![]() ![]() So there are three big differences here that are largely intended to reduce Red Wing’s famously tough break in: the softer leather insole, the poron, and the texon, the latter two helping to provide extra shock absorption as well. Chrome tanned leather insole - this is softer and more flexible than the traditional vegetable tanned insole.This is a very traditional boot construction: the leather and cork mold to the shape of the foot over time, making for a shoe that becomes more comfortable and feels more “custom” to your foot over time.īut Red Wing wanted the Classic Chelsea to be something different, a boot more comfortable from the get go that could potentially attract more customers to Goodyear welted footwear. Typically, Red Wing Heritage boots are made with a vegetable tanned leather insole, cork filling, rubber midsole, and a rubber outsole. Here’s where things get really different. Red Wing Classic Chelsea Sole Construction ![]() It’s fair to say Amber Harness is the flagship leather of the brand’s flagship boot, the Iron Ranger, while the Ebony Harness is a very dark brown that’s practically black, coupled with a black outsole.Īll of these leathers are chrome tanned and quite thick at ~2.1 millimeters they’ll last for years to come and help to cement the fact that these are no dainty dress boots. The other two are full grain leathers from Red Wing’s own tannery, SB Foot Tanning Co. (Wax often does see canvas jackets for more examples.) The wax is applied to improve water resistance and it helps the boot to accrue a lovely patina. It’s often mistaken for suede, but roughout is thicker, tougher, and much more resistant to scratching. Roughout is essentially leather flipped inside out: the fuzzy “nap” of the flesh side is on the outside of the boot and the smooth skin side is on the inside. My pair is Hawthorne Muleskinner, Red Wing’s name for their waxed roughout. This boot comes in three leathers right now. Hawthorne Muleskinner is a blonde, waxed roughout that’s very scratch resistant.Amber Harness (brown) and Ebony Harness (black) are full grain, oil tanned leathers from SB Foot Tanning.Amber Harness, Ebony Harness, and Hawthorne Muleskinner leathers Red Wing Classic Chelsea Leather So, while to the untrained eye (and to those that don’t spend their lives obsessing about boot trends like me) the Classic Chelsea might just look like, well, a Chelsea, it’s actually pretty daring as an entry into heritage footwear. (The Carmina Chelsea is a perfect example.) Indeed, after over a hundred years of existence (including a famous spell as the Beatles’ favorite dress boot) popular fashion has placed the Chelsea in the smart casual category: they’re not normally paired with suits but they’re not often dressed down to t-shirts and baggy jeans. These days, there’s no shortage of guys who see Chelseas in their mind’s eye as a long, lean boot typically made with luxurious calfskin and a leather sole - something best suited for suits. In fact, I’d say this is the chunkiest Chelsea I’ve ever seen and it really stands out in the market. This time around Red Wing has tried to stay truer to its roots, devising something about as close to a heritage work boot as a Chelsea can get: a round toe, a thick wedge sole, and resoleable Goodyear welt construction. ![]() More evocative of work boots than competing Chelseas. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |