Red Wing Shoes

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2014 19:26:38 GMT -6 Derek G said:

They're getting better by the day. Day 1 was awful...my feet hurt all over, Day 2 the ankles on the inside of my legs and the ball of my foot, right behind my big toe hurt. Day 3 just the bottom of my feet, and my toes hurt. The pain kinda moves around I can tell these are going to be the most comfortable boots or shoes I've ever owned, just gonna take some time.

Glad you are feeling better. Here are couple things that I did in the past do help.
1. Differnt thickness of socks.
2. Test out how tightly you want to lace your boots.
3. Not to use the top three eyelets and wrap the laces around your boot/ankle instead.
4. Manually bent the leather of certain areas to speed up the breakin.

Good luck and just remember the leather of the boots will mold to your feet soon.

[Derek G]

Thanks for the tips MiddleAge I did wear some thicker wool socks today, and it seemed to help. When tying them this morning, when I got to the speed hooks I bent my foot upwards, then finished tying...to make it looser. I'll try the bending the leather in the areas that are giving me trouble. (Ha ha ...boot massage)
I can already tell they're going to be like gloves when it's all said and done...hopefully it wont take too long.
I really have to thank all you guys for recommending these boots, and for all your help and advice You guys never steer me wrong.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2014 20:10:26 GMT -6 Derek G said:

Thanks for the tips MiddleAge I did wear some thicker wool socks today, and it seemed to help. When tying them this morning, when I got to the speed hooks I bent my foot upwards, then finished tying...to make it looser. I'll try the bending the leather in the areas that are giving me trouble. (Ha ha ...boot massage)
I can already tell they're going to be like gloves when it's all said and done...hopefully it wont take too long.
I really have to thank all you guys for recommending these boots, and for all your help and advice You guys never steer me wrong.

Welcome to an even more addictive hobby than selvedge jeans. IR is a start and I have a feeling that you are going to start talking about Goodyear welt and Viberg love by this coming spring. By late summer, you are going to ask Steve to make you two perfect color matching belts, so they can wear nicely with your another two pairs of new boots. By fall, you will be hoping the secret Santa to buy you a pair of Shell Indy boots.

At last, you will blame all of us here for your addiction and try to drag us all to an intervention with everyone rocking Filson wax jacket, shell boots, IH shirts and LD jeans/Ciano canvas pants.

P.s. old26 will be wearing Gap since there is nothing in his size.

[Deleted]

@wils gave great advice regarding tricks to help break in. I also used a variety of lacing patterns that alleviated pressure points on the top of my foot. I also had to manually adjust the fold in the tongue gusset to make sure it laid nicely until it settled on its own

[stinky]

Dec 10, 2014 20:39:56 GMT -6 @wils said:

Welcome to an even more addictive hobby than selvedge jeans. IR is a start and I have a feeling that you are going to start talking about Goodyear welt and Viberg love by this coming spring. By late summer, you are going to ask Steve to make you two perfect color matching belts, so they can wear nicely with your another two pairs of new boots. By fall, you will be hoping the secret Santa to buy you a pair of Shell Indy boots.

At last, you will blame all of us here for your addiction and try to drag us all to an intervention with everyone rocking Filson wax jacket, shell boots, IH shirts and LD jeans/Ciano canvas pants.

I'm hoping that one of these days that you guys will join me in my sadistic love for/addition to Trickers.  There's nothing more satisfying exhilarating frustrating than figuring out the UK size conversions as they relate to manufacturer specific lasts as well as $70 return postage and inbound customs charges regardless of whether you return them or not. 

Not to mention the seemingly never ending break in process.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2014 10:58:32 GMT -6 stinky said:

Dec 10, 2014 20:39:56 GMT -6 @wils said:

Welcome to an even more addictive hobby than selvedge jeans. IR is a start and I have a feeling that you are going to start talking about Goodyear welt and Viberg love by this coming spring. By late summer, you are going to ask Steve to make you two perfect color matching belts, so they can wear nicely with your another two pairs of new boots. By fall, you will be hoping the secret Santa to buy you a pair of Shell Indy boots.

