I have had a pair of Iron Rangers for a while, the first real boots like that I’ve purchased. Since then, I’ve tried Allen Edmonds, Chippewa, Thorogood, Thursday and Wolverine. I’ve had quality control issues with the AE Surrey (*really* crooked stitching and inconsistent/off center welt), and had a pair of Wolverine 1000 Mile boots from Nordstrom Rack start separating where the heel meets the sole. The Thorogood Beloit was nearly a perfect boot, but the tongue moves way over to one side, regardless of where it starts and how tightly one ties the boot. Super disappointed because they were extremely comfortable and good looking. That’s left me with the Thursday Captains in Dark Olive Suede, which have been very comfortable , zero break in and no QC issues. They also have a lower toe than the IR, so they are more versatile. For people who want the IR at all costs, I’d recommend coming to MN (I like in St. Paul, an hour from Red Wing’s factory and flagship store) and going to the basement where the “factory 2nds” are sold. I’ve had GREAT luck with Red Wing 2nds, which often have not only no visible defects other than cosmetic scuffs, etc, but they often have fewer issues with inconsistent stitching and soles mounted off center like some of the full priced Red Wings. At the yearly Red Wing Factory sale in October (not happening this year because of Covid), I’ve picked up Iron Rangers for $129 and Beckmans for $99, etc. One can also find Red Wing heritage boots online or in stores at Nordstrom Rack if one is diligent...
Thanks for sharing your experience...I have 2 wolverines from Nordstrom rack ...a rough out and a cap toe with the vibrum sole...also have the caotains...so far no issues with the wolverines...but I will pay more attention to the wear and tear...thanks again
@@brandonjames8671 I'll keep my eye out for more Wolverines. I may have just had a bad one. I like finding the random, nice, one-off boots that sometimes show up at the Rack.
Wolverine, Red Wing, Addison, McRay, and many other makers made GI Boots for the military. I have some Addison and Red Wing made NIB never issued Army and Navy Boots. Look like they were made yesterday.
Just found your page. keep up the good work. I have a pair of the golden fox boondockers. They are great. I've had them for 2 years. I put mink oil on them every fall. Even though it darkens them up they still look great. I can wear them all day and night. Very short break in period. The leather is started to age nicely. My only complaint is, they are cold. Make sure you get yourself a good pair of wool socks if you are wearing in the snow.
I am very much not into fashion and only came across all these names recently. Most of my life i go with hiking shoes/ boots , with 1 or maybe 2 pairs of dress shoes . I am now at the time of life that i just want strong casual shoes/ boots , and comming across YT channels like this has been a good help . Not fully committed yet to this type of boots thinking they might be uncomfortable compared to hill walking shoes i just bought Cat parkers at half price £ 50 here in Scotland UK , after 3 days i love them , i guess they are half way to the red wings . I guess i am on a journey. Thanks for your video info.
Good info. I bought a pair of LL Bean Engineer boots back in '96 (in Freeport, Maine, about $119 then), wore them a few years, bought another pair as seconds from Sportsmans Guide for around $59, wore them a few years, bought a pair of Chippewa Apache in around '05, still have them though just resoled. I also have a pair of Chippewa Engineer boots in the closet that have not seen the light of day yet, bought as seconds from Sportsmans Guide around that same time. They are great boots, I love the cap toe Engineer boots, and love the steel toe Apaches. A b-i-you know what to break in, killers almost but once broke in, they are great. I did notice changes that seemed cheaper from 1996 to 2006 or so but isn't that everything these days?
Where did you come up with the wrong idea that the Blacksmith was inferior to the Iron Ranger? They've literally been compared cut apart on Rose Anvil's YT channel.
Really enjoy your videos. Being a HVAC contractor and instructor, I emphasize that shoes and clothing are probably the most important tools they'll use. I find it difficult to get properly sized equipment without alot of trial. I don't see how someone can buy shoes especially, over the internet without incurring large amounts of shipping fees, time, and frustration.
