Red Wing Heritage Men's Roughneck Lace Up Boot

On this particular offering from Amazon, there appears to be multiple different Red Wing boots depending on which color you click on. The ones I got were style #8146, which are the moc toe version with the Briar oil slick leather. I have previously and currently own numerous pair of 6" and 8" lace up boots from Red Wing, Alden, and Allen Edmonds, all of which are made in America (at least for the Red Wing Heritage line). The latter two tend to be more expensive and for this higher expense you get a better quality leather and IMO a little better fit. However, I have always liked Red Wing boots, and while I have had problems with their foreign made products, the Heritage line is as good as Red Wings ever have been.The construction of this boot includes Goodyear welt, Vibram lug sole, cork midsole, nickle riveted eyelets, and a steel shank, all of which are what you want in a good work boot. If you need at good boot for 8 hours + on your feet wear, do not compromise on any of these features. Just a note on the Vibram sole, I had a pair of Red Wings that I wore regularly for 10 years and it took that long for the Vibram lugs to wear down to the rest of the sole. The 8146 does not have speed lacers, which I don't particularly like for 6" boots.As far as sizing and break-in goes, I recommend you have your foot measured or do some research online regarding measuring them yourself rather than going with your size in some other footwear. For an unlined work boot, I will always wear thick wool socks and with such I find these boots are very much true to size. I've owned other Red Wing boots made on the same last and I knew what to expect. For best results, visit a Red Wing store and have yourself properly fitted. I suspect some of the complaints with comfort others have experienced are due to improper fittings. You can also expect the boot to feel different after break-in as your feet settle into the cork midsole. I recommend going with your measured size initially, then sizing up or down as needed to get the right fit rather than relying on what someone else did, who may or may not have been every properly sized and/or may have a very different foot shape. The reason the 23 last has been used by Red Wing for decades is because it fits most people well. I also recommend that when you are getting measured or are trying these on, wear the type of socks you intend on wearing with them. Personally for work boots I go with a thick good quality wool blend that has a high wool content. Anything else and you're inviting blisters and poor comfort. Always wash wool socks inside out in cold water and hang them to dry.The leather on these boots is pretty typical of Red Wing boots. It's mid-range in terms of quality, but the leather is made thicker for higher durability. This means it's going to take longer to break in, but will eventually soften up nicely and flex the way your feet move once the creases form. The oil impregnated leather is going to last for many years even if you do nothing in the way of care, but if you want them to stay looking good keep them clean and brushed regularly and hit them with some leather conditioner and polish a couple of times per year.All-in-all I'd have to say I'm pretty pleased with my purchase. I have no reason to believe I won't get many years of good service from them as I have had from my other most favored pairs of Red Wings. Considering the quality of construction and proper elements of a good boot, these are an excellent value.Edit: So I'm more than a year into these boots. I wear them about once or twice a week as I have several other boots as well. They did break in quite nicely and after a bit of wear they look better than new. My only real complaint is I don't really like the Vibram sole on this boot. I have Vibram on other heavier boots, but I think I'd prefer the nitrile cork sole that's on some of the others in the Heritage line. Vibram might be a good thing if you needed the off-pavement traction. Otherwise it isn't well suited to this boot.

12month update with pictures 11/22/18. Boots still in good shape, still feel great, still cleanup great. Photos are of the boots current condition, freshly cleaned and oiled after year of hard daily use. Mine are the copper color but appear darker in photo because of freshly mink oiled. Still give these 5stars all day, any other boot I’ve ever had is smoked and blown apart between 8 and 12 months. Other than some tread wear (which is unavoidable) the actual construction of the boots show no signs failure at the year mark. One thing I’ll mention is I have leather laces for mine which I oil with the boot and like them much better than the laces that come with them. Oiled leather laces never come untied with just a single knot tie.. they also blend into the boot better as well.July 2018. Been wearing daily now for 6months. Construction, home/every day use, 4wheeling etc. I beat the hell out of boots. Alls I can say is wow, they have completely molded to become an extension of my feet. These are amazingly comfortable once broken in. Quite honestly this is the first real pair of boots or shoes I have ever owned. Yes, they’re expensive, but these are not a disposable pair of boots that will be tossed in the garbage after 8-12months. Clean and oil them every other week or so and they just look and feel awesome.Be patient with break in, these definitely require time. A good comparison would be the time it takes to break in a new quality baseball glove - these things are strait up thick cuts of leather. If you work construction or similar, DO NOT just toss these on out of the box and go try working hard labor for 8 hours, you will be in pain and want to throw them out. Haha. Wear them casualy for brief intervals to start breaking them in. These will be my everyday boots for years to come. 10 stars - buyem!

I’ve been wearing Red Wings for over 30 years. The best advice I can give from my personal experience is ; DO NOT buy Red Wings that are made in China. All of my experiences with Chinese Red Wings have been bad. This boot is the Heritage Red Wings, made in USA. These boots are perfection in regards to quality, stitching, and appearance. The USA made Heritage line of boots are of the quality that all Red Wings USED to have before the company moved most of its operations to China to maximize profits. So, to sum it up.... this pair of boots are of top notch quality, and worth every penny.

These boots are absolutely beautiful. The color is very rich and looks great with jeans. I wear a 12 in tennis shoes and I measure a 12 on the Brannock device at Redwing so I ordered a 12 and they fit perfectly. I do not understand why there are so many people saying that they bought a size down on reviews on the Red Wings site. Maybe if people would start buying their actual shoe size instead of buying boots that are too small then they wouldn't be complaining about a brutal break in because these boots have not been brutal to break in at all. Anyway these boots are gorgeous and there are no moc toe boots that look better than these on the market. The Vibram lug outsole will outlast the white wedge sole that is so popular by years. Just splurge and do yourself a favor. You will love them.

The high quality of this leather, it's colour, the perfect rubber material of the Vibram outsole, the sensation of comfort and protection you feel once you put these boots on, ready to hit all kinds of terrain either earth or asfalt, all of this makes these boots top of the list for any boot lover !And the break in period ? After all the figth I had to go through to break in the 8119 Iron Rangers these turned out to be surprisingly easy. I've worn them non stop since day one ! The secret ? the right size - I've sized down half a size from my normal shoe size while for the IR I had to go down a full size - and the 23 shoe last which is more in agreement with my feet's configuration than the 8 shoe last of the Iron Ranger.So, to make it the best or one the best boots of all times, all one needs is to like it's design. Me ? I'm a Moc Toes' guy !!!!!

These boots where a gift for my husband which he’d wanted for sometime . Not cheep but they” fit like a glove” he said. Well worth money .

The best boots I have ever owned.

I bought these as a replacement for a pair I had worn to death - really pleased with them and the price was very competitive.

Just brilliant. I received these as a birthday present and they are perfect. They needed a bit of breaking in as the leather is very tough but after a few long walks and some dubbin they are like a second skin.