Red Wing Iron Ranger Cap Toe Boots - Factory 2nds (For Men)

I've always worn Chippewas or Wolverine 1000 Mile's in the past, so this was my first pair of Red Wings. I wanted the Iron Ranger, because I needed some black boots and I wanted them with a cap toe. I'll mention that Wolverine 1000 Mile boots are very nice and the leather is actually thicker than on my Red Wings, which runs counter to everything I've read in the past (they also take longer to break in). I really like my Chippewas, but the quality isn't quite on par with either brand (more on that later). The sizing is similar with all 3 brands, but my Wolverines are the largest, while the Chippewas are the smallest (maybe the most inconsistent sizing, also).

My Iron Rangers fit perfect and probably better than my Wolverines and Chippewas. I actually consider this a sign of quality, although I may be reaching some there. For whatever reason, they just feel right, while the other 2 brands seem a little off. That my just be coincidental, though, since these are my first Iron Rangers.

They're also more comfortable. Chippewa uses a synthetic midsole for it's Service boot, while the Iron Ranger and 1000 Mile both use a more comfortable cork midsole (The 1000 Mile also has a leather bottom sole, although I added rubber half soles to mine). The nitrile cork sole on the Iron Ranger is the same as on the Chippewa Service boot, but even though only the latter one is made by Vibram, I actually think the Iron Ranger sole may be softer and more comfortable (the Vibram sole on the Chippewa is quite hard, although the midsole differences may play a role in my opinion). The soles on the Iron Ranger are also a little wider, as the welt sticks out further - which I like, but some may prefer how it's nearly hidden on the sleeker/dressier 1000 Mile. While the Iron Ranger does have a more bulbous toe, I'm not sure the boot is any wider than the other 2 and it may be more narrow than the 1000 Mile.

The leather may also be nicer, depending on what you appreciate. Most of my other boots use Horween leather and it's at least as thick as the leather on my Iron Rangers, despite what I've heard. I also think it's more beautiful, but that's only because my Iron Rangers use black harness, which admittedly isn't one of the more attractive colors. But the leather on my Iron Rangers is supple and it took all of 5 minutes to break in ( I felt some initial discomfort, but it was gone within minutes and that's when they became my most comfortable boots). Amazingly, I've already worn them several times and there isn't any creasing around the ankles/throat, whatsoever, while my other smooth leather boots showed creasing there immediately. There is a slight creasing in the toes, as expected, but it's almost non-existent.

Overall, I love these boots and am now a fan of Red Wing. There's nothing wrong with the other brands, but while the 1000 Mile may actually be nicer on paper, I believe the Iron Ranger is more comfortable due to the actual craftsmanship. It just seems like more time was put into making sure that the Iron Ranger would fit well and be comfortable. I'll continue to wear all 3 brands, but I just feel like the craftsmanship is a little better with the Iron Ranger.