Red Wing vs Irish Setter work boots

How the two brands are related

Red Wing Shoes is based in Red Wing, Minnesota. It sells boots under several names. The Red Wing name itself covers a Heritage line, which includes the Classic Moc, Iron Ranger, Roughneck, Blacksmith and Logger, and a separate Red Wing work line.

Irish Setter is one of Red Wing's brands. It began with hunting boots and now includes a full work boot range. The Irish Setter work boots in our guides include the Ashby, Ely, Mesabi, Kittson, Two Harbors and Wingshooter ST. So when you compare the two, you are comparing two product lines from the same company, not two rival makers. Our Red Wing guide covers both.

Red Wing Heritage: what the listings say

The Red Wing Heritage Iron Ranger 8111 listing describes oiled full grain leather, a cap toe, a Goodyear leather welt and resoleable design, a Vibram 430 Mini-Lug outsole, steel shank and speed hooks, on the No. 8 last with a bump toe.

The Red Wing Heritage Classic Moc 875 listing describes full grain oiled leather, Puritan triple-stitching, a Goodyear leather welt and the Traction Tred wedge outsole, on the No. 23 last, which the listing says gives extra room in the forefoot and instep. Both Heritage listings state made in the USA.

Neither Heritage listing states a safety toe, EH rating or waterproofing. The Iron Ranger listing presents its cap toe as part of the look and does not state a safety toe. If your job needs ASTM rated footwear, these listings do not confirm it.

Note.A cap toe or bump toe is a style feature. Only a boot labeled to ASTM F2413 has a tested safety toe. Check the label if your site requires one.

Irish Setter work boots: what the listings say

The Irish Setter Ely 6-inch Steel Toe listing describes a steel safety toe meeting ASTM F2413-18 M/I/C EH, full grain leather with direct attach construction, a non-metallic composite shank, a removable polyurethane footbed and UltraDry waterproofing.

The Irish Setter Mesabi 8-inch Steel Toe Logger listing describes a steel toe meeting ASTM F2413-18 M/I/C EH and F3445-21 SR, a Goodyear welt that allows resoling, a steel shank, UltraDry waterproofing and an HRO logger outsole heat resistant to at least 475 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other Irish Setter work boots in our guides include the Ashby with an aluminum toe and the Wingshooter ST with a non-metallic toe, both listed with Goodyear welts and EH ratings.

Specs side by side

This table uses listing facts only. Not stated means the listing does not mention it. Prices are listed prices at the time of writing and will change.

See our steel toe boot picks →

Fit, break-in and care

Red Wing Heritage boots are known for stiff leather that takes time to break in. Our guide on how to break in Red Wing boots covers it, and are Red Wing boots true to size explains why the last matters for sizing.

A direct attach boot like the Ely usually needs less break-in because the sole is molded on and flexes more readily. Welted boots like the Mesabi and the Heritage models are the ones a cobbler can resole. See can work boots be resoled and how to care for Red Wing and Thorogood boots.

Which one to buy

Buy Irish Setter if you need a safety toe and EH rating at a lower price, want waterproofing, or work on hot surfaces where an HRO sole helps. Buy Red Wing Heritage if you want a classic US-made welted boot for light work and everyday wear and do not need a rated safety toe. If you need a rated Red Wing, look at the Red Wing work line and confirm the label, since we could not verify those models from our listings. Also see are Red Wing boots worth it.

• Rated steel toe on a budget: Irish Setter Ely
• Waterproof welted logger with heat resistant sole: Irish Setter Mesabi
• Classic welted lace-up for daily wear: Red Wing Iron Ranger
• Roomy moc toe wedge for daily wear: Red Wing Classic Moc

Frequently asked questions

Is Irish Setter owned by Red Wing? Yes. Irish Setter is a brand of Red Wing Shoes.

Are Irish Setter boots as good as Red Wing? They serve different needs. The Irish Setter listings in our guides confirm safety toes and EH ratings at lower prices. The Red Wing Heritage listings confirm welted, US-made construction but no safety ratings.

Are Irish Setter boots made in the USA? The Irish Setter listings in our guides do not state where they are made, so we cannot confirm it. The Red Wing Heritage listings do state made in USA.

Does Red Wing make steel toe boots? Red Wing sells a work line with safety toe boots, but none are in our current listings, so we cannot confirm specific models or ratings here.