this is a good guideline: for the moc toe (aka 23 last): 1/2 size down from Brannock size: for the Iron Ranger/Blacksmith/Beckman (aka 8 last): a full size down from Brannock size as they are wider than the Moc Toe last. The ball of the foot should line up with the widest part of the boot, ideally. It took me a long time to get dialed in to this, and they are now the only boots that really fit my feet without rubbing the toe. For this reason, I can wear thick socks and the taller toe box doesn’t both my big toe. Many of the Moc toe boots can be had in wider widths, too, where most of the Iron Rangers can only be had in a standard “D” width. The Traction Tred is significantly more comfortable all day than the Vibram mini lug, too. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the good content.
I've had my 10875s for about a year and a half. My favorite pair of boots, period!
I’ve owned a few red wing Mocs and the ankle is always the toughest to break it, personally. Love them to death tho
Enjoyed the review very much!! Touched on all the key points to help a shopper make a choice. My first boots were a thorogood moc toe. Absolutely love them especially for the price, but two things stand out compared to what I learned in this review. My particular thorogood came with some slight flaws in the stitching at the sole. No problem. I'm gonna wear them hard anyway. And although they are made in USA the materials are globally sourced. The red wing being 100% usa materials is a huge bonus to me. At the end of the day they were ~30% cheaper than the redwing 875. Which makes the thorogood a stellar boot for the lower price point, and I feel worth every penny. But given the slight more quality control and 100% usa materials, the red wing gained new respect from me. Perhaps one day I'll upgrade thanks to this review!
Been using my 875’s as an everyday chore boot. The patina and wear are coming in beautifully. The leather reminds me of Horween Dublin leather with its waxy, oily feel. I still haven’t treated the leather at all, just brushing. I like how the gusseted tongue has formed and doesn’t get in the way, shift around. Still think the footbed is just a tad stiff. Very supportive though, it’ll finally break-in during spring/summer though.
These particular boots are made for Starbucks runs
i replaced the soles on my mocs with vibram 2120, black. they look great and are 1/2 pound lighter per boot which makes the boots more comfortable but there's no getting past that overly stiff footbed
This won't speed up the break in process (and this goes for any pair of boots) but when you are breaking them in do not skimp on the socks. I can't guarantee you won't be blister free but a pair of thick merino wool socks plus a properly sized boot will greatly reduce the chances of getting blisters. I've broken in two pairs of Nick's doing this and all I got were a few hot spots. For those who want strictly made in the US stuff off the top of my head check out Minus 33, Darn Tough, Smart Wool, and Woolx.
Absolutely love my 875s. Had them 18 months now and really taking on a beautiful patina. A pair of 8111 Iron Rangers are next on my wish list.
hell yeah dude, got a new 8111 video coming up
Great review. Troy walks so fast.
I prefer the work version of the boot, the 10875. I hate the way the color changes so drastically, they don’t stop at red orange they keep getting darker and after five years I kinda hate it.
If your getting heartaige line redwings,trust me get them to where they are uncomfortable snug. They will stretch and form to your foot like a glove. I'm a 9.3 on there machine in store. I went with a 8.5 e perfect
Had my 875s over 7 years now and 2 resoles now the upper oro leather and stitching are still 1st class absolutely awesome boots my favourite and i own trumans java waxed flesh and other 2 other redwing weekenders and iron rangers superb video guys!!
Very nice! I was just talking about these boots as a great example of chrome tanned leather that'll still last forever. Love to hear about boots that have gotten MULTIPLE resoles
Great review, Troy. I always enjoy your perspective
Thank you!
Always great to see Troy...Was on the fence about Red Wing moc toes for a while. I got a pair of Thursdays and didn't love the wedge sole. I wear them a lot and in different terrain, and wore through through the sole pretty quickly. I got a cobbler to customize them by adding a lug sole, which is a bit more durable.
And I got a pair of Grant Stone Brass Boots with the commando sole (which I admittedly don't wear for work,). So I don't think I need another pair of moctoes right now.
The brass boots are so pretty but I don't like the rounded toe. Are they easy to dress casually?
I just got the 877 n the Berlin store. I got an 43 (10D). I tried the half size lower and my outer toes were touching the sides. I asked the sales guy and he told me that it would not stretch outwards so I should get the 43 and not the 42.5. The first couple of days even the 43 hurt my smaller toes and I was scared, fearing that I got the wrong size.
