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Red Wing Shoes

Footwear
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  • W
    WhiskeySandwich
    啓蒙家
    Joined: 1 Mar 2023

    Before ditching these, I decided to give them the soak break-in treatment. Figured the leather footbed would get a nice print if it was wet and soft and they’d loosen in the hot spots. Wore them in a bucket of warm water for 15-20 minutes and went for a run thru the hood. Changed socks and wore for most of the day while they dried. They’re still drying lol but it they seem totally transformed in a good way. Gonna take em for a spin once bone dry and report back. So far this may be a method to swear by, despite many people trashing it.

    "The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
    -Seneca

    last edited by 17 Feb 2025, 00:41 D 1 Reply Last reply 21 Feb 2025, 03:02 Reply Quote 4
    • W
      WhiskeySandwich
      啓蒙家
      Joined: 1 Mar 2023

      IMG_9822.jpeg

      "The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
      -Seneca

      last edited by 17 Feb 2025, 00:42 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
      • W
        WhiskeySandwich
        啓蒙家
        Joined: 1 Mar 2023

        IMG_9835.jpeg
        IMG_9834.jpeg

        "The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
        -Seneca

        last edited by 20 Feb 2025, 22:44 Z 1 Reply Last reply 21 Feb 2025, 01:52 Reply Quote 3
        • Z
          ZackB
          Haraki san Student
          @WhiskeySandwich
          Joined: 3 Jul 2024

          @WhiskeySandwich how do they fit now?

          last edited by 21 Feb 2025, 01:52 W 1 Reply Last reply 21 Feb 2025, 02:08 Reply Quote 0
          • W
            WhiskeySandwich
            啓蒙家
            @ZackB
            Joined: 1 Mar 2023

            @ZackB they weren’t too bad to begin with because I’ve worn them quite a lot over the past couple years. They feel much more formed to my feet now though. Fully molded. The upper fits perfectly, the footbed is a bit better and more printed, but there’s still a slight hot spot under my left big toe. It’s def the foot and not the shoe. Gonna do the soak on another pair next. All in all, it helped. Main thing I learned with a soak-n-wear is to make sure they dry well with a fan and sunlight.

            "The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
            -Seneca

            last edited by 21 Feb 2025, 02:08 Z 1 Reply Last reply 21 Feb 2025, 02:21 Reply Quote 0
            • Z
              ZackB
              Haraki san Student
              @WhiskeySandwich
              Joined: 3 Jul 2024

              @WhiskeySandwich sounds like you found a new method and glad it worked out for you. I accidentally tried that me method in a river one time with one boot haha. Keep us updated when you try it on another pair.

              last edited by 21 Feb 2025, 02:21 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • D
                Denman John
                Haraki san Prodigy
                @WhiskeySandwich
                Joined: 27 Dec 2023

                @WhiskeySandwich Thanks for reporting on your experience. I’m glad to hear that it’s worked out for you. I have a pair of Red Wing Chelseas’ that are probably a half size too small. I have other Red Wing boots and know the break in can be tough from experience, but these Chelsea boots are still uncomfortable to wear for any length of time. I could probably get away with the length, although my right toe is almost touching the front of the boot, it’s the width that bothers me the most. Do you think soaking them would stretch out the width and toe box area?

                Would love to hear your feedback and thanks in advance.

                last edited by 21 Feb 2025, 03:02 N W 2 Replies Last reply 21 Feb 2025, 08:04 Reply Quote 0
                • N
                  NickD
                  Raw and Unwashed
                  @Denman John
                  Joined: 17 Nov 2024

                  @Denman-John might be worth taking them to a good cobbler and getting them stretched. I've had that work for me before on shoes that were a touch too tight.

                  last edited by 21 Feb 2025, 08:04 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • M
                    m4xime
                    Raw and Unwashed
                    Joined: 22 Oct 2024

                    The collection, some of these are close to 15 years old now and have seen some heavy use

                    PXL_20250221_082932717.jpg

                    WTB:

                    IHSH-369-GRY (M)

                    last edited by 21 Feb 2025, 08:55 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
                    • W
                      WhiskeySandwich
                      啓蒙家
                      @Denman John
                      Joined: 1 Mar 2023

                      @Denman-John honestly, if you can get your foot in the boot, a soak would probably make it fit like a sock. There are certain obvious risks to the method, but if the only other options are going to cost you money and you’re not going to wear them otherwise, it’s worth it.
                      Couple more notes: my leather felt a hint dry afterwards for a day, but the oils from the tannery won that battle and it feels soft and oily again without me doing anything. The insides took days to fully dry, so beware of mildew. Out of caution I did wipe the insides with some fancy vinegar (they don’t stink) and left them in the sun during the day and in front of a fan at night. It kinda sucks wearing soaked boots for a day, and it’s pretty silly for the first hour. Change socks after a while and let the feet dry out a bit. Thick wool socks! The method is probably not for everyone, and there’s no guarantee it’ll work, but I like the results.

