Nice review! I've worn these for 8+ years, have three pair. I've gotta disagree STRONGLY about one point you made. The "speed-hooks" at the top are fast, convenient, and made putting these on and taking them off, fast and convenient, and importantly, VERY easy to adjust tightness for different conditions. Early on, I was wearing them, and one of the speed hooks caught on something, as you discuss- it was bent outwards. I returned to the store, and the salesman said he could have them all adjusted or, if I preferred, have the speed-hooks removed and replaced with regular eyelets. I said sure. In the years since, that pair of boots has gotten WAY less use than my others, simply because they are a total PIA to put on and take off. Meantime, none of the speed hooks on any of my other Iron Rangers have EVER had a problem. My advice is to leave them there, and yeah, if they do get bent (as you say), you can just bend them back yourself. If they ever get messed up bending them, you can always get the Red Wing store to replace them. But I would NEVER (again) get them replaced with regular eyelets. Really enjoyed your review, thank you!
I totally agree about speed hooks vs lace holes. Boots with full lace holes are far less convenient to put on than those with speed hooks. Even Crockett and Jones make their longer boots with speed hooks.
I bought my Iron Rangers a year ago. I was warned about a tough break-in, but I just wore them out of the store and everyday after that. I didn't think it was bad at all. I recently put a wool foot bed in for the winter months, but my boots are already broke in for my feet. I love these boots.
I’ve had my 8085 for about two years now and I absolutely love them. They are my pride and joy. It takes a bit to get them to were you want them, but after that they are a part of you and only get better with time. They will last a long time. And I love the speed hooks. Great review
you know what i really like about this review. The fact that you went into what sizes you wear for other shoes to kind of help me gage what size foot you have in comparison to mine.. not a lot of other people do that. thanks
Great review! I personally own 4 pairs of Iron rangers I love the fit and never had break in issues with any of them .. if you go to redwing and get measured up and buy the proper size they will fit like a glove and you will enjoy them. if you order online and listen to people say order a half size down from your sneaker size they will not fit right .. as an example I’m a size 12 in adidas ultra boost and a size 10EE in the iron ranger .. by the way once you wear the redwings outside you will not be able to return or exchange them so the best thing to do is to go to the the closest redwing store and buy your first pair there before ordering redwings online.. and as for insoles, I have insoles in all my redwings they add comfort once the boot is broken in but break them in without the insole first ✌🏼️
Loving mine! Office casual, street worn and even Norwegian fjord hiking use... The break in was daily for 2 weeks, first week was pain... but they do submit so keep at it. I'd estimate around 70-100 hours of wear to get them to slip on comfy stage. I give them a good wash, brush and mink oil every 3-4 months. Also have 875s (Oro Legacy), similar experience, but they were a quicker break in. And Sawmill (Mohave) was by far the easiest, just a day or 2. If I was only to have 1 pair, it would be the Rangers.
I use to work on the drill rigs in the Australian outback for 4 years. In that time I went through loads of different boots... but the Redwing 2233 was hands down the most comfortable. I'm looking at the Iron Rangers for a dress boot now too. Redwings are awesome
Good advice about going and trying them on. I bought a pair of Blacksmith model 3343 (Copper Rough and Tough leather). The Red Wing Store has a digital station and PC which will show your size and the pressure your feet exert when standing. I have not been on a Bradenton device in years, but I normally always buy size 10 in every shoe and boot. The Red Wing machine says I'm a 10.5 D (medium) which was a surprise. It also says I have good posture with the correct weight distribution. So, we tried a size 10 and it fit wonderfully. About 1 inch between the very end of the toe box and my toes. The width is just right and the boot broke in well in about two weeks. Nothing is rubbing at all. I also like that I'm building a relationship with the Red Wing store. They will be where I eventually go to get the boot resoled, and they offer free cleaning (you do have to leave them over night with the store) as long as you don't do it more often than once a month. The proprietor at the store was wearing Iron Ranger boots and they truly looked like they have been around for a while. But they look like they will last forever. These stores are really good and well worth a trip to visit.
finally! the most versatile boot ever..u can dress up or down with these.. not too formal and not too casual..i own 3 pairs of iron ranger..cant get enough of these
I love my Iron Rangers. I've had them since the first the year and enjoy wearing them daily. It took me about a month to break them in and it was an agonizing process. I'm so happy with them since they've softened up!
I've owned several pairs of redwing boots; one pair of iron rangers 8111s for 9 years. despite an incredible amount of abuse I have never, ever, had a pair of speedhooks fail. Ever.
I bought the gel insoles at the Red Wings store per the clerk's recommendation because they said the boot was really difficult to break in. For reference, my previous pair of boots were the Katahdin Iron Works boots from LL Bean, which I've had now for 5 going on 6 years and still look great. I took about 100 miles of walking in the LL Bean boots before the steel shank formed to my foot. The Red Wings ones felt fine on the first day... as soon as I took the recommended insert out. With it in, the boot felt too tight and my stride wobbly. Don't waste your money on an insert. Spend the time breaking in your boot, and you'll be rewarded with years of comfort.
I normally wear a 12, but bought these in an 11. They are tough to break in, and I wore them every day, but laced them in stages. I would lace them without using the speed hooks for two weeks, and then every week after that I would place up higher and higher one set of hooks at a time. They are great boots. I had them oiled at my Redwing store after 4 weeks, as they looked and felt a little dry. I wear them every day and they are versatile style-wise and comfortable.
The best way to break in a boot: When you finish work in the afternoon, take off your work boots and wear your new boots around the house for a few hours. Each day a few hours of wear around the house for a week or two, or they become comfortable and you feel confident that you have a feel of how you might survive a full days wear. If they start to hurt, take them off and wait until tomorrow. You are at home and you have this luxury after all.
Hey boot guy great video. I have had my iron ranger 8085s for about 3 months now. No real problems during the break in period. Highly recommend them to anyone interested in getting into boots. I alternate my iron rangers with a pair of Truman Java waxed flesh,for work. So far so good on my feet for 8 to 12 hours a day walking about 5 to 7 mi a day no complaints.
Took me forever to get the right size. Had feet measured at 11.5. Ordered 11.5. Too big. Ordered 11. Too big. Ordered 10.5. Perfect. Incredible boot. Once I got the right size it only took a few days to break in. My favorite boot I’ve ever had. I’m talking about the 8085 copper.
How do they feel around your toes? I'm going through the same thing right now. Ordered 8.5, they were tight on the upper portion but loose down around the toes. Then i got an 8 and they are pretty much the same, just a tiny bit less room around the toes. I could almost fold my toes in there but they are still pretty tight on the upper portion. Any advice? should i go with a lower size (hard to find in my region) or wear them with additional leather insole?
Red Wing heritage on the 8 last is normally 1/2 - full size down from your arch measurement NOT NOT your toe to heel measurement. With that being said start out with your arch length then work your way down making sure the ball of your feet line up with the widest part of the boot and that it’s comfortably snug.
Just got my second pair of iron rangers! The first pair I had for 2 years, beautifully shaped to my foot, I was even able to comfortable insert my orthotics once it was really broken in. That pair was taken away by EMTs when I was I an accident so I just got my second pair - still breaking them in but loving every moment of it.
Having bought 4 pairs of redwing boots for work...im a cnc technician..i walk in coolant and oil. Work in 480v electrial panels. Crawl around in machinery the size of a room. I have worn through the leather and soles long before i had to bend a speed lace back...
The best insoles for all the heritage boots out there is Redwings Leather Insoles they add comfort without taking up to much space and it’s leather. It makes the most sense to me I agree that a a gel type insole in a heritage boot just doesn’t work well together. One exception is Thorogood boots but they are designed for the insole they make for their work line of heritage style boots. I have a couple pairs or Thorogoods and I switched the insole it came with and put the leather one made by Redwing and it’s comfortable but in that boot the best way to go is the one it comes with. Thorogood insoles are one of the best made dual density insoles you can buy in my opinion.
Just bought my first pair of Red Wing shoes today! That shit hurt my wallet. I was torn between the 8085s and the amber color but I decided on the 8085s.
Really quality and detailed review; good work. I enjoy my 8085's because I can wear them to my office job and also working in the yard or garage on weekends. and they clean-up nicely to wear them back in the office.
Bought these boots in about a week ago..first impression was. .What a Masterpiece!. .my father was a shoemaker and he would be so impressed with these awesome boots ,the breaking period was not bad maybe cause I always wore construction boots the whole time otherwise highly recommended but to put them to work it would be a sin..thanks for the video.
Just got me a pair. I normally wear size 13 in Nike running shoes. End up buying 11.5 in the Iron Ranger’s. Yes, I put soft insoles to break them in. Later, I will put leather insoles. I I Take the insoles from my running shoes sized 13, and put them into the 11.5 Iron Rangers, they fit just fine. Therefore, they do run big. I am still in the breaking in process.
Love my iron ranger in copper rough and tough! It took me 2 weeks to break them in. I was measured for 9.5 but it was too big for me, so I ended up exchanging for 9. Pro tip! visit your local retail store and wear your boot socks for measuring. I highly recommend these boots and be sure to get yourself a pair of Darn Tough wool socks as well. Next stop, I plan on getting a pair of Frank's.
Rangers are the best boots in the market period. I had to go one full size down on my 8111 & 8084 and on my 8085 a full size & half down. I wear size 13 regularly but my 8085’s are size 11.5 but thats the right size, crazy… Now for me the breaking period was super easy. My only issue is practically all the laces from Red Wing (except the 1907’s). Red Wing can make a better set of laces.
ive let these sit in my car over summer.. they looked fine.. but then i tried to put them on and the whole inside sole cracked open.. and shrunk.. i guess i have to get my third pair. lucky ive used my last pair for 2 years and they were comfi just a big to big.. even after walking in the store and the advice i got from the RW staff.. after 1 / 2 to 1 year they will have become a lot bigger..think about it.. the shoe is flat when you buy them so when you dent the cork your foot will drop into the cork and thus create room. but if you push your toes towards the front without tieing your laces i can still put 2 fingers behind my heel.. eventhough i bougjt my second pair even smaller thsn my first pair.. ill buy them even smaller when i go get s new pair.. make sure they are tight tight tight.. tbe leather will loosen the sole will dent this wil create the room you need so buy them tight! the boot shown in this video isnt worn a year round just a year with minimal usage. ive worn mine everyday and they will change a lot more shape wise and colour wise.
El plateado Mtz: ey boss, can you walk on them about 5 miles a day on them?? U know after they been broken down. Back them/ 15 yrs ago the I've a pair very comfortable. They Las 5 yrs. Thinking to get me a pair for father's day. Im a truck driver.
Agree with some comments but disagree with a lot. The speedhooks are great and really useful in comparison to the moc toes. Also, you must buy these on the smaller side as they will stretch laterally a lot. These look really big on this guy. Lastly, these boots are comfy and will be very comfy after a couple of months
If you want a pair of moc toes with speedhooks, check out the 87519s (or simply send a pair off to redwing). Definitely agree with you about speedhooks.
Speaking from experience, I would say you definitely need to buy a smaller size. I bought mine online and ignored all of the talk about going down a half. I had to return them twice, as I actually needed to go down one full size. If you can, try them on at a store before buying. Worth the effort. Also, I found it was a good idea to apply some oil straight away. I gave mine a through cleaning, and then oiled them up. I had no idea how long they'd been sitting around, so I erred on the side of caution. Plus, these boots are as stiff as steel out of the box, so I needed something to ease the breaking in process. I don't wear mine super often (rarely in the summer), so it's taken ~2 years to make them really comfortable.
I just purchased a pair in Amber and will be wearing them for the second time tomorrow. I totally agree about trying them on in the store. I tried on a size larger and a size smaller than I normally wear before getting the size that was just right. Thanks for letting me know to expect them to get darker over time.
I bought a pair of 8085. Worn them 10+ Hours a day for 4 days, straight out of the box. Bought them nice and snug, no problems at all. Now I own them for around two weeks. They break in great! get even more comfy.
My first pair of Iron Rangers was the 8113 Hawthorne Muleskinners. I wore them straight out of the box on vacation for one week in northern Arizona walking light trails with no problems easy breaking awesome boots they’re still my favorite of the 50 pairs that I own I will definitely keep these.
Great review. I’ve have a pair of iron rangers going on three years now. Super worn in and comfortable. I’ve had the cork sole, not great on snow and ice but sticks to everything else. The speed laces aren’t bad, idk if mine are different but I can’t bend them with my fingers.
+yogabutler Thank you for your disagreement. Your right they are fine. A 150.00 fine is ok. At 300.00 why add any weak spots. Why Chance any unhappy customer's. But yet on numbers like 2406-606-405 they use an outstanding speed-lace.
yogabutler I agree with you . I've had my 8111's for 2 years now, and have had one speed eyelet collapse on me. So I just bent it back, no big deal. I'd rather keep the speed lace convenience.
yogabutler Kevin O’Connor from This old House and Ask This Old House sweats by them. He’s always seen sporting a beaten up 8111. I’ve used for motorcycle riding daily. Great boot to dress up or down while also being a decent boot to secure your foot on the bike.
I finally picked up a pair of Iron Rangers. I measure a 13 on the Brannock device and got a 13 in the boot. I tried and tried and tried to make a size 12 work based on so many others experience, but it just was too painful and tight in the toebox area (my toes were trying to explode through the sides and end). My toes are wider than the balls of my feet so sizing has always been tricky for me. I have had them for less than 24hrs, but I suspect the break in will take me less than 10 wears. My Wolverine 1000 Miles broke in very quickly and these are good bit stiffer...but nothing too abnormal in my experience.
Wear thicker socks and they will keep you warm. (used them in Norway and Toronto). Use water protector spray and the water will not soak into the boot and make you wet
The thing that surprised me most about these was how comfortable that higher back collar is. I avoided these for quite awhile because lots of modern boots cut out the back collar, or pad it, ostensibly for achilles comfort. But I find the higher back on these raises the collar off of that pressure area most 6 inch boots hit, and really spreads out the force. These have the most comfortable heel and collar of any boot I own, or have owned, including padded collar boots. (For me. They may be torture to others, as legs vary.)
When I was a paratrooper in the 60's, we would walk through creeks in our boots and keep wearing them all day. When they finally dried out we would polish them with Kiwi shoe polish. They would forever be conformed to your feet. We could even run in them.
I replied to a comment, but I'll post an additional comment here, after your request for feedback. I have a pair of the rough out Iron Rangers and after they broke in, they are one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I own. As for the speed hooks, I prefer these for how easy it is to get these boots on -- no signs of the hooks getting messed up after close to 2 years of frequent wear.
bought first pair 4 hours ago. went to store, freaked by stories of sizing. for me, 11 in athletic shoe, 10 1/2 in street, 10 in my new 8505, perfect! so far break in is going ok. 40 days into breaking in my 21.5 oz selvedge denims. if they were easy, they wouldn't be so cool.
I enjoyed this video as I do any video about redwing heritage line boots. I believe they are the best boot made. For many reasons,which brings me to my issue with some of the comments made in this video. He States they are not very comfortable,NOT TRUE! I wear these every single day all day. I ride my motorcycle,work on my truck, do landscaping, and many other forms of manual labor. These boots don't disappoint, they fit like a glove. It does take some time to break them in because of the thick leather used. I usually walk in water, re tighten them and go about my day. At the end of the day I oil them up. A week of doing that and you will never want to wear anything else. The other statement he made about the eyelets being cheap,I agree with. They are a bit flimsy but I've never had to replace then and had the boot 3 years now. What is good about being able to bend the eyelets is I don't tie my boots all the time. I will slip them on and run outside real quick and don't want to take the time to tie them,so I have my laces held in place by bending the eyelets onto them. Other than that everything he said is on point. They are not water proof at all. I found this out the hard way while riding my motorcycle through a rain storm. My feet we drenched and cold.Many more pros than cons tgough. A great boot for any life style.
