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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:27:43 PM EDT
I've been overdue for a good pair of leather boots.
I've had danners, Vasque, and others over the years but the past few years I've been wearing my Asolos. Was recommended Red Wing boots by several folks and picked up a pair of their heritage iron rangers today. Went with the amber color / leather offering and after a day of wearing them I'm a fan. Can't wait till they are fully broken in. For those with these or similar boots, what do you do in terms of preventive maintenance? I want these to last for several years and know a boot like this needs good conditioning.  Attached File |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:29:57 PM EDT
[#1]
I've worn Redwings for years.
Keep them oiled. Clean them regularly (brush off mud, salt, etc.) I'll wash them with saddle soap if it's bad. Keep them oiled. ETA: Remember, using oiling or cleaning products on your leather can change the color. Test in a discrete location first. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:34:08 PM EDT
[#2]
Limmer boot grease.
As often as needed. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:36:56 PM EDT
[#3]
Judging by the office style carpeting, and the khakis, Im gonna say they will last you quite a while... Id get maybe 6 months out of those, but I run a jackhammer and play in concrete all day soo.... Keep them clean, oiled and dont kneel down on rough surfaces and scuff the toes up youll be fine...
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:39:50 PM EDT
[#4]
I think Redwing makes a decent pair of shoes, but to be honest with you I believe they are overhyped and overpriced. When they sell you the things, they act like it will be the last pair of boots you will ever buy.
In reality, you'll wear the sole out in two years and take it to the store to get re-soled (because that was such a yuge selling point when you bought the fucking things) and they'll look at them and say "oh darn. If you had just come to us a few days earlier, maybe we could have; but you've walked out the heel and we won't be able to re-sole them. We do however have the same ones in stock and if you will just provide us $300 you'll be in business, and of course they will last you forever... Over time I've managed to spend more than a thousand dollars on their supposedly invincible shoes, so my only advice is to not buy into the hype. They are very comfortable (which is why I kept buying the things despite the massive amounts of smoke I had blown up my ass every time I walked into the store) but they are just as frail as any other footwear. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:39:59 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Judging by the office style carpeting, and the khakis, Im gonna say they will last you quite a while... Id get maybe 6 months out of those, but I run a jackhammer and play in concrete all day soo.... Keep them clean, oiled and dont kneel down on rough surfaces and scuff the toes up youll be fine... Yup. Got steel toe boots for field work and the asolos will still carry the brunt of outdoor / range use. These will be just everyday boots during the fall / winter |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:40:27 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Judging by the office style carpeting, and the khakis, Im gonna say they will last you quite a while... Id get maybe 6 months out of those, but I run a jackhammer and play in concrete all day soo.... Keep them clean, oiled and dont kneel down on rough surfaces and scuff the toes up youll be fine... Lol |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:40:59 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Judging by the office style carpeting, and the khakis, Im gonna say they will last you quite a while... Id get maybe 6 months out of those, but I run a jackhammer and play in concrete all day soo.... Keep them clean, oiled and dont kneel down on rough surfaces and scuff the toes up youll be fine... BOOM |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:41:48 PM EDT
[#8]
Finnish carpenter and my last pair lasted 3 years or better until the back of heel gusset went out and started giving me blisters, letting water in.
If not for those two things I would still be wearing them. New pair same boots about a year old now. I don't get them oiled nearly enough and don't clean them either |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:42:16 PM EDT
[#9]
I wear Redwings daily, and have for twenty years. I oil them up, and that's about it.
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:43:01 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I think Redwing makes a decent pair of shoes, but to be honest with you I believe they are overhyped and overpriced. When they sell you the things, they act like it will be the last pair of boots you will ever buy. In reality, you'll wear the sole out in two years and take it to the store to get re-soled (because that was such a yuge selling point when you bought the fucking things) and they'll look at them and say "oh darn. If you had just come to us a few days earlier, maybe we could have; but you've walked out the heel and we won't be able to re-sole them. We do however have the same ones in stock and if you will just provide us $300 you'll be in business, and of course they will last you forever... Over time I've managed to spend more than a thousand dollars on their supposedly invincible shoes, so my only advice is to not buy into the hype. They are very comfortable (which is why I kept buying the things despite the massive amounts of smoke I had blown up my ass every time I walked into the store) but they are just as frail as any other footwear. Work paid for 50% of them so they cost the same to me as if I would have bought a similar boot from Johnston and Murphy, etc I've got a good cobbler that has resolved a pair of sundowners twice and a pair of danners once. I'm sure he can do these if/when needed. I'm in them for $150 so it's not like I got robbed. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:45:54 PM EDT
[#11]
bee's wax, saddle soap, kiwi and loving care........
