OT: Red Wing boots

[CJB]

Folks,

I'm sitting here tonite, buying my third pair of Red Wing 1155 "Pecos" boot, this time online for an ok discount. I think I got my first pair in 1983, and another pair in 2008. That first pair, got resoled so many times the upper's wore thru. The second pair is gonna go in for its first resole now, but the uppers are still in great shape. In years past, I'd just wear somethin' else till my Red Wings came back from the factory in Red Wing, MN. This time, I cannot stand to be without, so I'm jumping the gun by 20 years or so, and getting a new pair now, so my feet have somethin' familiar to live in, and their circle of friends will widen by one pair of shoes.

Back in '83, I think I paid $79 for that first pair. The price has gone up, but the quality has not gone down. If anything, its gotten better. Along the way, I've had two sets of steel toe Red Wing boots too, one of which I still have, but of course... steel is not for every day wear.

This last pair have been on my feet every single day since November 20, 2008. Every day. Without fail. They work hard and play hard, having gone over 30,000 verified miles on the pegs of one Harley or another.

Few products are made as well, and are made better thru the years. Rugers are. Red Wings are too.

So there ya go... my Red Wing story. This will probably be the last pair of Red Wings I ever buy. Clearly, having two pair at once, they'll outlast what years I have left on God's green earth.

As has been said - never trust a biker with either creased jeans, or shiny boots.

[lamppa]

I have a pair that I wear to and from work. My everyday boots.
best boots ever. model 636 I think. I was told buy a guy that works there that model is the most comfortable model they sell in his opinion.
I also wear a pair of steel toe 8" at work. i will never buy another brand, ever again.
SUPER expensive. steel toes are 250
my everyday 636 are 200.

when anyone asks me if I recomend redwing boot I always reply the same
"no dont buy a pair. If you do, you will be stuck buying 200.00 boot for the rest of your life because they are the best"
that usually results in a new boot wearing friend.


edit: they are awesome on my harley too.
they look great after they dry out a bit, then you re-oil them. they are pretty red to begin but they brown up nice.

[CJB]

Yup, the red has long since gone from my newest, tho the steel toes are still reddish.

The 1155's are $229 MSRP (and locally thats what they get), but I found 'em a few places on line new for $189 shipped. My local guy wont budge... and considering the $15 tax locally... thats a hefty savings.

Boot and Shoe, Selma Alabama is where I'm gettin 'em. Its a brick and mortar store that also sells online.

[muggsy]

If you buy something that you like always buy three of them, because when the first one wears out you'll generally find that they don't make them anymore and you won't find a suitable replacement during your life time. Muggsy's rules to live by #3.

[CJB]

I do that for a lot of things.... But not Red Wing boots. !!!

[MW surveyor]

And whatever else you do, don't put them in the garage dirty (with ballast tank protection grease). Lost a brand new pair, worn only once when the wife decided to "clean" the garage while I was out on another job.

[Popeye]

Damn good boots those red wings. :Amflag2:

[yqtszhj]

That's the best boot I have ever owned. My first pair was bought about '83 also for about the same price you did. My second pair was after when I got married and I wore it doing underground telco construction. I completely wore out the uppers on those.

I priced a pair in the last few years and about died. It was double what i paid for the last pair. Now that you brought it up it's on my buy list again.

[TheTman]

I was going to get Red Wings, for my motorcycle boots, until I saw what they cost. I ended up buying some SWAT boots, that have good padding under leather over where you have those ankle bones stick out a little ways above your heel. They are nice and light, comfortable, and have goretex insulation for cold weather, and to keep the water out, but they also breathe well in the summer so your feet stay comfortable. I think BATES was the brand name. Nice grippy rubber soles, that grab the road well, even if you stop in an oily spot, which I try to avoid, but sometimes stuff happens.

[ltxi]

Wearing Bates and 5.11s into 7-11 can sometimes get you free coffee if you have short hair.

[forestranger]

I've had two pair of Red Wing boots. First pair bought in a fire camp near Lake Chelan, Wa. in !970 for $40. They lasted 7 yrs (with some patching) and they died on me in a fire camp near Forks of Salmon, Calif. where I bought my second pair for $60. Believe it or not, I still got em and they still wearable. 36 yrs! Think I got my moneys worth! Fine boot company!:amflag: