Red Wing Iron Ranger: Review

This videos was meant to go up over 2 weeks ago but got majorly delayed. So the $80 sale I mentioned in the video, likely is not there anymore. Although the prices fluctuates, Amazon continues to have the best prices. Here is the link.
amzn.to/2nxTzHY
I also apologize for the corny jokes in the video. Mood was light when I did the recording and I tend to become a dork when that happens. Sorry. Well.......maybe not truly sorry but......oh whatever.
I've used these boots for a bit over 1 year so I have a pretty decent understanding of how they are. Feel free to ask me anything about them that wasn't mentioned in the video.
Otherwise, hope you enjoy!

[@christianmathis516]

I have recently been introduced to Redwing and wished I had a pair earlier. I live in Sydney, Australia and during a recent visit to NYC purchased a pair of brown iron rangers from the Redwing store in Brooklyn. Store service was excellent as the sales manger walked me through range and took his time during fitting. I am a UK size 10 and in the end wend for 1.5 size down. 4 weeks later they feel great.. Can't wait to pick up a black pair!

[@alfredozamora5867]

Literally best review of the heritage boot online. well done.

[@toddsternish]

I wear my 8119's to work every other day, I switch on and off with my 3343's, they both have the mini-lug sole. I work at an indoor production facility in Upstate NY, with smooth epoxied floors. I put about 2 miles a day on these inside the building. I can verify that if you happen to hit a wet spot on the floor, you're going for a ride, but that's probably true for most footwear on an epoxied floor. I can also verify that they do relatively well in snow and ice, as long as you understand that you're not wearing full lug winter hiking boots you'll be fine, but don't look for these to give you protection from the cold. I sized down only 1/2 size to allow for thick wool socks. I find that this was the right choice, i have no problems with overheating in the summer, even when working outdoors. They breath beautifully, every other pair synthetic boots I'd owned before would cause my feet to sweat unbearably, I've honestly never had a problem with sweaty feet in these. The break in was about a week (and still continues), and now that the footbed has molded to my feet I can easily work on my feet 8-10 hours a day without any pain, on a hard concrete floor (your mileage may vary). Anyways, I see arguments about these not being "workboots", and I wanted to jump into the fight... I don't work on a construction site, I don't work in a facility that requires (or would even benefit from) steel-toes. These boots are certainly made with an eye towards fashion, but they are modeled after older style workboots. I would never defend these as true "workboots", but I do work, on my feet, 40-50 hours a week, I don't know what I would call them, but "workboot" seems an overstatement, and "fashion boot" isn't right either. Either way, I can't understand the reactions that people have, loudly declaring their membership in the "big boy's work club"... And before you start telling me "you've probably never worked a real job" I would like you to tell me all about how you started out dismantling / bleaching / painting / re-installing 16' steel billboard sections at the end of a 40' boom truck before harnesses were mandated, with live powerlines overhead... go ahead. Basically what I'm saying is, the "them ain't workboots" argument is tired and stupid. Work is work. It wouldn't make any damned sense for me to be wearing steel toed loggers, nor should I be wearing sneakers or "dress-shoes"... these boots are exactly what my job requires, and they're the best tool I've found for the task, and they'll last a long time if I take care of them and treat them like they tool they are... I think these would in fact be an unsafe choice for most construction sites, much like I think a barn auger would be a terrible choice to drill a pilot hole. Part of being a professional working person is knowing how to choose the right tool for the job. 2¢ spent.

[@geartravelperspective3275]

For me yes. They are comfortable enough to to be in all day. In fact, that is how it is regularly used. But I would not dare to garuntee it even for sneakers. Our feet and fit varies way too much.

[@mbnall]

I wear my 8085’s to work every day. I’m in carpentry. I wipe them down and wear them out to dinner with my wife. They’re both great fashion boots and great work boots.

[@greyarea1004]

Matt Nall that’s badass

[@emeraldcity_]

I like mine. Definitely not a work boot allowed on a construction site, but a true universal everyday boot. Break in wasn't as bad as I'd heard. I suggest a moderate wool sock during break in. I live in Seattle and they are not as slippery as stated, except with snow or wet marble.

[@Bugsbonsai]

“Take comfort that it will last through a zombie apocalypse afterwards” lmfao

[@SmithMrCorona]

Great review. I own this model, and what you said is true, from the break-in period to having to buy a (sometimes much) smaller size than normal.

[@wiltonhenriquez6613]

It’s so weird went in to try them today and the 9 and a half fit me perfect I’m usually size 11 in sneakers and dress shoes size 10

[@gwaddles]

One of the best videos on these boots I’ve seen. Subbed. Keep up the good work.

