Red Wing Men's Iron Ranger 6" Boot

I'm not a boot expert. I did work at Timberland for 7 years and had to wear their boots for my shifts. I'm going to say that I "understand" how boots fit and how they should feel. But again, I'm not a boot expert.I was in the market for a new set of boots, mostly for looks. I REALLY like the way these boots look!I've read almost every review I could find and looked at countless pictures. I settled on the Copper Rough & Tough color. I am not disappointed.Sizing/FitI've been wearing them for one week so far.The numerous reviews I've read had me torn in the sizing of the boots. I'm too lazy to go out and try them on in a store, so I bit the bullet and bought a 7.5; I wear an 8 in running shoes (Adidas, Reebok, Saucony, Asics), 7.5 in Vans, 7 in Converse All Stars. It seemed that the reviews were split 50/50 between a half size down to a full size down. I chose a half size down. They fit just as Timberland classic 6" boots fit. I am not disappointed and I don't have to exchange the size. Size 7.5 fits just right for my size 8 foot!There is room in the toe-box. I expect as they get better worn the space will lessen; not enough to where my toes will hit the front. The leather is a bit tough but definitely not the toughest/hardest leather I've experienced in boots. The tongue leather is the softest/thinnest portion. The left boot is "breaking" differently directly after the toe-cap; it pinches my toes when I squat on the balls of my feet. I expect that will completely disappear as they get better worn; I'm not concerned with the pinching.There is NO arch support. Don't expect it. Going a half size down still leaves room for me to have an insole but I'm not going to. I'm interested in seeing how the footbed wears in and conforms to my foot. I got used to wearing flat shoes since I started Crossfit and read all sorts of information on how Vans, Converse, and any other flat shoe is actually better for your foot muscles, so I'm used to the flatness of these boots. I do not have flat feet. These boots feel fine to me and I would not describe them as uncomfortable. The are surprisingly comfortable for boots; not what I remember from my Timberland days (a decade ago and I haven't worn boots since).The sole is lug-less; kind of smooth. It's advertised as oil-resistant, but not necessarily slip resistant. I stepped on a wet spot in the parking lot and I felt some slippage. I would not consider these work boots. I consider them more fashion forward. However, I was surprised at how much heritage there is with Red Wing; I had no idea.I've already gotten a few compliments on them. They look great. I'm looking forward to seeing them after much wear. I'm very sure they'll look better with age.I'm very, very pleased with these boots. They were very expensive (for me at least) but less expensive on Amazon than anyplace else ($60 less!). I expect to have them for a very long time.They're great.11-06-15 Update:I've been wearing these boots about 3 days per week. They were stiff and my left was pinching where the toe cap creases. I was hoping for more give/molding to the footbed but it didn't go as planned. I ended up just taking an insole out of an existing pair of shoes and using that. The insole wasn't very thick but it added some cushion underneath the ball of my feet and some arch support. I didn't necessarily want the arch support but I did want some cushion to ease the hot spots under my foot (ball of feet and under my heel). The addition of the insert messed with the heel cup and my foot sat slightly higher in the boot. This caused some uncomfortable rubbing. I took the insole out and the boot had stretched nicely!Note: I was using the generic insole with thicker socks and spraying the outside of the boot with rubbing alcohol. I did this for a week and the boots stretched very nicely.They fit great now. The only concern is the footbed is hard and the ball of my feet feel it; not painful, just noticeable.I took a vacation to New York (first time) and walked about 10+ miles a day. I wore these for one of those days and had no problems with the fitment or comfort. My feet hurt but that was due to the amount of walking and had nothing to do with the boots (they hurt equaling on the other days, wearing other footwear).I just bought a pair of SuperFeet Green insoles (on Amazon of course). I put them in and they take up all the extra space in the boots. The boots fit snug with the SuperFeet in. Undoubtedly they will stretch more. The cushioning is nice and the arch support is nice. I'm not sure I like the insoles yet. The SuperFeet insoles raise my heel up more than the generic insole I was using before, however I don't feel the same heel-rub. It doesn't feel like it'll be an issue with these insoles. My heel feels nice and snug against the boot.Note: I noticed that my foot sits much nicer in the boot if I make sure my foot is all the way in the heel and the boots are laced all the way up, or at a minimum, to the second highest speed lace.

Amazing pair of boots! I loved them so much! However I ended up returning them because I just couldn’t afford the price. Someday I’ll order them again ☺️

This is the 2nd set of Red Wings I've ever purchased. Just a heads up, the reviews are true. These shoes run large. Most people go down 1 size but if you wear a 9.5, it's best to size down to an 8. Yes..........1.5 sizes down. Don't ask me why because I really don't know. I had spent a good hour at a Red Wing store getting fitted and trying on various sizes. Size 8 if you normally wear a 9.5.Thank you Pierelli Global Brands for sending me the boots quickly and at a very good price.Now about the boots........it will suck the first 2-4 weeks of wearing them. When new, the leather is stiff and quite unforgiving. Especially if you are like me where I had to size down 1.5, it starts off pretty tight. However, be patient with them. Put on a layer of boot oil to help break them in, wear some thick socks, and nurture it a bit. The insole will start to conform to your feet and the leather will stretch and soften. How quickly it breaks in will depend on how often you wear them but I notice a change after wearing them everyday for about two weeks. Once that happens, these things will be your best friend. The shoes will feel like they were custom molded to your feet. And the beauty is that they get more comfortable the more you wear it. I had literally hiked 3 miles in my old pair of 9111 Classic Round models without a problem. My best advice is to try them on first! Either at a Redwing store, or somewhere that carries Redwing shoes with a knowledgeable salesman. Just remember the leather will stretch so make sure they fit snug brand new.Specifics about this model, they are very stylish and versatile. You can wear them with some dark jeans for a night out, or it can work with faded jeans for casual, or whatever. You can even wear these out to work all day, come home, polish it up and put them back on for a date. It's very very versatile! I purchased the black leather model and I almost don't want to use them because it might seem a little too formal. It also looks delicate which makes me not want to wear it too much to scuff up. Don't get me wrong, they are by no means delicate. These babies can take a beating and then some. But it just looks so clean when new I just want to baby them. Given another 6 months, I'll probably be living in these things.Another thing to keep in mind about the Iron Rangers is that they have no traction in the snow. A picture of sole will tell you everything. It does not have any lugs/treads at the bottom which keeps it from getting decent traction on the ground. They are made to be "work boots" but I wonder sometimes because of the sole. Either way, just make sure you be careful when the weather acts up.Lastly, make sure you get yourself some type of boot oil or polish to treat it every month. These things are made of thick leather which will last forever if periodically cared for. Most dirt and debris can be solved with a wet cloth and a brush, but if you live in a city where there is constant exposure to road salt, oils, and chemicals, its best to oil them up regularly.Overall, these things are fantastic! I would recommend these to anyone looking for a stylish boot that will last for years. If you are looking for something comfortable immediately out of the box, then they might not be for you. But otherwise, I'll gladly recommend them. They are pretty pricey. That is about all the advice I can give that hasn't been said already on other reviews. Hope this helps.