Great info. As a motorcyclist, I would never forego the toecap, which significantly increases the lifespan of the IR - toe shifters eat through cheaper boots within a year or less - my IR are 6 years old and only some loss of stitching at the left toe cap to show for it. No degradation of the toe cap itself. I’m super happy with mine, and I even love the (much) darker patina I got from using the Redwing store clerk-recommended mink oil LOL. Love these boots. I thought about trying the Blacksmiths, but after this video, I realize they wouldn’t work for the bike, so they wouldn’t really work for me. Many thanks!
Yes! Great comment, it's why I took time to emphasize that it's a real toecap, unlike a Thursday boot or some other boots that just have the stitching there for aesthetic purposes. So glad this video was helpful for you!
@@davidcoleman2796 I 've never heard any youtuber say that thursdays toe cap was real, only that its false for purely aesthetic purposes. Not saying you are wrong though.
I have both of these boots and I love them both, though I'm more partial to the Iron Ranger. I have the Iron Ranger in Amber Harness (8111) and the Blacksmith in Copper Rough and Tough (3343).
this is a very useful comparison!!! like you said, at surface level it just appears the difference is in the toe cap, but when you look closer, there's so much more to appreciate. especially loved your insights into the collar differences. well done son, you managed to pack a TON of information into a video just under 7 minutes!!!!
I did this with a pair of Clark's. I just cleaned them in the sink with dish soap . I let them dry over night. I then re condition them . They are fine now . No harm done . I don't know why he does not do this ?
Regarding your over-darkening them.... If you washed with Saddle Soap - or even acetone - and re-conditioned with say RW Leather Cream - wouldn’t they go back to approximately their original shade?
Obenauf's is hard to get off. I can speak from experience that saddle soap does nothing to it. Acetone might or Saphir Renomat I have heard actual success with. Mind you it takes a bottle or two to strip it out. Kind of crazy but Obenauf's is just like that!
For my first pair of RW, I went to look at Iron Rangers but went home with a pair of Blacksmiths. Aesthetically more pleasing, but they took months of daily wear to break in, and creases a little too much. I keep them oiled so they are a shade or two darker than its original copper color.
Bought my 1st pair of RW's!!! It is the IR's in Black. Worn them for a total of 3 days and break-in doesn't seem as bad as some have described. On my feet for 6 to 8 hrs a day and very tolerable. Very good quality and happy with my purchase. Actually thinking of getting another pair in Rough and Tough. Went a 1/2 size down and EE, Fits Perfect!!! Contemplated Blacksmiths at the time but Love the IR's.
Hey thanks man! Yeah I didn't even mention the panic attacks in that video but they are what really defined this year for me, haha. Not totally out of the woods but doing better. Appreciate you!
@@Stridewisesorry to hear that you are going through that; I had no idea! I have really severe anxiety; and I know how hard it can be. There was one point in my life where I was on the verge of a panic attack 24/7 for a few weeks. But it gets better! I promise! I wish you the best Nick.
I have two pairs of Blacksmiths, one Black Prairie and one in Copper. I swapped out the laces for two tone leather laces and it makes a HUGE difference in their appearance.
@@thofol I changed both the black and the copper to leather laces and it was better on both. I think you could dress up any pair of redwings with two tone leather laces.
I grew up on a cattle ranch but didn't like cowboy boots. So I wore Doc Martens until I was a teen got my first job. I saved up and bought my first Iron Rangers at 17. Those boots lasted 5 years of working as a surveyor, carpenter, hunting, and building the occasional log cabin or house. When I moved into manufacturing I bought a pair of redwing steel toes. Those lasted 6 years of walking concrete plants, structural steel shops, welding shops, and site visits. I maintained my boots the best I could and sealed any cuts when they occured. The thought of "Do they dress nice" never crossed my mind. For me, I needed comfort (I am an 11 wide) and durability. For the cost and what i put my boots through, I prefer the Redwings.
Both boots are nice. Good value for the price. But, you never ever get the Iron Rangers in a wide size. Unfortunately, I’ll keep waiting. It’s been 2 years and counting...
I own both these boots, and the iron ranger is definitely more robust. I wear my iron rangers more often. And they look less stretchy/ less dirty and less patina. My blacksmith laces break too easily, and the leather seems to be more floppy, or maybe I over conditioned them.
Definitely go with the black smith if you want something you can wear to work or out to a casual/gathering event of some kind. It passes as a work boot and a dress boot
I have the Chippewa service boots and they came with the flat waxed laces. I want a pair of Iron Rangers now, I might would get some flat waxed laces for them, I think that would be an improvement.
Every boot video says to size down. I went to the Red Wing store and they did the foot scan machine on me along with the Braddock device. Both put me at a solid 10.5 C and they recommended a size 11. A 10 or 10.5 would have been very tight IMO. My first pay of Thursdays I sized down to a 10.5 but they returned them for an 11. Also, no one mentions sock thickness in all the boot reviews, huge different from a thin dress sock compared to a Merino wood hunting sock. I can't be the only one who does not "size down" unless a brand is know to run very large.