After a couple of days wear the sides have relaxed and now it feels so large that I fear I should have gotten the 42.5. They did not have any wide sizes if they did I would have maybe even prefered 42E.
So even when going to the store sizing is hard. I have not yet broken in the footbed but everything else is comfortable.
Just snagged my first pair of new (used) 875s!
love when someone realizes second hand boots are just as good!
@@Stridewise barely broken in, have some good patina and character, and a lot of life left on the sole. $180. Deal
Neat blend of romance and analysis, Troy. The boots appeal to me but I might resent breaking in the manly footbed!? I've gone through many a comfortable-out-of-the-box running shoe style work boots, and resolable boots do appeal. For my first manly boots, albeit fancy boots, however, I recently bought a pair of black Grant Stone Brass Boots. I am mostly through my easy break in of them. Thanks, Nick . . .
I've gone back and forth on if I want the Oro legacy in anything. I love my slate muleskinner mocs, but I've not been wearing them the last 4 months, but twice. I've been spending all my time in my Frank's, or the classic Chelsea's after I get home from work.... 6" of slip on of convenience beat out the superior fit for my house/errand shoe.
Got my first pair waiting for me in London. Picking them up week after next 🤙🏽
Congrats dude! Having Red Wings in the UK or Australia is a whole different level of cachet
As an American I’d like to say thank you for supporting a product made here and a brand we’re proud of. Hope that they serve you well for many years.
@@Stridewise I'm a Londoner but live over in the French Alps so they'll be put through their paces for sure 🗻 🚶 🏕 🔥
@@aradoran planning on getting Stateside next year, will definitely be bringing a pair back with me too 😁 🇺🇸 🦅 👍🏽
👏🏽 🥾 🇺🇸
I just got my first pair of Red Wing Mocs the 8138. Im not feeling that hard break in like everyone says. I did have to use the red wing leather insoles to dial in that fit.
I have over a dozen boots now, redwing 875, Truman (20 last), parkhurst (602m last), 3 grant stones (leo last), wilcox kern, bordon tukano, helm hollis, danner (rainforest), jim green african ranger and timberland. The 3 boot that fits me the best (marginally above the rest) is the Jim Greens, parkhurst and the Truman's but the rest fit very well (I could wear them all day) with two exceptions and that is the danner (a little snug but not bad) and the Redwing (which I had for 7 months, wearing them twice a week). The redwing length is fine (I have almost 1/2 to 3/4" in the front of the big toe) but the toe box is a bit narrow as well as having a little heel slip. It is the only boot in my collection that occasionally leaves me with slight toe pain in my big toe after wearing them all day. At this point, I only wear them with thin socks. The instep is fine, there good space in the vamp area. I really wanted to love this boot, I like the style, the leather and the sturdiness of the boot. I have used boot stretchers but I have to accept the truth that Redwing 875 Moc Toes are not the best boot for me. I will probably get the whites Perry select as my next moc toe work boot (or the Grant Stone brass boot) and will use the 875 boot to practice resoling when it wears down (I may even rework the toe box to give my an extra 2mm of room). Will also try stretching the toe box again with a custom stretcher that I will make up. It is a shame because I think they look great with a set of jeans and hanging out. But they are my least comfy boot. FYI - I am a 9.5 D on the brannock scale and got the Redwing 9D. My right foot is slightly longer and slightly wider than my left foot. All my boots fit well on my right foot with the exception of the Redwing.
Loved my 875s. IMO, Red Wing makes the best Moc Toe boots out there. I'm sure there are higher quality Moc Toes. That being said? For the price and because of that iconic look, the 875s are coolest Moc Toe boot of all time. I also really love my 1907s and was very fond of my 10877s as well. I'm into a Nick's/White's area now. But I still love Red Wings. Especially their Moc Toe boots.
The oro legacy leather is probably some of my favorite leather and even though I got my 875s two tears ago, I still get excited to wear them to this day. I have really narrow feet (L:10b R:10c) and low arches so 8.5D fits me pretty well. Great video as always Troy. Since I’m also based in NYC and my 875s are getting ready for a resole, are there any cobblers you could recommend in the area?
Troy's a fancy boy and got his boots resoled by Bedo's in Virginia, but Jim's Shoe Repair has a great reputation in NYC. Also hang out with us some time, we are losers with no friends
@@Stridewise honestly, I wouldn’t be opposed to it, none of my friends are as into heritage stuff like we are.
