>>225983I fucking love my Redwings and have had the same pair for a decade. I work construction so they really get their asses kicked every day. I baby them and and regularly waterproof and treat the leather. They have been resoled twice. I've even taken them to Central America for a few months, because good luck finding size 14 rubber boots in countries full of four and a half foot tall people.
That being said, Red Wings and Danners are WORK boots, not hiking boots. Shit's heavy. They will sap you of energy. I hiked the PCT Mexico to Canada in Brooks Cascadias and Merrel trail gloves. Light shoes mean more miles and less chance of injury.
When hiking requires boots (snow, cold weather, really harsh rocks), I'm all about Vasques these days. The durability is only okay, but they are very light for the protection and insulation they offer.
The only time I wear my Red Wings afield now is hunting. The reason being that they are the ultimate foot protection, and sometimes you just have to crash and stomp through brush to get to a downed animal or to get unlost. I also wear them when I have to work in a place where I keep bumping into rattlesnakes.