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:47:07 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
BOOM Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Judging by the office style carpeting, and the khakis, Im gonna say they will last you quite a while... Id get maybe 6 months out of those, but I run a jackhammer and play in concrete all day soo.... Keep them clean, oiled and dont kneel down on rough surfaces and scuff the toes up youll be fine... BOOM Yeah my normal dress shoes and slacks wouldn't make it a day. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:48:12 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Judging by the office style carpeting, and the khakis, Im gonna say they will last you quite a while... Id get maybe 6 months out of those, but I run a jackhammer and play in concrete all day soo.... Keep them clean, oiled and dont kneel down on rough surfaces and scuff the toes up youll be fine... I had a pair when I worked outside. Had been wearing Walmart boots ($30 a pair, pair lasted me 3-4 months) for a couple of years and finally talked myself into a good pair of boots, went to my local redwing shop and bought a comparable pair (steel toe/steel shank) for I think around $250. They lasted about 2x as long as the walmart boots, needless to say when they were coming apart and it was time for new boots again, back to Walmart I went. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:55:49 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I've worn Redwings for years. Keep them oiled. Clean them regularly (brush off mud, salt, etc.) I'll wash them with saddle soap if it's bad. Keep them oiled. ETA: Remember, using oiling or cleaning products on your leather can change the color. Test in a discrete location first. Chinese made? |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 10:56:13 PM EDT
[#15]
Less then 6 months on red wing. I just get the china or who ever makes them carhartt . If you actually work hard in your boots crawl, walk, drag, and get wet all the time there a wast of money.
If you walk around with a clean hard hat and have a dip in your mouth there top notch. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:01:50 PM EDT
[#16]
Yup.
These were not bought to be worn as work boots. They were bought to be worn as boots to the office on Friday's and on the weekends with jeans / khakis. Cheaper than a pair of Alden's and look better in my opinion. When I'm in the field with a client and the visit requires boots, I'll put on my steel toes. 99% of the time I'm in Johnston and Murphys. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:08:24 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Chinese made? Nope. Didn't buy those. I worked for a decade doing bridge demo and construction. Tear out included cutting the old rebar and torching steel structures. We built from the subgrade up. Installed gravel pads, constructed footers, walls and then set the beams, guardrail, waterproofing. Brought the roadway up to grade. Lots of concrete, water, gravel, mud and grime. Lots of sparks and slag from welding and cutting. In the winters I plowed snow, so lots of salt, water and other bad shit. I could get about 2.5 -3 years out of each pair of Redwings, if I took the time to maintenance them weekly. That was pretty damn good, considering a cheap pair of boots would only last me about a month in the summer. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:16:09 PM EDT
[#18]
Keep them oiled. Back in the day Red Wing store would dip them in hot oil for you. Haven't seen that service in awhile. Keep welts / stitching from drying. Clean and oil frequently.
That said, wore Red Wings for years but my model started getting made in the china. So tried a pair of USA made Carolina's - soles weigh a ton compared to RW but leather quality / comfort is top notch. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:21:37 PM EDT
[#19]
They look nice, I'm going to look into a pair, my work will pay 100 bucks per year for boots.
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:22:12 PM EDT
[#20]
I used to work with one guy who swore by oiling his boots with vegetable oil. Another used bar oil
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:27:09 PM EDT
[#21]
You're going to slip all over creation if you wear those things outside. Do the soles have any grip to them at all?