Great review
Thanks guys - great work on this review
dude thank you! this is like our masterpiece
I'd be interested in seeing a review video of the Red Wing 877 boots, comparing and contrasting to the 875s.
I made this just for you: ua-cam.com/video/fPjuXDlkGMA/v-deo.html
I own a pair of 875's for about 6 years. The first pair was a D width and too narrow. The pinkies hung out over the side and I got blisters within minutes. Unfortunately they rarely seem to make E width. It's always D or EE. So I ended up getting EE. They were pretty perfect when fresh but loosened up a bit over time and may now be a bit too wide. No big deal though. At least no pinched pinky toes. I had them resoled once. Went to a local Redwing store and they sent them straight back to the factory for the resole. They looked like new afterwards but it was not cheap. Ended up paying $160 for the service.
I agree. These def run narrow. Had same issues with D and am in E2 now.
Extremely good manuscript. Great work.
Great video! I am pretty new to the boot game and I made the bold move of buying the 8138's and 8111 and then a pair of 8111's so would be interesting if you did a similar video on the Iron rangers. I think i was one of the lucky ones I didn't find the break bad on either boot
The cuff of mine was the only part that caused me issues during the break in. 3yrs in now, and one sole replacement.
Great video but your audio is way too quiet. When I listen to your videos I usually have to have the volume turned all the way up. But with other UA-cam channels. I only need them up about halfway. This becomes an issue when I'm in the car and the road noise and whatnot drowns out your audio.
Oh weird, I had no idea. I'll tell the editor
Oh this one was done by my old editor, that must be why haha. He's... no longer with us
I've had mine for over 2 years and i finally got them resoled by Wyatt and Dad (which they did a great job) anywhoo best footwear i own.
often imitated, never duplicated! i just got some thursday diplomats in their 'harvest' color that's meant to be just like the 875s, but they absolutely could not get the orange color right
@Stridewise I was actually torn between getting the Thursday diplomats And the Red Wing 875s. How do you like them so far, Nick?
I definitely need a pair being I heard that the flat soles are good for lower back pain. I work in trades and could definitely use something like that.
Awesome review a true classic!!
I went to the redwing store to buy these exact boots. then I tried them on. the last just didn't agree with my foot. I put on the iron ranger, and it fit way better, so I ended up with those. I might try the 1907, but they don't come in this great leather.
That's too bad but kudos to knowing what's right for your foot. I've bought many boots and endured pinched pinkies just because I like the way they look. Do right by your feet, Jonathan!!
Why can’t Red Wing just make lasts and boots that are the purported size instead of confusing their customers? If this has been asked before, I apologize. I have three pairs so I’m a fan of their boots and your videos.
@@toodamnskippy6220 it is weird. the thing is all boot companies do this so at this point if you started a boot company and used True Sizes you'd probably get more returns than you would if they'd gone this route!
@@Stridewise thanks. This sizing policy must contribute to an unnecessarily high rate of returns, customer confusion and dissatisfaction. And yet, is there a more popular boot. Go figure.
I rock two sets of thorogoods, the 1957 and the crazyhorse sets, buuuut I’ve been very tempted by a set of iron rangers or the classic Mocs for my after work boots!
I wear a 12D athletic shoe, 11.5D in the iron ranger, and a 13D in the 875 but that’s also with a nice footbed. Feel cramped in the toe box? Go up. Nice a narrow last that’ll stretch over time. Not sure why folks are worried about a clown shoe look. Embrace it.
You guys were so drunk in that red wing shop video 😂
Good times
Excellent informative video, thank you very much.
This one was a labor of love
It really is the best boot. No fake stitching the best leather period end of.
Add the 10877 👍
I totally understand the need for a upland game boot for walking around the streets of New York City, and shame on all those fools who think a 6" boot is a sufficient statement of manliness for the urban outdoorsman.
I wore Red Wing for years for work when I got a union contract allowance to replace them periodically, but in the last decade of my work life, I switched to Thorogood and have not regretted it.
The chief reasons are (not in order) the cost, the break in, and the durability of the outsole. The Thorogood duramax wedge outlasts the Red Wing soles by at least 20%. This means fewer resoles over the life of the boot. They come with a premium cushioned insole, but I took them out immediately for a more comfortable fit. The cork molded to my feet in good time, and they now fit like comfortable slippers.
