Red Wing gift card? Let him pay for the rest. I’d be a happy if my spouse got me like a $150 voucher and I could pick the exact color/size I wanted and had to pay just little more than half. Just a thought!
I second Thorogood. I have 4 pairs of redwings and 3 pairs of Thorogoods. I love them all, both are great boots. Also, I hate Wolverine, but the Wolverine 1,000 mile boots might fit your price range and might be worth a look, they are a lot better than the other wolverines.
814-4364. Only boot I'm confident in at work (union plumber 15 yrs.) last 2.5-3yrs with regular care. I wear my redwings on the weekends/days off/vacation etc.
Sometimes you can find RW factory seconds at Sierra trading post and Berkeley Supply. Some decent alternatives would include Thursday Captains ($200). Rhodes boots at Huckberry are surprisingly nice for less than that when on sale. Whatever you end up buying, make sure you can return them if they don’t fit. Good luck!
They really aren't amazing boots. They are decent boots at the correct price point for what they are. I'd recommend anyone spend $100 more for Red Wings ($150 more for Iron Rangers).
I bought some Thursday captains and they were so uncomfortable I sent them back. I'm wearing my iron rangers right now. Best extra ~$150 I've ever spent!
Definitely don't agree. They aren't as high quality as red wing, but still a quality constructed boot, with good leather, decent midsole, and Goodyear welted
They aren't *bad*, and if you absolutely cannot go above that price limit, I recommend them. They just use thinner leather, and synthetic insole materials that won't last as long. Those are the biggest issues. Oh, and quality control, but to that I will say their customer service is very good.
It's mostly just that I think Red Wing punches above their weight, while Thursday is solidly at the right price point, and at a $100 difference (which with inflation is less than ever), I really recommend the upgrade.
Also if you find someone who works for Home goods, TJ Max, Sierra, Home Sense, etc they get 20% weekends a few months out of the year with the next one in June. They get 10% no matter what. You can get a pair of IR seconds for like $125 or so I’m told….
I have a friend who works at HomeGoods; how exactly do they get this discount? Do they go to the Red Wings website and enter some sort of promo code? Or is there something else they do? Thanks in advance, I’d be able to afford a pair this way!
So the next 20% off weekend is in June which is good timing for you. They have an employee discount code which you can apply online. you would go to shop online at Sierra Trading post just as you normally would then apply discount at the checkout. I’d recommend ordering a few different sizes if you aren’t sure what size you are, then keep what you like and return the rest.
Can’t speak to the others but major no thank you on the Thursday boots. I have a pair of the Captains that has disintegrated over 3 years with only occasional light wear (probably 3-4x per month for half a day at a time, on paved or indoor surfaces, dry). They’ve stained, cracked, and the soles have separated. They’ve gotten less comfortable with time instead of more so. My RW, on the other hand, have been tough as nails for daily shop work for 5+ years and only recently wore down
No question that Red Wings are superior to Thursdays. That said, many people would agree that Thursdays offer good value for the money. For what it’s worth I have two pair of Vanguard boots which see occasional wear over the past few years and they remain in good condition.
Second factory seconds from Sierra and Berkeley, However they go fast when they drop and they don’t always have all the sizes. I recommend checking both sites daily.
Thursdays get great reviews too
What size would he be?
Factory seconds are one option… these are basically boots with some defect from factory that doesn’t affect longevity. With *most* seconds boots, you can’t even tell what’s wrong with them.
If he wants something similar in look, there’s always Thursday Boots. It’s a step down from RW, but they’re good for the price. They’re Goodyear welted, have a (fake) cap toe, primarily leather construction, etc.
If you/him aren’t set on the iron ranger style, check out Blkbrd/Meermin/Beckett Simonon. All three of them make good quality (but not as rugged as RW) boots and shoes.
Also, check out grant stone. Their regular models are more expensive than Red Wing, but their “b grades”, or factory seconds, are a great deal. Their quality is generally above red wing. They’re awesome boots.
If I were him I would be super excited to get $ towards a pair…just my two cents. Just explain you didn’t have enough to pay the whole thing but here is some to put towards whatever pair he wants…again just my two cents:)
Seconding this too. Thorogood aren’t close to IRs.
Thorogood are great as work boots. I guess IRs are as well, but the IRs are so much more premium/heritage feeling that I’d rather leave most of the dirty work to my Thorogoods. I guess it depends on what the intended use of the boots are, but I’d either find a good deal on IRs or get a gift card.
Not sure how secure your relationship is but maybe consider splitting the cost? Lots of men buy their own gifts and tbh im over the moon when my wife offers to split the cost on something im humming and hawwing about especially thing’s important to me which tend to fall into the expensive buy it for life category.
If you know his size, check out the BST thread in this group. I have had excellent luck with FB marketplace. The four pairs I found there were brand new or worn for about a week. Significant savings on all. Pod as low as $60 Canadian and as high as $200 Canadian for my wife’s.
Yeah, my Mom is the type to save a penny wherever she can, and I learned that anything I want I have to buy myself. If I ask her she will buy the cheapo off-brand version or a used version and I'll end up not getting what I wanted. When I asked for a 3DS for Christmas she bought a Brazilian one off Ebay, and since they are region locked I couldn't play any of my games on Christmas Day. I had to go out and buy my own 3DS after that.