[@thereelangler2391]

I bought my Iron Rangers in December and I have the new vibram sole. They're still slick AF. After breaking them in they are a great all around boot.

[@MNAZ12]

The wax infused stitch is for water resistance.

[@email16v]

The iron rangers are just the best boots. I have the 8111s and want the 8084s too. Maybe someday my wife will buy me another pair.

[@watchmanexpert]

I took my wife to the store to convince her for another boot and I ended paying one for me and one for her 🤨

[@jibbyjabbatv]

I think that the Blacksmith models fit ur description a lil better than the IR-as the best dress up, dress down boot. Thanks for the review, its one of the best I have seen on youtube!

[@geartravelperspective3275]

You are absolutely right. Just that IR have that ability as well. =P

[@the.magnus]

Really well narrated and written review

[@astrogert]

Personally I didn't find the cork nitrile sole too slippery, even in the rain. I wouldn't wear them in the snow. In the rain in gets rid of the dust and is actually quite grippy, like a glove on your feet is what I like to compare them to.

[@Paddythefriendlykiwi]

Been rocking these with a pair of 18oz Brave Star Selvedge. I'm almost looking forward to Autumn already.

[@charlesbronson240]

Awesome!

[@pinkiewerewolf]

I’d have bought a pair of these much sooner had I seen your review. I thought these were just hipster poseur boots from. Most of the “reviews” that are out there. I picked up a pair today. I think they’re keepers.

[@gitlittoo2161]

Oh red wing is worth the money. Hard to break in. But after that. Comfy

[@martinwedge7732]

These have been replaced by the 8114 which are the same leather but with the newer non slip Vibram mini lug sold for better grip

[@conorkennedy3304]

I own the original one with no grip. I love them but they are dangerous.

[@matttherrien9608]

I believe you meant 8084. I bought them for 300 Canadian on sale. I think they might be keepers. So much nicer looking than a pair of running shoes obviously. Do you own some yourself?

[@lgroves336]

They made the Iron Ranger with a wedge sole. They sold out everywhere. This I just bought a new pair that I will send to a cobbler and have converted. I prefer the wedge sole.

[@josephseraile6698]

I wish they made the Iron Rangers without the speed hooks. But they look similar to the combat boots that we were issued in the Army in the 1960's, only not as tall. As far as breaking them in, stand with them in a tub of water or a pond till they are wet through and through. Walk in them for a mile or more,take them off and let them dry. They will be molded to the shape of your feet. Soften them up with saddle soap. They will only fit Your feet. I like the Beckmans though.

[@LLUrbanAchiever]

Doesn't hurt breaking in. Just wear proper socks.

[@garygary9310]

I am getting a pair this weekend just like you reviewed here! Thanks for posting this it helped me make a decision to get them....

[@geartravelperspective3275]

Awesome!! Yea they are very very good boots. What color are you planning to get?

[@garygary9310]

I am getting the oxblood color they ordered them at the store locally because my size 14D was not At the store

[@Orlanzepol123]

Love your reviewing style. And I love my Iron Rangers

[@conorkennedy3304]

I love these boots but they are really slippery with this sole. I've fallen on my ass in Minnesota a number of times. This sole has literally no traction. In the summer they are like wearing sandals.

[@bravogoldeagle8907]

Really well produced video review of the Iron Ranger. Great to learn about the Puritan Stitching. Would you mind answering a few questions? Do you use a cedar shoe tree when not wearing them? How soft to the touch is the leather? Do you have any experience with factory seconds?

[@geartravelperspective3275]

I don’t see why not.

[@markhayes789]

Yes to the cedar shoe trees!

[@sikchopper3783]

Great review. I have the same pair and absolutely love mine. However other than the boot oil what other products are recommended?

[@ignacy334]

What color you recommend to buy black or amber

[@anthonybeauregard6806]

I have the same one ,love them 450$ canadian dollard.good to go for life

[@anthonybeauregard6806]

I climb mountain after eat at the pub.the are universel

[@matttherrien9608]

8084s were 300 Canadian, pretax obviously. Not bad, huh?

[@deancarder377]

Cut the music before you start talking!

[@geartravelperspective3275]

+Dean Carder forgive me. I'm still pretty new at this.

[@Paddythefriendlykiwi]

@@geartravelperspective3275 great job though man.

[@scottrempel7243]

I liked the music. Adds a different flavour to the usual review video

[@911Fuser]

I hate how the "music" is louder than your voice and I have to turn it up only to make the noise louder and your voice just as hard to hear. What?

[@geartravelperspective3275]

I’m fairly new to making videos so please forgive me.

[@martincapriotti3433]

Had mine 2 weeks now.. Love em

[@loshgoobi]

Nice review bro!

