The “Moc,” perhaps obviously and perhaps not, comes from “moccasin.” The original Red Wing Moc Toes, which were introduced in the 50’s, were inspired by Native American footwear, specifically in their now-iconic toe design (even though the way the footwear are built is very different- see this interview with Quoddy’s CEO to learn a lot more about true moccasin construction). How I Cared for Them: Cedar shoe trees occasionally inserted when not being worn wiped clean whenever dirty brushed periodically one treatment of Armstrong’s All Natural leather conditioner around 4 monthsĪ Bit of History on Red Wing Moc Toe Boots Worn How Often?: On average, once a week for those five months Price: $279 (full disclosure: this pair was sent to me by Red Wing specifically for this review, with the knowledge that it would be a fully honest and editorial evaluation of the boots) Model: 6-inch Classic Moc Toe in Briar Oil Slick leather, model 8138 White’s Boots Review: My Smokejumpers, Oxfords, and MTO 350s.Paraboot Avignon: A Wildly Comfortable, Personality-Filled Split-Toe.A Deep Look at Heinrich Dinkelacker’s Signature Buda Brogue.Tricker’s Stow: A Two-Year Review of a Very Excellent Country Boot.Red Wing Iron Ranger: A Four-Year Review of a Timeless Boot.Tricker’s x Division Road Bourton: Five Months Deep Into Some Wonderful Kudu.Thorogood Moc-Toe Boot In Tobacco Leather: Five-Year Review.Onderhoud Handmade: Possibly the Best Value in Hand-Welted Boots.Alden Indy 403C Review: A Three-Year Look at a Near-Perfect Boot.Grant Stone Brass Boot: a Uniquely Intriguing, Wildly Versatile Moc-Toe.So I added the 8138 Moc Toes in Briar Oil Slick leather to the gang about five months ago. I’m extremely happy with those, but there’s something about a boot collection without a Red Wing Moc Toe that feels a little…hollow. I almost pulled the trigger on a pair about six or seven years ago while in search of my first high-quality moc-toe boots, but ended up going with Thorogood’s similar Moc Toe model instead.

The look is timeless, the quality doubtless, the aging absolutely beautiful. Red Wing Moc Toes pull that off as well as any boots have.

It’s no easy trick to transform a boot with true work heritage into something that’s considered to be not only acceptable from a fashion or “lifestyle” standpoint, but also legitimately desired and lauded. Red Wing’s Moc Toes are absolutely everywhere, and worn by absolutely everybody-and rightfully so. If you conducted a widespread poll to determine the top five most iconic boots in all of bootdom, it’s very probable that Red Wing would lock down two spots-one for their toe-capped beauty of a beast known as the Iron Ranger, and another for their Classic Moc Toe.

Red winged boot logo