Good review. My 8111's took a while to break in. To speed the process I soaked then in bucket of warm water overnight until they were as wet as your sister on Prom night. (Learned this courtesy of the Marine Corps). After draining the water, lace them up and put them on your feet. Walk for a few miles/longer the better and the leather will conform to your feet. Finally apply your favorite leather conditioner. (I use Lexol). Now your boots are broke in and the leather will be softer, the footbed has formed to your feet. After this treatment I used wood shoe trees every night until they dried out to prevent mold. Newspaper works too but the wood prevents mold/bacteria growth. This method works for me and I guarantee good results with the Iron Ranger 8111. After this treatment the boots stretched a little and I had room for Dr. Sholls inserts to absorb shock. No problems after 3 years of wear and finally comfortable.
Just picked mine up today along with the comfort insoles. Excited for the break in and the journey ahead. I finally broke down and invested in a boot I’ve been wanting for a long time now. You won’t be disappointed in this boot.
bought 8085 in holland on vacation. wore only them the rest of the trip exclusively. day 5 they were completely broken in nicely... and so where my feet
I found the heal on the cork sole had less wear for me then the vibram.. 6 months vibram heal angled off 1\8" -1\7". 6 months cork 1\16" . but yes the cork nitrile is slippery. redwing hack take a Dremel and engrave small X's in the front ball area. way more traction on wet cement or slight ice.
I have a pair of Red Wing rangers 8111 and those boots are so comfortable they remind me of my military jump boots I could walk miles and miles with those boots.
Sometimes we can make it to the store and we order online the best size when you purchased the shoes is a half size smaller I wear size 11 1/2 and my other boots and I purchase and 11 in these boots and they fit perfect like a glove
I bought 2 pair 11.5 and right out of the box they felt great. For me no break in.the pair that I bought 8085 and 8084. They just felt great on my feet.
Wear a 12.5EE Brannock size boots and 11.5EEE Corcoran 1500 Army Jump boots, but found my 8084 black Iron Ranger size 13D a best fit. A 12EE was too tight and small. Break in? What break in? I've been in the Iron Ranger for 12 hours the first few days and loved it! A lot nicer than the jump boot stiffness!
I own 2 pairs of RW Iron Rangers- one in Oxblood and one in Amber Harness. Both are beautiful and feel incredible in my feed, although Oxblood model is a bit tighter out of the box than the Amber one. Both are size 8.5 btw. Definitely not regretting spending $600+ on these as I know that with proper care they’ll last a long time.
Kudos to the first guy who admits that he’s not an online boot fitter. I laugh at the forums when somebody asks what size boot should they wear, and 100 guys jump in and tell that person without looking at their feet or having them try on a pair of boots in person they immediately give all this ridiculous advice half size up, half size down full-size up, full-size down etc. etc. hilarious 🤣
a great pair of boots for sure. i do agree that the worst part is the break in period. i used some Red Wing Boot Conditioner to soften them up and it helped. it did darken them quite a bit though. then some months later i used some neutral shoe polish to add some protection from moisture. finally a year and a half later they are broken in enough to where i can wear them out for an evening (6-8 hrs) without any foot pain.
I got a pair of these without sizing down. I thought I would have to get rid of them because they were too big (even though I like a lot of extra room in my boots). I bought a pair of leather Redwing insoles as a last ditch effort and now these boots fit great! I have a bit of extra room in the to like I wanted and rest of the boot fits perfectly
11ops11 the most important aspect of a good fit is that the ball of your feet line up with the widest part / flex point of the boot and that’s it’s comfortably snug.
Once they sell all of their old stock the cork sole will no longer be available from what I was told. I like the mini lug you can hardly tell a difference between it and the old one and you're not slipping around when it's wet out.
Mid weight boot. Comfort after breaking them in. Wear a few hours a day before all day. One day on, two days off will prevent blisters and hot spots. I use boot oil, inside and out to soften them up. Amber harness looks good after being oiled, dark at first then lightens up after a day or so. Suggest the vibram sole, the smooth ones are fine but you cant beat vibram traction. I get lots of compliments on how nice these boots look.
I just bought these a couple weeks ago as my first to pair of boots and I noticed something interesting: I can rub out scuffs with my thumb. I just run my thumb vigorously back and forth over the scuff and it comes out in about 10 seconds 👍
I have the copper and the charcoal iron rangers. Also have the roughnecks and the beckmans but I love the rangers the most. I’d love to have the muleskinners if I didn’t know how shitty they’re gonna look in a year. I went a half size down on all my heritage boots and they fit great.
I have had a pair of 8111 iron rangers for 5 months now. I went down a whole size and yes, there is break in period; but for me it only took about two weeks wearing them every other day. A lot of people complain about the rear seam rubbing but I didn’t experience any problems with this at all. The cork nitrate sole on my boots can be slippery but only on ice and snow. I’m just about to get a pair of 8086 Charcoal rough and tough iron rangers with the vibrant mini lug sole and will be interested to see how this compares. So would I recommend the iron ranger heritage boots from red wing? Absolutely....they are the best boots I’ve ever owned and I now never leave home without them!
Got mine last week. Went down a whole size from my sneaker and old timberland chukkas. I am very pleased by this purchase. Will post pics after I gets some time in them. Thanks to the Boot Guy for the reviews. They helped me make the decision to get these boots..
I just purchased a pair of 8084. Question please: Do you use an insole? Is it possible? I was told by a Red Wing sales associate not to use an insole. However, as you stated, the break in period is brutal and I normally use isoles. I would appreciate your feedback. Great channel and content!
Half a size down worked for me. I have that exact boot (same color as well). They're still less than a month old. I do agree if you have a RW store locally, go there and get fitted. Problem is that with many heritage boot makers, online is where you will order their product. Luckily many companies have good return policies. Plan on returning a lot of pairs of boots as you figure out your size.
I have this pair for two years, but in gray color. took a while to break in, but they feel great now. I have the compress smooth sole. is kind off heavy, but had very little wear. Would recommend these boots.
I’m glad I took your advice and tried on the boots instead of ordering half size down cause my foot is 11 and the 11 boot fit perfect the 10.5 was way to small... great advice and great video!!
I have gotten my first pair of Iron Rangers. My 8085's I use them for work when it is going to be an easy day and I do not feel like lacing up my Nick's Builder Pro's. Sizing is very strange. I went to the Redwing store to get sized. I wear a 12 in my Nick's but I measured a 10.5W in my Redwings.
Wore dr martens and timbs before. I bought 8111 nitrile cork a week ago and I could say this is the most comfortable boot i ever own. Never regret to spend money on this
Have the 8119 ox bloods for almost a year and a pair of charcoal rough and toughs. No break in time for me at all. Store tried to fit me into a 9.5. I fit brannock at 10.5. Made my own choice at 8.5. Pretty comfy wearing either thin or mid weight Merino wool socks. No problems with the speed hooks for me either.
Had mine for almost a year now and I love them. First day they were tight but after that they loosen up quickly for me. I will definitely buy another pair.
8085 2 to 3 weeks break in. Worn mine 2 years about to clean and boot cream them for the first time mainly because I walk on the beach with them and the leather is drying out but if I was in the city I’d of left them with the patina they’ve developed
I just purchased my first pair of these boots. I typically wear a 13 in my every day boot( doc Martin's). I ended up with and 11! An 11! And they fit great. I added some of Red Wings Leather Cream on them to help break it in. Looking forward to getting just as many years out of these boots as I did my Doc's( 18 years).
I saw the video last night. Thank you I was on the fence for a while between the IRs or the Blacksmiths. I went out today and got a pair of the Iron Rangers Copper Rough and tough with this new sole. I also stayed with my normal size 10D. I love them and couldn't be more happy with my purchase.
Over-all, a good review. COLAR, It's undied leather! It needs oil which darkens the leather. It is what it is. Further, adding neatsfoot oil or mink oil softens the leather, facilitating required breakin. I oil new boots out of the box. WATERPROOFING, After a thourough cleanning in the Fall, prepare for Winter, apply the waterprofing, I use "Snowseal". (I live in Oregon). The RedWing "Iron" boot would be perfect for a "Dress'up" street boot, (IMHO). Lasts for years, is re-soleable at least 2 times and feels like a snug slipper after an oild breakin. EYELETS, Who fiddles with eyelets (hooks)? There shouldn't be any reason to mash them down in the 1st place! I' 2nd, eyelets allow for partial unlacing allownig my big foot easy entry. Easy to relace. I have a pair of Westco loggers heavy, lug sole boots, 46 yrs old that I still wear, no problem with the eyelets EVER. INSULATION, Buy the boot a 1/2 sz large, put on heavy boot sock(s) and a thick leather insert, if needed, (make your own). In Sumer, wear a lighter sock, add an insert if needed.
