OT/new red wing boots

Nancy Howell · May 14, 2012

Boots get a passing grade on comfort. Wore them most of the day Sat. Steel cap never pinched, no rubbing or discomfort.

Boots didn't do so well for being waterproof. We had rain Friday and Friday night. Sat. was cool and overcast. Grass was very wet. Pant legs were wet almost to the knee. Water eventually seeped in and feet, socks were wet.

Put the boots in the oven at very low "warm" setting and eventually got them dry. They were soaked through. Cleaned them up with a soft brush, getting all sand and debris out of the stitching, seams and tongue gusset.

Put them back in the oven to get them warm. Then applied a good dressing, don't remember the name, but its supposed to condition and waterproof.

Worked the dressing into the stitching and seams with an old toothbrush while the boots were warm. Rubbed it in with my fingers other places.

Put the boots back in the oven to make sure the dressing absorbed well.

We'll see what happens next time grass is real wet.

George Rausch · May 14, 2012

I've always run Red Wings, and have not ever got them water-proof. I work in KIWI Wet-Proof. Great steel toes, and have saved my feet several tiomes, but never water-proof. Try LL Bean rubber boots, always 100% water-proof. Very comfortble too.

Anonymous-0 · May 14, 2012

I always get new boots wet and wear them till dry if possible. It helps to break them and and they form to my feet better.
Used to do that in the Army with new boots.
Just my 2 cents...

Ellis Kinney · May 14, 2012

There is no such thing as a completely water proof pair of leather boots. I wear Red Wing boots exclusively and treat them with Sno-Seal. It is a waxy like product that should be warmed to a liquid and applied with a tooth brush. RE; steel toed boots, the chemical plants and manufacturing plants are getting away from steel toed boots, the thinking is that a heavy object could mash the steel into your toes and cut them off. I know you have horses and suspect that's the reason for steel toes. Ellis

Anonymous-0 · May 14, 2012

Ya-but rubber boots will be full of water ifin you are wet to the knees.:>)

NCWayne · May 14, 2012

If you need waterproof go with the Wolverines or the Timberlands next time. Been wearing one or the other for nearly 20 years and my feet have never gotten wet with either one.....and my feet getting wet is one thing I absolutely HATE.

Nancy Howell · May 14, 2012

Moisture was from wet grass, so rubber boots would not have filled up even if I had tucked the pant leg inside the boot.

Problem with wearing rubber boots for an extended period is your socks/feet get damp because they don't breathe.

oldtanker · May 14, 2012

Nancy, I've had foot problems sense the 70"s. Couple of years ago the Doc chewed me out about "cheap" boots. I got a pair of Red Wings that day at 240 dollars. That's some of the best money I've ever spent.

Rick

Detmurds · May 14, 2012

Every quality boot needs to be properly treated. I use the Whistle Workwear Leather Protection on my Red Wing boots, and it helps maintain dryness all the time.

Harold Hubbard · May 14, 2012

I always figured anything that hit my foot hard enough to collapse the steel toecap would have turned my toes to jelly anyway.

Anonymous-0 · May 14, 2012

I worked at John Deere Des Moines works for 33 years. We had to wear steel toed boots with metatarsal guards. The metatarsal guard protects the top of your foot.They found that in most cases the heavy object landed behind the toes thus injuring the top of the foot. Saved me a couple of times.

BushogPapa · May 14, 2012

Nancy, when you get the Red Wings properly treated with "SnoSeal", they will be "water-proof", even though the leather will appear to get wet..and they will dry to "as new condition"...
Re-treat a couple of times and you will be amazed..!

Ron..

BushogPapa · May 14, 2012

Nancy, when you get the Red Wings properly treated with "SnoSeal", they will be "water-proof", even though the leather will appear to get wet..and they will dry to "as new condition"...
Re-treat a couple of times and you will be amazed..!

Ron..

MarkB_MI · May 14, 2012

New Red Wings usually need to be waterproofed. I like to use a light treatment with Red Wing boot oil, followed by Snow Seal. The boots will usually soak up most of the Snow Seal if left in a very warm spot. Too much heat isn't good.

Note that not all Red Wing leathers are suitable for treatment with boot oil. Boot oil and Snow Seal will both darken leather. Check the Red Wing site for specific waterproofing recommendations.

After boots get a year or two old, no amount of treatment will make them waterproof, because the stitches get loose and allow water it. However, the exception is if you dig deep in your wallet and spring for a pair of Gore-Tex lined boots. They'll keep your feet dry, even if the boots themselves are soaked through.

Texasmark1 · May 14, 2012

I read your original post and I am confused.

My uncle was a mobile shoe salesman for Red Wing industrial shoes for his entire career after graduating college with a business degree. The logo was a red foot with a red wing attached similar to the Good Year logo. Shoes were of utmost quality and made in the USA. He traveled the industrial sites along the Houston, TX. Ship Channel where a lot of chemical and industrial complexes exist.

Recently I bought some shoes from the Guide Gear Internet site and the advertisement said Red Wing. Well they weren't Red Wing, rather Red Wings made in China. The logo was similar but decidedly different.

The shoes were quality shoes and I got good wear out of them and they were priced right, but they were not what they claimed to be......just to set the record straight.

Guide Gear missed it on this one and I am not impressed with their (deliberate????) mistake.

Mark

dr sportster · May 14, 2012

Heat is not the best thing for leather drying. The only oil for Red Wings is Red Wing Oil.

TomH in PA · May 14, 2012

Last time I was in a Red Wing store most of the shoes and boots were made in China. They had a few that were made in USA and cost about twice as much as the China ones; I figured I may as well get the good ones, wasn't going to pay that much for shoes that probably cost $2 to manufacture in China.

John730D · May 14, 2012

My Aunt used to work at a Red Wing store, and I said I used mink oil to seal my boats. She said NEVER use any animal fats because they "eat" the stitching. The store I buy from always waterproofs mine for free.

Mark - IN. · May 14, 2012

Nancy, I love Red Wings. Every pair that I purchased though, killed my feet until they broke in. I wear linemens boots, some 16", and new they do a better job of breaking my feet down than themselves in. Takes a bitterly painful few weeks to break them in until they are good to go. I always coat them with mink oil before I wear them, and heat in the oven low like you did, and every pair water proofed well. One problem though. I always use extreme amounts of mink oil to get the leather waterproofed so well, that it goes through the leather, black leather. Turns the white sock black, every single day for a good half year. But, I can get into water almost to the top of them and not a drop gets in. Even if it did, my blackened water proof socks would protect my feet.

Good luck.

JDseller · May 14, 2012

Red Wing has shoes made in China and the USA. The easy way to tell is if the sole is sewed on. If it is sewed then it is US made. If it has a molded sole then it is a China made shoe.

The US made ones start out at $150 and go up. I wear insulated and water proof ones they cost about $275 list and I can usually bargain them at $225.

OT/new red wing boots

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