History of the Red Wing Boots: Iron Ranger No. 8111

After scrolling through on of my favorite blogs, REDWING1905, i noticed his shots were of the Red Wing Iron Ranger boots. I'm a big fan of the history of heritage products so i thought i would share. The Mesabi Iron Range lies in northern Minnesota, a rugged and remote area. The local residents are proudly known as Iron Rangers, individuals with a sense of adventure and a determined personality. The work boots worn into the iron mines had to be as tough as the demanding conditions. The Iron Ranger boots were built with a double layer of leather over the toe to provide the miners an extra measure of safety. The heel pocket, a boot feature designed to provide extra support, was moved to the outside of the boot. This design change eliminated a seam, and provided a smooth and comfortable one-piece surface on the inside of the boot. - RW