For this archetypal solid working boot mining provided the impetus for the 8111 model and nothing has been changed in material, shape, process or finish for over 90 years. An oil-tanning process makes the leather water-resistant and supple, while it loses nothing in strength and toughness. The boot which is just as good for long walks comes with extra leather reinforcement on heel and toe, and practical quick-lace top hooks.

Work boots and shoes famed for their comfort and durability originate from Red Wing, Minnesota, since 1905. Red Wing treats the full-grain cowhides the company uses for its shoes according to a particular technique, developed at the end of the 1940s and patented for Red Wing. The company purchases hides that have been pre-processed with chromium salts and then tans them using mineral oil, hence the term “oil-tanned”. The procedure results in an oil content of 22% (8 to 10% is standard) and makes the leather exceptionally flexible despite its material thickness, hard-wearing and water-repellent. The quality of the craft corresponds to the high quality of the leather: Red Wing has its shoes mechanically welted using the complex Goodyear welt technique.