Huge Disapointment with Red Wing Boots!

[Vinny Miseo]

I purchased a pair of Red Wing Gentleman travler ( http://s.onlineshoes.com/images/br057/145524_366_45.jpg) boots a couple of weeks ago and they are probably the worst pair of boots I have ever purchased!

I ordered them online which was a huge mistake. These boots are SO uncomfortable I had to put sneakers on at work because my feet were in so much pain. I have been wearing them around the house to break them in and they just aren't getting any more comfortable (about 2 weeks).

Yesterday at work I installed a cheapo linoleum floor in a clients closet and the boots scuffed up the floor horribly. I had to replace two of the tiles because the black streaks would not come out. When I got home I noticed my kitchen floor had black streaks all over it as well. Is it really too much to ask for non marking soles on $200+ boots?!? :mad:

I do a lot of work at client's houses and now I feel likeI can't even wear these boots in their houses. What a waste of a lot of $$$

I am tempted to email Red Wing and see what they have to say about this. It just doesn't seem right. I would expect it from WalMart, but these are made in the USA Red Wings !

Has anyone else had similar experiances?

[Randal Stevenson]

Similar but different. We have/had a local Red Wing store (don't know where they moved to), and I was working two jobs. I purchased them for the one (asked about the second as well and ok'd for that), as they were technically required, however I was told by all the bosses, including the owners son, NOT to wear them due to heat, blistering issues (steel toe). So I wore them to my other job. They fell apart in 30 days.

Now I go to payless, and have to replace a cheap pair between every 6 months to 9 months.

[Thomas Bank]

I'm pleased with my current pair of Red Wings - purchased at the local store about four or five years ago. Not sure if the quality has dropped that much since then?

[Kevin Arceneaux]

I have been buying Redwings since 1975 and have yet to be disappointed. I finally had to get rid of a pair that I bought in 1981. I have been through 3 soles and countless heels and it finally got to the point that there was not enough top left to attach a new sole. I am trying out a pair of Wolverine's right now. They are ok, but as soon as they wear out and I make my 90 days at my new job (that is when the boot buying benefit kicks in) I will be returning to Redwing.

When I worked offshore, that is all we wore. They could stand up to the drilling mud for months, it was usually that the leather just got tore up so bad that they had to be replaced. We had a lot of worms come out wearing $20 Wally world specials and after a couple of days we were running tape around them to keep the soles attached, the mud just ate them up.

The thing is you bought them over the internet. To me, buying boots that way is a HUGE mistake. You are about to spend 8+ hours a day in them and buying them sight unseen is just wrong. You need to try them on and make sure they fit your foot and arch.

Personally, I always buy them oversize, I like to wear 2 pair of socks and have never had a lick of problems.

Have you contacted Redwing or the vendor you bought them from?

[Russ Filtz]

Fake Asia knockoffs?

[Doug Shepard]

I like both pair of mine.

[David G Baker]

I have worn Red Wing shoes off and on since the early 60s and have found them to be a very durable shoe once they get broken in. It has taken quite some time to get the ones I have had to get them to the point where they are real comfortable. The pair I have now are floor markers so I am not allowed to wear them on the tile floors. I have had very good luck with Rockport shoes and boots.

[Ted Shrader]

Fake Asia knockoffs?Vinny -

Russ might be on to something there - especially since they were an internet purchase.

I have had nothing but good luck with the Red Wings I have owned. Comfortable and long lasting. Suggest you contact Red Wing and see what they have to say. Looks like Online Shoes has a 90 day return policy. Have you contacted them?

Regards,
Ted

[glenn bradley]

I had to give up on the Clark casual shoe styles I've been wearing for decades as the quality kept slipping and the price stayed high. I wrote them asking what was going on and didn't even get an automated reply *** sigh *** The Red Wings I wore 25 years ago when I worked heavy machinery were tough as iron and very comfortable. Like Kevin, I finally had to toss them when the "insides" wore out. I don't know if their quality has gone the way of Clarks or not; very sad.

