Red Wing Iron Ranger Sole and Heel Repairs

[Edward]

So, checking in with the hive mind on this one as I'm second guessing myself. The photo below is of the soles of my old Iron Rangers, which I bought new in I think the spring of 2013.

As you can see, the heels are -finally, after over a decade of hard wear, needing repaired. Where I'm second guessing myself is whether I should just go the whole hog and have the whole sole done. The soles otherwise don't look like they need done - as you can see, I've barely worn off the stitching. OTOH, they do feel a little... harder, somehow, under my old feet (I've recently put a spongier insole in there for the first time rather than the usual simple leather one), so I'm wondering if a new sole (which I believe entails replacing the cork bedding) would be the trick. Another consideration is that if I do go for a replacement sole, it will be one of the minilug type, as below:

My original soles are the fully flat type, as was the norm when I bought my boots. Red Wing have since switched to a mini-lug profile. I originally wasn't keen, but it's subtle, and the extra grip I think might well be welcome. Especially considering chances are that the next resole would be when I'm in my early sixties, when I likely won't bounce as easily as I almost do now. I had a fall in another pair of smooth rubber soled boots a few months ago; no real harm done, but it was a bit of a realisation how easy it is to go over on some of our pavements locally when they're wet, and a nod that a bit more grip isn't a bad thing.

Financially, it's about £50 most places I can find online in the UK for heels, and £100-£120 for the full sole. (Recommendations welcome from anyone who's had this done in the UK.) Uppers are still in very good condition, so with a new pair of IRs running £300+/- locally, it seems a sensible investment.

Any thoughts out there? I think I've mostly answered my own question by posting and am leaning to the full resole, but open to any words from experience...

 

[ai00344]

I’m in the same boat with my 10 year old iron rangers. I would like to go with the complete resole and add a leather midsole but the cost of this in Canada is ~ $300. Seems a bit much to invest in an old pair of boots even though the uppers are in great condition.

 

[Edward]

I’m in the same boat with my 10 year old iron rangers. I would like to go with the complete resole and add a leather midsole but the cost of this in Canada is ~ $300. Seems a bit much to invest in an old pair of boots even though the uppers are in great condition.

Does sound steep. Over here it's be about £150 for that option, with a new pair of Iron Rangers now double that.

 

[jglf]

Definitely go for the full resole. The cork is probably worn out inside, and you don’t know exactly how much of the outsole is worn down in the middle section. Since the outsole is made from the same material throughout , you might not be able to tell how much it has worn through. You don’t want to do half the job only to realize later that you should have done it all, especially since it’s on 50-70 more.

 

[Edward]

Definitely go for the full resole. The cork is probably worn out inside, and you don’t know exactly how much of the outsole is worn down in the middle section. Since the outsole is made from the same material throughout , you might not be able to tell how much it has worn through. You don’t want to do half the job only to realize later that you should have done it all, especially since it’s on 50-70 more.

Good call - I'd figured the cork bed might have shifted, but not considered wear on the otherside of the sole itself. I think I will go for the full think. Thanks.

Now I just have to figure who I'm gonig to use...