My main complaint with Red Wings is the weight. I have had 3 pair and all 3 where heavy and pricey. I bought a pair of Thorogoods last year (pull on non steel toe wedge sole) cant say enough good about them, my new favorite boot and I will buy again.
Redwings are also notorious for their break in period, while Thorogood is known to practically lack the break in period all together.
My 4364's were fine after a day of wearing them around the house.
H&S, have you ever bought a pair of Redwings and worn them? If not you don't have a clue about them other than what you have read or heard. My Redwings had no break in at all and are fairly light. That is great that you love Thorogood boots but don't bash other brands you have never worn and basically tell people you think items they have bought suck. That is not really good form or etiquette.
I'm not bashing them or anything, and I was talking about the traditional heritage boots BTW.
I hope I didn't offend anyone or come off too negative.
My
I was just a bit shocked when I commented on your boots because the cemented construction usually tends to go away on American made boots when you get around the $200 mark, I did not mean to insult you and hope you are not offended.
Obviously you chose to spend your hard earned money on boot that has served you well, and nobody can tell you they are not a good boot.
I did a good deal of reaserch before making my choice, and I learned a lot.
Many reviews watched / read on boots from each company, I leaned all about the leather each company uses, and even watched a comparable boot from each company get cut in half and compared by someone who knows a thing or two.
I learned that there are benefits and tradeoffs with each company and that you probably can't go wrong with either for a heritage style American made boot , I just went with thorogood mainly for the plain toe offering but I did value a couple other aspects of their products.
Redwings SB leather used on their traditional Goodyear welted boots tends to be good for more resoles but has a decent break in period.
Weinbrenner uses a tumble relaxed Horween leather on the thorogood work boots , it may not last quite as long but it takes less time to break in.
A relaxed oil tanned leather takes less time to break in than a standard chrome tanned leather of comparable thickness, but the grain is loosened so it tends to get floppy a bit sooner than a standard chrome tanned leather does.
