As I mentioned in my previous post, I became interested about US Heritage Boots during the Covid-19 Lockdown Period last year and it was in September 2020 that I started to focus on my readings and research on the Internet on a particular brand which is the Red Wing Shoe which is based in Red Wing, Minnesota, USA. I found out about this shoe brand from a Facebook Page carrying the title with the name of the shoe brand and I started to make a research about the brand on the Internet. Their almost daily posts on the said Facebook Page had attracted my attention and I found out that there is only one store in the Philippines (Grind Store) that is an Authorized Dealer (AD) of the said brand. But the branch of the said store that was very active (until this time) in advertising their Red Wing Shoes Models was their store located at Glorietta 3 Mall, Makati City. In one of those days, I decided to contact through Messenger the Sales Representative (Abby Gonzaga) and asked her about the availability of the different Models in their Store. And the rest is history!

Last October 9, 2020, I bought my first Red Wing Shoe which is the Iron Ranger 8111 Amber Harness. Personally visiting the store once the Covid-19 Lockdown was downgraded to a lesser restriction was the best decision I have made to purchase the said boots. Through my readings and research, the most asked question among new buyers is the correct sizing for the boots. The best way for me to determine my proper size with the Iron Rangers is to personally try each shoe size that is near to my usual shoe size in boots and dress shoes. I usually use Size 9 1/2 in my running shoes (whether they are road or trail shoes); Size 9 in my Dress Sneakers like Converse, Onitsuka Tiger, and NIKE Basketball Sneakers; and Size 8 in my dress shoes and dress boots. Since these Heritage Boots are considered as Work Boots, I thought I need a bigger size since they are made of leather. Finally, I was able to “zero-in” my correct size with the Red Wing Iron Ranger which is Size 8 D (Medium width).

Being a retired military man, I have been familiar in using Boots as it is part of our Combat Uniform. However, my size on Combat Boots had been one size bigger which is Size 9D which allows much toe space for thicker socks and tendency for the feet to expand in prolonged marching, hiking, and standing. Almost 2/3 of my military service, I have been using Combat Boots and I know the feeling how to walk, hike, march and even jog/run with them. Actually, two years after I retired, I bought a Dress Boots from Cole Haan which has the size 8D and with a shaft length of 5 1/2 inches. The said boots had been used for so many years that it was only last month that I needed them to be resoled and polish them again. I think there is truth in the observation that retired or former military personnel would always go back wearing their boots again in their civilian lives! Those boots would be dress boots, work boots, heritage boots, or simply replica or copy of their service boots.

So, the Red Wing Iron Ranger 8111 Amber Harness is my first Heritage Boots which is Made In The USA. I really love them as I was able to naturally “break them in” as weeks of wearing them go by. By the way, Red Wing Shoe is a family-owned business company that was founded in Red Wing, Minnesota, USA in 1905. The Iron Ranger Model got its name when the said boots was made for the iron miners in those times. The leather that composed the boots was thick and sturdy which became popular among the workers in the first decade of the 20th century.

Here is the description of the Red Wing Iron Ranger Model as I have copied from their Website:

“The Iron Ranger was originally built for iron miners in the 1930s. In the decades since, it has grown indispensable for owners from all walks of like, thanks to its iconic style and longevity. The six-inch boots signature feature is a leather toe cap that is as distinctive as it is durable. Each pair develops a personalized fit and custom comfort over time thanks to leather insoles and a cork midsole that form to the feet. The boots are built with a Goodyear welt and Puritan triple-stitch construction, and brass speed hooks provide precision lacing and a visual hit of hardware. The Iron Ranger is anchored with a Vibram 430 Mini-Lug outsole.“

In the next posts, I will tell you about my review on this Heritage Boots. Thank you for reading.