Love these 8085 iron rangers I use Red Wing Leather cream does not darken one bit my boots are the same cooper rough and tough color after a year of wearing....I also have the hawthorne and amber harness in mini lug love em all thanks for the video boot guy keep on booting bro!!!!
With my iron rangers, I wear a 11.5w for Danner and Welco. 11.5 ended up fitting me perfectly. I gave them a generous coat of Obenaufs oil (not the LP) and they really did seem to speed up the break-in. After a month, they fit like a glove. 8 months in, I forget I wear them on 12 hour work days save the occasional sweaty feet. Criticisms 1) The nails on the heel started to back out fairly early on. They've never fallen out, but it is an odd thing to happen on shoes of this cost 2) The speed hooks do bend. It is annoying, but 5 seconds and a set of pliers or a screwdriver will fix that. I haven't figured out how the rubber wears on these. My gold standard is early 80's Wellco jungle boots. After 10 years of heavy use, they hardly had any wear. Nothing has been able to compete with them.
I picked these Iron Ranger boots the year they came out with the heritage line back in 2012. 8111. They took me about a good 3 months to break them in. Not easy or fun but I recommend wool socks so you don't get blisters. Also make sure to always wear thicker socks with these boots as they only have a leather insole. I still wear these boots almost every day in the winter months, and like he said they don't do well in cold weather. Also I don't recommend standing around in them for long periods of time. If your walking around you're fine. I keep mine looking rough and only clean them once a year so the leather don't darken to much.
Just purchased a pair of IR boots a few days ago. First day wearing them my feet hurt a bit but were not sore when I woke up the next day. Second day wearing them they started to get comfortable but still have some pressure points. So far they don't seem like they need much break in time. If you are on your feet most of the day being active doing things it will speed up the break in process. Other factors come into play such as what type of shoe do you normally wear. Your feet need to get broken in also if they are not used to wearing a boot. I'm usually a size 11 and I sizes down to a 9.5ee which because if the width it fits more like a 10.5 I think. I'm looking forward to wearing these more as they get more and more comfortable and I'm only two days in.
On a brannock thing I'm a 13 1/2 D on all Red Wing boots I'm a 13d . At present I own 2 pairs of the Iron Rangers and a pair of Moc Toes. The Iron Ranger is a good walking boot not to heavy and you don't feel like your lugging around 2 boat anchors like on a logging boots.
My feet stay warmer in winter with straight leather will really good socks on. Insulated boot make your feet get warm get wet get cold . Not with just leather and some smartwool
Jumped right in these and broke them in hard for 2 or 3 months. They’ve been my work boots everyday for 2 years, been in creeks and rivers when I have to pull my canoe. Eventually became as comfy as slippers. Tweaked my foot though and have to take a break from them. Not the best shoe when recovering from an injury
I'm 18 and have worn converse and gym shoes my whole life, I bought a pair of Beckmans in the cigar leather and wore them a huge amount with no breaks. 7 days a week anywhere from 7 to 15 hours a day without switching shoes. (because of days I work and have school). The first 3 weeks was painful but I knew that going into it however now I Have 0 issues with pain in my feet at all. And no I have not put any insert in them. I don't understand why people have pain issues with the leather insoles, Not saying you don't ext, but not a problem I have faced. Love my boots btw.
I myself have been wanting a pair of iron Rangers for a while but the price was to high and I didn't know anything about boots I started with thorogoods, doc martens, Justin's, and chippewa boots and realized the price of the boots is for quality and craftsmanship, so I bought a pair of iron Rangers, amber harness. I started to wear the boot and felt that heal bite at first and the side of my boot were a bit snug but I knew they would stretch and mold to my foot eventually, I have worn these boots every day now doing everything in them for a month or two and they feel pretty good now and I don't really have any issues. to prevent the heal bite I would wear my normal boot socks but I would also wear a black ankle sock of the boot socks this helped the health bite and because I wore the other sock over them this made my foot heat up a little more and sped up the stretching of the boot in those trouble areas. I've only oiled them once with obenauf's heavy duty lp and I love them I can see the leather insole forming to my foot the heal area has formed really well to my ankle and ball. I don't need to wear the extra sock anymore and even though it is not a slip on boot it now makes the pop sound when I put my foot in it. I have the pair with the cork soul and yes it isn't the most grippy soul but I have walked around and stepped on slick surfaces with water on it and have had to deal with ice a couple of times I wouldn't recommend these with the cork soul if you have to deal with ice a lot but I love them so much I wore them out anyways. not so heavy but not the lightest boot, but the leather itself forming to my foot makes this boot worth the break in. I am not saying every one will have the same experiences that I have had or will have but this boot is now my do everything boot I work on vehicles in these, I walk and skate to class in these, I walk around comfortably in airports in these I dress up in these and I wear them when just hanging around the dorm in casual atire. I didn't just buy a pair of boots I made an investment for my feet. -Stay classy gentleman
I wasn't that keen on the 8113s when I'd seen them online. However when I saw them in the shop I bought them. They look even better now since they've had some mink oil on them. I wore them for 15 hours on a trip to Edinburgh in November, my feet were only just beginning to ache by then. The break in isn't too bad, certainly less brutal than the 875s.
Bought my first red wing boots iron rangers boots 8085 and I've got wide feet put them on heaven I'm so happy with them but we have no red wing shop here in Ireland, now I want to buy red wing moc classic and I'm hoping they will be as comfortable as my 8085.
Just over a month into my 8119 Oxbloods. Jumped in full throttle on em. Two pair of thick socks and normal walking. Definitely had some sore pups for a bit, but no blisters or heel bite. Biggest problem was the ankles. They were hella sore. Its funny though, when you put them on they are uncomfortable as all get out, but you can feel the potential of an amazing fit. After 4 weeks of only wearing them, they now feel completely bonded to my foot. Absolutely love them! just know if you get a pair, you will be terrified of getting them dirty cause damn they are good looking ;)
I've been wearing boots for about the past 15 years now. These are actually really comfortable and not hard to break in at all. In fact, I woul say that after my alden indys, these are probably the second easiest to break in and are pretty comfortable outta the box. Even my moc toes didn't break in as easy
Nice review! I've worn these for 8+ years, have three pair. I've gotta disagree STRONGLY about one point you made. The "speed-hooks" at the top are fast, convenient, and made putting these on and taking them off, fast and convenient, and importantly, VERY easy to adjust tightness for different conditions. Early on, I was wearing them, and one of the speed hooks caught on something, as you discuss- it was bent outwards. I returned to the store, and the salesman said he could have them all adjusted or, if I preferred, have the speed-hooks removed and replaced with regular eyelets. I said sure. In the years since, that pair of boots has gotten WAY less use than my others, simply because they are a total PIA to put on and take off. Meantime, none of the speed hooks on any of my other Iron Rangers have EVER had a problem. My advice is to leave them there, and yeah, if they do get bent (as you say), you can just bend them back yourself. If they ever get messed up bending them, you can always get the Red Wing store to replace them. But I would NEVER (again) get them replaced with regular eyelets. Really enjoyed your review, thank you!
bradleynh great point. Thanks a lot!
I totally agree about speed hooks vs lace holes. Boots with full lace holes are far less convenient to put on than those with speed hooks. Even Crockett and Jones make their longer boots with speed hooks.
Yeah as much as I love my Beckmans I wear my Iron Rangers and 1000 Miles way more partly because of the speed hooks lol
I’ve had boots with speed laces they were never a problem.
I bought my Iron Rangers a year ago. I was warned about a tough break-in, but I just wore them out of the store and everyday after that. I didn't think it was bad at all. I recently put a wool foot bed in for the winter months, but my boots are already broke in for my feet. I love these boots.
