Anyone wears Red Wing

[nick__45]

I have a pair and they super great. It is Roper type so comfort is a given although you can't really run in them. I am looking for another pair but really want to try the tie up type, possibly one with side-zipper so I wouldn't have to spend too much time pulling lacing. Does anyone have experience with Red Wing? If so, do you think it is worth the price and whether it is cheaper to get them from online vendor?

[sandrark]

Red Wing shoes are expensive, but they last. My DH wears them every work day, and has added the gel inserts, since he stands on concrete a lot.

Not sure if you can get them cheaper online or not; just know that we never go "cheap" on footwear.

Sandi

[nick__45]

I just got a new pair today since I deserve it. It is the most expensive one in the store and all of the protection I would ever need. I value my feet health and protection so 300 dollars is the price for that peace of mind. They are no where near as comfortable as my other Red Wing boots, which require no break-in. It is night and day but things should be better after 2 weeks of break-in. I'll be wearing them indoor and decide whether to keep them or just get the exact same pair as what I already like, which is actually 30% cheaper but without puncture resistance protection and insulation.

[snafu]

Check the details, I believe they are all made in China now. Do they still carry a 30 day comfort guarantee?

[nick__45]

Originally Posted by snafu

Check the details, I believe they are all made in China now. Do they still carry a 30 day comfort guarantee?

Mine previous and newly purchased Red Wing boots are made in USA. Their WORX line is made in China and it is hard to tell the difference between them and similar Red Wing pairs. WORX boots tend to be low cut and simpler sole design at the stores I buy from. The material is import though. Honestly, I have not seen any authentic Red Wing with "Made in China" label. However, I can't tell if the entire boots are made in the USA or just the tag. This was New Balance's trick of the 90s.

The 30 days comfort is still there. The pair I just bought is comfortable but it is super heavy. I don't know if I will keep it though so I wear indoor only. I walked 6 hours in the mall today and my feet hurt the first 10 mins because the boot soles do not flex due to being new and it has puncture resistance plate. After 15 minutes, my feet adjust and the pain went away. However, the heavy feeling didn't but gotten better as time passed. Upon returning home, I switch to my old pair is a dream. That thing is so comfortable and super light comparing to the new ones even though both are steel toes.

If Red Wing boots are made in China, I wouldn't pay over 150 for them as Timberland Pro can be bought for under 150 dollars and they are Chinese product. My first and only remaining Timberland boots are now 15 years old and the leather is still tough as nail. I didn't and still not taking good care of it because I have a lot of footwear now and don't wear that pair as much because it is not steel toes. I wore it everyday in for 4.5 years in college and almost everyday the first 5 years after college. The soles are worn in certain parts and I haven't been able to find a cobbler to put a new one in for under 50 dollars. My second pair of Timberland was absolute junk and the soles splitted in half sitting in the closet unused for 8 months. No other shoes had that problem sitting in the same closet and that pair was actually less than 2 years old when I threw it out. I'll never buy regular Timberland again because they cater to people dressing like peacocks and fashion bugs instead of performance. I don't know any experience with their steel toes line though. However, there are Red Wings boots costing the same price as Timberland and Red Wing is made in the USA unlike Timberland. Therefore, I don't see the cost saving in buying a Chinese product that I had a lemon with because I figure the quality has gone down hill once folks on TV wear them. I never see Red Wing on TVs and they probably don't need to be.

[mom-from-missouri]

My dad wears them, and only them. He is diabetic and has tried all brands and this is the only brand that holds up and doesn't bother his feet. Sometimes the store runs a sale that isn't online--he watches both and whichever has the best deal he goes with.
He has several pairs, all identical. As they age or get soiled, they move down in the ranks to become work/farm shoes. The best are dress shoes, then everyday shoes, then shoes for working in public (such as at a church work day), then the final farming shoes...
I just had him check, and his most recent pair does say made in usa, but the box was printed in china......