Issue with RedWing Boots - is this normal?

[bob99]

I bought a pair of RedWing 4311EE AM BR boots on January 12, and I've worn them 4-5 days a week. In a bit less than two months, the tread on the boots has worn down considerably, to the point that I can't wear them on icy sidewalks since there is very little tread remaining.

Is this typical for RedWings? I bought these because they were supposed to be great boots, but I'm pretty disappointed by this. I find the level of wear to be unacceptable. They were just under $200, and I expected them to last longer than 2 months. I've had other boots that haven't show this level of wear after years of use. I'm pretty gentle on them - I'd say 75% of the wear is indoors in an office.

I wrote to RedWing, but have received no reply. In the meantime, can someone please recommend a new pair of boots?

I've attached three photos - the boots a few days after I got them, and then two photos taken tonight of the wear.

 

[HEWSINATOR]

Similar thing has happened to mine, but not soo soon (over 2 years wear).

 

[dibadiba]

i've had mine for a year with quite a bit of use and they dont look that bad yet.
but honestly, the tread on them is pretty minor, i didnt think it would even make much of a difference on ice...

 

[smw356]

my 875's havent worn that much in 2+ years, of being worn about once a week. That said they sucked on ice new, they suck on ice now, and I can only assume they will continue to suck on ice in the future.

 

[Mazda]

Wow, you blow thorugh rubber faster than an S2000 and a sunset strip hooker combined.

I'd be:

A. contacting red wing for a new pair.

B. talking to a podiatrist to see if your gait and posteur has any hand in that. seriously ridicuolous wear for 2 months.

 

[kiya]

I'm a bit surprised when people post about leather variations, fit variations between the left and right boot, and quality issues such as what's posted above.
Red Wing's quality dipped many years ago, and hasn't been anywhere NEAR a "high quality boot" for quite some time.

 

[hollowsleather]

Red Wing's quality is still greater than that of the Chinese outsourcers that make up 90% of the shoe/boot market. They're no White's/Wesco/Nick's, but they're also half the price or less.

I think that a lot of the hubbub over quality results from people buying "NOT FACTORY SECONDS!" that are most certainly factory seconds off of eBay. If you walk into a Red Wing shoe store, you're also able to look at your pair firsthand.

Crepe soles are also designed for farm work, not concrete, and isn't this particular issue more about Vibram's quality than Red Wing's?

 

[Johnny_5]

The crepe soles are very soft and were not designed to be used on hard surfaces ie concrete.

 

[onion]

Originally Posted by hollowsleather

Crepe soles are also designed for farm work, not concrete, and isn't this particular issue more about Vibram's quality than Red Wing's?

This is key, since Redwings does not make the crepe sole in-house.

 

[robin]

Normal for that kind of sole. Relax, they're easy and cheap to resole.

 

[bob99]

Hello everyone, thanks for the replies.

I was steered towards these boots by a salesperson - I asked for something that would hold up during outside wear, on ice and snow, in the city. I think I was sold the wrong pair, which is frustrating, since I bought them at a RedWing authorized store.

Damn these crepe soles! If only I owned a farm.

 

[Classically]

Just blow $344 on a pair of Indy Boots from Alden and that should keep you satisfied for at least five years.

 

[nonissue]

Originally Posted by Classically

Just blow $344 on a pair of Indy Boots from Alden and that should keep you satisfied for at least five years.

Not even remotely the same kind of aesthetic.

 

[nairb49]

Does this qualify as a crepe sole? I thought a crepe sole was that gummy type of sole on Clarks...

 

[wttm]

Crepe soles on Clarks are horrible on icy/wet grounds and I think RW calls them crepe soles as well.
Try to call RW, I think I read from somewhere that they do resole.