I know they aren't official safety work boots and I mostly work on TV sets but if you don't mind scuffing them, they are pretty darn solid. My father in law makes me do wood workshop stuff, outdoor restoration work and once even a full tear down of an art school with glass shattering everywhere and these boots saved my feet and ankles. You feel indestructible walking on nails, glass and broken wood. Using them for work and hiking is part of the charm of these boots~
I've seen overconditioned boots brought back to some semblance of normalcy by packing them in cat litter. It drew out some of the oils and dried them out. Improved them a lot.
I have them in Copper Rough & Tough which are fantastic, but had a chance to try on some Amber Harness at a later time…and that leather was some of the best leather I’ve seen in person. I don’t think pictures and videos do it justice. It just had such a quality presence and feel.
Iron Rangers look better in person than they do on a cellphone. There’s a shop in Philly which has Viberg, Lofgren, Wesco and White, along with the comparatively pedestrian Red Wing Heritage line. While not in the league of those others, they certainly are good boots and a solid value. Their Shop Oxford is a great example of where boot and shoe collide. Mine are in a very nice Hawthorne rough out. The Classic Moc has more leather options and they are nice at that. As for the Iron Rangers themselves. I always thought they were a bit clown shoe at the end of the day and tended to favor the Blacksmith, in person, I’d call them aesthetically even.
Officially the only person i know who owns two pairs of 8111s 😂 Glad you got itch scratched! Day by day i’m falling more and more in love with my pair. I just love the whole silhouette of the IRs.
Ha, it's a Nick [from Stridewise] boot indeed. Dyeing them black sounds like a cool idea. I think it'll work out just fine with something like Fiebings dye. Just gotta make sure to strip out as much of the oil as possible, but I imagine it's hard to mess up dyeing a boot black.
Hi Teikoh. I like this style of video where you freestyle and actually put the boots to work. I would bet that with time, those older Iron Rangers will look legendary if you keep using them the way you do with some care from time to time.
I read something not long ago about fixing over conditioned boots, and I think they were iron rangers as well. They heated them up with a hair dryer and then used paper towels and cloth rags to absorb the warm oils and waxes. They did that a few times and the results were pretty even and much lighter. Give it a try. Even if you dye it black, the color will likely take better if it’s not over conditioned.
Over time, with regular wear the overconditioned pair would dry out and return to normal color. Glad you added the safety glasses! Was a little worried for a moment. I wore my IR for about 8 years, as a daily motorcycle and jobsite boot. Extremely hardy boot and I still wear them occasionally in the snow as an apre ski boot, and people rave about them in that context, but I’ve burned out on the style (for now), and they are pretty common. I’ve replaced them for motorcycle and jobsite visits with Whites MP Sherman, and GS saddle tan Brass Boot when I want pure comfort. Cheers!
with boots there are many factors to consider but let's face it, they got to fit right and for some reason Iron Rangers are the best fitting boot for me. in fact there was little to no break-in needed. and i love the look of the 8111 as well as the copper and black. thanks for another great presentation.
I have the same exact model boots! Breaking them in, or rather breaking my feet in, was brutal! But strangely now they’re very comfortable now👍 flexible and stable and the cap toe looks awesome!
You can get the oil out with dish soap diluted in warm water and a horsehair brush. Dilution strength depends on how saturated with oil they are. Clean them in a sink or outdoors. Rinse them well, wipe them down with a towel, and let them dry. One time may do it, or it may take 2-3 washes to get it out. You will have to apply some type of conditioner after, but go easy. PS - stuff them with newspaper or paper towels while they dry to help keep the shape of the leather. Set them by an open window or leave them in a cool shady place to dry, and not in direct sun or near a heater or a fire.
Currently I've been collecting some Red Wing's, got my 1st of Blacksmiths in CRT, and 2 IR in Slate Muleskinner anf Black Harness, and a couple of weeks ago I get some Oro Legacy Mocs (loge them so fsr). My IR in Black Harness were my most used footwear (most than my sneakers) for a recent vacation and I just fall in love with them twice-fold, they were worth the funny scene each time I'd been asked to taken them off in airport security 😅. I think the first over-conditioned pair will get better with use as some already commented, but I think it's interesting trying to get them black. Thanks for the video.
I have a pair of boots that I’ve over conditioned and there is more than color to worry about. Over conditioning can weaken the leather. I have picked up a few surface cuts that I probably wouldn’t have if I hadn’t softened the finish on them.
I've always wanted to buy some redwings but I still have not seen a boot from them that does it for me. I don't really have a need for a "true" toe cap since I am never on my knees at my job, but I am on my feet for many hours at a time. So comfort is more important to me than having a "true" toe cap. If I know I am going to do some hard work like building a shed or whatever, I wear my REDBACKs (easy escapes) for that type of thing. Which you can get with a toe cap and steel toe as well.
I don't have much experience with stripping uppers. However Saphir Reno'Mat might be a good way to pull out a lot of the excess conditioner. It's definitely more gentle than acetone. So there's a good chance that the Saphir would not remove the original dye. The old pair might be a good test subject for some kind of patina project.
I’ve had these over a year and they’ve been through multiple renomat, saddle soap, dish soap, acetone and isopropyl alcohol! The conditioning over years of demo at Royal Fairs of boot oil and boot balm is deep!
@@Bootlosophy Wow I didn't think it was possible for acetone to not remove every bit of oil and wax. Industrial strength degreaser would probably remove the conditioner but destroy the leather in the process.
I'm 63 and had a pair at 15. They will last a long time of you take care of them. They are a work boot. They take a bit to wear in. I wouldn't pick them for being a boot you are bent over on all day. Now a days they have become a status boot.
I scratched my GS brass boots in Essex tan and couldn’t get the scratches out. So I decided to dye them a kind of honey gold but I didn’t strip them with acetone and my brass boots ended up being a horrible reddish colour. Then I stripped them with acetone and dyed them a very dark brown and I decided to use them as a work boot, it didn’t take long for the reddish colour to come through but they look great now with this patina and now the tan is coming through the red
Way to get after that tile, you're in good shape for an old guy (I'm 67) and not as fit! I have a set of hunting boots, a set of hiking boots and Iron Rangers for everything else. I wore my first set out and the uppers were shot. I thought about a different set of everyday boots, but I'd feel kinda girlie wearing anything else but Rangers😁. If you get the correct size break in is easy, and once that footbed molds, comfort is extremely pleasant. Great video.
I bet a few more weeks of work boot use or hard knock daily wear will beat the conditioning out of them and you will get your initial wish that they become Amber Harness on their own!
I overconditioned some brown boots, but they are getting light again now after 6 months of everyday use. In certain spots they are light for sure 100% I like the oiled dark dark brown color personally.
I would love to know how the insoles feel? I picked up a pair of 8111s from vinted for £85. The right foot fits perfectly but the left has a little difference in feel. Has taken a few weeks to adjust. I wear roughnecks and have owned many iron rangers over the year's. Just wondering what insoles you use and what's your method with 2nd hand pair of red wings
Amber harness is also my favorite color that is offered in the iron rangers. I changed the hardware to dull gilt, the same color as the red wing blacksmith. I thought the nickel hardware stood out too much and with the dull gilt hardware, I can "dress it up" a bit more. What are your thoughts about red wing using nickel hardware on a lot of of their models? It seems like other heritage boot makers rarely choose nickel and instead go with brass or antique brass.
it always amazes me how guys twist themselves into circles explaining how "comfortable" iron rangers and other heritage boots are. you buy IRs to be cool and live the "heritage lifestyle" not to be comfortable
Haha! I just bought a new pair of very worn in iron rangers for an updated video so this timing is great. Love your stuff!
Thanks for watching Nick!
I know they aren't official safety work boots and I mostly work on TV sets but if you don't mind scuffing them, they are pretty darn solid.
My father in law makes me do wood workshop stuff, outdoor restoration work and once even a full tear down of an art school with glass shattering everywhere and these boots saved my feet and ankles. You feel indestructible walking on nails, glass and broken wood.
Using them for work and hiking is part of the charm of these boots~
They're comfy for hiking?
Will be interesting to dye them. You may end up with a Black Teacore effect!
That's exactly what I was thinking 😁
I've seen overconditioned boots brought back to some semblance of normalcy by packing them in cat litter. It drew out some of the oils and dried them out. Improved them a lot.
I have them in Copper Rough & Tough which are fantastic, but had a chance to try on some Amber Harness at a later time…and that leather was some of the best leather I’ve seen in person. I don’t think pictures and videos do it justice. It just had such a quality presence and feel.
