Red Wing work boots are exemplary footwear purpose-built for the hardworking man in various demanding fields. The brand began in 1905 when shoe merchant turned shoemaker Charles Beckman saw that he could craft tough yet comfortable leather boots for miners, farmers, and loggers in Red Wing, Minnesota. Now, more than a hundred years later, Red Wing shoes have spread to more than a hundred countries, cementing the brand’s commitment to outstanding quality.
Red Wing continues to produce top-quality workwear in the same town it was born, and all of their shoes are manufactured using premium-grade leather from their own exclusive tannery. With the quality of Redwing work boots, it’ll be tough to limit your choice to just one, so we recommend using the list below to find out which pair best meets your preferences and requirements.
Here are the best Red Wing work boots in 2022:
Comparison Chart
Red Wing Men’s Iron Ranger 6″ Boot
Key Features
- 100% triple-stitched leather
- Steel shank and bump toe
- Non-marking nitrile cork sole
- Fits as expected 58% of the time
- Color choices: Amber Harness, Black Harness
Named after the tireless miners in the northern iron ranges in Minnesota, the Iron Ranger is a tough, oil-resistant boot built to withstand heavy-duty use. It’s easily the most popular and best-selling Redwing work boots available today, which is no surprise given its incredible durability and overall reliability.
The Iron Ranger is made from 100% natural leather that’s triple-stitched and Goodyear welted for maximum tenacity. It has a double layer toe cap and bump toe design to allow a lot of room at the front for wider feet. There’s a steel shank in its insole to provide superior arch support, while its outsole is made from nitrile cork, a lightweight and flexible material with very high oil and water resistance. This improves the boot’s ability to endure normal wear and tear and gives the wearer increased mobility.
Note that these Red Wings work boots are built half a size larger and the thick leather takes a while to break in, upon which it should be pretty molded onto your foot. You might also get scuffs on the leather from time to time, but this can be easily removed with a soft cloth. With the Iron Ranger’s extremely tough build, expect to wear your pair for years.
Red Wing Heritage Men’s Classic Moc 6″ Boot
Key Features
- Waterproof leather upper
- Traction Tred rubber outsole
- Leather insole and nickel eyelets
- Fits as expected 64% of the time
- Color choices: Oro Legacy, Briar Oil Slick, Charcoal Rough and Tough, Black Harness, Oro-russet Portage, Brown, Tan
Red Wing’s Heritage collection is composed of traditional footwear designs symbolizing the all-American ideals of industriousness and commitment to excellence. The Heritage Men’s Classic Moc is the standout example of this series, an elegant moc-toe boot that works while you’re working and looks good when you’re not.
With a Copper Rough and Tough leather upper triple-stitched for greater durability, these Redwing work boots can easily be mistaken for casual leather boots given how good its brightly polished sheen looks. However, these are designed to withstand heavy labor, and are meant for hard workers who require a tough pair of shoes to be able to do their utmost in their job.
Enjoy much better traction on the Traction Tred outsole and cushion crepe wedge that serves as the foundation of these old school Red Wings work boots. It’s Goodyear welted for improved sturdiness, and while the leather insole may not feel as soft as other fabrics, you’ll feel the fantastic difference it makes once you’ve broken in your pair.
Red Wing Heritage Men’s Beckman Round 6″ Boot
Key Features
- 100% featherstone leather
- Roccia sole with lugs
- Made in the USA
- Fits as expected 59% of the time
- Color choices: Black Featherstone, Black Cherry Featherstone, Cigar Featherstone
Named after the brand’s founder himself, the Men’s Beckman round boot features a roomy bump toe design to provide extra space for wide feet. The burnished finish on its beautiful cigar featherstone leather looks fantastic, which is especially highlighted by contrast topline stitching. As part of the Heritage collection, these Red Wing work boots are made exclusively in the US.
These plain-toe ankle boots are built with comfort, support, and durability in mind. You’ll find the Beckman to be a pleasure to wear, maybe even as comfortable as an old pair of sneakers, once they’ve been properly broken in. You’ll find lots of cushioned support from its sweat-resistant insole, while its leather Roccia outsoles feature deep rubber lugs that bite onto surfaces for amplified traction.
Perhaps the best thing about these Red Wing work boots is that they look stunning enough to go toe-to-toe with fancier dress shoes. Note that these are sized a half-size larger than typical boots, so make sure to check the sizing guide and instructions to ensure you get the best-fitting Red Wings work boots.
Red Wing Heritage Men’s Work Chukka
Key Features
- 100% leather
- Crepe rubber base
- Atlas Tred outsole
- Fits as expected 72% of the time
- Color choices: Original, Briar Oil Slick, Copper Rough & Tough, Black Rough & Tough
Red Wing blends its signature tough boot construction with the comfort of a casual chukka in their Men’s Work Chukka. Made from premium-grade leather, these Redwing work boots sport a handsomely rugged look that matches well with work uniforms and casual clothes. Its three pairs of nickel eyelets are easy to lace while providing sufficient snugness to ensure the boot fit well no matter your level of activity.
