Best Red Wing Work Boots of 2023

Red Wing work boots have been around since the early 1900s and remain as popular as ever today. The legacy brand differentiates itself from other boot brands with the style it infuses into its footwear along with durability and practicality. Most of the company’s work boots feature oiled leather, which gives them a richer look, and many are equipped with lug or wedge soles that are more streamlined. Eye-catching details such as contrasting stitching and brass eyelets add to their vintage look.

Though you won’t find steel toes on many Red Wing boots, they are rugged enough for the workplace. The oiled leather uppers do a great job of warding off water and they’re durably built with triple-stitched seams and a Goodyear welt. We’ve sorted through hundreds of pairs to find the best Red Wing work boots.

Best Overall: Red Wing Iron Ranger

Best Lightweight: Red Wing Heritage Blacksmith

Best for Hard Floors: Red Wing Heritage Classic Moc

Best for Women: Red Wing Women’s Chukka

Best Budget: Red Wing Rover

How We Picked the Best Red Wing Work Boots

In assessing these boots, we used the following criteria:

Comfort: All Red Wing boots are designed to keep your feet comfortable over long days at work. In considering the boots for this article, we chose models that feature roomy toe boxes, soles that provide adequate shock absorption, and lace up designs that allow the wearer to achieve a snug fit.

Safety: Many of Red Wing’s work boots are designed with the hard core safety features found in other brands. Most do not have steel toes and padded shafts. However, many have wedge style outsoles that provide excellent traction and stability on smooth surfaces.

Style: Since they are such an attractive boot, many people purchase Red Wing work boots not to wear to work but to wear out. We kept this in mind when making our choices, choosing boots that were not only suitable for the workplace but also a good choice for wearing out after the workday is over. 

Best Red Wing Work Boots: Reviews and Recommendations

Best Overall: Red Wing Iron Ranger

Specs

Sizes: 6-12

Material: Oil-tanned leather

Weight: 2.76 pounds

Pros

Water-resistant

Double layer leather toe cap

Goodyear welt and triple stitch construction

 Cons 

No steel toe cap

The fact that the Iron Ranger was designed for use by iron miners in Minnesota back in the 1930s is a pretty good indication of just how well built these boots are. They’re constructed with oil-tanned leather that has natural water and scuff resistant qualities. They also have safety features you would expect from a work boot designed for guys working with heavy equipment and large rocks, including a double layer leather toe cap, and a steel shank that protects the foot from punctures.

The Iron Ranger’s are also built to endure a beating, thanks to a Goodyear welt and triple-stitched construction. Red Wing equips the boot with a Vibram outsole, which is highly regarded for its durability, comfort, and traction. A large bulbous bump toe gives you room to wiggle your toes, while a 6.5-inch shaft and lace-up style provide a secure fit with good ankle support. While the Rangers are a great work boot, they’re also stylish thanks to high contrast stitching and brass eyelets.

Best Lightweight: Red Wing Heritage Blacksmith

Specs

Sizes: 7-13

Material: Oil-tanned leather

Weight: 1.8 pounds

Pros

Durable oil-tanned leather

Stylish enough to wear out

Goodyear welt and triple stitch construction

 Cons 

No hard toe cap

Given that Red Wing is well over 100 years old, many of its boots have their roots in the early 20th century and the Blacksmith is an example of this. At less than 2 pounds, it’s one of the lightest work boot Red Wing offers.

Based off of the classic work boot worn in farm fields and workshops in the early 1900s, its oiled and waxed leather and 6-inch column were originally designed to protect Blacksmiths from hot embers that would fly off the forge. Those features now keep water out of the boot while also making them very durable. As with Red Wing’s other work boots, the Blacksmith features a Goodyear welt and triple stitching that adds durability, though the lack of a hard toe cap does limit their use as a work boot. The Vibram mini lug sole keeps the boots light while providing plenty of traction. 

Similar to other Red Wing boots, the Blacksmith features a bump toe that makes for a roomy toe box. Like most of Red Wing’s boots, the Blacksmith has form to go with their function. The oiled leather and brass eyelets give the boots a classic look that  makes them just at home for a night out on the town as they are in the workplace.

Best for Hard Floors: Red Wing Heritage Classic Moc

Specs

Sizes: 6-12

Material: Oil-tanned leather

Weight: 1.9 pounds

Pros

Flat sole distributes pressure throughout the foot

Durable oil-tanned leather

Roomy mock toe

 Cons 

Expensive

Working on hard concrete surfaces, such as those found on factory floors and loading docks, can be murder on the soles of your feet not to mention your knees and hips. The Moc Toe boot is a great counter to those unforgiving surfaces with its wedge style sole. 

That broad, flat outsole has greater surface area than a standard lug sole that has a gap between the heel and the toe box. This design distributes pressure across the entire foot reducing fatigue, while also improving traction on smooth surfaces. 