Iron Rangers look better in person than they do on a cellphone. There’s a shop in Philly which has Viberg, Lofgren, Wesco and White, along with the comparatively pedestrian Red Wing Heritage line. While not in the league of those others, they certainly are good boots and a solid value. Their Shop Oxford is a great example of where boot and shoe collide. Mine are in a very nice Hawthorne rough out. The Classic Moc has more leather options and they are nice at that.
As for the Iron Rangers themselves. I always thought they were a bit clown shoe at the end of the day and tended to favor the Blacksmith, in person, I’d call them aesthetically even.
Officially the only person i know who owns two pairs of 8111s 😂 Glad you got itch scratched! Day by day i’m falling more and more in love with my pair. I just love the whole silhouette of the IRs.
I knew a guy with 3 pairs. He conditioned each one of them different.
Ha, it's a Nick [from Stridewise] boot indeed. Dyeing them black sounds like a cool idea. I think it'll work out just fine with something like Fiebings dye. Just gotta make sure to strip out as much of the oil as possible, but I imagine it's hard to mess up dyeing a boot black.
Hi Teikoh. I like this style of video where you freestyle and actually put the boots to work. I would bet that with time, those older Iron Rangers will look legendary if you keep using them the way you do with some care from time to time.
I read something not long ago about fixing over conditioned boots, and I think they were iron rangers as well. They heated them up with a hair dryer and then used paper towels and cloth rags to absorb the warm oils and waxes. They did that a few times and the results were pretty even and much lighter. Give it a try.
Even if you dye it black, the color will likely take better if it’s not over conditioned.
I wish they came in a 3E. I had a pair for a long time but they never really worked for me. Very good leather, and very durable.
Over time, with regular wear the overconditioned pair would dry out and return to normal color.
Glad you added the safety glasses! Was a little worried for a moment.
I wore my IR for about 8 years, as a daily motorcycle and jobsite boot. Extremely hardy boot and I still wear them occasionally in the snow as an apre ski boot, and people rave about them in that context, but I’ve burned out on the style (for now), and they are pretty common. I’ve replaced them for motorcycle and jobsite visits with Whites MP Sherman, and GS saddle tan Brass Boot when I want pure comfort.
Cheers!
with boots there are many factors to consider but let's face it, they got to fit right and for some reason Iron Rangers are the best fitting boot for me. in fact there was little to no break-in needed. and i love the look of the 8111 as well as the copper and black. thanks for another great presentation.
I have the same exact model boots! Breaking them in, or rather breaking my feet in, was brutal! But strangely now they’re very comfortable now👍 flexible and stable and the cap toe looks awesome!
they, and he, looked good in a work context
Wow seeing them together they are over conditioned lol thank you for sharing
Follow your channel is like going on a boot journey. I love it man.
You can get the oil out with dish soap diluted in warm water and a horsehair brush. Dilution strength depends on how saturated with oil they are. Clean them in a sink or outdoors. Rinse them well, wipe them down with a towel, and let them dry. One time may do it, or it may take 2-3 washes to get it out. You will have to apply some type of conditioner after, but go easy.
PS - stuff them with newspaper or paper towels while they dry to help keep the shape of the leather. Set them by an open window or leave them in a cool shady place to dry, and not in direct sun or near a heater or a fire.
Currently I've been collecting some Red Wing's, got my 1st of Blacksmiths in CRT, and 2 IR in Slate Muleskinner anf Black Harness, and a couple of weeks ago I get some Oro Legacy Mocs (loge them so fsr). My IR in Black Harness were my most used footwear (most than my sneakers) for a recent vacation and I just fall in love with them twice-fold, they were worth the funny scene each time I'd been asked to taken them off in airport security 😅.
I think the first over-conditioned pair will get better with use as some already commented, but I think it's interesting trying to get them black.
Thanks for the video.
I have a pair of boots that I’ve over conditioned and there is more than color to worry about. Over conditioning can weaken the leather. I have picked up a few surface cuts that I probably wouldn’t have if I hadn’t softened the finish on them.
