I bought these boots a few years ago as boots that I could wear casually, or maybe do a little work in them. It was a case of finding these boots for a great price for my hard-to-fit feet. (I’m kind of borderline 13B/14A depending on the boot.) I was kind of waiting for the right time to start wearing them. They just did not excite me though, so they sat unused. My son is extremely hard on his boots and quickly destroyed the Doc Marten and Solovair boots that he liked. I decided to buy him a pair of Red Wing 953s because I knew that they would hold up a lot better. He insisted on black boots though, so I dyed his black with leather dye. Six to twelve months later he complained that they were not as black anymore and asked me to redye them. I picked them up and the teacore effect was incredible. I hated to do it, but I dyed them black again. But seeing his boots inspired me. As much as I like his boots, I didn’t want black boots myself. I mixed up some leather dye to create a deep dark black cherry and dyed my own pair of 953s, hoping to achieve a similar effect over time.
It can be difficult to find size 14A boots, but I just happened to find this new old stock pair on eBay. They arrived quickly, but the leather was a little dry. I applied some leather conditioner when they arrived, but did not wear them for a long time.
I bought these Red Wing 953s to be a durable pair of boots that I could wear to do anything — walking the dogs, running errands, working in the yard, or shoveling snow. I did not plan to baby this pair.
The smooth leather has held up very well and has been easy to clean. The leather was overdyed with a dark black cherry and is slowly (very slowly) showing some brown tones and the boots wear in. This leather got pigmented shoe cream polish and wax just before the thunderdome started. That may explain why the color has held up for so long. They have gotten muddy several times and I’m able to easily clean them with a damp rag and then brush them after they dry.
These Red Wing boots have a plain-toe design. Normally I would prefer a cap-toe, but the smooth plain toe makes these easy to care for. They are well-constructed with no wonky stitching and appear to be pretty durable after several months of use.
The Red Wing “Supersole” was not originally a feature that I was looking for. However, this sole is comfortable, wears well, has decent grip, and does not hold onto mud or gravel. This sole has turned out to be a happy surprise.
Red Wings represent a good value. They have quality construction and are made in the USA. The price is a step up from bargain basement boots, but with the price comes quality construction and a long-lasting boot. Red Wing also offers this boot in MANY size and width combinations, so most people should be able to get an excellent fit. This makes them an especially good option for those who need narrow, wide, small, or extra large boots.