The thick midsole also has the added benefit of better absorbing impacts, thanks to cork filler in the midsole, a crucial characteristic when working on hard surfaces. 

Per its name, the boot has a moc toe, a common design with wedge style work boots. This toe style is roomy while allowing for flexibility when crouching or walking. A 6-inch column provides excellent support while still offering plenty of freedom of movement. And though the Moc boot is one of the pricier work boots you’ll find, they’ll last longer than most work boots thanks to its triple stitching and oiled leather.

Best for Women: Red Wing Women’s Chukka

Specs

Sizes: 6.5-9.5

Material: Oil-tanned leather

Weight: 1.5 pounds

Pros

Wedge style sole adds traction and shock absorption

Oversized toe box 

Stylish enough to wear out

 Cons 

Expensive

Red Wing’s classic round toe boot was originally developed for farmers back in the early 1900s. When the company found out that many women were wearing men’s round toe work boots, the company decided it was time to make a version of this boot for women. Like the original men’s boot, the women’s version features a wedge sole that offers stability while also creating a thick outsole for plenty of shock absorbing cushioning. The lace-up style allows for adjustments to fit the contours of your feet while the oversized toe box preserves room in the toe box. 

The women’s round toe boot is just as rugged as the original with oiled leather, triple stitching and the same Goodyear welt found on Red Wing’s men’s boots. Inside there’s an insole that molds to the shape of the foot. Though the two boots are very similar, there are subtle differences. The women’s version has a sleeker design, is better suited for narrower feet, and is notably lighter. This pair of boots weighs less than 1.5 pounds. And, like Red Wing’s men’s work boots, they are stylish enough to wear out as well as at work.

Best Budget: Red Wing Rover

Specs

Sizes: 6.5-9.5

Material: Oil-tanned leather

Weight: 1.5 pounds

Pros

Great traction and comfort with wedge style sole

Multiple color options

Affordably priced

 Cons 

Very little tread on the sole

Red Wing boots are among the most highly regarded and sought after workboots on the market thanks to the quality of the materials and construction methods used to make each pair. Unfortunately, that also means they’re very expensive. Well, most of them. The Rovers are an exception. 

While there are no cheap Red Wing work boots, this pair costs less than other Red Wing boots but delivers much of the same quality. With a nearly smooth flat wedge sole, they’ll grip to smooth slick surfaces. In addition to providing excellent traction, the 6-inch shaft and lace up design allows the wearer to achieve a snug fit with good ankle support. A thick midsole provides ample cushioning and shock absorption while distributing pressure evenly across the foot, keeping feet from getting sore and tired over long days of standing or walking. 

The boots also come equipped with Red Wing’s time tested construction methods, which include triple stitching and a Goodyear welt and oiled leather. As with other boots in the Heritage collection, the Rovers have a vintage look that make them dressy enough for a night out.

What to Consider When Choosing Red Wing Work Boots

Construction

A set of good Red Wing boots have a reputation for lasting a long time, a testament to the build quality of the boots. Features such as triple stitching, a Goodyear welt and rubber soles are common across the company’s entire product line. You’ll also find oiled genuine leather on most Red Wing boots. This leather treatment not only gives the boots a classic look, it also makes them more resistant to foul weather conditions and preserves the leather. Inside the boot are insoles that are made from materials that help cushion the footbed, including high density foam. 

Style

Red Wing leather work boots are about as much about style as they are about performance. Unlike brands that make pure work boots, a good chunk of the boots that Red Wing sells are purchased for their form over their function. Red Wing’s boots borrow from century-old styles that give them a vintage look that make them an attractive boot. The oiled leather, use of contrast stitching, and lighter weight make them a good choice for casual wear, too.

Comfort

Comfort is crucial when choosing a work boot. Red Wing’s focus is on the flexibility and roominess it builds into its boots. Most Red Wing boots basically arrive broken in thanks oiled leather that makes them soft and malleable right out of the box. Most of Red Wing’s boots feature either bulbous toe boxes that allow for more room or broad Moc toes that are roomy and flexible, allowing enough space for the weare to wiggle their toes.

Shaft

Most of Red Wing’s line of work boots have a 6-inch shaft with a lace-up design that consists of brass eyelets and hooks. This design allows the wearer to fit the boots snugly around the ankles, providing excellent support during the workday.

FAQs

Best Red Wing Work Boots: Final Thoughts

Best Overall: Red Wing Iron Ranger

Best Lightweight: Red Wing Heritage Blacksmith

Best for Hard Floors: Red Wing Heritage Classic Moc

Best for Women: Red Wing Women’s Chukka

Best Budget: Red Wing Rover

The best Red Wing work boots mix the iconic style of an early 1900s work boot with materials and construction methods that make them both rugged and durable. The brand’s Iron Ranger, inspired by boots made for iron miners in the early 20th century, is a great example of Red Wing’s mix of form and function. So too is the company’s Blacksmith work boot, which was originally designed to protect feet from burning embers.

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