Red Wing Iron Ranger

[Anonymous No.7688377]

/fa/, I'm wanting to buy a pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers, but am limited to black or copper (my friend already has amber and I don't want to match). Advice on which to choose? Should I go with another pair of boots? I was looking at some Allen Edmonds Daltons, or Dayton service boots, but I'm limited to about $400AUD since I'm a poor student.

Iron Ranger inspo would also be great.

[WhyCan'ttIjustNotbeMe;_; -sage(...) No.7688384]

If it's only $100 more for the boot you want, and you are willing to spend that much, it's only 1/4th extra.
Safe a little, buy the one you want.

Black will be dressier, copper is more casual.

[Anonymous No.7688386]

i got copper, i think its actually a better choice than amber. as it ages (and you oil it) the leather darkens in areas of little movement, and creates a higher contrast with areas of high movement. heres a pic of mine after a polish, you can really pull out the warm hues in the highlights if properly clean/oil/condition them.

[Anonymous No.7688496]

>>7688386
and those are copper? they look really nice. slitt a better option than black?

>>7688384
i'd wear them more casually, but i feel like black wouldn't be too dressy and i don't have to worry about colour coordinating with them. i won't cheap out and miss out on the colour i want.

[Anonymous No.7688504]

>>7688496
still* lel

[Anonymous No.7688515]

>>7688496
yes those are copper. i would prefer a more modern/slim styling on my black boots, but thats just me.

[Anonymous No.7688544]

>>7688386
>>7688377
Is it just me or are Red Wings made out of really low quality leather? A quality shoe shouldn't really form creases like that, not even with heavy use. That looks almost like corrected grain in my opinion.

[Mifune No.7688637]

>>7688377
wait... i bought mine for 200 how much are you paying for your RWs?

[Anonymous No.7688666]

>>7688637
Cheapest I can find them is about $320AUD, not including whatever postage might be. I take it you're not from Australia.

[Anonymous No.7688730]

>>7688377
these vs dayton service boots? they're another $100 but i prefer how they look. the toe is nicer.

[Anonymous No.7688828]

OP get the copper if you want them.

I got the Amber and kinda regret it, as I'll never achieve the patina in the pic with them.

The copper rough n tough is sorta like the RW tannery's answer to CXL, certainly not as fine, but it has that oil displacement effect that is the charm of chromexcel leather.

I wouldn't bother with black; black boots you can get in varying styles with plenty of other brands, and I don't particularly like this chunky styling with black boots (just get some ex-combat boots instead at aussie surplus or whatever).

Problems:
I bought the ambers last year for 297AUD from the Aussie RW dealer in Melb (pretty damn good price for Australian standards); I see that he's raised the price to 319, but you've still gotta pay postage internally unless you're in Melb and can go pick them up yourself. (like 15 bucks I think)

Red Wing dealers elsewhere in the world ARE NOT ALLOWED, as per their agreement with RW, to sell internationally, especially if there's already an official local dealer.

Sucks fucking dickhole for sure, since the US site, Revolveclothing, can issue a 30% discount for first time buyers. Most US folks around the net get them from Revolve for like 220USD or whatever.

To add insult to injury is that Revolve also have free fucking international postage over 100 bucks. So, up until a year ago or so, you could've gotten RW for 210 bucks or whatever, shipped.

If you want to get the Copper's, because the Melbourne guy doesn't stock it - although you could ask - you're going to have to go through a re-shipper from the US.

It's not really worth it tbh, coz then the boots will cost around nearly 400 bucks US (300USD list price, + international postage which is expensive like 50-60 USD, + whatever commission you have to pay the reshipper in the US). Can't do the Revolve 30% thing if you're going through a 3rd party.

It adds up, and gets quite pricey for Aussies (I imagine that NZ is worse though).
Not

[Anonymous No.7688855]

>>7688828
(forgot pic of copper patina)

To save yourself the hassle, those Ambers are still a pretty reasonable price in Aus.

Alternatives:
Revolve can ship you the Wolverin 1k miles for 350USD (no 30% off for them as wolverine are fuckers) but they'd be cheaper than the IR's from the US.

Dayton will take you forever and a day to get.

Please read the Styleforum thread on them, and some more recentl discussion of them on leddit.

I will never buy from a company that takes 17 months to deliver ordered boots to someone (actually, it was many, many people but that 17month guy was the longest). Fuck their incompetence, that situation should never have been allowed to happen.

For 500 bucks you're edging into Viberg territory.

[Anonymous No.7688881]

>>7688855
>For 500 bucks you're edging into Viberg territory.
Sorry, it's more like 590USD since their postage to Australia is hellishly expensive. And that's not counting and customisations you may want! (like captoes or whatever).

Nearly 700AUD for a boot from a company with a dubious recent history? No thanks.

An alternative, which will still take you about a month or so to get, maybe more, are RMW Rigger's.

Plenty of customisations available (leather choice, sole choice etc) and you can easily get your sizing for it in pretty much any RM's store (it's pretty much the same last as their standard boots). No captoe though.

They'd come to about 320AUD I think, 355 or so if you order a different leather.

Perhaps it's easier if you just buy the Amber's like your friend.

[Anonymous No.7688890]

>>7688881
More rigger's, in some /fa/ggot's custom Tanbark Roo leather,

[Anonymous No.7688902]

>>7688890
Oh, one last option before I fuck off.
If all else fails, you can consider the LLBEAN Katadhins from the US.

Not as good as the IR's, but it'll serve the same purpose, is cheaper, and easier to get a hold of from Oz.

[Anonymous No.7688909]

>>7688544
thats just you, creases are money

[Anonymous No.7688917]

If you ride a motorcycle, OP, you will find the IRs to be perfect riding boots.

[Anonymous No.7688920]

>>7688544
Nope. Wrong. IRs are made of full grain leather.

[Anonymous No.7688934]

>>7688544
You've not had experience with tougher leathers, or work boots I guess.
The creases on the tongue you'll find on any boot made of oiled tanned leather, it's the laces molding to the tongue due to how tightly they're tightened. The creases elsewhere are standard creases. The ambers and the coppers are both oil tanned I think, makes them perhaps more creasy than some leathers out there, and it's not like people are gonna bother with trees in them.

RW leather is fine for what it is, and at least for their Heritage line they use their own leather from their own tannery, and this allows them better quality control on their leathers. Not many shoe/bootmakers can lay claim to owning their own tannery.

[Anonymous No.7688942]

>>7688828
>>7688855
>>7688881
>>7688890
>>7688902
Hahaha, wow. I really appreciate the comprehensive response. I actually like how the copper IRs look in that first pic so I've contacted the Melbourne guy (assuming he's the one at redwingshoes.com.au?) asking about copper. Hopefully that'll workout, otherwise the LLBeans look like a reasonable alternative.

I do really like the look of the Daytons, but you've put me off them. I also looked into a pair of Vibergs, but they looked a bit... clompy? Kind of heavy looking or something.

Thanks again, definitely given me plenty to consider.

>>7688917
I don't yet, but a friend has to redo his bike course to renew his learner's bike permit, and agreed to go with him. Guess I'll use them as my riding boots come the time.

[Anonymous No.7688968]

>>7688934
>and this allows them better quality control on their leathers
unlike chippewa that make the katadins and wolverine, both of which appear to have more instances of wack qc than rw but i could be wrong

[Anonymous No.7688998]

>>7688942
>Hahaha, wow. I really appreciate the comprehensive response.
That's k; I'm interested in the copper's still. I'm pissed because up until recently, all my calculations involved that US site and the 30% off. Then I saw the whole int. postage prohibition.


>I've contacted the Melbourne guy (assuming he's the one at redwingshoes.com.au?) asking about copper.

Hey, if this thread is still around when you get an answer, bump it with what you hear, will you? I'd be interested to hear if it's possible for him to get them in (and if there's any premiums). My ambers I think are too small - it's either another pair of IR's that i'll get where I am now (overseas) or even some Chevalier Captoes from Indo; ahven't decided yet.

He's a pleasant guy, gruff old aussie type, but was helpful enough. Might be someone else answering the email though.

Have you considered the Beckman?

> I also looked into a pair of Vibergs, but they looked a bit... clompy?
When people talk of Viberg, they're pretty much talking about their Service Boot. Expensive, perhaps more than they're worth, but solid - and no history of horror like that other canadian company, Dayton.

[Anonymous No.7689006]

>>7688998
>Chevalier Captoes
A cheaper, more easily attainable alternative to the slimmer, Viberg look.