[Greg Cole]

I will swear by my Red Wings too. I've had a pair last me 12 years (re-soled twice) and they finally died of old age (and exposure to brine water). Some of the best $200 I've ever spent.
I have a new pair identical to them now, and after @ 4 months they are finally getting "broken in". They do take awhile to wear into your feet, but they are worth it IMO.

[Matthew Minnig]

Just retired a pair of redwings, RIP.

The new guys are a low ankle steel toe by Timberland that I got with a company discount and they pass so far.

[Ken Werner]

The vendor has an unconditional return policy. Use it.

[Anthony Scira]

The thing I like about most about an in store purchase is they measure your feet again and really take care of you.

The internet would not be a good place to buy a nice pair of boots.

The size that fit me before just did not fit quite right. She made a little adjustment from 11.5 E to 11.5EE. What a difference, no break in period!

YMMV

[Ken Fitzgerald]

If at all possible..buy shoes in a store...try them on.....walk around...get the right size or find a style that is most shaped like your foot and is comfortable.

Different style shoes can require a different size or width and as Anthony stated your feet do change.

My ILs had a Red Wing Shoe store for 35+ years. I got my RedWings really cheap..even free at times.

I have a really difficult foot to size correctly as I was born flat footed and wear small tug boats.....12 EE..or 12 EEE or 12 WIDE....I have to wear composite toe safety shoes. No store carries them locally so I often have to order mine over the internet. I often send them back after wearing them for a couple of hours around the house if they are not comfortable.

Leather stretches over time. Don't take it for granted that the 12 E you bought 5 years ago will still fit your foot. Your foot changes...arches drop..feet grow and change shape. If at all possible go to a shoe store.

[David G Baker]

Glenn,
I was a Clark shoe fan for quite a while. I have three pairs in my closet right now but I will not buy another pair. When they wear out it is not a gradual thing, they split at the sole and are unwearable. I was out of town and had only one pair of shoes with me when my Clarks split along the sole seam. The split was 4 inches long and caused the sole to start flopping. The shoes are unrepairable as far as I have been able to tell.

[Garth Keel]

I had Red Wing shoes exclusively years ago (25 - 30) and they did take a bit of time to break in.

While on vacation in Las Vegas about 8 years ago, the shoes I was wearing begin to hurt my feet and when you have size 15 feet, that is a big problem.

I found a shoe store and they only had one pair of shoes in my size. It looked like they were designed by that famous designer Bud Tugley. I bought them anyway. They were Merrils and so comfortable they are the only shoes I wear now; I have 6 pairs. It's nice to find a shoe in adult sizes! :rolleyes:

[Glenn Clabo]

While on vacation in Las Vegas about 8 years ago, the shoes I was wearing begin to hurt my feet and when you have size 15 feet, that is a big problem.
I found a shoe store and they only had one pair of shoes in my size.

Garth..."size 15 feet"...What made you think they would have more than one pair of snow shoes in Las Vegas?

[Kurt Strandberg]

I have been buying Redwings since 1975 and have yet to be disappointed. I finally had to get rid of a pair that I bought in 1981. I have been through 3 soles and countless heels and it finally got to the point that there was not enough top left to attach a new sole. I am trying out a pair of Wolverine's right now. They are ok, but as soon as they wear out and I make my 90 days at my new job (that is when the boot buying benefit kicks in) I will be returning to Redwing.

When I worked offshore, that is all we wore. They could stand up to the drilling mud for months, it was usually that the leather just got tore up so bad that they had to be replaced. We had a lot of worms come out wearing $20 Wally world specials and after a couple of days we were running tape around them to keep the soles attached, the mud just ate them up.

The thing is you bought them over the internet. To me, buying boots that way is a HUGE mistake. You are about to spend 8+ hours a day in them and buying them sight unseen is just wrong. You need to try them on and make sure they fit your foot and arch.

Personally, I always buy them oversize, I like to wear 2 pair of socks and have never had a lick of problems.

Have you contacted Redwing or the vendor you bought them from?