I agree, some brands have a very detailed system. Nicks will send you a pair of try-on boots for example and then converse with you over the phone to ensure a proper fit. Other than that its important to know your size and width, even though (as you mentioned) all boots fit differently.
If I was going to get one, it would be the Thorogood. Assured quality that gives Red Wing a run for thier money. Then again, even though they're made in Asia, Dickies are great quality aswell. Well, their pants are. Comfortable and will last you years, I'd assume their boots are no different.
There must be a high demand for good boots because my Farm-n-Fleet didn't have many in stock. I'm going to the Red Wing Store as soon as I get the money.
I've got a few pairs of Redwing moc toes but my favorite pair of boots are Chippewa service boots in black leather. They just have that look. And correct me if I'm wrong but they've been making that boot since 1903.
Just recently purchased the Rhodes Dean boots in Dark Nubuck on sale for 85 dollars. Couldn’t recommend them enough at that price. About on par quality wise as Thursday Boots. However, if they’re not on sale then I’d go with the Thursday Captains. They’re basically the same shoe (Rhodes is a little shorter), but for slightly less money you get a Goodyear welt.
The first couple on this list are really not that different in price from the Iron Rangers. I got my Iron Rangers for $300 in total after taxes, directly from Red Wing. The 1000 mile boots I have, I got for not much less than that. At that level, the difference is taste, not price. There is a big difference between the Iron Rangers and the 1000 Mile Boots as well. The Iron Rangers are much more durable. The leather is thicker and you feel, just by holding them, that they are able to take more of a beating. The Wolverines are much more dressy though. I feel like I could wear them with a suit, which I would never do with the Iron Rangers. I know they are considered competitors, but to me comparing them is like comparing a pickup truck to a luxury car. They aren't meant for the same purpose.
After purchasing the Golden Fox Moc Toe, I now want their boondocker. Thanks for covering at least one pair of boots I can actually afford! My unboxing of Golden Fox Moc Toe.
Chippewa boots are surprisingly well made and I highly recommend them. My "American made with foreign parts" loggers are going on summer #4 June-October and still have a ton of life. For $200 they are hard to beat.
No more “Handcrafted in the U.S.A.” for Chippewa. They closed their last 2 factories in Missouri in 2020. When their USA boot stock is sold, all Chippewas will be imports.
I just got into the world of boots/shoes that can be resoled. My opinion is that the Thursday Captains and the Loggers are also a great alternative to the IR’s. I have 2 pairs of captains. One in Arizona Adobe and one in Classic black. Then I also have a pair of Loggers in Cacao which is like a waxed Java flesh. I would say that the AA’s do look a lot like the IR’s as do the Loggers once broken in but the Loggers have a taller shaft and no speed hooks. The Arizona Adobes remind me a lot of the IR with the color, the cap toe, and how the boot creases. I have been wanting an IR since I learned about them but I don’t want to spend the extra money for them and I’ve heard that they are like walking on hardwood floors all the time. Thursday boots imo, are cushy enough for the boots to feel comfortable and they are relatively durable but the toe cap is not real. For the price I would think the Loggers would be a direct competitor of the IR’s and I would be confident enough to say that they are just as durable BUT the cap toe is fake so that’s one thing the IR would always have above any other boots similar in style, comfort, price, and durability. I really like the Loggers a lot and they are only $302 with tax in the USA. The loggers have thicker leather compared to the IR. The outsole is also made of vibram and they are super thick at about 1/2”. With that kind of outsole I would bet that it would be 10yrs before I would need to resole the Loggers. That’s how thick they are. I’m more likely to need a new top lift compared to the outsole. The logger outsole is reminiscent of the White’s and Nick’s vibram heavy lugged soles yet they are super well padded when walking. I also think that the Loggers Cuban heel looks better than the IR’s heel which is just a traditional heel. I find that for the price, you can’t beat the loggers. One of the cons to the loggers is that it doesn’t have any speed hooks and the tongue is not gusseted but it doesn’t bother me. The other con is there aren’t too many colors of the Loggers. Currently they only have 3. The Cacao, the Arizona Adobe, and the Black Matte and they are the most expensive boot that tbc sells but they are mitusa and it has much thicker leather throughout and a thicker better Vibram lugged sole. I would choose the Loggers outsole over the Storm King’s lugged outsole any day of the week because vibram is a better material but I don’t know that for sure. I would say that the Loggers vibram outsole would outlast any other outsole by tbc. That’s why I think it’s much better to get the loggers for the price at $285usd. I would say the Loggers are 100% better than the 1000 mile boots and they are a direct competitor of the IR’s and they are also more expensive by about $50+ depending on which style you decide to go with. I like to have a capped toe. All the boots that I own that are gywed all have a capped toe or toe cap. IMO it’s much easier to dress up or down than a plain toed boot.