I’ve had my 8085 for about two years now and I absolutely love them. They are my pride and joy. It takes a bit to get them to were you want them, but after that they are a part of you and only get better with time. They will last a long time. And I love the speed hooks. Great review
you know what i really like about this review. The fact that you went into what sizes you wear for other shoes to kind of help me gage what size foot you have in comparison to mine.. not a lot of other people do that. thanks
Currently on day 4 of my 8111's. It's been a few years since I've broken in a pair of boots, so my feet are pretty miserable right now.
Great review! I personally own 4 pairs of Iron rangers I love the fit and never had break in issues with any of them .. if you go to redwing and get measured up and buy the proper size they will fit like a glove and you will enjoy them. if you order online and listen to people say order a half size down from your sneaker size they will not fit right .. as an example I’m a size 12 in adidas ultra boost and a size 10EE in the iron ranger .. by the way once you wear the redwings outside you will not be able to return or exchange them so the best thing to do is to go to the the closest redwing store and buy your first pair there before ordering redwings online.. and as for insoles, I have insoles in all my redwings they add comfort once the boot is broken in but break them in without the insole first ✌🏼️
Loving mine! Office casual, street worn and even Norwegian fjord hiking use... The break in was daily for 2 weeks, first week was pain... but they do submit so keep at it. I'd estimate around 70-100 hours of wear to get them to slip on comfy stage. I give them a good wash, brush and mink oil every 3-4 months. Also have 875s (Oro Legacy), similar experience, but they were a quicker break in. And Sawmill (Mohave) was by far the easiest, just a day or 2. If I was only to have 1 pair, it would be the Rangers.
For reference, I wear a size 14 in Nike shoes... and wear a 13 in the Iron Rangers.
Size 13 in nike here and a 12 in the rangers it seems to be pretty consistent
I wear a 14 in Nikes and a 8.5 in iron rangers
I wear a 15 in Nike and a 6 in Iron Rangers
I use to work on the drill rigs in the Australian outback for 4 years. In that time I went through loads of different boots... but the Redwing 2233 was hands down the most comfortable. I'm looking at the Iron Rangers for a dress boot now too. Redwings are awesome
this are a real man's machine
Good advice about going and trying them on. I bought a pair of Blacksmith model 3343 (Copper Rough and Tough leather). The Red Wing Store has a digital station and PC which will show your size and the pressure your feet exert when standing. I have not been on a Bradenton device in years, but I normally always buy size 10 in every shoe and boot. The Red Wing machine says I'm a 10.5 D (medium) which was a surprise. It also says I have good posture with the correct weight distribution. So, we tried a size 10 and it fit wonderfully. About 1 inch between the very end of the toe box and my toes. The width is just right and the boot broke in well in about two weeks. Nothing is rubbing at all.
I also like that I'm building a relationship with the Red Wing store. They will be where I eventually go to get the boot resoled, and they offer free cleaning (you do have to leave them over night with the store) as long as you don't do it more often than once a month. The proprietor at the store was wearing Iron Ranger boots and they truly looked like they have been around for a while. But they look like they will last forever. These stores are really good and well worth a trip to visit.
finally! the most versatile boot ever..u can dress up or down with these.. not too formal and not too casual..i own 3 pairs of iron ranger..cant get enough of these
I love my Iron Rangers. I've had them since the first the year and enjoy wearing them daily. It took me about a month to break them in and it was an agonizing process. I'm so happy with them since they've softened up!
muttec
muttech
They look like dorky shit
HEMI LOVER I don't think these iron rangers can dress you up,they are rugged stlyle
muttech - what? This is the quintessential casual boot.
I've owned several pairs of redwing boots; one pair of iron rangers 8111s for 9 years. despite an incredible amount of abuse I have never, ever, had a pair of speedhooks fail.
Ever.
I bought the gel insoles at the Red Wings store per the clerk's recommendation because they said the boot was really difficult to break in. For reference, my previous pair of boots were the Katahdin Iron Works boots from LL Bean, which I've had now for 5 going on 6 years and still look great. I took about 100 miles of walking in the LL Bean boots before the steel shank formed to my foot. The Red Wings ones felt fine on the first day... as soon as I took the recommended insert out. With it in, the boot felt too tight and my stride wobbly. Don't waste your money on an insert. Spend the time breaking in your boot, and you'll be rewarded with years of comfort.
I normally wear a 12, but bought these in an 11. They are tough to break in, and I wore them every day, but laced them in stages. I would lace them without using the speed hooks for two weeks, and then every week after that I would place up higher and higher one set of hooks at a time. They are great boots. I had them oiled at my Redwing store after 4 weeks, as they looked and felt a little dry. I wear them every day and they are versatile style-wise and comfortable.
The best way to break in a boot: When you finish work in the afternoon, take off your work boots and wear your new boots around the house for a few hours. Each day a few hours of wear around the house for a week or two, or they become comfortable and you feel confident that you have a feel of how you might survive a full days wear.
If they start to hurt, take them off and wait until tomorrow. You are at home and you have this luxury after all.
Exactly what I do as soon as I get a new pair of anything especially boots. (It started as me just wanting to wear them ASAP)
Hey boot guy great video. I have had my iron ranger 8085s for about 3 months now. No real problems during the break in period. Highly recommend them to anyone interested in getting into boots. I alternate my iron rangers with a pair of Truman Java waxed flesh,for work. So far so good on my feet for 8 to 12 hours a day walking about 5 to 7 mi a day no complaints.
Took me forever to get the right size. Had feet measured at 11.5. Ordered 11.5. Too big. Ordered 11. Too big. Ordered 10.5. Perfect. Incredible boot. Once I got the right size it only took a few days to break in. My favorite boot I’ve ever had. I’m talking about the 8085 copper.
+Dana Stinson thanks a lot for your comment it really helps out.
What size sneakers do you usually wear? I would like to know because I'm considering buying a pair but sizing is an issue.
How do they feel around your toes? I'm going through the same thing right now. Ordered 8.5, they were tight on the upper portion but loose down around the toes. Then i got an 8 and they are pretty much the same, just a tiny bit less room around the toes. I could almost fold my toes in there but they are still pretty tight on the upper portion. Any advice? should i go with a lower size (hard to find in my region) or wear them with additional leather insole?
Red Wing heritage on the 8 last is normally 1/2 - full size down from your arch measurement NOT NOT your toe to heel measurement. With that being said start out with your arch length then work your way down making sure the ball of your feet line up with the widest part of the boot and that it’s comfortably snug.
Wearing mine now. Just got them today and I absolutely love them.
Took me about 3 months to wear them in to be comfortable. I have them still 2 years later. No insoles, just the leather inside. Feels good.
Just got my second pair of iron rangers! The first pair I had for 2 years, beautifully shaped to my foot, I was even able to comfortable insert my orthotics once it was really broken in. That pair was taken away by EMTs when I was I an accident so I just got my second pair - still breaking them in but loving every moment of it.
+Will F. Thanks for adding to the mix.
Having bought 4 pairs of redwing boots for work...im a cnc technician..i walk in coolant and oil. Work in 480v electrial panels. Crawl around in machinery the size of a room. I have worn through the leather and soles long before i had to bend a speed lace back...
The best insoles for all the heritage boots out there is Redwings Leather Insoles they add comfort without taking up to much space and it’s leather. It makes the most sense to me I agree that a a gel type insole in a heritage boot just doesn’t work well together. One exception is Thorogood boots but they are designed for the insole they make for their work line of heritage style boots. I have a couple pairs or Thorogoods and I switched the insole it came with and put the leather one made by Redwing and it’s comfortable but in that boot the best way to go is the one it comes with. Thorogood insoles are one of the best made dual density insoles you can buy in my opinion.
Just bought my first pair of Red Wing shoes today! That shit hurt my wallet. I was torn between the 8085s and the amber color but I decided on the 8085s.
Really quality and detailed review; good work. I enjoy my 8085's because I can wear them to my office job and also working in the yard or garage on weekends. and they clean-up nicely to wear them back in the office.
Bought these boots in about a week ago..first impression was. .What a Masterpiece!. .my father was a shoemaker and he would be so impressed with these awesome boots ,the breaking period was not bad maybe cause I always wore construction boots the whole time otherwise highly recommended but to put them to work it would be a sin..thanks for the video.
Just got me a pair. I normally wear size 13 in Nike running shoes. End up buying 11.5 in the Iron Ranger’s. Yes, I put soft insoles to break them in. Later, I will put leather insoles. I I Take the insoles from my running shoes sized 13, and put them into the 11.5 Iron Rangers, they fit just fine. Therefore, they do run big. I am still in the breaking in process.
Love my iron ranger in copper rough and tough! It took me 2 weeks to break them in. I was measured for 9.5 but it was too big for me, so I ended up exchanging for 9. Pro tip! visit your local retail store and wear your boot socks for measuring. I highly recommend these boots and be sure to get yourself a pair of Darn Tough wool socks as well. Next stop, I plan on getting a pair of Frank's.
Rangers are the best boots in the market period. I had to go one full size down on my 8111 & 8084 and on my 8085 a full size & half down. I wear size 13 regularly but my 8085’s are size 11.5 but thats the right size, crazy… Now for me the breaking period was super easy. My only issue is practically all the laces from Red Wing (except the 1907’s). Red Wing can make a better set of laces.
ive let these sit in my car over summer.. they looked fine.. but then i tried to put them on and the whole inside sole cracked open.. and shrunk.. i guess i have to get my third pair. lucky ive used my last pair for 2 years and they were comfi just a big to big.. even after walking in the store and the advice i got from the RW staff.. after 1 / 2 to 1 year they will have become a lot bigger..think about it.. the shoe is flat when you buy them so when you dent the cork your foot will drop into the cork and thus create room. but if you push your toes towards the front without tieing your laces i can still put 2 fingers behind my heel.. eventhough i bougjt my second pair even smaller thsn my first pair.. ill buy them even smaller when i go get s new pair.. make sure they are tight tight tight.. tbe leather will loosen the sole will dent this wil create the room you need so buy them tight! the boot shown in this video isnt worn a year round just a year with minimal usage. ive worn mine everyday and they will change a lot more shape wise and colour wise.
My favorite boots. I’ve had mine for about 3 years and they still look great. Very comfortable and like you say the color did change and looks great.!
El plateado Mtz: ey boss, can you walk on them about 5 miles a day on them?? U know after they been broken down.
Back them/ 15 yrs ago the I've a pair very comfortable. They Las 5 yrs. Thinking to get me a pair for father's day. Im a truck driver.
Agree with some comments but disagree with a lot. The speedhooks are great and really useful in comparison to the moc toes. Also, you must buy these on the smaller side as they will stretch laterally a lot. These look really big on this guy. Lastly, these boots are comfy and will be very comfy after a couple of months
If you want a pair of moc toes with speedhooks, check out the 87519s (or simply send a pair off to redwing). Definitely agree with you about speedhooks.
Speaking from experience, I would say you definitely need to buy a smaller size. I bought mine online and ignored all of the talk about going down a half. I had to return them twice, as I actually needed to go down one full size. If you can, try them on at a store before buying. Worth the effort.
Also, I found it was a good idea to apply some oil straight away. I gave mine a through cleaning, and then oiled them up. I had no idea how long they'd been sitting around, so I erred on the side of caution. Plus, these boots are as stiff as steel out of the box, so I needed something to ease the breaking in process. I don't wear mine super often (rarely in the summer), so it's taken ~2 years to make them really comfortable.
I just purchased a pair in Amber and will be wearing them for the second time tomorrow. I totally agree about trying them on in the store. I tried on a size larger and a size smaller than I normally wear before getting the size that was just right. Thanks for letting me know to expect them to get darker over time.
I bought a pair of 8085. Worn them 10+ Hours a day for 4 days, straight out of the box. Bought them nice and snug, no problems at all. Now I own them for around two weeks. They break in great! get even more comfy.
My first pair of Iron Rangers was the 8113 Hawthorne Muleskinners. I wore them straight out of the box on vacation for one week in northern Arizona walking light trails with no problems easy breaking awesome boots they’re still my favorite of the 50 pairs that I own I will definitely keep these.
Great review. I’ve have a pair of iron rangers going on three years now. Super worn in and comfortable. I’ve had the cork sole, not great on snow and ice but sticks to everything else. The speed laces aren’t bad, idk if mine are different but I can’t bend them with my fingers.
i disagree with the eyelet speed lace comment, i have three pair i love them completely sold best shoe ever, speed laces are fine
+yogabutler Thank you for your disagreement. Your right they are fine. A 150.00 fine is ok. At 300.00 why add any weak spots. Why Chance any unhappy customer's. But yet on numbers like 2406-606-405 they use an outstanding speed-lace.
yogabutler I agree with you . I've had my 8111's for 2 years now, and have had one speed eyelet collapse on me. So I just bent it back, no big deal. I'd rather keep the speed lace convenience.
yogabutler Kevin O’Connor from This old House and Ask This Old House sweats by them. He’s always seen sporting a beaten up 8111.
I’ve used for motorcycle riding daily. Great boot to dress up or down while also being a decent boot to secure your foot on the bike.
yogabutler I’ve had my rangers for a year and don’t mind em
I finally picked up a pair of Iron Rangers. I measure a 13 on the Brannock device and got a 13 in the boot. I tried and tried and tried to make a size 12 work based on so many others experience, but it just was too painful and tight in the toebox area (my toes were trying to explode through the sides and end). My toes are wider than the balls of my feet so sizing has always been tricky for me. I have had them for less than 24hrs, but I suspect the break in will take me less than 10 wears. My Wolverine 1000 Miles broke in very quickly and these are good bit stiffer...but nothing too abnormal in my experience.
Wear thicker socks and they will keep you warm. (used them in Norway and Toronto). Use water protector spray and the water will not soak into the boot and make you wet
Sno-seal works good too for water protection. That's what I put on my boots during the winter months
The thing that surprised me most about these was how comfortable that higher back collar is. I avoided these for quite awhile because lots of modern boots cut out the back collar, or pad it, ostensibly for achilles comfort. But I find the higher back on these raises the collar off of that pressure area most 6 inch boots hit, and really spreads out the force. These have the most comfortable heel and collar of any boot I own, or have owned, including padded collar boots. (For me. They may be torture to others, as legs vary.)
When I was a paratrooper in the 60's, we would walk through creeks in our boots and keep wearing them all day. When they finally dried out we would polish them with Kiwi shoe polish. They would forever be conformed to your feet. We could even run in them.
I did 'P' company, and we always ran in boots, never in sneakers. It was compulsory to polish them.
"I wanna be an airborne ranger. I wanna live a life of danger. I wanna go to Vietnam!"
I've never had a problem running in boots
Throw down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lot of fun!
I've worn these boots in Finland in -20 with a good pair of socks and couldn't be toastier! great great boot
I replied to a comment, but I'll post an additional comment here, after your request for feedback. I have a pair of the rough out Iron Rangers and after they broke in, they are one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I own. As for the speed hooks, I prefer these for how easy it is to get these boots on -- no signs of the hooks getting messed up after close to 2 years of frequent wear.
One of the next IR reviews out there, nice job and thanks!
bought first pair 4 hours ago. went to store, freaked by stories of sizing. for me, 11 in athletic shoe, 10 1/2 in street, 10 in my new 8505, perfect! so far break in is going ok. 40 days into breaking in my 21.5 oz selvedge denims. if they were easy, they wouldn't be so cool.
I enjoyed this video as I do any video about redwing heritage line boots. I believe they are the best boot made. For many reasons,which brings me to my issue with some of the comments made in this video. He States they are not very comfortable,NOT TRUE! I wear these every single day all day. I ride my motorcycle,work on my truck, do landscaping, and many other forms of manual labor. These boots don't disappoint, they fit like a glove. It does take some time to break them in because of the thick leather used. I usually walk in water, re tighten them and go about my day. At the end of the day I oil them up. A week of doing that and you will never want to wear anything else. The other statement he made about the eyelets being cheap,I agree with. They are a bit flimsy but I've never had to replace then and had the boot 3 years now. What is good about being able to bend the eyelets is I don't tie my boots all the time. I will slip them on and run outside real quick and don't want to take the time to tie them,so I have my laces held in place by bending the eyelets onto them. Other than that everything he said is on point. They are not water proof at all. I found this out the hard way while riding my motorcycle through a rain storm. My feet we drenched and cold.Many more pros than cons tgough. A great boot for any life style.