At last, you will blame all of us here for your addiction and try to drag us all to an intervention with everyone rocking Filson wax jacket, shell boots, IH shirts and LD jeans/Ciano canvas pants.

I'm hoping that one of these days that you guys will join me in my sadistic love for/addition to Trickers.  There's nothing more satisfying exhilarating frustrating than figuring out the UK size conversions as they relate to manufacturer specific lasts as well as $70 return postage and inbound customs charges regardless of whether you return them or not. 

Not to mention the seemingly never ending break in process.

Select stock Trickers were on sale for 40% off last night on STP.  Thought about it, but couldn't pull the trigger.

[stinky]

Dec 11, 2014 11:13:09 GMT -6 devastitis said:

Dec 11, 2014 10:58:32 GMT -6 stinky said:

I'm hoping that one of these days that you guys will join me in my sadistic love for/addition to Trickers.  There's nothing more satisfying exhilarating frustrating than figuring out the UK size conversions as they relate to manufacturer specific lasts as well as $70 return postage and inbound customs charges regardless of whether you return them or not. 

Not to mention the seemingly never ending break in process.

Select stock Trickers were on sale for 40% off last night on STP.  Thought about it, but couldn't pull the trigger.

Yeah, I check STP nearly every day . . . my wife would not act favorably to another pair showing up.  I already have a pair in my office that I ebayed a couple of weeks ago and I'm trying to figure out how to bring them home. 

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2014 11:13:09 GMT -6 devastitis said:

Dec 11, 2014 10:58:32 GMT -6 stinky said:

I'm hoping that one of these days that you guys will join me in my sadistic love for/addition to Trickers.  There's nothing more satisfying exhilarating frustrating than figuring out the UK size conversions as they relate to manufacturer specific lasts as well as $70 return postage and inbound customs charges regardless of whether you return them or not. 

Not to mention the seemingly never ending break in process.

Select stock Trickers were on sale for 40% off last night on STP.  Thought about it, but couldn't pull the trigger.

Yeah... totally missed it.... was getting up to take care of my little one when I saw your post.... 

[usctroll]

Just picked out my second pair of Redwings, Iron Rangers in Amber Harness. Brooks Bros has a 25% off sale right now so $235 plus tax for a pair of IR firsts. They only had 9.5 but are overnighting a pair of 10D for free. Sale goes through the 23rd and they have a moderate selection of the heritage line.

[Deleted]

Dec 17, 2014 16:07:35 GMT -6 usctroll said:

Just picked out my second pair of Redwings, Iron Rangers in Amber Harness. Brooks Bros has a 25% off sale right now so $235 plus tax for a pair of IR firsts. They only had 9.5 but are overnighting a pair of 10D for free. Sale goes through the 23rd and they have a moderate selection of the heritage line.

Dodge the bullet.. no my size for the IR Hawthorne Muleskinner.

[Derek G]

I know you guys say that the IR will break in...but damn...some days it feels more like my feet are whats breaking in
They're coming along though

[Deleted]

Dec 18, 2014 19:17:23 GMT -6 Derek G said:

I know you guys say that the IR will break in...but damn...some days it feels more like my feet are whats breaking in
They're coming along though

I never try that but some people use leather conditioner and bend the leather to soften the part that you have problem with. I also read about dip the shoe in warm water and then wear them around the house to loosen the leather.

Good luck and don't say that I did not give you a heads up on IR.

[Deleted]

Dec 18, 2014 19:17:23 GMT -6 Derek G said:

I know you guys say that the IR will break in...but damn...some days it feels more like my feet are whats breaking in
They're coming along though

i had moments of dread thinking that mine would never break in and that i should have bought other boots. now they're great and i love how they look, but i'm not sure i'd want to go through it again.

[Derek G]

It's basically the bottom of my feet that hurt the most...the leather itself is breaking in great...it's the hard soles that are proving to be tougher to break in. Of course, it isn't helping that I'm walking on hard concrete floors all day in them

[Deleted]

Dec 18, 2014 20:50:50 GMT -6 Derek G said:

It's basically the bottom of my feet that hurt the most...the leather itself is breaking in great...it's the hard soles that are proving to be tougher to break in. Of course, it isn't helping that I'm walking on hard concrete floors all day in them

May have been mentioned but I break in boots a little at a time. Wear them a few hours or until uncomfortable then switch to something comfy. Let them dry a day and do it again until you can wear them all day. It will take longer but your feet will thank you. I don't have the IR but if they don't have a soft footbed they might never be comfortable for standing and walking on concrete all day.