If looking at Thorogood but you want to keep the look of the Iron Ranger, check out the Dodgeville instead of the Beloit. All of the Thorogood 1892 line of boots are awesome.
Carl, some nice recommendations. If the full price for Red Wing IR is the only concern for the budget minded, one can find factory 2nds (indicated by small punched hole on the tongue), and sometimes factory 1st at Nordstrom's Rack. $160.00 they do sell quickly.
I have two IRs, one in Amber Harness, the other in Hawthorn roughout. The first were full price at the Red Wing store, the second from Sierra Trading Post for around the 200 mark. After a week of wear, you can't even tell the difference between seconds and firsts.
I'm surprised you didn't mention Carolina. They make a very affordable, good quality line of boots. Been wearing them for years. They are very durable and well made. Our farmers' co-op carries them.
To be honest I could do another one of these videos and include brands like Carolina, Thursday, Jim Green, etc. I just tried to keep it somewhat short!
Chippewa's service boot isn't too bad. Comfortable and decent quality. They were my first pair of this kind of boots. They've started coming apart now and I was eyeing up Nick's Charlie boot hahaha
Another great video Carl. One plus side about Iron Rangers 's popularity is it makes them increasingly available on the second hand market . I'm curious about any experience / advice you may have on buying "factory seconds" red wings?
Great video! Enjoy your content. Keep up the good work. And just to name a few more, there's also the Chippewa Homestead, Red Wing Blacksmith, Dr. Martens 1460, Clarks Clarksdale Rich & the Desert Mali, Stafford (by JCPenney) Hardy & the Hanks model, Thursday Boot Co. Captain, President, Vanguard, & Wingtip styles, Thorogood Dodgeville, Stacy Adams Madison & the Madison II, Blundstone Lace-Up, and Timberland 6'' Premium. ...Hope this also helps anyone.
I don't mind paying for good quality, I wear my Redwings 6 days a week, about 14 hours a day, that's about 4000 hours a year, the pair be got on right now I have been wearing for 3 years and still got a year or two left in them, that's gonna be around 20,000 hours of service, I'm a carpenter.
TCC if you keep them tight, it’s a lot better. I wear the iron ranger and the 1907 model. The 1907 is definitely more comfortable, but the ranger isn’t bad. I’m not doing manual labor but I’m on my feet moving light equipment for most of the day. I’d say a solid 1/4 of my 8hr day is spent lifting and moving stuff.
Mine are ten years old. I have Red Wing Heritage brogues. I hunt, fish,work and ride horses in them. Can’t wear them out. Expensive, not if you buy three or four pair of other work or play boots. In the time it takes you to wear them out.
I bought and returned the Iron Ranger because the fit was too wide. (I'm a C width, low volume foot) I have two of the Chippewa Heritage boots and I can recommend them. The insole is rather hard so they're better with an insert if you have the extra volume available. I happen to be wearing Wolverine 1000 miles right now and they are my most comfortable boot (with foam insert).
Thanks very much for this video. Really appreciate your providing alternatives for guys on a budget. Just one err .... confusion. Some of the (specifications of the )alternatives seem so good ,that I wonder what exactly makes Red Wing superior?
Have you ever had the opportunity to try the Canadian brand WM Moorby signature series? Made by Canada West boots. I recently purchased their 2817. Not sure if they available outside Canada, but I found them to be a great IR alternate at a lower price.