I'm about 2/3 the way through my second sole on my 7 year old 814-4200 boots (The 6" variety because out here in rural America, I'm no manly New Yorker😉), and these boots show no sign of an end to their life. Truck driving (flatbed and van), hiking, yard work, home remodeling, and general kicking around have not resulted in adverse performance, or them wearing out.
And, like Red Wing, Thorogood are built in America by union workers.
Are the Red Wings better? That's a tough call if you factor in all elements. But sure, you will eventually be happy with your Red Wings, and won't likely regret getting them. But that was also my experience with Thorogood, at a lower price and easier break in.
Thanks for this thoughtful comment! Red Wing do indeed get worn for work, even the heritage ones, but even as a dainty New Yorker if someone asked me which was best for work I'd say Thorogood, like you. I even did a whole video saying so here! ua-cam.com/video/V1nH65PKyfg/v-deo.html
Great comments! Thank you!
THERE IS NO "CORK MIDSOLE"!!
The cork is a welt gap filler. The midsole on these boots is rubber.
Ah, good catch! I remember learning that when mine got resoled. I guess you could call it a difference in terminology if you wanted to be really generous, and who wouldn't want to be generous to old Troy
I’ve always actually liked the look of these and if I wasn’t already flush with CW Moorbys I’d definitely consider them.
CW Moorbys are legit! But if you don't have a moc toe...
After a decade or more of wearing the RW Blacksmith, Merchant, and chukka I decided to get a pair of 875’s from the RW store in London. First time I wore them a friend asked why I was wearing an odd pair of boots. He was right as the left moc toe was tongue shaped and the right was over an inch wider and horseshoe shaped. A year later I went to Son of a Stag in London and bought the 8138’s. Told shopkeeper about the 875’s and he very kindly got me a ruler to measure them. They seemed ok. Got them home to find I’d bought another odd pair as the sides were all different heights. I now own two expensive pairs of dog walking boots. Be very careful when buying RW mocs guys.
Holy crap, but Troy has a great voice!
Boots that last decades with soles that last months. Comfy to wear all day but hurt my feet if actually walking over 4 miles as hard underfoot on soles of feet. Comfort wise I prefer my 8138 oil slicks possibly because the leathers thinner.
I’ve found that the 875’s run a full size down from my sneaker size and a half size down from my Brannock size.
Yup, same here
I wonder if the lack of breathability in lined boots has more to do with all the glue than the extra layer of leather.
The brake in is worth it. Get home from a long day at work and don't want to take them off.
is the oro legacy leather used for baseball gloves? it kind of looks like the leather used in my vintage spalding baseball glove
Have you guys gotten your hands on the Oro Legacy Moc Toe GoreTex?
I bought the 877s a decade ago and I swear they took a year to break in.
10:32 LOL
And note that that the 875 uses the 23 last
I just want to know, coz I own two pairs of 8131s, are those the 875s jusy in a different color or a totally different model? They do have the redwing logo on the latter side and the 875s dont... just curious
Troy sounds like Harry sheara, little guy with deep ass voice 😂. Almost looks like him
Hi guys! I also like this boot, but I am not sure about the size. I am 10.5 Nike size and have a wide feet, so what size Moc toe to buy? I do not have EE or a half size option. Thanks!
Does anyone know what that black service boot on the very left at 21:06 is? I'm kind of in love with it. Looks sleeker than the Blacksmith
oof i think it's a beckman, a weird japanese only release that never actually got released :(
I have the 8138 Red Wings. Are the any differences in construction to the 875?
Redwing 875 ❤
Any other good mocs for slimmer fitting pants? Debating between these, brass boots, or the perry moc toe. The red wings are just ao iconic, but I'm worried about versatility for casual wear.
For slimmer fitting pants, get Thursday's Diplomat. Or the Alden Indy for something pricier
How to keep them orangey??
The wedge traction tred sole wears off on the heels in a year of wear or so, depending on how much you drag the heels... that is the biggest con. As for the leather, it is nice but it gets quite dark and even dull with wear, I prefer their rough out leathers.
Iconic and well made boot anyhow.
I love their roughout, especially the unwaxed ones.
I own 875s and 877s, 6” and 8” boots. The 875s are very comfortable. But, the 877s are cut differently, almost from a single piece, which makes them more comfortable, IMHO.
The Oro Leather feels so similar to the Harness leathers. Very oily and stiff when new. Very soft and flexible when broken in.