[bugula]

Derek G - are you flat footed?

I'm having a helluva time with the IRs too but I'm a masochist and walk to/from work in them (2mi each way) and they've gotten better after a few weeks. I ask about the flat footedness because I am and found that the 1Ks are a much more comfortable shoe for me.

[usctroll]

Dec 18, 2014 23:38:18 GMT -6 @61scout said:

May have been mentioned but I break in boots a little at a time. Wear them a few hours or until uncomfortable then switch to something comfy. Let them dry a day and do it again until you can wear them all day. It will take longer but your feet will thank you. I don't have the IR but if they don't have a soft footbed they might never be comfortable for standing and walking on concrete all day.

Interesting, they're basically the same construction as my Pecos 1178s and those never felt too hard to me. 

And damn, not sure what's up with Brooks Bros, but no boots came next day and I don't have a confirmation via email or anything.  Grrrr...

[Deleted]

I sold my IR in Amber on eBay three years ago due to getting the wrong size. I did not lose much money on those and used the process to buy a pair of LL Bean Katahdin Engineering Boots. It is a lot more comfortable and easier to breakin than the IR. It is definitely not as sleek but they look very similar. I may go back to a pair of IR 8113 sometimes next year.

[usctroll]

Ah, crisis averted and my boots are confirmed for delivery tomorrow. Fit pic footwear upgrade here I come!

[Derek G]

Dec 19, 2014 6:20:55 GMT -6 bugula said:

Derek G - are you flat footed?

I'm having a helluva time with the IRs too but I'm a masochist and walk to/from work in them (2mi each way) and they've gotten better after a few weeks. I ask about the flat footedness because I am and found that the 1Ks are a much more comfortable shoe for me.

I don't think I'm flat footed, but I do have a shallow arch. I've been wearing mine everyday since the 8th of Dec. I think it's more the concrete floors at work. I work in a warehouse and am on my feet all day, and probably walk at least 5 miles (probably a lot more) a day up and down all the aisles. Once I get home, on wood floors and carpet, they don't really hurt at all.
I bought some composite toe red wings about 5 years ago, and thought they'd never be comfortable, It took at least 2 months, maybe longer, for those to be comfortable.
I'm only wearing them to work to break them in, once that happens, I'll just wear them casually.

[usctroll]

And they're here, new Iron Rangers in amber harness with Gustin 1960s.  

[Old26]

Epic.  Been online shopping those today - trying to decide on the color/finish.  Look great man.

[usctroll]

Dec 19, 2014 19:04:34 GMT -6 Old26 said:

Epic.  Been online shopping those today - trying to decide on the color/finish.  Look great man.

I've seen all the colors in person.

1. Amber Harness
2. Black
3. Suede/Muleskinner
4. Copper (distressed)
5. Charcoal (distressed)
6. Brown (brogue only)

The black ones are really sharp, but not my style. If you buy a pre distressed Red Wing you are a fascist and a poseur. But that's just, like, my opinion, man.

[Old26]

These are my current top pick:
Suede/Muleskinner

As for distressed - dude, I'm fscking old, I may not have time to break things in much longer!

[exophobe]

Dec 19, 2014 19:38:09 GMT -6 usctroll said:

Dec 19, 2014 19:04:34 GMT -6 Old26 said:

Epic.  Been online shopping those today - trying to decide on the color/finish.  Look great man.

I've seen all the colors in person.

1. Amber Harness
2. Black
3. Suede/Muleskinner
4. Copper (distressed)
5. Charcoal (distressed)
6. Brown (brogue only)

The black ones are really sharp, but not my style. If you buy a pre distressed Red Wing you are a fascist and a poseur. But that's just, like, my opinion, man.

And if you get the mule skinner you better skin a damn mule in them. Unless you are a nihilist and believe in nothing.