[@garygary9310]

I have another question would I polish these with boot (shoe) polish or just boot oil? Just wondered .. I can't wait until I get my boots this weekend I was told..

[@geartravelperspective3275]

Oh man..........I'm all excited for you. I still remember how giddy I was getting my first pair. Between boot oil or polish.....honestly you can do either one. Here is what I noticed between the two. Polish: actually hardens with a protective shell over the leather and creates a glossy shine. Oil: gets absorbed into the leather and creates a dull shine. It also darkens the leather a bit and slowly lightens up as the days go by. I used polish in harsh environments like construction or week long hikes through rocky terrain because a lot of the polish settles on the surface of the boot. So it's a bit more protection. But for regular everyday use, oil works perfectly fine and less of a hassle to apply. So it's really up to you. Just keep in mind that either one can be stripped down and reapplied. If you don't like the polish, you can strip that off and switch it to oil instead. It's a pain in ass but can be done.

[@garygary9310]

GearTravelPerspective Thank you so much for your information I so appreciate it! i picked up my boots yesterday in oxblood color OMG i am so glad I bought them. There truly amazing boots... again THANK YOU for this video and you helped me out tremendously 👍👍

[@geartravelperspective3275]

+Gary Gary OMG........That's awesome!!! Enjoy!! Wear some thick socks for the break-in. And send pictures!!!

[@antonioraffa123]

Great style of review. You should do it professionally.

[@brynnashcroft3734]

Awesome review!

[@MarcP5267]

You had to size down 1 1/2?

[@geartravelperspective3275]

Yea. Normally a 9 1/2 and had to size down to an 8. I'm not the only one. There are 1 - 2 reviews on Amazon that had to make the same adjustment. It seems to only apply to those with 9 1/2 sized feet.

[@nseriousget8165]

since there is no red wing store near me i cant try them on, what (EU) size do i need if my foot is 28.5 cm long? id prefer slightly bigger for the comfort. please advice me.

[@geartravelperspective3275]

28.5 equals roughly 11.25 inches. 11.22 to be exact. Your best bet is probably 10.5. 11 if you like it loose. Just keep in mind that the leather loosens up as you wear it and it breaks in so it should be tight when you first wear it. I would go with size 10.5 but it is your preference of course.

[@geartravelperspective3275]

Also send the Amsterdam store an message about EU sizing. They should be much better at getting you the right fit than I am.

[@turtlepowersf]

nseriousget 1 full size down from your measured american size if you know it. i am a 10.5 on a brannock device but consistently wear 9.5 in red wing heritage series. if you want a winter boot to wear very thick socks with and/or wear orthotic insoles then maybe only go 1/2 size down, otherwise, 1 full size down. you do not want your boots to be loose at all when you first get them. they will fit horribly loose within a few months.

[@haydenr5128]

Such an investment though!

[@royjohnson9043]

what navy pants are those

[@your_moon2]

how much

[@Orlanzepol123]

*I am sold !*

[@TheRealAlPhil]

The music made it hard to hear/understand you at times, fyi. Great review otherwise!

[@bluebenz]

where'd you get these pants ?

[@kenacycle]

do you buy any chance also own a pair of Red Wing 6" Moc Toe boots? If so, what size do you wear in those? I wear a size 8.5 in the Moc Toe, I want to know if the IR would fit me in the same size, or I might have to go half size up or down. I know from experience that a size can vary amongst the Red Wing Heritage shoes. I used to have a pair of Chukkas and I needed a size 9.

[@MITPetetwat]

I do not own the Moc Toes. They actually do not for my feet very well. It's uses a different last than the classic Round or Iron Rangers so I really don't know what the equivalent size is. Try to arrange for a chance to go visit a store. They are generally very good.

[@redzuan6425]

​@MITPetetwat i wear a size 10.5 for my moc toe and a size 10 for my 8084 iron ranger

[@highendtrends3508]

This was a great review! Make more videos! Thanks

[@ksvensen]

I can’t choose between these or the 8086

[@geartravelperspective3275]

Believe me when I say that I was very very close to getting the 8086! I just stick with these instead because they are a little more versatile with clothes.

[@1911geek]

Use it Oregon weather to do it justice

[@MasterofPlay7]

do you have oily smell when you sniff your boots?

[@chrispotts2808]

MasterofPlay7 when i sniff them they smell like really old fermunda cheese left in a hot car for e weeksin the 95 degree florida heat!

[@MasterofPlay7]

well for me the aromatic scent from the leather (combine with body heat and sweat) is really pleasant

[@TheMrbeasely]

Why does the age of the sewing machines used make any difference at all? Hint, it doesn’t.