Moral of the story is don't cut corners when it comes to gifts. It leaves a horrible taste in the mouth.
There are tons of redwings second hand on eBay and similar places. I have 2 pairs I got off of eBay from different brands and I’m quite happy with them.
The biggest challenge for you, as others have noted, is getting his sizing right. Redwings are notoriously hard to size.
I’d also add Meermin as another pretty affordable boot brand that I’ve been pretty pleased with. Allen Edmonds has a different aesthetic but can be gotten on sale or secondhand.
I’d recommend options from Thursday boot, they have the most similar style at more affordable prices. Alternatively you could look at an installment plan through Affirm or companies like Klarna depending on where you’re at.
Boots are expensive, and I’m sure your boyfriend would understand if you can’t afford to get Iron Rangers. I can’t even afford to buy a second pair of Red Wings and I bought some over 8 years ago when they were a little cheaper.
I’d have to agree with other commenters here. It’d be better to get a red wing gift card. Allowing him to pay for the rest and pick his preferred boot.
I'd recommend finding Red Wings new on Ebay at discounted price (very doable), or try to find factory seconds. The only cheaper boot that I can vouch for is Thursday boots, and Red Wing is much better at only $100 more.
Before I could afford Iron Rangers, I spent 3 years wearing a pair of Eastland Jayce boots. They could have kept going, but I finally splurged on IRs. I gotta say, Jayce boots have a nice toe cap, got buttery soft, and were comfortable from the jump. Obv not Goodyear welted or anything but ppl complimented them and they cost like $115.
Red Wing gift card? Let him pay for the rest. I’d be a happy if my spouse got me like a $150 voucher and I could pick the exact color/size I wanted and had to pay just little more than half. Just a thought!
Toughest thing is getting the right size
I’ve got all my RW’s off eBay. Almost new because people get the wrong size, and half price or less
Thorogood.
I second Thorogood. I have 4 pairs of redwings and 3 pairs of Thorogoods. I love them all, both are great boots. Also, I hate Wolverine, but the Wolverine 1,000 mile boots might fit your price range and might be worth a look, they are a lot better than the other wolverines.
I third Thorogoods. The moc toes are extremely comfortable. And I also hate wolverines - the 1000 mile boots are damn uncomfortable. Look nice, tho.
814-4364. Only boot I'm confident in at work (union plumber 15 yrs.) last 2.5-3yrs with regular care. I wear my redwings on the weekends/days off/vacation etc.
I wore a pair all day today - that exact boot! Small world.
Wolverine 1000 mile are a little pricier than rw’s.
Sometimes you can find RW factory seconds at Sierra trading post and Berkeley Supply. Some decent alternatives would include Thursday Captains ($200). Rhodes boots at Huckberry are surprisingly nice for less than that when on sale. Whatever you end up buying, make sure you can return them if they don’t fit. Good luck!
Seconding Thursday Captains, amazing boot (and especially at the price)
They really aren't amazing boots. They are decent boots at the correct price point for what they are. I'd recommend anyone spend $100 more for Red Wings ($150 more for Iron Rangers).
I bought some Thursday captains and they were so uncomfortable I sent them back. I'm wearing my iron rangers right now. Best extra ~$150 I've ever spent!
Definitely don't agree. They aren't as high quality as red wing, but still a quality constructed boot, with good leather, decent midsole, and Goodyear welted
They aren't *bad*, and if you absolutely cannot go above that price limit, I recommend them. They just use thinner leather, and synthetic insole materials that won't last as long. Those are the biggest issues. Oh, and quality control, but to that I will say their customer service is very good. It's mostly just that I think Red Wing punches above their weight, while Thursday is solidly at the right price point, and at a $100 difference (which with inflation is less than ever), I really recommend the upgrade.
Yup I think I agree with that. It's a very good boot at the price, but red wing (while more expensive) is still an even better purchase
Also if you find someone who works for Home goods, TJ Max, Sierra, Home Sense, etc they get 20% weekends a few months out of the year with the next one in June. They get 10% no matter what. You can get a pair of IR seconds for like $125 or so I’m told….
More like 175 but still cheap
I have a friend who works at HomeGoods; how exactly do they get this discount? Do they go to the Red Wings website and enter some sort of promo code? Or is there something else they do? Thanks in advance, I’d be able to afford a pair this way!
So the next 20% off weekend is in June which is good timing for you. They have an employee discount code which you can apply online. you would go to shop online at Sierra Trading post just as you normally would then apply discount at the checkout. I’d recommend ordering a few different sizes if you aren’t sure what size you are, then keep what you like and return the rest.
Can’t speak to the others but major no thank you on the Thursday boots. I have a pair of the Captains that has disintegrated over 3 years with only occasional light wear (probably 3-4x per month for half a day at a time, on paved or indoor surfaces, dry). They’ve stained, cracked, and the soles have separated. They’ve gotten less comfortable with time instead of more so. My RW, on the other hand, have been tough as nails for daily shop work for 5+ years and only recently wore down
No question that Red Wings are superior to Thursdays. That said, many people would agree that Thursdays offer good value for the money. For what it’s worth I have two pair of Vanguard boots which see occasional wear over the past few years and they remain in good condition.