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:29:13 PM EDT
[#22]
Quoted:
I've been overdue for a good pair of leather boots. I've had danners, Vasque, and others over the years but the past few years I've been wearing my Asolos. Was recommended Red Wing boots by several folks and picked up a pair of their heritage iron rangers today. Went with the amber color / leather offering and after a day of wearing them I'm a fan. Can't wait till they are fully broken in. For those with these or similar boots, what do you do in terms of preventive maintenance? I want these to last for several years and know a boot like this needs good conditioning. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/164007/IMG-1105-109033.JPG OBENAUFS 
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:29:58 PM EDT
[#23]
Don't walk on nonskid.
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:37:45 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You're going to slip all over creation if you wear those things outside. Do the soles have any grip to them at all? Rained here today / is raining now. Been fine on concrete, wood, and marble. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:39:12 PM EDT
[#25]
I love my Red Wings. Worn their Chukka's for 30 years. Mink oil works great.
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:39:26 PM EDT
[#26]
Don't let Ken Holland be their general manager.
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:41:04 PM EDT
[#27]
In my experience, the leather uppers on my Redwings always last forever, whether I oil them or not. It's the sole that ends up with cracks around the arch area long before the leather has a chance to wear out.
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:47:26 PM EDT
[#28]
I'll probably get whacked for saying this but I wore Redwing Truwelt Chukka's for years, always got one re-sole out of them. Best boots I've ever worn on concrete and they didn't have a lugged bottom to track crap in. I started out oiling them with the Redwing boot oil until after the second or third pair. Oil would pick up grit and they would wear out at the creases, the oil made them stretch until they lost support and it would cause them to grow mold on the inside. The next pair I bought I left them as is & I bought a Peet boot dryer. Every night I'd plop them on the dryer until morning. When they got real grungy I'd wash them with some mild soap and water then let them dry. They lasted twice as long as they did as opposed to when I oiled them. When they went from $200 to $250 a pair I switched to an American made Thorogood boot which have held up just as well and were less than $200. And all I do is keep them on the boot dryer when they aren't on my feet.
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:47:40 PM EDT
[#29]
Snow seal
Or bees wax thinned by neats foot oil. Buy two pairs and switch everyday. This will make a one year set of boots last two years. Throw those red wings away and buy Halls boots. There are two design flaws on those boots that makes them leak water and wear out. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:49:00 PM EDT
[#30]
I get about 10 months out of mine. I wear the eyelets and soles out before the leather unless I cut the toe.
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:52:52 PM EDT
[#31]
Oil them every 2-6 months or so, or when dry looking, but DO NOT over-oil them. You'll see pictures online of people that have dumped so much oil or grease/wax on boots they have literally turned from medium brown to virtually black. That will ruin them just as much as not oiling them. A quick wipe-down with a rag lightly soaked in Obeanuf's is plenty. Use their oil for regular treatment, or the grease for waterproofing. There's no need to use both at the same time. If they get soaked, let them air-dry completely. If they get soaked through, stuff them with newspaper (remove when saturated and add more) and let them air-dry.
Other than that, keep them clean, wipe them down with a damp rag every now and then, and keep shoe trees in them when not in use. Iron Rangers are a fashion boot at heart, but they're made with rugged-enough leather to take some abuse. I've personally used mine for yard work, home construction / remodeling, home landscaping, etc. for about a year now and they still look 95%. My only complaint aside from price is the terrible, terrible soles they put on these things. I'm not sure WTF Red Wing was thinking. |
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Posted: 12/16/2016 11:55:43 PM EDT
[#32]
I have always used mink oil.
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:01:43 AM EDT
[#33]
Best option is Snow Seal. Rub a healthy coat on and put them in a hot car parked in the sun. 2 hours later and wipe off excess. Done once a year, the leather will outlast the sole.
Hubers also works. Oil is inferior to thicker products IMO. |
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:05:36 AM EDT
[#34]
FWIW, I have a pair of red wings I've had for a few years.
This year I purchased a set of Colombia boots. I like them much better than the red wings. They are more comfortable, lighter & warmer. Just one particular model boot over another, in no way a generalization. |
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:09:40 AM EDT
[#35]
Leather Honey
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:11:08 AM EDT
[#36]
Saddle soap and mink oil.
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:11:59 AM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Best option is Snow Seal. Rub a healthy coat on and put them in a hot car parked in the sun. 2 hours later and wipe off excess. Done once a year, the leather will outlast the sole. Hubers also works. Oil is inferior to thicker products IMO. Use mink oil paste. |
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:15:54 AM EDT
[#38]
Taggage since I just bought my first pair of Red Wings. Work gave me a $125 voucher. Mine are the "workx brown 5800". Looking forward to seeing how they do.