Good review. My 8111's took a while to break in. To speed the process I soaked then in bucket of warm water overnight until they were as wet as your sister on Prom night. (Learned this courtesy of the Marine Corps). After draining the water, lace them up and put them on your feet. Walk for a few miles/longer the better and the leather will conform to your feet. Finally apply your favorite leather conditioner. (I use Lexol). Now your boots are broke in and the leather will be softer, the footbed has formed to your feet. After this treatment I used wood shoe trees every night until they dried out to prevent mold. Newspaper works too but the wood prevents mold/bacteria growth. This method works for me and I guarantee good results with the Iron Ranger 8111. After this treatment the boots stretched a little and I had room for Dr. Sholls inserts to absorb shock. No problems after 3 years of wear and finally comfortable.
I love the speed laces. They’re boots!
Just picked mine up today along with the comfort insoles. Excited for the break in and the journey ahead. I finally broke down and invested in a boot I’ve been wanting for a long time now. You won’t be disappointed in this boot.
bought 8085 in holland on vacation. wore only them the rest of the trip exclusively. day 5 they were completely broken in nicely... and so where my feet
I found the heal on the cork sole had less wear for me then the vibram.. 6 months vibram heal angled off 1\8" -1\7". 6 months cork 1\16" . but yes the cork nitrile is slippery. redwing hack take a Dremel and engrave small X's in the front ball area. way more traction on wet cement or slight ice.
I have a pair of Red Wing rangers 8111 and those boots are so comfortable they remind me of my military jump boots I could walk miles and miles with those boots.
I always like to add redwing leather insoles for juuuust a tad more cushion. Made em so much more tolerable to wear to work from day 1 of break in
Sometimes we can make it to the store and we order online the best size when you purchased the shoes is a half size smaller I wear size 11 1/2 and my other boots and I purchase and 11 in these boots and they fit perfect like a glove
I bought 2 pair 11.5 and right out of the box they felt great. For me no break in.the pair that I bought 8085 and 8084. They just felt great on my feet.
Wear a 12.5EE Brannock size boots and 11.5EEE Corcoran 1500 Army Jump boots, but found my 8084 black Iron Ranger size 13D a best fit. A 12EE was too tight and small. Break in? What break in? I've been in the Iron Ranger for 12 hours the first few days and loved it! A lot nicer than the jump boot stiffness!
I love mine. It did take about 2 weeks to break them in, but once I did, they are as comfortable as any boot I’ve ever had. Love them.
I got these and I love them… ❤ I also put the leather insoles in them
I own 2 pairs of RW Iron Rangers- one in Oxblood and one in Amber Harness. Both are beautiful and feel incredible in my feed, although Oxblood model is a bit tighter out of the box than the Amber one. Both are size 8.5 btw. Definitely not regretting spending $600+ on these as I know that with proper care they’ll last a long time.
Kudos to the first guy who admits that he’s not an online boot fitter. I laugh at the forums when somebody asks what size boot should they wear, and 100 guys jump in and tell that person without looking at their feet or having them try on a pair of boots in person they immediately give all this ridiculous advice half size up, half size down full-size up, full-size down etc. etc. hilarious 🤣
Love these boots. I've had mine for over 2 years. Still haven't broken them all the way in. That metal plate makes them hard to break in.
a great pair of boots for sure. i do agree that the worst part is the break in period. i used some Red Wing Boot Conditioner to soften them up and it helped. it did darken them quite a bit though. then some months later i used some neutral shoe polish to add some protection from moisture. finally a year and a half later they are broken in enough to where i can wear them out for an evening (6-8 hrs) without any foot pain.
I got a pair of these without sizing down. I thought I would have to get rid of them because they were too big (even though I like a lot of extra room in my boots). I bought a pair of leather Redwing insoles as a last ditch effort and now these boots fit great! I have a bit of extra room in the to like I wanted and rest of the boot fits perfectly
11ops11 I have my 2 red wing boots in my size or even 1/2 size up and I put insoles and they fill great.
11ops11 the most important aspect of a good fit is that the ball of your feet line up with the widest part / flex point of the boot and that’s it’s comfortably snug.
Once they sell all of their old stock the cork sole will no longer be available from what I was told. I like the mini lug you can hardly tell a difference between it and the old one and you're not slipping around when it's wet out.
Mid weight boot. Comfort after breaking them in. Wear a few hours a day before all day. One day on, two days off will prevent blisters and hot spots. I use boot oil, inside and out to soften them up. Amber harness looks good after being oiled, dark at first then lightens up after a day or so. Suggest the vibram sole, the smooth ones are fine but you cant beat vibram traction. I get lots of compliments on how nice these boots look.
I just bought these a couple weeks ago as my first to pair of boots and I noticed something interesting: I can rub out scuffs with my thumb. I just run my thumb vigorously back and forth over the scuff and it comes out in about 10 seconds 👍
I have the copper and the charcoal iron rangers. Also have the roughnecks and the beckmans but I love the rangers the most. I’d love to have the muleskinners if I didn’t know how shitty they’re gonna look in a year. I went a half size down on all my heritage boots and they fit great.
Great review. I have been contemplating purchasing a pair of these boots. This is the most thorough review I have seen about these boots.
I have had a pair of 8111 iron rangers for 5 months now. I went down a whole size and yes, there is break in period; but for me it only took about two weeks wearing them every other day. A lot of people complain about the rear seam rubbing but I didn’t experience any problems with this at all. The cork nitrate sole on my boots can be slippery but only on ice and snow. I’m just about to get a pair of 8086 Charcoal rough and tough iron rangers with the vibrant mini lug sole and will be interested to see how this compares. So would I recommend the iron ranger heritage boots from red wing? Absolutely....they are the best boots I’ve ever owned and I now never leave home without them!
Got mine last week. Went down a whole size from my sneaker and old timberland chukkas. I am very pleased by this purchase. Will post pics after I gets some time in them. Thanks to the Boot Guy for the reviews. They helped me make the decision to get these boots..
I just purchased a pair of 8084. Question please: Do you use an insole? Is it possible? I was told by a Red Wing sales associate not to use an insole. However, as you stated, the break in period is brutal and I normally use isoles. I would appreciate your feedback. Great channel and content!
Half a size down worked for me. I have that exact boot (same color as well). They're still less than a month old. I do agree if you have a RW store locally, go there and get fitted. Problem is that with many heritage boot makers, online is where you will order their product. Luckily many companies have good return policies. Plan on returning a lot of pairs of boots as you figure out your size.
I have this pair for two years, but in gray color. took a while to break in, but they feel great now. I have the compress smooth sole. is kind off heavy, but had very little wear. Would recommend these boots.
I’m glad I took your advice and tried on the boots instead of ordering half size down cause my foot is 11 and the 11 boot fit perfect the 10.5 was way to small... great advice and great video!!
I have gotten my first pair of Iron Rangers. My 8085's I use them for work when it is going to be an easy day and I do not feel like lacing up my Nick's Builder Pro's. Sizing is very strange. I went to the Redwing store to get sized. I wear a 12 in my Nick's but I measured a 10.5W in my Redwings.
Wore dr martens and timbs before. I bought 8111 nitrile cork a week ago and I could say this is the most comfortable boot i ever own. Never regret to spend money on this
Have the 8119 ox bloods for almost a year and a pair of charcoal rough and toughs. No break in time for me at all. Store tried to fit me into a 9.5. I fit brannock at 10.5. Made my own choice at 8.5. Pretty comfy wearing either thin or mid weight Merino wool socks. No problems with the speed hooks for me either.
Troy Seth how did u find the oxblood colour? Has it darkened quite a bit over time?
Teddy Duchamp from “Stand by Me” all grown up. Great review
Had mine for almost a year now and I love them. First day they were tight but after that they loosen up quickly for me. I will definitely buy another pair.
