These have been my go-to boots throughout this Ontario Fall and Winter. I've raked leaves with them; walked through salt and snow with them; travelled to this office with them and used them while travelling.
This leather is something special. It has a depth of colour that just deepens as it ages. I explain the colour as dark burgundy with a mixture of dark red and mid browns. As the leather ages I find it's getting lighter rather than dark and I think that has to do with the oils displacing. Because it's an oily letter it has an excellent pull up effect, which means you can rub out most scratches with your thumb and then add some lustre with just a brushing. I have some color 8 Chomexcel boots and I honestly find the pullup and scratch resistance comparable. Where it differs is that chomexcel feels more waxy where this is much more oily. I think where the leather differs is that it has striations throughout it that reminds me of bison leather. This has the fantastic quality of hiding any flexion points where the leather creases regularly. There doesn't seem to be a "lottery" with this leather as the consistency of how the leather rolls seems to be consistent with each pair I've seen. From the other Red Wing leathers I've seen I think this leather is my favourite. I'll have to see if the Klondike leather can live up to the bar these have set. My care routine is simple; just regular brushing. So far I've found no need to condition them.
8 last has a bit more of a Munson feel, which works well for my foot because I have a narrow heel that flares out with the widest part being the knuckle of my pinky toe. I find the 8, the Elston and the 602M lasts have worked best for my type of feet.
The QC isn't what you buy Red Wings for, but to be honest the QC on these models were fantastic. Barely any loose threads, no problems with the stitching and welt was well done. Speed hooks are a little flimsy but I think you know that going into buying these. Now when we're talking about durability I think that's where Red Wings shines. These Blacksmiths will last years before I will even need a resole, nevermind running into serious breakdowns.
It's durable, good in most conditions including snow but slippery on ice. I think you get these soles knowing they will last a while, not as long as their previous cork versions but longer than soles and heels I've had on my Grant Stone boots. I haven't had the horrible break-in that others have experienced with Red Wings. Having said that I am used to wearing boots and I think my feet are conditioned to most boots.
Out of all the Red Wings I could buy that are regularly available in North America, I am glad I got these. I find this leather to be one of their most interesting with the greatest depth of colour both initially and as it ages. the slight buffalo-like texture is unique in the Red Wing lineup and just looks less uniform than their other leathers. I'd put the leather on par with Chromexcel in terms of pullup and ability to hide minor scratches and above par to hide areas of creasing, especially along the vamp. I am lucky with the QC that came on my pair. I think the stitching, welt construction and leather selection on my pair is on par with the Grant Stone and Parkhurst boots I own and better than my Oakstreets. I know that's not always the case but on my pair it is. That's a Red Wing lottery win. The hardware is cheaper but that's to be expected. And honestly, hardware is easy to change out if I wanted to. I know people either love or hate the sole and heel on the newer Red Wings. I'm in the former camp. I like the longevity this Vibram soul offers and my feet are pretty conditioned so I don't feel the hardness or breakin period with most boots. I think I would have really loved their former soles for the same reasons, but I live in Canada and appreciate the increased grip the newer soles offer in the snow. The 8 Last is where this boot absolutely crushes it for me. The structured wider toe box gives me the perfect amount of room along the top of my foot and the wider last allows my foot to splay outward so that these fit like a glove. I could wear these boots non-stop and feel no pain. The only lasts that I've tried that provide the same level of comfort for my foot shape is the Elston last from Oakstreet and the 602M from Parkhurst. There has been absolutely no breakin period with this last or with the single slab of leather. These have fit and felt like a dream since day one. I have the 3340s I know the Blacksmith version before mine were all leather lined while these have synthetic material along the inside of the vamp. I think I would have liked the leather lined better but that's because of what I've heard online that the synthetic on my pair will break down over time. So far I haven't seen any evidence of that being the case but I think the likelihood is higher. The Blacksmiths don't look like they have as much of a sprung toe as the Iron Rangers, but to be honest, I wouldn't mind if they did. I think that sprung toe looks awesome on the Red Wings. Even after the dome I envision these being a go to pair of boots for me. And I'm saying that with owning some pairs of boots that are considered far more superior in the boot community.