Awesome video! Thinking I might pick up a pair of blacksmiths in copper rough and tough. Also good to know I’m not the only one who significantly darkened their amber harness rangers 😅
@@matttherrien9608 his iron ranger used to be amber harness brown leather until he soaked it in oil. Saddle soap will clean up a lot of that excess oils, and possibly turn it back to a brown color. The blacksmith is in good shape and needs nothing. Simple
I was a bit disappointed on the Iron Rangers; the toe cap does not go all the way to the stitching, (hence it looks like a clown shoe). If they would of re-enforced the toe cap to the “actual”stitching, then it would be all cool! I’ll probably get my Iron Rangers added a composite toe cap (and make sure it goes to the true stitching).
yeah you'd think they'd have a steel toe version of some heritage boots, or have a boot that LOOKS like these boots with a steel toe on the work line, but nup!
If I was in the market for a service type boot, then the blacksmith would be my choice. With that said, I dont actually like lace service boots all that much. I do have moc toe 1907s, and they are worn fairly regularly. Most of the time however I prefer chelsea boots. Red Wing weekenders for super casual, work chelsea for work, and a nice roughout or suede for evenings out with my wife. I occasionally wear a chukka, but they always seem a bit loose to me. I have the correct size, but they arent a supportive feeling boot.
Love watching you vids, especially the Red Wing videos. I keep looking at air on Rangers but seeing them side by side with Blacksmiths makes me want to get a Blacksmiths more, but that may change. I was wondering have you did a review of the Moc Toe Briar leather or Hawthorne mules line in either IR or Blacksmith boots? Thanks
Thanks Stuart! I didn't do a review of that specific leather on that specific boot, but I can tell you I adore Hawthorne muleskinner and think it deserves a spot in any wardrobe!
I've got some HH 4620 work boots that once had Vibram soles like the Blacksmiths except mine are worn totally smooth. LOL. I still wear them and they don't make them anymore. BTW gotta love the pistol squats. Wish I was limber enough to do them.
@@georgecarlin2879 No. The uppers despite my best efforts to keep them up have cracked and split at the creases in the leather. Also I have worn the top lifts of the heels down to where I am down to outer edges of the heels themselves. Been keeping my eye out for a pair on eBay or a thrift store.
As a guy with around 25 pairs of Red Wings...Iron Ranger, Blacksmith, and Beckman (mostly), there is one other thing you need to know about Blacksmith that I have experienced, which is not an issue with the Iron Ranger. I have a high arch, and for me, I can pull on a pair of Iron Rangers, with no difficulty. But, with my Blacksmiths, I must use a shoe horn to get into the boot. No issues once my foot gets into the boot, but without the shoe horn, I am not able to wear my Blacksmiths. So, if you have a high arch, and want to rock the Blacksmiths, the 10ish bucks for a Red Wing shoe horn is money well spent.
..... something about the shinier eyelets on the iron ranger would work better for a kilt, i think. i don't know why i think that but it seems that would tip the iron rangers for me
Iron ranger: External heel counter Double layer toe cap Slanted collar Nickel hardware Blacksmith: Internal heel counter with backstay Plain toe Brass hardware Rolled collar Didnt count the laces because you could always change them. Same with the eyelets but its a bit harder to change those.
I was looking for my first pair of RW today and I was leaning towards the IR but seeing the BS in store I leaned towards it and ended up buying them instead
I’m seeing so many comments saying the BS look aesthetically better and a more “casual” boot. In my opinion, based on this video, I prefer the IR for more of a casual everyday boot. Maybe that will change when I see them in person but as of now I’m eyeing the IR > BS
I have been looking at the Blacksmith as I have a pair of Iron Rangers, another note is that heal cap is on the inside for the blacksmith instead of the outside, but it is still two layers with a Heal Counter between.
I want the Blacksmith but I need EE width. Same last should equal available widths so it doesn’t really make sense that they make a wide in one model but not the other
Hi is there still a hint of brown showing in the briar oil-slick as it appears in your video and do you prefer this color to the popular copper rough and tough on the Blacksmith? I have the amber harness which I love on the Iron Ranger and am on the fence for the best color to choose for the Blacksmith. Thank you and Happy & Healthy New Year!
Nice comparison. I didn't read through all of the comments, so if I repeat someone else, my apologies. There's an 11th difference, and it's the reason I don't have a pair of the Blacksmiths, Iron Rangers go up to a size 14. The Blacksmiths do not.
I’m not particularly fond of either silhouette, as I feel that they both tend to elongate the wearer’s feet in an unattractive way, but of the two I feel that the Blacksmith is the better looking boot.