You can attribute this boot’s veritable bounce to its white crepe sole made from Euro-traction rubber which gives your entire footbed a nice, soft cushion against the hard ground. Each step gets absorbed pretty well so you’ll find walking very comfortable while wearing these Red Wings work boots. Best of all, thanks to Red Wing’s quality guarantee, you can expect to take countless steps with these chukkas over the many years you’ll be wearing it.
Red Wing Heritage Men’s Roughneck Lace Up Boot
Key Features
- 100% water, stain, and sweat-resistant leather
- Cement construction and round toe design
- Vibram lugs rubber outsole
- Fits as expected 63% of the time
- Color choices: Brown, Briar Oil Slick
When you work long hours staying active on your feet, you should never compromise on the quality, durability, and comfort of your chosen work boots, as it could be the difference between slumping tiredly into your couch once you get back home or keeping enough energy and good cheer to spend time with your family. This ideal essentially sums up what the Heritage line of Red Wing Shoes, of which the Men’s Roughneck boot is a premier example, promises.
With a Vibram outsole providing excellent grip on any type of surface, the Roughneck lets you tread where you wish and go about your business with sure and steady confidence. It’s made of 100% full-grain leather sourced from the brand’s own tannery, which then gets cemented and welted to ensure robust longevity. It can take some time to break in these Red Wing work boots, but they’ll soon fit like a glove. By then, it’ll start getting tough to keep track of how many years you’ve been wearing them.
Irish Setter Men’s 6″ 83605 Work Boot
Key Features
- 100% USA-made leather
- EVA Traction Tred rubber sole
- Polyurethane removable footbed
- Waterproof and electrical and heat-resistant
- Fits as expected 81% of the time
- Color choices: Brown
Red Wing Shoes launched the Irish Setter brand in 1950 to bring their top quality leather boots to avid hunters and craftsmen. Since then, the new brand took off and has become a popular, affordable alternative to Red Wing’s premium products, while also catering to its growing following by adding classic work boots to their shelves as well.
The Men’s 6” 83605 Boot is one such example of Irish Setter’s line of traditional footwear designs for the working man. It combines modern materials, such as full-grain Briar Turbo Vegas leather, polyurethane layers, and EVA rubber, with classic craftsmanship and styling. The result is an outstanding moc-toe boot that’s triple-stitched and Goodyear welted for additional durability and long-lasting comfort.
Wearing these alternate-branded Redwing work boots all day, every day won’t drag your feet down, as they’re actually surprisingly lightweight without feeling cheap. You’ll get lots of traction from the white heat-resistant Traction Tred rubber outsole and adequate soft toe protection from its nylon-lined vamp. It meets ASTM safety standards for electrical hazards as well, solidifying its protective properties for men working in dangerous job sites.
If your work detail requires better toe protection than these soft-toe Red Wing work boots, consider getting the Irish Setter Men’s 83606 6″ Aluminum Toe Work Boot instead, as it offers the same features and is made of the same materials except for the aluminum safety toe.
Irish Setter Men’s Ely 6″ 83607 Work Boot
Key Features
- 100% mocha Crazy Horse leather
- D-ring brass lace hardware, padded collar, and tongue
- Removable PU footbed and dual-density V-Grip outsole
- Fits as expected 74% of the time
- Color choices: Brown
Get all-day comfort from the Men’s Ely work boot. Its padded tongue and collar cushions the tops of your feet while a removable polyurethane footbed does the same underneath. You’ll find lots of underfoot flexibility and bounce from its PU rubber outsole, and it won’t be surprising to come home and wear these into the living room, simply because they’re so comfy you forgot to take them off.
Working in sites filled with wet surfaces or some open circuits shouldn’t be a problem with these water-resistant Redwing work boots since its sole and heel has been energized electrically to keep its wearer safe from those hazards. Ensuring that the fit is snug is easy with its traditional lacing system featuring brass D-ring eyelets that can reach up to the collar if needed. Finally, its crazy horse leather has a nice, rich tone that allows it to look great as streetwear with some regular polishing.
Why choose Redwing work boots
Red Wing boots aren’t your typical disposable shoes that last just a few months of continued daily wear. The brand guarantees the quality of its leather products by using only the finest materials and applying strict standards and quality control. Each pair gets hand-checked before it leaves the manufacturing facility so that their future owners can be assured of premium-quality, sturdy workwear.
As a result, some might find the high prices of Red Wings work boots to be a bit intimidating, questioning whether they’re actually worth it. Well, you can simply ask the thousands of completely satisfied owners of Red Wing work boots and they can confirm that they’re definitely a worthy investment for their hard-earned dough. You’ll be treating your feet to incredibly comfortable boots that’ll keep looking great with some minimal maintenance.
Check out each of the listed Red Wing work boots above and you’ll easily come to the same conclusion as well. If you really need a more affordable pair, their Irish Setter brand offers similar top quality boots with a few more modern technologies, so you’ll have a much wider range of price points to choose from.