[Anonymous No.7689024]

"what's the colour of tha 2cent piece...?"

[Anonymous No.7689035]

>>7688998
Good luck getting those.

Oak street Bootmakers Trench boot is good to.

[Anonymous No.7689045]

>>7689035
I liked them in pictures more than irl.
Come to think of it, the Vibergs looked better in pics than irl. Pointier than I had imagined.
Still like them more than the OSB's though.

[Anonymous No.7689049]

>>7689045
fat and flat like ur mum's mum

[Anonymous No.7689068]

>>7688942
Look at the "Dayton" AMA on reddit (ama is like interview)

The dude talks about quality control and changing it, If I were you I'd go for dayton.

[Anonymous No.7689075]

>>7688386
what kind of oil did you use?
rw advise mink oil for the copper, and their boot oil for the amber.
did you use something else perhaps?

[Anonymous No.7689091]

>>7689068
Talk is cheap. If they haven't changed the CEO, then it's just that. The guy mentions "incompetence and bad management of the previous year" in is spiel and yet the same fool is running the show.

Order Dayton with care.

[Anonymous No.7689113]

>>7689068
>The dude talks about quality control and changing it, If I were you I'd go for dayton.

>taking at face value what a marketing/Cust serv, drone is paid to say on the internet

Gold star for being a Grade-A consumer!

[Anonymous No.7689198]

Seems like a good place to ask.
What should I use to care for my Katahdins for urban wear? I live in Colorado so it snows every couple weeks. (Like today, snowed a fuckload but they won't be here tomorrow.)
I went back in the archive and found this infographic, and I've read that LL Bean recommends nikwax as well, but a reply to it said that the older style conditioenrs (obernaufs, mink oil, etc) are better for it because it is an older style boot.

Any advice /fa/? I don't wanna baby them, but I do wanna keep them protected from water and scuffs. Bonus points for not darkening the leather too much.

[Anonymous No.7689399]

>>7689198
bump

[Anonymous No.7689481]

>>7689075
no i use mink oil for all my leather, then i polish it with a little wax based polish to get the sheen to stay for a little while (as shiny as they are in that pic for about a week)

[Anonymous No.7690436]

>>7689198
Email chippewa or LL Bean and ask for their advice.
That or look on mfa; they'll have a billion posts on katas

[Anonymous No.7691286]

>>7688998
Fell asleep for the night and the thread's still alive, and I just got a response from the redwingshoes.com.au, literally as I was typing. They have one size 9 in stock and more are arriving in 4/5 weeks.

Pretty cool that you have some experience with him in person. I might even hold out on buying them online if I'm going to Melbourne in the next couple months (my friend is moving down, might do a weekend trip), and buy them in store.

I haven't really considered the Beckman. I prefer the straight toe on the IRs. And the Viberg Service Boots kind of looked to much like chukkas as I recalled, but looking again, especially on people, they're much better than I thought - really nice, possibly nicer than the IRs, but a few hundred out of my price range. Viberg's got a really nice moc boot that I'd love at some point though. I saw a pair on ebay pretty cheap, and I'll keep an eye out for a pair in my size. They're nicer than the RW 875 imo.

[genghis khan !/3DUcWLUKs No.7691291]

>>7691286
W2c pic related

[Anonymous No.7691300]

>>7691291
If you're a UK 10, they look awesome in brown, and these are a bargain.

www.ebay.com/itm/Russell-Moccasin-Birdshooter-Vibram-Viberg-hunting-work-boot-uk-10-E-11-/301080214598

[Anonymous No.7691313]

>>7691286
Oops, sorry. I don't think they're by Viberg. I haven't done much research on them, sort of just seen them around.

[Anonymous No.7691414]

How on earth do I get American boots in the UK? Customs taxes are an absolute nightmare so I can't import.

[Anonymous No.7691430]

tfw you will never get a pair of vibergs

[Anonymous No.7691437]

>>7691430
Wouldn't worry too much. I think most boot-enthusiasts look kind of chunky and workweary. Not a good look imho.

You also never see these guys in WAYWT for some reason. Only goofs.

[Anonymous No.7693147]

When can you comfortably wear Iron Rangers?
I assume you can't wear them in winter because of slippery soles and lack of thermal insulation.
You can't wear them in summer because they don't breath.
So it leaves only chill periods with no snow like autumn, right?