[@charlesbronson240]

It’s about the history. Doesn’t make a difference in construction but some people like knowing their boots were made with the same machine from decades ago.

[@liamnoname6662]

cause hint: it's a heritage brand

[@MNAZ12]

Didn’t your Mother ever tell you NOT to play on railroad tracks...lol!

[@geartravelperspective3275]

I was never an obedient child. Forgive me.

[@dominic8645]

This is a size 8? What your height? We have the same usual size of 9.5..

[@geartravelperspective3275]

+Dominic Ang select a size 8 for RW shoes

[@dominic8645]

GearTravelPerspective i plan to put insoles, you think i should go 8.5?

[@geartravelperspective3275]

I can't say. Never tried it with an insole before. I'd probably still go with an 8, break it in, then drop in an insole.

[@JJ-lu6mg]

GearTravelPerspective if you want to add insoles that don’t take up to much room in the boot buy Redwings leather insoles they make a huge difference in comfort 👍🏼

[@skytrooper506]

I have a pair, but they look like Bozo shoes. Really long and narrow.

[@davidharris8797]

Check out my boots whites Bounty hunter. And Semi dress black

[@Jesse-gv9tf]

Can these boots be worn with dress pants?

[@davidharris8797]

Janahreturns yeah but not very well

[@Jesse-gv9tf]

@@davidharris8797 Thank you. I ended up with a pair of Beckman and Blacksmith.

[@MasterofPlay7]

oh the IR is lot softer than the beckman

[@geartravelperspective3275]

Really? I found them to be similar.

[@jakashh]

GearTravelPerspective I tried the copper rough & tumble and they were stiff as hell. Tried the amber harness and they were a lot more bearable. Think the different colors make a difference in stiffness as well

[@MasterofPlay7]

yeah I have the amber harness and the beckman cigar, the amber harenss is a lot softer but has weird oily smell (and it will stain my socks; well both of them did cuz of the leather insole)

[@geartravelperspective3275]

That actually makes sense because different colors go through slightly different tanning processes. Good to know though because I never tried on the Amber Harness.

[@chrispotts2808]

MasterofPlay7. mine stained the bottom of my feet.

[@Terquilla]

Within the first 15 seconds: 1. Those are absolutely fashion boots. 2. They aren't suitable for use for any of the railroads. 3. You're trespassing.

[@ryankelly1846]

Terquilla get some timbs, those suit all his mentioned needs

[@garystanbridge6684]

These are definitely not fashion boots! I have three pairs and wear them for work every day all year round and I'm a building surveyor.

[@ryankelly1846]

Gary Stanbridge in every sense.of the word are these fashion boots. Not waterproof, not insulated, not slip resistant, not electrical hazard protection, no safety toe, the list goes on. They are just well made fashion boots. Find one of the guys that do the actual work on a site and see if any of them wear these. I'm assuming u haven't done any actual labor so maybe you don't know. These have their place, maybe.on a motorcycle or a night out on town, but def not any sort of construction site.

[@garystanbridge6684]

Ryan Kelly I wear these regularly at work on building sites. I’m not a labourer but a Surveyor. I find them to be totally suitable for my needs and my work. Everyone has their own individual requirements for their footwear. Okay they are not safety boots and can’t be considered as such. They are very well made and rugged enough for me. I’ve worn them in all weathers and my feet have always remained dry but I do oil mine regularly which helps. I also ride a motorcycle and often wear them out when riding and when travelling. We are of course all entitled to our own opinion and I personally am a big fan of these boots.

[@ryankelly1846]

Gary Stanbridge ok so yes I guess they are fine for what you do, but I still would not label these as "work boots". Some idiot will probably see the price tag and be like oh these are the best work boots ever, then wonder why he has to go home by coffee break cuz his feet are aching. On a different note however!, I am looking into getting a pair of these for my weekend/after work boots. I'm getting a little older and my Chuck Taylor's and Nikes are starting to seem juvenile. Are they worth it?

[@bgomusicco]

use a little boot oil? shit, I soak them in wd40 4 times a day when new. takes about 3 days to stop trying to remove flesh frome bone. mind you, I walk 20+ miles a day on concrete, but still. oil the shit out of them..

[@RHBootmakers]

Hard to break in? That’s cute I have a pair and break them in no problem. People should try latigo or brush off leather lol

[@doubledeltazero8243]

Annoying pointless music...couldnt get passed 2 minutes

[@greyarea1004]

DoubleDelta Zero that’s pretty intolerant

[@theprovisionalprovisional6760]

It is. My apologies. I actually got a pair right after I insulted this vid. If your the one that made the vid, thanks