Same here, I have been wearing Red Wing boots a long time and I have never had a problem with them but I did ask here in Minnesota and maybe it has changed but I was told Red Wing cannot be sold on the internet.

[Chris Padilla]

Interesting...I guess I've never worn such "work shoes/boots" before. I'm a sneaker/running-shoe shoe wearer.... Of course, I've never worked on an oil-rig, or in a mine, or steel mill.... :)

[John Shuk]

I wear Red Wings 5 days a week or more and they hold up great for me. I beat boots pretty hard too.
I would not buy shoes online. I buy my shoes from a good shoe store that lets me try them on and wear them for a bit before I buy. I'd suggest finding a good local store and sticking by them. Every shoe company is not for every foot under the sun. I find Nikes to not be an option for me. Too narrow.

[Vinny Miseo]

I will have to chalk this up to a lesson learned to never buy shoes online... work boots at least!

I bought these boots because they looked a little nicer than plain old work boots but would still be durable.
I can tell that these boots are very durable and will probably last for 5 years, BUT the black marking soles is what kills me.

It is embarassing to have a client come and tell you that you have marked up their new floor with your boots, then have to walk around the rest of the day in your socks. Thank God I had a matching pair of socks on! :D

[Karl Brogger]

I can't stand hard sole boots. I used to wear Doc Marten's to work, first pair lasted 3 years, second pair a year and a half. The last pair didn't make it a year and I stopped buying them. They were really comfortable though. I bought a pair of Ariat boots two years ago and have been really happy with the comfort and the durability.

[Brent Leonard]

My Grandfather wore Redwings for an entire 50 year Railroad Switchman/Brakeman carreer.
My father wore them for an entire 42 year Railroad Engineer carreer,
My Uncle wore them for an entire 40 year Railroad career.

and I wore them for 12 years as a Railroad Engineer. Now that I'm an office guy, I wear their dress shoes

I found that they,
1: take a LONG time to break in.
2: My feet agreed with only certain models. Some I just couldn't get through the break in.

Redwing will always be my workboot & hunting boot of choice. Support the local store. They WILL take care of you!

[Ted Shrader]

. . . then have to walk around the rest of the day in your socks. Thank God I had a matching pair of socks on! :DThat's Vinny - - Always looking at the positive! :)

Ted

[Brian J. Williams]

Bite the bullet and buy a pair of White's Logger/Smokejumpers. They'll cost you at least $400.00, but they're worth it if you work outside. I'm sending in a pair next week to have them rebuilt. The rebuild will cost me about $200.00. Sounds like a lot you say, but I got these boots in 1991, and although I spend more time in the office now, they've gotten a lot of wear, been wet (and dried), been in the woods, on a lot of rock, through several tours in both hot/wet and desert, and have lasted way, WAY longer than any pair of Red Wing's I ever owned. I used to go through a pair of Red Wing's every 9 months or so- they'd just come apart. Not with the White's.

My $0.02 worth.

Brian

[Michael L. Martin]

I didn't see it mentioned here.......but you have to be careful these days, even in the Red Wing store. In the last couple of years Red Wing has "slipped in" an imported line of shoes, and if you're not looking closely, you may end up with the wrong ones. A huge disappointment for me since I've been a Red Wing fan for some thirty years. The store knows I'll have nothing to do with the "imported stuff." You just have to be alert......;)

[Thomas Bank]

Interesting...I guess I've never worn such "work shoes/boots" before. I'm a sneaker/running-shoe shoe wearer.... Of course, I've never worked on an oil-rig, or in a mine, or steel mill.... :)

Well, I currently have an air cast on my right foot and two broken bones (second and third metatarsal) because I was in my hiking boots instead of the steel toed Red Wings when I went out to the shop to get something and a steel case fell over on my foot.

Granted, I had run out there to get something and it wasn't like I was going to change shoes just for ten minutes in the shop not actually working on something. But I'm usually pretty good about wearing the work boots when I'm actually working out there. Now I'm going to be a lot more aware of such things. Also, the downstairs is the metal and automotive shop, which is different from the upstairs woodshop. But since I've been hobbling around on crutches, I've had two people tell me they had similar injuries from having a soda bottle and a family sized can of green beans on their foot - so it doesn't take the 350# weight that did me in...