[Anonymous No.7693151]

>>7691437
cause most goofs need to be reassured that they can actually pull off what theyre wearing

[Anonymous No.7694939]

>>7691286
4/5 weeks bleargh

Did whomever you were in contact with remark upon possible pricing?

The ambers they've got are the cheapest, but I think that's just because they're the most popular and this guy wants to encourage sales. Black and Hawthorne cost more IIRC.

Oh well, pity I'm not a 9. (well, 9 in RW's weird sizing).

I would strongly suggest, since RW does have odd sizing on their IR/Beck last, to try them on in person if you can. Apart from the fact that they're in US sizing, I had to size down a full size and a half to get a good fit (turns out I should've stopped at one whole size but next time - all a learning experience).

I guess I'll look out for a thread in 6 weeks or so about copper ir's lel.

I'm ordering some RM's now, and wonder if I should bother tacking on a pair of Riggers as well?

They're not particularly special in any way, but they are relatively inexpensive and easily obtainable for me, and don't have a captoe/straight-toe which would be my preference, but they do have a lower profile than RWs characteristic bulbousness that the Wolverines also have to an extent.

[Anonymous No.7695342]

>>7694939
Didn't get a price, an I wish I had. Didn't really think about that at the time. The ambers they actually have in my size (I have really small feet for my height so I'm a US 8-8.5 typically, and they have 7 and 7.5). I think I'll go a 7.5 and wear them with thick wool socks. I'd rather they be too big than too small.

I would try a pair on IRL, but I live in the capital, and we don't have anything here, as far as I'm aware...

The Riggers look nice, but just nice. The eyelets seem quite bold and they don't really strike me as anything special. I'd give them a miss, personally.

I'll definitely post a thread when I get my IRs. Probably just an inspo thread, or a summary of my experience with buying RWs for the other Australians on the board.

[Anonymous No.7695790]

>>7695342
>but I live in the capital
>I think I'll go a 7.5
lol

The ambers (that don't fit me as well I had thought) are 7.5's, and I'm in Canberra most of the time I'm in Oz too lel.

That's what I mean about their funny sizing. I'm usually an 8UK, but these 7.5's (6.5 UK's) fitted me pretty well (or so I had initially thought; only just now notice that the right foot's second toe touches the end of the boot - fucking morton's toe god dammit - left foot is as comfy as can be, but the right... just god dammit).

Keep an eye out on aussie ebay as I'm thinking of getting rid of them there in a few weeks (gotta get back there for the beginning of the new semester). I don't advocate 2nd hand shoes, especially the kind that have already molded to another's foot, but they'd be going cheap no doubt.

I'm going to send the RW guy an email and ask about pricing (doubt they'd be low like the amber though). Depending on what he's thinking of selling them for, and depending on whether the chevalier retailer I've found actually replies to me about stock levels (fucking chinese new year), then I might just pick up the copper's where I am.
370 AUD ffs. Still, I'd get them instantly rather than in another month or more.

Decisions, decisions. If only I didn't have to pay uni fees and rent and shit and I'd buy exactly what I want.

Yeah I agree about the Rigs. I just figure that I'm in Australia at the moment, so "support aussie made hurr" - I'm buying a lot of chelsea's while I'm there because I don't know where I'll be (how far away from oz) in a few year's time.

[Anonymous No.7696488]

>>7693147
So long as you're not clomping around in the snow, uninsulated boots like iron rangers, Katadhin's, etc are fine for winter wear, just have a good pair of socks underneath. Source: I'm in Altoona

[Anonymous No.7696826]

>>7689024
those look awesome even when paired with horrid jeans.

[Anonymous No.7698172]

>>7695790
lol, fancy that. ANU student, no doubt.

I'm usually a Uk 7.5, so do you think they'll fit? If they're going cheap, I'll definitely take them off your hands. I'll be sure to keep an eye out. I'd be tempted to replace the insole regardless of how worn they are if they're used.

I'm definitely willing to fork out $370. Cheapest I'll get a new pair is around that $320 mark anyway. $50 isn't a terribly large difference.

Yeah, buying Australian also obviously means returns, repairs, etc, I'd imagine. That sort of makes it a little more worthwhile.

[Anonymous No.7698333]

>>7696488
nah m8, not with my climate