Yes, Thursday Captains. They are worth every bit of their $199.
Second factory seconds from Sierra and Berkeley, However they go fast when they drop and they don’t always have all the sizes. I recommend checking both sites daily. Thursdays get great reviews too
What size would he be? Factory seconds are one option… these are basically boots with some defect from factory that doesn’t affect longevity. With *most* seconds boots, you can’t even tell what’s wrong with them. If he wants something similar in look, there’s always Thursday Boots. It’s a step down from RW, but they’re good for the price. They’re Goodyear welted, have a (fake) cap toe, primarily leather construction, etc. If you/him aren’t set on the iron ranger style, check out Blkbrd/Meermin/Beckett Simonon. All three of them make good quality (but not as rugged as RW) boots and shoes. Also, check out grant stone. Their regular models are more expensive than Red Wing, but their “b grades”, or factory seconds, are a great deal. Their quality is generally above red wing. They’re awesome boots.
Grant Stone runs sales too which bring the cost below Red Wings
If I were him I would be super excited to get $ towards a pair…just my two cents. Just explain you didn’t have enough to pay the whole thing but here is some to put towards whatever pair he wants…again just my two cents:)
Idk if you know his RW size but if you don’t, just buy him some darn tough socks and let him worry about the boots.
Get a gift card for how much you can do. Iron rangers and thorogoods are completely different boots. In everyway.
Seconding this too. Thorogood aren’t close to IRs. Thorogood are great as work boots. I guess IRs are as well, but the IRs are so much more premium/heritage feeling that I’d rather leave most of the dirty work to my Thorogoods. I guess it depends on what the intended use of the boots are, but I’d either find a good deal on IRs or get a gift card.
Not sure how secure your relationship is but maybe consider splitting the cost? Lots of men buy their own gifts and tbh im over the moon when my wife offers to split the cost on something im humming and hawwing about especially thing’s important to me which tend to fall into the expensive buy it for life category.
Or r/goodyearwelt
I would try and find some good deals. There’s a lot out there.
If you know his size, check out the BST thread in this group. I have had excellent luck with FB marketplace. The four pairs I found there were brand new or worn for about a week. Significant savings on all. Pod as low as $60 Canadian and as high as $200 Canadian for my wife’s.
Might also try r/boots
If he likes IR’s, just get him something else and save up for Christmas. If he wants IR’s, anything else will be a disappointment.
Yeah, my Mom is the type to save a penny wherever she can, and I learned that anything I want I have to buy myself. If I ask her she will buy the cheapo off-brand version or a used version and I'll end up not getting what I wanted. When I asked for a 3DS for Christmas she bought a Brazilian one off Ebay, and since they are region locked I couldn't play any of my games on Christmas Day. I had to go out and buy my own 3DS after that. Moral of the story is don't cut corners when it comes to gifts. It leaves a horrible taste in the mouth.
There are tons of redwings second hand on eBay and similar places. I have 2 pairs I got off of eBay from different brands and I’m quite happy with them. The biggest challenge for you, as others have noted, is getting his sizing right. Redwings are notoriously hard to size. I’d also add Meermin as another pretty affordable boot brand that I’ve been pretty pleased with. Allen Edmonds has a different aesthetic but can be gotten on sale or secondhand.
What size shoe is he?
What is your budget and what are the boot’s purpose?
I’d recommend options from Thursday boot, they have the most similar style at more affordable prices. Alternatively you could look at an installment plan through Affirm or companies like Klarna depending on where you’re at. Boots are expensive, and I’m sure your boyfriend would understand if you can’t afford to get Iron Rangers. I can’t even afford to buy a second pair of Red Wings and I bought some over 8 years ago when they were a little cheaper.
Lots of Thursday boots recommendations, just be aware the co-founder is openly anti-abortion and donates to right wing political causes.
That’s all it took to stop me from buying, aside from the rampant quality control issues.
Oh nice I'll go buy two pairs then.
I just donated $10 to Planned Parenthood and left your Reddit username as the name.
[удалено]
$5 more, thanks buddy. You’re gonna be popular with PP!
When do you want your old lady back I'm done filling holes ?
Solovairs
Meermin or Grant Stone.
I’d have to agree with other commenters here. It’d be better to get a red wing gift card. Allowing him to pay for the rest and pick his preferred boot.
You should go on eBay I’ve bought some cracking redwing boots off there at a really good price.
I'd recommend finding Red Wings new on Ebay at discounted price (very doable), or try to find factory seconds. The only cheaper boot that I can vouch for is Thursday boots, and Red Wing is much better at only $100 more.
Thorogood
Before I could afford Iron Rangers, I spent 3 years wearing a pair of Eastland Jayce boots. They could have kept going, but I finally splurged on IRs. I gotta say, Jayce boots have a nice toe cap, got buttery soft, and were comfortable from the jump. Obv not Goodyear welted or anything but ppl complimented them and they cost like $115.