I've always wanted to buy some redwings but I still have not seen a boot from them that does it for me. I don't really have a need for a "true" toe cap since I am never on my knees at my job, but I am on my feet for many hours at a time. So comfort is more important to me than having a "true" toe cap. If I know I am going to do some hard work like building a shed or whatever, I wear my REDBACKs (easy escapes) for that type of thing. Which you can get with a toe cap and steel toe as well.
I don't have much experience with stripping uppers. However Saphir Reno'Mat might be a good way to pull out a lot of the excess conditioner. It's definitely more gentle than acetone. So there's a good chance that the Saphir would not remove the original dye. The old pair might be a good test subject for some kind of patina project.
I’ve had these over a year and they’ve been through multiple renomat, saddle soap, dish soap, acetone and isopropyl alcohol! The conditioning over years of demo at Royal Fairs of boot oil and boot balm is deep!
@@Bootlosophy Wow I didn't think it was possible for acetone to not remove every bit of oil and wax. Industrial strength degreaser would probably remove the conditioner but destroy the leather in the process.
This is a great review . Very in depth , and very well done .
I'm 63 and had a pair at 15. They will last a long time of you take care of them. They are a work boot. They take a bit to wear in. I wouldn't pick them for being a boot you are bent over on all day. Now a days they have become a status boot.
Dope video. I like this style. Keep them coming. Can’t wait for you to dye them. Later.
I scratched my GS brass boots in Essex tan and couldn’t get the scratches out. So I decided to dye them a kind of honey gold but I didn’t strip them with acetone and my brass boots ended up being a horrible reddish colour. Then I stripped them with acetone and dyed them a very dark brown and I decided to use them as a work boot, it didn’t take long for the reddish colour to come through but they look great now with this patina and now the tan is coming through the red
Looking forward to seeing how these come out!
I have a suspicion as work boots, they will become your favourite boots. They will look fantastic with scuffs and scratches. 😁👍
excellent detailled review!
Way to get after that tile, you're in good shape for an old guy (I'm 67) and not as fit! I have a set of hunting boots, a set of hiking boots and Iron Rangers for everything else. I wore my first set out and the uppers were shot. I thought about a different set of everyday boots, but I'd feel kinda girlie wearing anything else but Rangers😁. If you get the correct size break in is easy, and once that footbed molds, comfort is extremely pleasant. Great video.
Hey! Us old guys gotta stick together!!!
Timeless boots
I bet a few more weeks of work boot use or hard knock daily wear will beat the conditioning out of them and you will get your initial wish that they become Amber Harness on their own!
I overconditioned some brown boots, but they are getting light again now after 6 months of everyday use. In certain spots they are light for sure 100%
I like the oiled dark dark brown color personally.
Do you have problem breaking in iron ranger? How did you do it???
Chelsea boots would be considered slippers at most work sites in the US.
I bought two from eBay too black and amber harness. The amber harness was over conditioned and the black one hurts my left ankle
I would love to know how the insoles feel? I picked up a pair of 8111s from vinted for £85. The right foot fits perfectly but the left has a little difference in feel. Has taken a few weeks to adjust. I wear roughnecks and have owned many iron rangers over the year's. Just wondering what insoles you use and what's your method with 2nd hand pair of red wings
I see they didn't come with a pair of KNEEPADS!!!
Amber harness is also my favorite color that is offered in the iron rangers. I changed the hardware to dull gilt, the same color as the red wing blacksmith. I thought the nickel hardware stood out too much and with the dull gilt hardware, I can "dress it up" a bit more. What are your thoughts about red wing using nickel hardware on a lot of of their models? It seems like other heritage boot makers rarely choose nickel and instead go with brass or antique brass.
I like the high contrast for a change.
cant you just leave the oily one next to the dehumidifier, or out in the sun or something?
Did you have the 8085 ? I think the amber the leather is softer compared to the 8085
No but I have the 3343 and I can’t say there’s a huge difference in CRT
What pants are you wearing in this video? Are they Dickies?
Yup!
You put those things to work. Time for recraft!!! Your going to die them black?
Upcoming video
it always amazes me how guys twist themselves into circles explaining how "comfortable" iron rangers and other heritage boots are. you buy IRs to be cool and live the "heritage lifestyle" not to be comfortable
Naaah, that’s what my 5” stiletto heels are for.
@@Bootlosophy 👠👠😉
@@Bootlosophy only 5 inches???
You’re that guy in a party aren’t 🤦♂️
@@186bingo that's me!!!!