Blacksmith Boot

This is my first pair of redwings. Run true to size. Got a size 9. Looks great in raw denim. Took me a few weeks to really wear them in. Wore them for 2 weeks straight to work, errands, fixing stuff, etc. You start to notice the high quality when you break them in and I can tell these are going to last me many many many many years. I got the charcoal colorway.

I'm a Brannock 12.5B, sneaker size 12.5, and the 11.5 Blacksmiths fit me very well. They looked great and were surprisingly comfortable, but I returned them due to a defect that should have been caught in quality control. As soon as I started walking around, there was an audible "click" with each step on the left boot. After some examination, I found that there was a gap between the sole and mid-sole. If I pushed the sole with my thumb in that spot, I could replicate the clicking sound. It was loud enough to be noticeable, and would be terribly annoying to hear on every other step. I know this could be fixed, but I wasn't interested in having a brand-new boot repaired so I sent it back. I'm sure issues like this are fairly rare, but it made a bad first impression for Red Wing and I'll be shopping for other boots to replace these.

I got the CRT version which has great pull up and goes with just about everything. I had to exchange the boots a couple times to get the right pair. I hadn't heeded advice and only ordered one size down (more on that in a sec) and the second pair had some crummy inconsistencies in the leather (nothing structural, just aesthetic). the third ones have some quirks but they look amazing and I think when they're worn in more theyll even out. Size: I wear a 10 in most Nikes (court forces, classic) and NBs, and a 9 in most dress shoes and chukkas (cole haan lunargrands, varvatos). I initially ordered a 9 and found it to be way too long. I went to an actual red wing store and tried on an 8.5 and found it to be just about right. Just a tad bit of space at the heel (few mm) and tight around the middle (to be stretched out). Toes maybe half an inch or so from the box. I read up and saw that people were having issues breaking this style of boots in. Mine softened up a bit after a few days and have gotten pretty eased in after about a week of moderate wear.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Honestly love these. Molded to my step after a few days. Great for work.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] These boots are very well constructed using the finest leather. Definitely a bit of a break in period but once you get past that the mold to your feet. These boots connect you with the past and are like wearing a piece of history.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I love these boots. I originally bought them a half size too small, but because of the ample room in the forefoot, they still fit surprisingly well. Ultimately, though, I decided to sell them and get the correct size. I absolutely love the shape of the Blacksmith. I can totally understand someone deciding to own this boot in every color—the silhouette is simply what a boot should look like. The leather options are all excellent, too. I’m especially partial to the red-brown leathers. They still have that rugged character, but the reddish tones dress them up just enough and give them a little more versatility. They look even better after a good brushing or the occasional conditioning. Just a fantastic-looking, rugged boot that’s easy to wear casually. Wonderful boots all around.