Red Wing Shoes

Since 1905, Red Wing Shoes have been manufacturing shoes in accordance with a simple founding approach: to create damn-good footwear through honest work, with quality materials, and a dedication to longevity, durability, and repairability. 

Over a century since their founding, they’re still adhering to this founding principle. Still family owned. Still in the same town. Still making boots the right way.

Brands like Red Wing Shoes enable us to abide by our own founding principles at Providence. We believe in buying less, and buying better. We pride ourselves on offering products that are constructed with a life of hard wear in mind, product that don’t just age gracefully, but actually get better with age. Red Wing epitomizes this philosophy.

Their footwear has been with us since day one, and we pretty much live in our boots. Rain. Sun. Snow. Whether we’re knocking down walls, building shelving, or just working the floor—if we’re in the shop, we’re in our Red Wings.

If you’re interested in picking up your first pair of Red Wings, there are a few things to consider in terms of style and fit. First off, nothing will serve as a substitute for coming down to the shop and trying on a few pairs for yourself. So, if you’re interested and can make it down, we’d love to help you find your perfect pair. 

Now, if that’s not possible for you, we’d be happy to provide our expertise and advice in an effort to get you the right fit. As a general rule, most guys will go down a half size from their typical Brannock size in most styles of Red Wing Shoes. However, there are obviously exceptions to every rule. Red Wing Shoes uses a variety of lasts across their various styles. Their most popular styles, the Classic Moc and The Iron Ranger, are built on the No. 23 and No. 8 lasts, respectively. This means the Classic Moc, being built on the No. 23, offers a higher instep and loftier toe box, but a narrow fit overall. Whereas the Iron Ranger, on the No. 8, offers a bump toe and a wider toe box. 

Not all of their boots fit the same. You may wear a variety of sizes across their range of styles. Again, we’d be happy to advise, drawing on our own experience. Because trust us, once you find your perfect boot, there really is no going back.

Below is a printable measurement system that you can use as a rough guide. Again, there is no silver bullet in terms of determining your size aside from trying a pair on in-person, but this helps. Crucially, this guide does not take arch height or instep into account. So, if your instep or arch are atypical, don’t put too much stock into this guide.