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:19:50 AM EDT
[#39]
how do i make redwings last a long time? easy, i just leave them up there on the shelf and go buy something else. over priced and over rated.
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:24:19 AM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
BOOM I should take some pics of my boots I bought this spring... The look like something a homeless guy would own.... Soles all fucked up, no leather on the toes, concrete coded laces covered in epoxy paint, and burn marks from torching steel... You know, manly work.. 
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:29:43 AM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I had a pair when I worked outside. Had been wearing Walmart boots ($30 a pair, pair lasted me 3-4 months) for a couple of years and finally talked myself into a good pair of boots, went to my local redwing shop and bought a comparable pair (steel toe/steel shank) for I think around $250. They lasted about 2x as long as the walmart boots, needless to say when they were coming apart and it was time for new boots again, back to Walmart I went. Get a pair of Carolina steel toe loggers.. Get some epoxy mix in some sand and paint the toes and sides.. Looks like dog shit but youll get some miles out of them.. I had red wings once, I agree they dont last any longer than anything else, no need to spend the extra money.. Unless you spend 8 hours a day at a desk, in which case, you dont need boots, you need slippers. |
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:42:05 AM EDT
[#42]
I work behind a desk now, since I am a Supe, but I prefer Danner mock-toe boots over the RW. |
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:52:10 AM EDT
[#43]
Obenauf's
- Heavy Duty LP - Water Shield - Leather Oil Obenauf's is what I use to keep my Canadian made pair of Sorel Scouts looking good. I think those boots are over twenty years old. I use the stuff on all my leather boots/shoes. |
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:55:22 AM EDT
[#44]
Nothing wrong with wearing khaki's! I picked up my pear of Red Wings after my Carolina's and Wolverine's just couldn't keep up with my standing on my feet for 14 hrs a day. There are buy far the best investment I made for my feet ever.
I'm thankful I don't have to be in them every day right now, but I think they are worth it. As someone else mentioned, Obenaufs LP. It's great. Been Keeping a pair of Vasque Sundowners lookiing great, and still soft. Those Sundowners are almost 10 years old now and have been resoled. I used to wear them almost everyday for two years on the BP response on boats and beaches, and the Obenauf's kept the saltwater from ruining them, which to me say's a lot. |
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Posted: 12/17/2016 12:55:24 AM EDT
[#45]
Obenhaufs
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Posted: 12/17/2016 1:04:35 AM EDT
[#46]
The soles of my Redwing boots wore out long before the upper did. I'm not sure I'll buy another pair. Made in America BTW. Paid nearly 300.00 for them.
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Posted: 12/17/2016 1:19:48 AM EDT
[#47]
I'm with CS223 on this. I put my Redwings on a boot dryer every night (or day depending on shift worked) after they had been worn. I used the same stuff in the black "jar" that other posters are using, but I only greased them when they felt dry.
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Posted: 12/17/2016 1:20:58 AM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Use mink oil paste. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Best option is Snow Seal. Rub a healthy coat on and put them in a hot car parked in the sun. 2 hours later and wipe off excess. Done once a year, the leather will outlast the sole. Hubers also works. Oil is inferior to thicker products IMO. Use mink oil paste. Actual mink oil (rarely found) weakens leather over time. Most mink oil isn't actually mink oil... |
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Posted: 12/17/2016 1:23:45 AM EDT
[#49]
Obenaufs and only Obenaufs.
Nothing else needed. ETA.....do a P.H. test on that miracle treatment, that many of you use on your fine leather. You'll quickly find its either acidic or a base. Neither of which are any good for your leather. |
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Posted: 12/17/2016 1:32:15 AM EDT
[#50]
I wear American made Chippewa boots. About every 4 months, I clean them with Lexol leather cleaner, let them dry for 12 hours, then use the Lexol leather conditioner. Saddle soap can dry-out leather and mink oil can seal leather and not allow a proper conditioner to penetrate. I treat my boots the same way I treat a good baseball glove. YMMV
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