Over the years I have found the secret to breaking in new leather boots is heat, specifically your own body heat. Wear them around the house for the first 10-100 hours.
Agree, the 877 is actually pretty different! We go into those details in the best red wings video in the description. The Oro Legacy leather is harder than any of their other leathers, I had a chat with Red Wing in my IR Traction Tred video where they explain it a bit. It's their rarest leather, you see it on very few of their boots.
Great content! Thx 🍻 Troy, the color of your worn 875’s is perfect. What oil did you use?
venetian shoe cream!
Is it just me or is there a clear QC issue between the toe boxes in this video? The left one almost looks like a Thursday moc compared to the right
I went 1 full size down
i cant choose between these the 1907 or the iron rangers :')
Sadly, I heard from Red Wing's customer service team that they are discontinuing sizes of the 875 at the smaller and larger ends of the spectrum. I hope they were misinformed. I'm guessing the economy and pandemic have taken their toll on demand for these.
Red Wing has shelved so many models since pre pandemic, hoping they'll make it back to where they were
I’m a huge red wing heritage boot fanatic. I must have over 30 different pairs, but I do not own a pair of the 875’s. I’m not sure why it never appealed to me.
How funny! When I learned how different this leather is I kinda wanted a pair, but I have my (unpopular) IR Traction Treds in it. My first boot was a charcoal moc so i never went for the oro.
@@Stridewise I have those too, but I’ve wanted to find the iron ranger 8112’s, but those are pretty hard to find.
@@Stridewise I have a few IRs and a couple Moc Toes. After the regular Moc Toes, I got the Roughnecks for winter. The long lugs of that sole make it the perfect winter boot here in Minnesota with a thick sock. I had the IR Traction Tred shoes, too. They are extremely comfortable and the easiest break in ever. My only minor issue with the IR TT was that the padded insole developed a few wrinkles under the ball of my foot, which I could feel through the socks. I addressed this with a thin insole. As others have noted, it’s important to get the right size. Red Wing stores have a way to make 3D visual models of your feet. I have narrow feet and measure 12.3 on the Brannock device. I take a 12D in the 23 last (Moc Toe) and an 11.5D in the 8 last (IR, Beckman, Blacksmith, etc). One way to see how they fit on your feet is to use an insole for a day: take it out and you can see exactly how close the big toe is to the front of the boot.
Good review. I live in St. Paul, MN, 55 minutes from Red Wing HQ. I visit RW every few months to check out the discounted shoes in the basement, often cool, discontinued models like the Beckman, etc. The only thing missing from the video is fitting advice. Fit is everything with these boots. While it varies depending on thickness of the foot, width, etc, this is a good guideline: for the moc toe (aka 23 last): 1/2 size down from Brannock size: for the Iron Ranger/Blacksmith/Beckman (aka 8 last): a full size down from Brannock size as they are wider than the Moc Toe last. The ball of the foot should line up with the widest part of the boot, ideally. It took me a long time to get dialed in to this, and they are now the only boots that really fit my feet without rubbing the toe. For this reason, I can wear thick socks and the taller toe box doesn’t both my big toe. Many of the Moc toe boots can be had in wider widths, too, where most of the Iron Rangers can only be had in a standard “D” width. The Traction Tred is significantly more comfortable all day than the Vibram mini lug, too. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the good content.
Do you at least have a pair of 1907?
I'm gonna guess 98% of 975 owners would never wear them to work! At least not for manual work. Correct me if I'm wrong!
Great looking boots but the toe box is narrow.
you're actually the first person on planet earth to ever call a red wing boot narrow
Cheaper insurance, better gas mileage, better reliability and can still do 0-60 in 6 seconds.
It’s a great boot, but unfortunately it’s built on a poorly designed last with an oddly narrow toe box. It’s really difficult to find a proper fit on these. If you get a size that fits in the toe box and doesn’t squeeze your toes, the rest of the boot is too big.
877.
Heel slip is real
Are there better boots that exist? Yes. But better boots start at $200 more than Red Wings. Imo they are simply the best boot for price to quality ratio.
100%, it's also important to emphasize there's really nothing like this particular Oro leather. it's really hard for red wing to make which is why they use it on so few models
🙏
red wings run SUPER large. I bought iron rangers and i had to do a size and a half down and there is still room in the toes....