                      "The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
                      -Seneca

                      last edited by 21 Feb 2025, 09:51 D 1 Reply Last reply 21 Feb 2025, 13:26 Reply Quote 2
                      • N
                        NickD
                        Raw and Unwashed
                        Joined: 17 Nov 2024

                        Red Wing Blacksmith- the older model with leather lining rather than fabric. I had a Ridgeway sole put on, with natural edges and I think it really lifts the look of the boots

                        IMG_6710.jpeg
                        IMG_6711.jpeg

                        last edited by 21 Feb 2025, 10:38 Z 1 Reply Last reply 21 Feb 2025, 12:29 Reply Quote 9
                        • Z
                          ZackB
                          Haraki san Student
                          @NickD
                          Joined: 3 Jul 2024

                          @NickD those look great man. How is the ridgeway sole?

                          last edited by 21 Feb 2025, 12:29 N 1 Reply Last reply 21 Feb 2025, 13:50 Reply Quote 0
                          • D
                            Denman John
                            Haraki san Prodigy
                            @WhiskeySandwich
                            Joined: 27 Dec 2023

                            @WhiskeySandwich Thanks for the quick reply. I’m thinking of giving them to my son as his feet are a bit smaller than mine. If he doesn’t want them then I’ll probably give them the WhiskeySandwich hot water treatment. Yeah, I can get my feet into them no problem, they are just tight - mainly the right as that foot is a little bigger than my left. The left boot feels ok so the right doesn’t have to stretch all that much.

                            @NickD The only local cobbler is mid at best. I don’t really trust him after he messed up a resole he did for me and put on a different colour sole than I asked for. It’s a one man shop and he’s always swamped with repairs. The next cobbler is over 60kms away and don’t know what he’s like quality wise.

                            last edited by Denman John 21 Feb 2025, 13:26 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • N
                              NickD
                              Raw and Unwashed
                              @ZackB
                              Joined: 17 Nov 2024

                              @ZackB I've had Ridgeway soles before and they are one of my favourites, a good compromise between grip and hard wearing. I like the profile better than Dainite, and definitely better than the cork soles that were on there.

                              @Denman-John I'm lucky that my local cobbler is Shoehealer who have a great reputation globally, not just here in the UK. Really good cobblers are hard to find.

                              last edited by 21 Feb 2025, 13:50 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                              • KarolK
                                Karol
                                啓蒙家
                                Joined: 14 Nov 2022

                                New Beckman

                                IMG_0017.jpeg

                                Favorite:
                                IH-888S-21 | IH-888-XHSib | IH-805 | IH-729-PUR | IH-555-XHS | IH-555S-25MB
                                IHSH-339-SAX | IHSH-341-BLK | IHSH-293-OD | IHSH-362-BLK | IHSH-409-IB | IHSH-336-OD | IHSB-BIGBUCK-BLK
                                IHV-44-BLK | IHV-02-BLK
                                IHJ-75-BLK | IHJ-79-BLK | IHM-37-ODG

                                last edited by 28 Feb 2025, 13:42 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
                                • P
                                  PJ
                                  Haraki san Student
                                  Joined: 6 Jun 2022

                                  IMG_6714.jpeg
                                  IMG_6723.jpeg

                                  Picked up second hand from a friend today. Cleaning out his closet. Lucky for me we use the same size.😊
                                  A pair of RW 8061 Merchant
                                  A pair of 997 NB x RW collab

                                  Peter 🤙😎

                                  last edited by 7 Mar 2025, 15:26 todyT 1 Reply Last reply 8 Mar 2025, 06:13 Reply Quote 9
                                  • todyT
                                    tody
                                    啓蒙家
                                    @PJ
                                    Joined: 24 Feb 2021

                                    @PJ The NB collab is such a great shoe. I'm always on the lookout for a backup pair…

                                    last edited by 8 Mar 2025, 06:13 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • P
                                      PJ
                                      Haraki san Student
                                      Joined: 6 Jun 2022

                                      @tody yeah I always found them super nice . I understand the back up idea😊

                                      Peter 🤙😎

                                      last edited by 9 Mar 2025, 20:54 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • W
                                        WhiskeySandwich
                                        啓蒙家
                                        Joined: 1 Mar 2023

                                        Found some lightly use 2953s that I’m digging. It’s a damn shame they don’t make a decent wedge soled boot on the #8 last anymore
                                        IMG_9919.jpeg

                                        "The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today...The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately."
                                        -Seneca

                                        last edited by 13 Mar 2025, 21:49 C 1 Reply Last reply 18 Mar 2025, 14:49 Reply Quote 9
                                        • matt_rostM
                                          matt_rost
                                          Haraki san Prodigy
                                          Joined: 26 Jul 2023

                                          Found a very old, but never worn pair of 877. Already the first steps suggest that the break in process should be much more pleasant than in the 1907...

                                          IMG_5225.jpeg
                                          IMG_5224.jpeg

                                          insta: matt_rost
                                          I am into heritage culture and make high quality leather products

                                          IHSH-266-IND / IHSH-327-IND / IHSH-295-IB / IHSH-33-T / IHSH-221
                                          IHSB-PR-NAT
                                          IHJ-120-IND / IHSW-63-BLK
                                          IH-666S-UHR / IH-666S-WH / IH-777S-21ib / IH-814-IND

                                          last edited by 15 Mar 2025, 07:31 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 10
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