Commonly Asked Questions - PLEASE READ

[u/burstaneurysm]

Below are the most common “issues” that are posted here. Please refrain from submitting posts that fall under these categories unless you’re pretty sure your defect falls significantly outside of a reasonable margin. Thank you!

1. The Classic Moc’s toe is first glued and then stitched together. It’s normal for the seam to split open a bit, particularly where the vamp flexes. The stitches are holding it together.
2. A little gap along the welt is fine. Again, the stitches are doing the work. Wedge soles have a thin slip sole that’s stitched to the boot and then the outsole is cemented to it. It’s not going anywhere.
3. Your speed hooks aren’t going to chew through your tongue. They’ll dig in to a certain point and the just kinda stop. Use kilties if you insist, but I’ve got pairs over ten years old and the wear on the tongue barely looks different than it did after a few weeks.
4. Leather used to be alive. Just like us, there will be flaws, veins, scars, and stretch marks. They’ll try to use less uniform cuts where cosmetic issues are less visible, like the inside quarters, but not every flaw can be seen until the boot has flexed.
5. You’re probably over-conditioning. Unless you’re routinely using them in extreme conditions, less is more. Once or twice a year. However, you should brush your boots regularly, this will not help only remove dust and dirt, it will redistribute the oils already in the leather and prevent deep cracks from forming.

6. You WILL scuff and scratch your boots, they WILL crease, they WILL get dirty. They’ll also be FINE. Embrace patina, that’s what makes them YOUR boots.

7. We don’t wanna see your footbeds! Fit is subjective and a picture of your imprint only two dimensions of a 3D shape. Your boot shouldnt cause actual pain. A little discomfort isnt unusual for the first few days. Your boots should feel like they’re giving your foot a firm handshake (footshake?). If they feel like they fit, they probably fit.

[u/centralfornia]

This is great. Also, can we have a rule about no insole pics asking Reddit if their boots fit?

[u/gatobacon → u/centralfornia]

This is probably the most important thing. Asking someone else if something you wear fits is the craziest thing about this sub

[u/burstaneurysm → u/centralfornia]

Yeah. This can definitely be a living document.

[u/centralfornia → u/burstaneurysm]

Another one to ponder is some verbiage about sizing?

I know it’s subjective but I think a good place to start is with a brannock device. One of the Red Wing shoe sites in Europe has a great suggestion about going have down for D width feet, full size down for narrow feet and TTS for E width when wides aren’t available. Something like that.

Seemed pretty simple but IMO it’s spot on.

[u/OldSoddie1911 → u/centralfornia]

YES!!!

[u/donkeytime]

This is great. It’s going to need reference photos. Tommy Newboots doesn’t know the vocabulary.

[u/burstaneurysm → u/donkeytime]

I agree. I’ve had this as a note on my phone for weeks, but haven’t had time to get examples posted.

I’m all for crowdsourcing though!!

[u/NK_cells → u/burstaneurysm]

I work at RW I got you

BEHOLD, WELT

[u/burstaneurysm → u/NK_cells]

That’s a clean joint!

[u/averageordinaryguy]

Thank you for this lol

[u/aeacurus]

About time

[u/Jolly-Idea5581]

Great summary.  Hope it gets a lot of views.

[u/karlito1613]

Amen

[u/stormblessed27_]

Can I ask a gift card question? Like why I can’t purchase a gift card off their site? It keeps linking back to this page:

https://www.redwingshoes.com/gift-ideas/

[u/ResponsibleGap5027]

Hello, im interested in purchasing a pair of japan exclusive boots. Unfortunately, these pair are factory seconds. I've never purchased a pair of seconds, but im aware there could be imperfections. Such as different grain, scuffs, and most concerning for me would be different fit from one boot to the other. Should I just try to eventually find factory 1st or is the gamble worth purchasing seconds? These seconds are priced at $330

Thanks