Red Wing Iron Ranger (copper rough and tough)| Two Months In!!

[@paulfogarty7724]

I just use mine as work boots now ( as originally designed ) as I find they're a bit heavy and flat for prolonged city walking or hiking. When I'm about to head into the city, I want to grab the Redwings....but find myself instead grabbing my comfy soft walking shoes. However while I'm wearing the Redwings at work, it feels weird thinking back to the shop I bought them in. Not a workwear shop, but a trendy upmarket shop in the most expensive part of Dublin. Strange times we live in.

[@doublebase6509]

It’s interesting because I’d love to work in these things but I just can’t, they just wouldn’t be able to hold up or perform in my work environment…I need traction, and support under my feet. And if I’m in these things longer than 4-5 hours (even in casual circumstances) my feet get “tired”, if that makes sense. My toes start to ache in between my toe joints pretty bad. But I do think they are a light boot, easily the lightest boot I own (except for my Red Wing Traction Tred lites, which are an incredible work boot). But I would love to do a month or so of actually working in my Iron Rangers to really see what they’d look like afterwards.

[@darrenhall7454]

Sorry to hear about your dog. 14 is an incredible age for a Boxer. Good luck with your continuing break in. It’s worth it, I promise.

[@doublebase6509]

Thank you, appreciate that.

[@averagejoe4101]

My first Boxer went at 9 years. You got a good amount of time with your Boxer.

[@robertbeckman2054]

I got these exact boots this last Christmas, and have been wearing them everyday since. They finally conformed to my foot last week. Nicest boots I’ve had. Starting to just get slightly comfortable…so a bit more usage until the feel like “work slippers.”

[@doublebase6509]

So it took you a whole year of everyday wear to finally conform to your foot? I wish I could wear these things everyday but I’m only really able to wear them around 8 hour a week. And I must say they are starting to feel a lot better than before!

[@Rad69Lee]

I've had mine for a year now, they get so much more comfortable.beautifuo boots.

[@MrJoshDoty]

I have these same boots. I didn’t have that big of an issue breaking them in. I wore them a few hours the first day then half a day for a few days then every day for about a week. The I started to wear every other day. They are now very comfortable after a year and half. They will get better.

[@doublebase6509]

They actually are feeling pretty good right now. I had roughly around 12 hours in on them last week, this week I’ll be in them quite a bit (maybe a full 30 hours). I don’t get to wear these much, but when I do they are feeling better and better. For me personally, I’ve never had a tougher boot to break in, and I’m wearing Pacific Northwest boots right now.

[@yartp]

I had the same issue on my left boot vamp. Two weeks in and no major issues. Week 3 and the fold on the vamp put a blister by my big toe. I slathered conditioner on it and two days later it's no longer an issue. Today is week 4 and they have been great. I ordered a 1/2 size down (9.5) and was worried I should have gone a full size down based on a lot of reviews. 1/2 down so far has been spot on. They have a larger toe box but other than that, the rest of the fit doesn't feel excessive.

[@doublebase6509]

Sounds like you had a little easier experience than I did. With me, the problem was some sort of toe joint crunch or something…had some pretty good pain in my big toe joint…think it was the stiffness of the leather at the toe cap where it meets the rest of the toe box, not sure. I still haven’t liked these things yet, but I bought some Bick’s 4, and that’s all I really plan on using because it doesn’t change the look of the leather much at all. Good luck with yours! Sounds like you have them dialed in and figured out! Great boots.

[@civetricamoto]

Sorry to hear about your dog 😢😢

[@Boxerjake77]

Subbed. I’m a boxer guy myself. Sorry about your dog. Out of the three I had, I only had one live past 10 years.

[@doublebase6509]

They are like family, I’ve never had a dog that seemed so human. We feel pretty lucky we had her for almost fifteen years. Sorry about your dogs, it’s just a real tough thing to go through.

[@j.p.bequipment9104]

Great review Iam looking to getting a pair of them

[@sunnyrachelsson3169]

I got a pair of the blacksmiths in the copper and they were comfortable out of the box

[@doublebase6509]

My next boot purchase may be the blacksmiths in black. I’m looking for a boot I can wear with a suit and the eyelets being black should be ok wearing a suit. I’ve been wearing my Iron Rangers with suits and yeah, it doesn’t look good. Haha.

[@bobhoman9410]

I’ve had mine little over a month. Approximately 75 miles. I had one sore on my foot the bled. Different socks, different times and wants heavy socks. Thinner socks. Double socks.. the last time I wore them, my ankle Swoll up. Time to take a break. Never had this happen before with shoes or boots. Becoming disappointed to say the least. Heavy socks from now on. I have put several applications. I bought the red wing brand mink cream..

[@doublebase6509]

Sorry to hear that, hopefully it gets better for you. It did get easier for me right around the second month mark…now they’re almost comfortable.

