Making one pair of Red Wings takes about 250 steps from start to finish. Red Wing Heritage also reproduces a few of the best vintage styles, but to get your hands on those you will have to look in Japan. You can find many older pairs on eBay and Etsy - they’re easily identified by the Irish Setter logo on the inside of the tongue. While the modern styles feature insulation and cushioning, the vintage Irish Setter line is more akin to Red Wing Heritage styles. Irish Setter: Irish Setter is a traditional Red Wing brand geared towards hunters. The large white rubber wedge won’t mark factory floors and provides generous cushioning. Traction Tred: This non-marking outsole is most closely associated with Red Wing boots. Invented by Vibram, the lug sole provides great traction and weather protection. Lug Sole: A classic rubber sole construction common in Red Wings and most other heavy-duty work boots featuring thick rubber treads. Vibram: One of the oldest and most storied rubber outsole brands, Vibram is renowned for its quality. Named for the moccasin style and shape, this style is created when the leather seams meet on the top of the toe. Moc Toe: One of Red Wing’s most recognizable toe shapes. Red Wing uses at least eight different lasts dating back to the 1930s.Ĭap Toe: A self-explanatory style in which an additional layer of leather forms a reinforcement “cap” over the toe (read: added durability). In the manufacturing process, the shoe upper is pulled over the last to give it its shape. Last: This is the silhouette of a shoe or boot. This patented process makes the boots weather resistant and allows them to be resoled again and again. Most Red Wings are made with Goodyear-welt construction. This is the piece of leather around the edge of the sole which the rest of the boot is attached to. Welt: The welt is one of the keys to a long shoe life. The harder the midsole, the longer the break-in time, but the longer the lifespan. Midsole: This section of the boot separates your feet from the outsole. Your dress shoes probably have leather outsoles while most Red Wings will have a rubber outsole or a combination of rubber and leather. The outsole can be made from all matter of materials. Outsole: This is the part of the boot that touches the ground. These terms aren’t specific to Red Wing Heritage but are important to understand before exploring specific boots. This guide will help you navigate classic styles from the Red Wing Heritage catalog, but before you dive in, take a minute to familiarize yourself with important boot terminology.Įvery shoe is made up of a variety of parts that all affect the comfort, style and durability. Made to the same exacting standards as their work boots, Red Wing Heritage styles have a wide appeal and are just as appropriate on the ranch or factory floor as they are in the office or at home. The brand’s boots are the gold standard for men’s footwear and are stocked at men’s clothing shops the world over.
“The foundation is built upon making quality footwear for people to wear on the job,” says Steve Spencer, Managing Director of Red Wing Heritage. Based on classic models, the styles prioritize work-ready function. While mainline Red Wing continues to supply construction workers and outdoorsmen, Red Wing Heritage, introduced in 2008, revives styles from the brand’s archive. Sturdy, classic and well-loved by generations, the boots and shoes are still handmade in Red Wing’s Minnesota plant. After the war, Red Wing became a household name across the country thanks to its safe and hearty boots made for factory workers, farmers and outdoorsmen. Founded in 1905 by Charles Beckman - and still privately held and family-operated today - the brand grew quickly, supplying doughboys with boots designed for the muddy trenches of WWI. Red Wing Shoe Company is named after the small Minnesota town where it manufactures a range of rugged boots and shoes.
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