8085 2 to 3 weeks break in. Worn mine 2 years about to clean and boot cream them for the first time mainly because I walk on the beach with them and the leather is drying out but if I was in the city I’d of left them with the patina they’ve developed
I just purchased my first pair of these boots. I typically wear a 13 in my every day boot( doc Martin's). I ended up with and 11! An 11! And they fit great. I added some of Red Wings Leather Cream on them to help break it in. Looking forward to getting just as many years out of these boots as I did my Doc's( 18 years).
Did the leather cream darken them?
Did d you ever have the soles replaced on your Docs?
Very direct and informative review. I love the color it turned into from copper rough tough. May I know what condition u used?
I saw the video last night. Thank you I was on the fence for a while between the IRs or the Blacksmiths. I went out today and got a pair of the Iron Rangers Copper Rough and tough with this new sole. I also stayed with my normal size 10D. I love them and couldn't be more happy with my purchase.
Over-all, a good review.
COLAR, It's undied leather! It needs oil which darkens the leather. It is what it is. Further, adding neatsfoot oil or mink oil softens the leather, facilitating required breakin. I oil new boots out of the box.
WATERPROOFING, After a thourough cleanning in the Fall, prepare for Winter, apply the waterprofing, I use "Snowseal". (I live in Oregon).
The RedWing "Iron" boot would be perfect for a "Dress'up" street boot, (IMHO). Lasts for years, is re-soleable at least 2 times and feels like a snug slipper after an oild breakin.
EYELETS, Who fiddles with eyelets (hooks)? There shouldn't be any reason to mash them down in the 1st place! I' 2nd, eyelets allow for partial unlacing allownig my big foot easy entry. Easy to relace. I have a pair of Westco loggers heavy, lug sole boots, 46 yrs old that I still wear, no problem with the eyelets EVER.
INSULATION, Buy the boot a 1/2 sz large, put on heavy boot sock(s) and a thick leather insert, if needed, (make your own). In Sumer, wear a lighter sock, add an insert if needed.
Love these 8085 iron rangers I use Red Wing Leather cream does not darken one bit my boots are the same cooper rough and tough color after a year of wearing....I also have the hawthorne and amber harness in mini lug love em all thanks for the video boot guy keep on booting bro!!!!
With my iron rangers, I wear a 11.5w for Danner and Welco. 11.5 ended up fitting me perfectly.
I gave them a generous coat of Obenaufs oil (not the LP) and they really did seem to speed up the break-in. After a month, they fit like a glove. 8 months in, I forget I wear them on 12 hour work days save the occasional sweaty feet.
Criticisms
1) The nails on the heel started to back out fairly early on. They've never fallen out, but it is an odd thing to happen on shoes of this cost
2) The speed hooks do bend. It is annoying, but 5 seconds and a set of pliers or a screwdriver will fix that.
I haven't figured out how the rubber wears on these. My gold standard is early 80's Wellco jungle boots. After 10 years of heavy use, they hardly had any wear. Nothing has been able to compete with them.
I picked these Iron Ranger boots the year they came out with the heritage line back in 2012. 8111. They took me about a good 3 months to break them in. Not easy or fun but I recommend wool socks so you don't get blisters. Also make sure to always wear thicker socks with these boots as they only have a leather insole. I still wear these boots almost every day in the winter months, and like he said they don't do well in cold weather. Also I don't recommend standing around in them for long periods of time. If your walking around you're fine. I keep mine looking rough and only clean them once a year so the leather don't darken to much.
Just purchased a pair of IR boots a few days ago. First day wearing them my feet hurt a bit but were not sore when I woke up the next day. Second day wearing them they started to get comfortable but still have some pressure points. So far they don't seem like they need much break in time. If you are on your feet most of the day being active doing things it will speed up the break in process. Other factors come into play such as what type of shoe do you normally wear. Your feet need to get broken in also if they are not used to wearing a boot. I'm usually a size 11 and I sizes down to a 9.5ee which because if the width it fits more like a 10.5 I think. I'm looking forward to wearing these more as they get more and more comfortable and I'm only two days in.
On a brannock thing I'm a 13 1/2 D on all Red Wing boots I'm a 13d . At present I own 2 pairs of the Iron Rangers and a pair of Moc Toes. The Iron Ranger is a good walking boot not to heavy and you don't feel like your lugging around 2 boat anchors like on a logging boots.
My feet stay warmer in winter with straight leather will really good socks on. Insulated boot make your feet get warm get wet get cold . Not with just leather and some smartwool
Jumped right in these and broke them in hard for 2 or 3 months. They’ve been my work boots everyday for 2 years, been in creeks and rivers when I have to pull my canoe. Eventually became as comfy as slippers. Tweaked my foot though and have to take a break from them. Not the best shoe when recovering from an injury
I'm 18 and have worn converse and gym shoes my whole life, I bought a pair of Beckmans in the cigar leather and wore them a huge amount with no breaks. 7 days a week anywhere from 7 to 15 hours a day without switching shoes. (because of days I work and have school). The first 3 weeks was painful but I knew that going into it however now I Have 0 issues with pain in my feet at all. And no I have not put any insert in them. I don't understand why people have pain issues with the leather insoles, Not saying you don't ext, but not a problem I have faced. Love my boots btw.
I myself have been wanting a pair of iron Rangers for a while but the price was to high and I didn't know anything about boots I started with thorogoods, doc martens, Justin's, and chippewa boots and realized the price of the boots is for quality and craftsmanship, so I bought a pair of iron Rangers, amber harness. I started to wear the boot and felt that heal bite at first and the side of my boot were a bit snug but I knew they would stretch and mold to my foot eventually, I have worn these boots every day now doing everything in them for a month or two and they feel pretty good now and I don't really have any issues. to prevent the heal bite I would wear my normal boot socks but I would also wear a black ankle sock of the boot socks this helped the health bite and because I wore the other sock over them this made my foot heat up a little more and sped up the stretching of the boot in those trouble areas. I've only oiled them once with obenauf's heavy duty lp and I love them I can see the leather insole forming to my foot the heal area has formed really well to my ankle and ball. I don't need to wear the extra sock anymore and even though it is not a slip on boot it now makes the pop sound when I put my foot in it. I have the pair with the cork soul and yes it isn't the most grippy soul but I have walked around and stepped on slick surfaces with water on it and have had to deal with ice a couple of times I wouldn't recommend these with the cork soul if you have to deal with ice a lot but I love them so much I wore them out anyways. not so heavy but not the lightest boot, but the leather itself forming to my foot makes this boot worth the break in. I am not saying every one will have the same experiences that I have had or will have but this boot is now my do everything boot I work on vehicles in these, I walk and skate to class in these, I walk around comfortably in airports in these I dress up in these and I wear them when just hanging around the dorm in casual atire. I didn't just buy a pair of boots I made an investment for my feet.
-Stay classy gentleman
I wasn't that keen on the 8113s when I'd seen them online. However when I saw them in the shop I bought them. They look even better now since they've had some mink oil on them. I wore them for 15 hours on a trip to Edinburgh in November, my feet were only just beginning to ache by then. The break in isn't too bad, certainly less brutal than the 875s.
Bought my first red wing boots iron rangers boots 8085 and I've got wide feet put them on heaven I'm so happy with them but we have no red wing shop here in Ireland, now I want to buy red wing moc classic and I'm hoping they will be as comfortable as my 8085.
Just over a month into my 8119 Oxbloods. Jumped in full throttle on em. Two pair of thick socks and normal walking. Definitely had some sore pups for a bit, but no blisters or heel bite. Biggest problem was the ankles. They were hella sore. Its funny though, when you put them on they are uncomfortable as all get out, but you can feel the potential of an amazing fit. After 4 weeks of only wearing them, they now feel completely bonded to my foot. Absolutely love them! just know if you get a pair, you will be terrified of getting them dirty cause damn they are good looking ;)
I've been wearing boots for about the past 15 years now. These are actually really comfortable and not hard to break in at all. In fact, I woul say that after my alden indys, these are probably the second easiest to break in and are pretty comfortable outta the box. Even my moc toes didn't break in as easy
Rocking a Red Wing Irish setter with RW400 inserts, need more inserts for my other shoes, after a few week they have become my most comfortable boots