Irish Setter™ had produced a heavy duty version of their iconic Wingshooter™ boot for people who need extreme hard work boots. Here is how they worked out for me.
by Leon Pantenburg
Disclaimer: Irish Setter supplied the product for this review. I don’t work for the company, and I was not paid to write a review. At the time of publication, there was no affiliate relationship between Red Wing Shoe Company and Survival Common Sense. All we ever promise is a fair and unbiased testing and review.
Hard-working men and women must be picky about their footwear – quality boots are part of the tool kit.
You can tell a lot about a craftsperson by looking at their footwear. For example, a roofer may wear away the outside side of his boots, from sliding against asphalt shingles. Some trades, such as millwrights, tend to wear out the toes because they do installation, maintenance, and repair of industrial machinery and equipment. A sheet rock installer may wear out their boots across the instep, toe and ankle because they strap on stilts to hang sheet rock on ceilings.
The Wingshooter XD
These are hardcore, hard-working craftspeople. So why should an average person consider getting hardcore work boots? Isn’t that overkill?
My construction activities are years behind me, and I am too out-of-shape, soft, old and lazy – mainly lazy – to do extensive do-it-yourself home improvement projects. But, still some puttering has to be done. I mow lawns, edge sidewalks, prune trees, pick up pine cones and rake leaves. Every year, several boards in the backyard fence have to be replaced. So quality work boots are worn and appreciated. I own several pairs, because I like the style and want them.
The Wingshooter XD™ 83632 is the extreme duty version of Irish Setter’s bestselling Wingshooter™.
Here is a description of the XD boots from the Irish Setter website:
“A nearly indestructible, patent-pending ArmaTecTM TPU toe cap protects against wear from repetitive tasks. A diamond plate design helps identify the Wingshooter XD boots. The non-metallic nano safety toe meets ASTM safety standards for protection.
“The iconic white wedge sole offers maximum durability. The leather and TPU upper provides extreme durability against the elements. The leather is sourced from Leather Working Groups which is committed to sustainable production. while fast drying, military-grade linings offer all-day comfort.”
Hard-working people appreciate solid footwear.
Sounds good, but what happens when the rubber meets the road? (I couldn’t pass up that cliche’!)
Right out of the box, I laced the new Wingshooter XD boots on over a pair of Hallow alpaca socks and went for a two-mile dog walk in the August Mississippi heat dome high temperatures. Initially, the footwear were stiff, as all new full-grain leather boots are, but there was no rubbing or chaffing. They weren’t comfortable – yet – but they loosened up quickly.
Recently, my wife and I decided to move back to Oregon from Mississippi to be closer to our kids. Packing up our house took several weeks. I wore my XDs for everything from the massive garage sale, to taking down 14 sets of storage shelves, to carrying boxes – you get the drift.
Despite my vow to never work hard again once I retired, I was on my feet constantly and carried heavy boxes and furniture. During all the work, my feet never got tired or sore, and the boots were very comfortable.
These Irish Setter Edgerton XD boots would be appropriate for any worksite.
Here is how the boots worked out:
Break-in: All full grain leather boots take a while to break in. The XDs were never uncomfortable during the break-in period, but it does take some time. I break in a lot of footwear and typically wear new boots or shoes on my nightly two-mile dogwalk.
With full-grain leather boots, I’d want about 100 miles on them before considering them ready to work or hike in. Here are some tips for breaking in footwear.
Comfort: Once the boots were broken-in, the XDs proved to be very comfortable. I always wear wool or alpaca socks, and choosing the right socks has a lot to do with how comfortable the boots will be. Cotton athletic socks should never see the inside of a boot!
Steel shank: Anyone who works with ladders appreciates this feature. The shank supports the arches while climbing or standing on a ladder rung.
Lining: The Wingshooter XD boots feature UltraDryTM waterproofing for dry, long- lasting protection.
I am lukewarm at best about waterproof liners in work boots. My experience is that they are hotter than boots without a liner. In a hot working environment, like roofing, roadwork or pouring asphalt this will be noticeable. I haven’t found any waterproof liners that can release internal moisture as fast as it is generated.
That said, I didn’t notice a hot foot problem, even when walking on hot concrete in Mississippi in August. It was so hot that I sweated through my hat and clothes, and the boot temperature didn’t matter. But given a choice, I prefer a work boot without a waterproof liner, like these Ashbys.
Protective toe caps: The non-metallic safety toe incorporates asymmetrical caps designed to provide more toe room.
I am a born-again believer in steel-toed boots, and want protective toes in my work boots.
During a break from college, I worked in a transmission factory. We were tightening bolts on transmission cases, one of four that were on a pallet. A forklift held the pallet about a foot off the concrete. Nearby assembly line racket prevented hearing much, and I never heard a warning. Suddenly, the pallet dropped, pinning my left foot under several hundred pounds.
My co-workers quickly lifted the pallet, then helped me limp to the medical station. The toe cap saved my foot from being crushed.
Re-enforced toe protection: An ArmaTecTM TPU toe cap protects against wear from repetitive tasks. A diamond plate design helps identify the Wingshooter XD boots. The boots have earned a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) safety toe certification.
CSA certification, issued by the Canadian Standards Association, is a mark of quality and safety. When a product bears the CSA-approved mark, it signifies the product has undergone rigorous testing for potential electrical hazards and inspection to ensure it meets the highest safety standards.
Sole: The Traction Tred™ outsole offers best-in-class slip, oil, and gas resistance, according to the website, while the dual-density sole platform delivers outstanding underfoot stability.
I didn’t have an opportunity to check out the sole slippery aspect on these boots. But I have a lot of faith in Irish Setter soles.
Durability: Made with full-grain, oiled leather, these boots should last almost forever under normal wear. They can also be re-soled, so the uppers can live on, long after the original soles are worn out.
Do you need a pair of XDS?
Well, for most of us urban types, these boots might seem to be overkill. But when you drop a brick on your foot, slip on the garage floor, or turn an ankle mowing a yard you might wish you were wearing protective footwear like these Wingshooter XDs.
You decide.
Consider these things when you are shopping for footwear:
- Shoes or boots for hiking?
- Waterproof or not?
- What are the best socks for the conditions?
- How do you avoid getting sore feet?
- Will the shoes or boots keep your feet warm?
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