Iron Ranger Cap Toe Boot

I rolled through Nordy's hunting for a new pair of boots for the winter season. I saw those pretty Wolverine 1000 Miles and almost bought another pair until I saw the Red Wings. Not only did they look great, they also had a serious feature the Wolverines didn't, a rubber sole with lots of grip. Everyone loves a fresh pair of boots, none more than me, the honest truth is tons of shoes have fashion but not all of them have fashion and function. With the grip of rubber sole you can still shake it on the dance floor without slipping on a lost cocktail. You can safely walk up your icy driveway with no fear of falling on your butt or worse. Most importantly you can stop your Harley quickly and safely without the thought or reality of your feet and bike slipping to the ground. Riding a bike with a flat leather sole is a dangerous game, take it from me. These boots are the epitome of style and function. I'm also willing to bet some hard money they will last longer than 1000 miles too. As far as specs go these boots are way bigger than I expected. I rock a size 11 in almost everything but these boots made me feel like I had small feet for the first time in my life. Luckily Nordstrom has my back and told me they can order me in the next two sizes smaller to make sure I get the right pair. To my surprise the 10's fit me better than the 10.5's and it had been a match made in heaven ever since.

Several weeks ago I purchased these boots in "Brown Leather" (Red Wing No. 8083 - Hawthorne Muleskinner roughout leather). They were drop shipped directly from Red Wing and arrived two days later. The purchase process was smooth and the return process was equally smooth. Initially, I had purchased the boots in size 13D as that is my normal boot size. However, while the boot fit well in terms of width, my arch did not line up properly and I was subsequently forced to size down to a 12D for a proper fit. The return and exchange was handled at my Downtown Seattle store and the second pair arrived a few days later. I've tried on a 12EE as well and found those to be the best fit if I were to use orthotics. For reference, I normally wear a 13D on the Allen Edmonds 65 last (Park Avenues) and my Brannock measurement is also a 13D. I am also wearing boot socks with my boots. In terms of construction, I find that while these boots are stiff out of the box, they are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time (8+ hours). The roughout leather is treated with mink oil and resists scuffs well. The Vibram mini-lug sole is great for the mixed terrain around Seattle and provides confidence when traversing Red Square in the rain (no mean feet). Overall, I would recommend purchasing this boot (make sure you get the Vibram mini-lug sole model). Sizing does run long (at least for me), but if you are worried about the return/exchange process, Nordstrom has you covered.

Yes. I’ve read several of these reviews and guys seem to think these aren’t work boots and are for just wearing around town. Wrong. These were designed in the 1930’s (during the Great Depression). Ordinary men didn’t buy another pair of boots to “just wear around town.” And the name “Iron Ranger” wasn’t thought up while watching cartoons, it was made for men working the iron mines in Minnesota. Do some research. They wore WORK BOOTS to work in. They wore THESE boots. And lastly, if these were just for “going to the office,” they’re completely over engineered. One doesn’t need a Goodyear weld which gives you the ability to resole and triple stitching all around for walking down the street to sit in an office chair. Think about it. Yes I own these and yes I work construction in them. I love them.

I did some research before my purchase of these Iron Rangers. It had been recommended they run a half size bigger. At the store, they had a size 10, which was too small and an 11, which was too big. I was confident the 10.5 would fit me perfect. I ordered and had delivered to the store so they won’t be stolen off my porch! They fit perfect! I realize there is some break in time, So I plan on wearing them for short periods until they are broken in. Also, I rubbed in some conditioner to soften the leather. So far they are very comfortable even without a cushioned insert.

God designed this shoe and gifted it to humans as an example of perfection.

I’ve looked at multiple pairs of these at different stores in the Phoenix area and have noticed a pretty similar trend. Scuffs, wax all across the sides, midsoles popped up at the ends, etc. and the store reps have the audacity to tell me that’s normal when I’m wearing a pair I’ve had for 6 years that never had any of that. Boot manufacturers in third world countries make a better product than this which is a shame and I will be getting a refund.