Paul writes periodic travel and tech articles on Dappered.com. Follow his travel blog, drivinginertia.com, to read more about his adventures.
Red Wing boots are pretty awesome. Their Heritage boots are made in the USA, iconic, rugged, and wonderful. They’re just awesomely expensive as well – $240 on Zappos, $225 at J. Crew. Ouch.
But, if you’re close to the Twin Cities in Minnesota or La Crosse in Wisconsin, you can get a pretty sweet deal at the Red Wing Factory Store. Where is it? Red Wing, Minnesota, of course.
Here’s the deal:
First, you’ll have to check out the “largest boot in the world.” It’s right inside the door of the store, sized 638 1/2 D. The thread used to sew it together is rope. Thick rope. It’s massive. Walk past it. Take a picture if you must.
The first floor of the store is filled with company information, memorabilia, and full-priced goods. The deals are downstairs; the stairway down is near the big boot up front.
Downstairs, there are factory seconds, clearance items, and full-sized hides for sale (large hides are $99). Their classic boot style (No. 875 — the 6″, lug-soled boot), is marked down to $168. They’re factory seconds usually – most have a scuff or two. If you wear them right, they’ll get a scuff or two more.
But the best deal is buying three pairs. If you buy two, the third is free. Make the pilgrimage with two buddies and your boots will end up being $112 ($168 + $168 + FREE / 3 = $112). Might just be worth the road trip.
Outlets and Factory stores can be a desert of Dress Barn, Big Dogs, and other disappointments. But sometimes there’s stand-alones like this, or outlet malls that actually deliver. What and where is your favorite? Leave it below.
There are plenty of needles in this haystack.
Thankfully I live in ND so it’s not that far to drive there!
Nice… unfortunately a hike from Boston.
Do we have any locals that would be willing to buy and ship?
Have had a pair of Red Wings for 8 years. Amazing. I think I picked them up for around $150 but I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth at this point with no signs of them wearing out anytime this decade.
Also, I should add that in my experience, sizing is generally pretty large. Plan on sizing down a half size (e.i. if you’re normally a 10, drop down to at least 9.5).
I will try it out. I haven’t been to the outlet but I have been to a Red Wing owned store (most are owned independently) and they wouldn’t tell me what they have in stock at the outlet so I don’t know what to expect as far as sizes. It is half hour away so if you have sizes and styles to look for, I could take a gander.
Just so happens that I live in La Crosse, Wi, but with a truck that gets 16 miles to the gallon. Not worth the drive for me.
Hmm… has the downstairs outlet always existed? I distinctly remember visiting the Red Wing showroom with my dad when I lived in Minnesota, asking the staff if we could buy shoes there, and being told we could not. This was 5-6 years ago, though.
One of the best deals I ever scored was a few years ago when I got a pair of brand new (in the box) Red Wings 6″ moc toe, lug sole boots – http://www.zappos.com/red-wing-heritage-classic-lifestyle-work-6-moc-lug – for $140 from an ordinarily very pricey local store – and in NYC, “very pricey” is actually very pricey. It was an end of season sale in April or May, so I didn’t get much use out of them right away, but when the weather got cold again…I lived in those boots. Every fall/winter/early spring since, I live in those boots and they just get better and better.
Same here. Good to see Lax on the map. Side note: Pick up a pair of mukluks in Ely, MN for your gf this winter if you don’t want to sleep in the dog house until spring.
I live an hour away from this place! I would definitely be willing to make a trip
If your in NYC checkout places like Scoop. I picked up a pair of 1000 mile boots last year for around 100 (marked wayyyy down). It seems like pricey shops in NYC sometimes go a little to rugged for their clientele and will have items like this (and others) on sale.
Orvis clearance center, Norwalk CT. Dumpy store in plain center, unlike Orvis retail stores. Clarks leather shoes for me $29, blouses for my wife and jacket for my daughter all 60-70% off. Items seemed to be returns (lots of hemmed pants in odd sizes) but were all new. Lots of boots, coats and pants.
Ha! An underground railroad for Red Wings. Love it. I was thinking the same thing needs to be set up to get New Glarus beer out of Wisconsin.
Not really sure, but the building seemed pretty new.
Hitchhike?
I agree on this. 1/2 size down seemed like the best fit for me too.
I used to think they were 1/2 too large as well. But I am now pretty sure they are sized for boot socks (thick).
Still on the look out for brown iron rangers in 9.5. COME ON EBAY.
If this is really happening then I’d love to jump on the bandwagon.