[Brent Leonard]

I didn't see it mentioned here.......but you have to be careful these days, even in the Red Wing store. In the last couple of years Red Wing has "slipped in" an imported line of shoes, and if you're not looking closely, you may end up with the wrong ones. A huge disappointment for me since I've been a Red Wing fan for some thirty years. The store knows I'll have nothing to do with the "imported stuff." You just have to be alert......;)


Yep, I THINK they are the "WORX" line. You can tell for certain by the price difference.

To me it's another example of everything else out there. Cheap Chinese <insert far eastern counrty> CRAP, and quality cannot compete, so the companies that make quality have to reduce/compromise their generations old "quality" to compete with the crap market.

Whether it's tools or boots. With money being harder and harder to make, cheap products appeal to all of us. Unfortunately quality has suffered due to our thirst for "cheap".

[Elijah Fontenot]

I work offshore and they guys out here love thier Redwings!! I purchased a pair and my heels bled and it was terrible for my first hitch out with them. I learned a couple of tricks though.

Try rubbing them down heavy with mink oil and then use a blowdryer on HOT and let that oil soak in. It softens up the leather to tolerable and they will break in. They do take an awful long time to break in though but hey when they do, they will be THE size of your foot.

Good luck!

[Aaron Berk]

I'm on my second pair of steel toe wings and love em. I'll even wear them for casuals when out to dinner with the family. I only buy what I can try on, these are the only feet I've got and I'm gunna take care of em.

[Dave Lehnert]

I purchased a pair of Red Wing Gentleman travler ( http://s.onlineshoes.com/images/br057/145524_366_45.jpg) boots a couple of weeks ago and they are probably the worst pair of boots I have ever purchased!

I ordered them online which was a huge mistake. These boots are SO uncomfortable I had to put sneakers on at work because my feet were in so much pain. I have been wearing them around the house to break them in and they just aren't getting any more comfortable (about 2 weeks).

Yesterday at work I installed a cheapo linoleum floor in a clients closet and the boots scuffed up the floor horribly. I had to replace two of the tiles because the black streaks would not come out. When I got home I noticed my kitchen floor had black streaks all over it as well. Is it really too much to ask for non marking soles on $200+ boots?!? :mad:

I do a lot of work at client's houses and now I feel likeI can't even wear these boots in their houses. What a waste of a lot of $$$

I am tempted to email Red Wing and see what they have to say about this. It just doesn't seem right. I would expect it from WalMart, but these are made in the USA Red Wings !

Has anyone else had similar experiances?


I know of 3 people who work construction and was always told "get real boots, Buy Red wings" So one Christmas they did just that. each say they did not last any longer than other much cheaper boots. I had purchased a pair of Georgia boots at Tractor Supply for $65. They lasted so long I tossed them before they went bad. Just wanted a new pair.

As far as buying shoes online I do all the time and get some great deals. Get on the e-mail lists and received discounts like 25% off. I wear Rockports so I know how they will fit me. Most have Free Shipping, Free return shipping if needed.
I use Shoebuy.com and zappos.com the most.

You said you purchased your boots from Online shoes? If you don't like them you have 90 days to return them. So why not do a return????

From the web site-

Whether you don't like the color, it pinches your heel a little, or whatever the reason, we want you to be totally satisfied, and we back it up with our 90-Day Unconditional Satisfaction Guarantee (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:helpWindow%28%27http://onlineshoes.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/onlineshoes.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=20%27,%27rnhlp%27%29).

[Vinny Miseo]

You said you purchased your boots from Online shoes? If you don't like them you have 90 days to return them. So why not do a return????


that is quite the gaurantee they have, but I think you may have misread my second post; "never buy shoes online... work boots at least!"

I bought them online (fleabay), not from online shoes. They were brand new though, and have started to break in a little more.

Soles still marking up the floor though. I enjoy how they look, so I will wear them to bars and jobsites, but not when installing on finished floors.