They were work boots originally but they don’t fit the standards today. They are a nonfunctional work boot sold for fashion.
unless the only reason you need work boots is because they can be worn hard and reduce foot pain relative to sneakers, which is an awful lot of jobs
These boots may be a work boot "mainstay" and "icon" in North America but pretty much don't exist in Europe. I have never seen anybody wear this type of boots "in real life" though no doubt some people do wear them as fashion items as there are a handful of shops that sell Red Wing in the UK and I own Rover 2950's myself.
This type of boot doesn't appear in work environments though and generally wouldn't be acceptable for Health and Safety reasons in many industries.
Right, that's because you're in Europe breh
@@Stridewise It is strange because there's loads of American stuff that have come across, obviously influenced by TV and cinema. And stores selling "Americana" have been around for decades and are not a new phenomenon.
Many brands like Timberland have successfully transitioned their products into everyday items yet this style of boot doesn't really appear at all.
@@UnknownUser-rb9pd I have to agree. I’m also living in Europe. After I got invested in the boot industry a little more I tend to look what boots other people wear and I can say I’ve seen like one pair of Red Wings and that was an Iron Ranger. Everyone wears Dr Martens though.
877
epic
Ya. Um. Ditto. And makers in America.
Most people wear steel toes for work in industrial and trades positions. These are casual boots.
They don’t hold a candle to Nick’s moc toes!
They’re also half the price. Kind of a dumb comparison.
This video make the boots look bad. Two guys that can't use a screwdriver talking about work boots.
Paid $350 for a boot just to get vegan coffee in.
you're aware coffee is vegan right?
@@Stridewise Just jokes!
I still like my 1907's better.
i respect your position, Dascal
I don't think the two of you have ever worked a day in your lives.
Troy worked construction for 4 years but go off Masculinity Gatekeeper
@@Stridewiseno wonder he only lasted 4 years if he calls this work boots.
bruh you just keep milking the 875
it's my only video on the 875!
It’s 2024 , please don’t wear these shoes with skinny jeans 😂
Given that this channel has reviewed this boot before and made a declaration about what it thinks the best moc toe on the market actually is this feels like a paid advertisement and there are better American made moc toe boots on the market. If this was a history of the moc toe it gets credit. There is no factory or work site in my region where anyone would be allowed on site with this boot, but that’s different safety standards. This is like saying no jeans on the market beat Levi’s because Levi’s were the first. If this is your starter moc toe great, but that’s where it ends IMO. To each their own.🙄🤷♂️🧐
Haha does it! I like the GS Brass Boot better, sure, but this is still the most iconic American boot and it deserves its popularity, I don't think I've said anything that undermines what Troy says in this video
@@Stridewise Agree, because it’s the first it gets the icon label; but a bit overboard on the praise. IMO
👍🤘😎
I always appreciate the feedback. Ultimately, Nick and I (often) have different opinions. Truth of the matter is I genuinely love these boots and could find very little fault with them. But then again, sometimes I do get a bit taken by the romance of a products history!
@@troybarmore5832 I don’t think it’s a bad video or product, we all have our favourites. Just felt it covered old ground and outside of say retail or landscaping doesn’t qualify to modern safety standards for a worksite. The nostalgia aspect was bang on. Always look forward to more content on the channel.😎👍🤘
@@davidcallan7844 I think it's OK to cover a boot years after an initial review, I'm actually planning to redo a few of my old videos, like iron rangers, wolverines, alden indy. I know a lot more than I did when I made those 5(!) years ago!
damn.....does Troy have throat cancer?? could barely hear what he said.......lol
he's a voice actor on the side! so i assume this is exactly how he wanted to sound
Ngl, this was a LONG day of filming so my voice was trashed by the end of it. But we’ll go with what Nick said and assume it was an artistic choice 😉
@@troybarmore5832 Troy, you sound sexy
@@troybarmore5832 😆
Great video. Great info. The voice over audio is way too low though...:/
Don't worry the guy who edited this is not working for me anymore haha really glad you were able to push through the video regardless!
@@Stridewise it wasn’t unbearable. But the great information/ presentation kept me looped in. Looking forward your upcoming work!!
@@shakebake2680 that's really nice of you to say, dude! i always need a little confidence boost
@@Stridewise 👊🏼👊🏼🎉🎉🎉
Hope Red Wing brings back the special colors options. Really like those discontinued navy at 20:59...
Red Wing is barely functional these days but at least they're making sure the 875 and 8111 are still available!