[@justjon9180]

I slathered on some Wren dubbin, and put Nick's Predator Orange Kilties along with some Nick's Leather laces on mine. Just recently did Mt Ulriken and Floyen in Norway in my IR's. It wasn't too bad. I did put some almost new Merrell insoles in mine though. They're HARD without any midsole and cushioned insole

[@doublebase6509]

That’s the second time I’ve heard of Wren’s Dubbin today. Never heard of it before. I’ll have to check it out. I’m worried about darkening these up too much, so I went with the Bick 4, but I have other boots the Dubbin would work well with. Can’t believe you hiked twice like that! Nice!

[@justjon9180]

@@doublebase6509 I'm a US 10 1/2, blindly bought a 9 1/2 after researching the hell out of IR's and the sizing. They hurt right off the bat. Honestly, I just walked on the treadmill with them a few times at first. I also wasn't attracted to the color so much as I was making sure they're protected, so I started off with the Wren dubbin, also hit them up with some Ballistol a few times(wouldn't recommend it). It definitely softened up the leather and helped with break in. I put my foot in with two pairs of socks and the insoles, then re-laced completely from there with the Kilties so there wasn't any tongue or lace bite. While still not set up the way I want, I can at least say they're pretty much broken in. I do have an outstanding quote with a cobbler to do a 360 storm welt, Vibram midsole, and honey Montagna outsole... But I need to wait till my Jim Greens arrive from the US, as the IR's are all I have here currently. As for Wren's, a little backstory, At one time, early 1900s, they held a British Royal Warrant and supplied the dubbin to troops in ww1 and ww2. Now though, someone just bought the name and logo, but it does the job, makes the boots super shiny, waterproof, supple, and I think it smells good. Has a nice floral scent

[@zeroman155]

3:50 "I went completely vertical with these things." 😂😅😁

[@momo-hm5ru]

don't worry about the speed hooks eating into the leather. I have a very old pair of redwings and it never happened.

[@doublebase6509]

Ok, wasn’t sure. Thanks

[@grapesodapopinski571]

Interesting to see someone who actually wears them to work. I would, if I didn’t need steel toes. Any update ?

[@doublebase6509]

I don’t wear them for work, wish I could, but like you I need some serious work boots for work. I love the Iron Rangers but they just aren’t going to cut it (for me). I still wear them on the weekends…they are breaking in very well. Pretty comfortable now, and the leather is holding up fantastic on these!

[@camfiorini]

The crease on mine feels like a knife into the top of my foot lol, getting through it tho!

[@doublebase6509]

Yeah mine just seem to add some pressure to my toe joints, especially my big toe (left foot), but it’s starting to get better. I’m not used to the bottoms either…I feel a lot underneath them, but that’s fine because I’m not actually working in them. Loving the boots so far! It’s actually been a fun journey trying to get these things right.

[@gabrielM1111]

I think the extreme break in period probably injured many peoples feet

[@louio]

Lmfao

[@sdcowboy85]

I've never in my life seen 8085's with that super light, natural colored welt. Also the back of the tongues look oddly light. In fact, all the side profiles of the leather look like like they're not dyed all the way through. Where'd you get these?

[@doublebase6509]

It’s probably the lighting, mine look just like every other pair I’ve ever seen. These also were two months old at that point, perhaps the sides of the welt were scuffed? Not sure, I’d have to check my first video on these, but honestly they look like every other pair I’ve ever seen.

[@UnfilteredGolfer]

Bick 4 might darken the colour,being nubuck.....any info on this?

[@doublebase6509]

Bick 4 didn’t do any real color change or harm. And I was wrong, they’re not nubuck, they’re full grain, however I’d say they are lightly sanded full grain.

[@tonyp9179]

Massachusetts?

[@doublebase6509]

NH

[@matttherrien9608]

New Hamsha! 😂 🇨🇦

[@doublebase6509]

@@matttherrien9608 lol

[@Barefoot12]

How do people still buy these?

[@doublebase6509]

I walked right into the store. I think you can get them online too.

[@dark_gravity_edc]

Sorry about the puppy! I hear break-in for Red Wing and PNW boots. Maybe it's because I've worn them or traditional cowboy boots my whole life. I've never felt like they needed breaking in. I just put them on and go from the time I get up at 4 a.m. until bed which is usually 10-1030 p.m. I'm glad you're working through it. They look better than any modern boy for sure.

[@doublebase6509]

Thank you. I think you have a good point, because you’re used to cowboy boots, and go all day all day in them, these things are no problem for you. For me, I’m usually a wedge sole boot, or a lower healed boot, for work. I’m currently working in a pair of Whites Fultons, and those feel pretty good to me (no real break-in). The Iron Rangers are just taking so long probably because I very rarely am able to get them on my feet for those 10-15 hour days. I wish I could, but I just can’t wear these at work…I do automotive/tech/mechanics. And it’s a slippery/oily/rough, dirty environment. But I do love these boots! I’m getting there. A few more month and I think they’ll be fully broken in.

[@dark_gravity_edc]

@doublebase6509 Yeah, the Iron Rangers are slick. I nearly busted my tail this last ice storm a couple of weeks ago. They also don't do well on wet wood.