My first pair I bought a year ago was the Chippewa Apache 6" boot. Price was a big factor and I was looking for a great value and got it. After breaking it in, it is as comfortable as a running shoe. The pair I bought a month ago is the Thursday Captain and it is not yet as comfortable as the Chippewa.
Hello , great video to show real alternatives to the RW Iron Rangers . I think about an other one , a piece of history , the Service shoes from WWII type II ( Type I aqnd III also) produced by At the Front or WWII impressions " the ascendant of the well known but under reviewed by professionals on youtube channels , the Corcoran Jump Boots ( Cove/Carolina shoes ) that are great in shape , construct , durability and style . I love the Red Wings , woplverines and Thorogood Chippewa ... Thanks for the rvid !
I have a pair of Golden Fox Boondockers, I love them so far and they've survived a handful of drunken adventures. Would be cool if you did a review on them so I know how they compare to the more expensive stuff.
Please do an update of this. And Cheaper heritage/workboot/moc boot alternatives. If you can dig at the welt midsole as well. I am very apprehensive with many of these are they dont even list what they are made of.
I own the Golden Fox Boondockers. They are a really good looking boot. Super easy break in, and very comfy. Although the quality is noticeably inferior to Red Wing, Wolverine, Thorogood etc...
If I choose Cheap Alternatives to the Red Wing, I would pick Thursday Captains Boot (RW Iron Ranger looked-like), Danner BULL RUN MOC TOE (RW Classic Mac looked-like) and Thorogood Beloit (RW Blacksmith/Beckman looked-like)............. However, I prefer redwing boots anyway.
The reason I left Thursday off the list is their horrendous quality control. People have been seeing nails coming through the footbed, disintegrating lining, and of course that terrible poron midsole. I'll never recommend them to anyone.
@@CarlMurawski Have a pair, having a lot of footpain in ball of the foot - wondering if it's the midsole. Now that I have them, is it worth the price to resole with cork at a cobbler?
This was a great video idea! Such beautiful line-up too! However I have not bit-the-bullet and tried a pair of Iron Rangers. I've wore work boots since I was a teen and after so many pairs of Red Wings I'm hesitant to buy anymore after my last two pairs. They are built to last and hold up better than most any boot I've wore but the last two pairs had such horrible break-in times, and would oddly feel incredibly uncomfortable for seemingly no good reason for brief periods of time. But they did last under some very harsh conditions that I had other more expensive boots completely fail at. Maybe I'll try wearing my moms first for a few days and see if there a good fit for me. Best wishes!
I have a pair of Dickies Knoxville and a pair of Iron Ranger. The Dickies is a well made, comfortable boot. I love the Iron Rangers, but the Dickies are very nice. I would buy the Dickies again in a pinch.
Hey man! Just got some new boots, they’re Arizona Jean co. Not sure how good they are, seem pretty decent but they also feel like they’re made of lower quality materials, it’s they’re mercury set
Cheap alternative Corcoran Jump Boot red wing also produce a jump boot the skytrooper during ww2 and after. I would love to watch a video from you about the corcoran jump boot
There is also a decent second hand market for these ..i.e. Ebay, reddit..etc. Of course, wearing second hand boots night be a non-starter for some. Nonetheless, it is a cheaper way to get into a pair or IRs
Nice video Carl. Count me as one that doesn’t like the bulbous look the IR. I bought a pair of Thursday Boots, the USA made Vanguard in French Roast. I also have a pair of the Mexican made Wingtip boots from Thursday, and there is a difference between the US and Mexico made, at least to me. I also have 3 pairs of Wolverine 1000 Mile boots. They are very comfortable.
Why no Doc Martens? I have three pairs from boot to a wingtip shoe and have worn them for a decade and still look new. The distinctive stitching and sole set them apart from all of these.
Great video Carl 👍🏻 like you said not everyone can afford the iron ranger but with some tips from your other videos on oiling they can look like they cost just as much 🤘🏻
Well, like anything else buying a boot depends on what type of use you are going to put it through. Personally, as a field Archaeologists I bought Red Wings because of their comfort and durability.
