I’ll likely treat mine with neatsfoot oil when the time comes to preserve the color and keep it fairly matte. It’s then treated with white mineral oil so the finished boot really doesn’t need much care or attention to keep from drying out. It gains durability from the vegetable tanning process, plus has some softness and a little luster from the chrome tanning process. The Briar Slick and Black Prairie colors are both oil combination tanned. It’s a really cool looking effect and something I haven’t seen in many other boots.Īs with the rest of Red Wing’s Heritage collection, the Blacksmith is made with leather tanned at SB Foot Tanning Company, which is owned and operated by Red Wing. In a few years, I’ll have a pair of boots that have broken in like well-loved raw denim. The Black Prairie leather is painted rather than dyed, so as I scuff these boots up over the coming year or two, the natural tan leather color will show through the matte black finish. So I got the Black Prairie, which I’m excited to wear-in. While I liked the reddish hues in the Briar Slick, I couldn’t justify adding it to my wardrobe as I already have an Amber Harness Iron Ranger and a Cordovan No. The Blacksmith comes in several leathers, the most popular being the Red Wing Briar Slick leather. I prefer the 270-degree welt over a 360-degree Goodyear welt as it reduces the amount of bulk at the heel and makes this boot more streamlined overall. The Red Wing Blacksmith features a 270-degree Goodyear welt so you can easily get it resoled in three to five years when the sole wears out. The hardware is all solid brass, which looks rich right out of the box, but will develop a patina of its own. Of course, there are some major differences between the two boots, but it would be tough to tell the two apart with just a quick glance. When I first opened my box, I was shocked at how similar these are to the Wolverine 1000 Mile boot. I’ll talk more about the leather soon, but Black Prairie is almost completely matte, so while I have a few moderately glossy and shiny black boots, I don’t have anything with this understated style. The contrasting natural leather color along the midsole and where the leather is cut is what drew me to this option. I picked up the Red Wing Blacksmith in the brand’s own Black Prairie leather (a.k.a Red Wing 3345). Red Wing Blacksmith Review First Impression And that attention to detail creates a pair of boots that can easily go strong for a decade or more with the proper care. But you’ll get a boot that’s first-rate down to the details. The most important thing to consider when looking at the Blacksmith is whether you like the plain-toe look, and whether you’re willing to invest money up front for a long-lasting boot.īecause the Blacksmith is a Goodyear welted boot with a Vibram sole, the top-notch construction and high quality materials cost more. Down below, I’ve listed three of the best alternatives to the Blacksmith, each with their own unique pros and cons. You’re in your research phase, so there’s no doubt you’re aware of the competition. Things to Consider Before Buying The Red Wing Blacksmith This look is perfect for fall and winter, and looks great with a pair of raw denim jeans. But I love the contrast between the black paint and the rawhide where the leather’s been cut. I picked my Blacksmith’s up in Red Wing’s Black Prairie leather, which I’ll discuss in more depth later. It’s made right at home in the USA with leather from Red Wing’s very own SB Foot Tanning Co in Minnesota. It’s a 6-inch ankle boot, decked out with a Goodyear welted Vibram 430 mini-lug sole. 8 last as the Iron Ranger, the Blacksmith features a “bump-toe,” sleek lines through the vamp, all in a variety of matte oil tanned or rough-out leathers. It’s essentially a non-cap-toe Iron Ranger and a direct competitor to the Wolverine 1000 Mile.īuilt on the same No. The Blacksmith is Red Wing’s succession to their popular, but discontinued Beckman.
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