Great video! There are so many options! Check out this new company out of Portugal called Urban Shepherd. I would say their Country Boot is a great alternative and is much more comfortable out of the box. I really like the waxed calfskin leather and red stitching. Also, the Thorogood 1892 Dodgevilles are made to be that brand's version of the IR and are on sale for $228 right now at many stores.
Any suggestions for someone needing a narrow width boot? About 10 years ago I went in to a Redwing store with the Iron Rangers in mind. I take my shoes off for the guy to measure and just from looking at my feet the guy tells me I have narrow feet and they don't make Iron Rangers in narrow sizes. I wear a 10 and 1/2 B. I've had the same pair of 606s (with a new resole about 2 years ago) for almost 11 years now, but still would like something like the Rangers in style.
Nordstromrack or Sierra Trading Plost for red wing factory seconds! I bought a pair of discontinued Red Wing Beckmans in Chestnut Featherstone for $140.....couldn't figure out why they were considered seconds
Nothing beats Red Wing for the price particularly. Nuthin. I have seven pair and just alternate depending on the weather and the season. Fabulous boots. And put them beside Viberg charging $1100-$1300 US, when I got my Red Wings for about $350 CAD??? I’d rather have 3 pair of Red Wings.
Which boot has the widest/ roomiest toebox/ball whilst still maintaining a narrower heel? I have narrow heels and wide toes. When I wear iron rangers the 11 D fits perfect.... and squashes my toes. 11.5 is a little loose and still uncomfortable in the toe. 12D is huge. 11EE is the closest fit. And a little loose in the heel. I can’t stop wanting the iron ranger though.
That's strange that the 11D fits your heel but the 11EE is loose in the heel. I wouldn't think wider shoes would be wider in the heel, but rather in the toebox.
That’s very true, and for the most part they’re worth the price. However, a few new brands have really come out of the woodwork and are making incredible stuff. Smiths Leather Balm, Armstrong’s all Natural are just a few that come to mind. I’d love to make a comparison by buying one piece of leather and applying each one.
I checked out the LLBean site today and a couple of the comments note that Chippewa no longer makes the Katahdin. It is apparently made in Vietnam now. Nuts.
They're branded as 'W.M. Moorby' I own a pair and they're very well built, union made in Canada, Winnipeg infact at the Canada west boots factory, super comfy and very attractive right out of the box
Can you recommend a boot for narrow feet? I wear 11.5 A dress shoes (Allen Edmonds and Johnston Murphy are all I can find). I need something like the Iron Ranger for motorcycle riding. Thanks
I have Iron Rangers (2 pairs), Wolverine 1000 Miles, and a couple of Chippewas. The Iron Rangers reign supreme, but the Wolverines are classier. All quality options. I hear good things about the Thorogoods, though.
I always got acceptable results from K - Marts Texas Steer standard work boot I would buy two pairs at one time heck they were only $ 29. 95 a pair back in the day they lasted me about 5 to 6 months LOL because I was heavy on my feet and had a poor walking Gait
Greetings. Would love to see a review update on the LLBean Katahdin Iron Works II boots since they are no longer made in the USA by Chippewa. Currently made in Vietnam and with the LLBean return guarantee no longer in place (thanks to those that abused it) and updated review would be very helpful. Thanks. J.
this definitely change my mind before buying my current red wings haha however, none of this boot companies open their shop in Malaysia. And buying online, there are obviously lots of fake boots. Anyway, nice content, Carl. If i were to travel to USA, i'll drop by to these shops.
I have been waiting Brian the boot maker resole iron rangers and they have really grown in me... until I looked them up and the price put them out of reach. I found the golden fox and think I will go that route. Ps the ll bean is boots are pronounced Ka-TAH-den named after the tallest mountain here in Maine.
I love what the iron rangers stand for but that toe cap...... Definitely not for casual wear. Those Rhodes Dean boots look awesome, maybe worth a shot and an alternative to Thursday Captains or wolverine Blvd
