Denim and boots have been part of the working-man’s closet for a century — but sometimes, even the most rough-and-tumble outdoorsman wants a flex piece. Enter: the new drop from Red Wing, in a phenomenal shade of blue.
The Minnesota brand released the 8809 Classic Moc this week in a new Tidal Blue Muleskinner leather, a deep indigo developed exclusively at Red Wing’s own S.B. Foot Tanning Company. It’s a limited-edition run on one of the most recognizable silhouettes in American footwear.
The Classic Moc dates back to 1952, built on Red Wing’s No. 23 last, the same shape the company has used on this boot for over 70 years. It was originally designed for sportsmen, then found its real audience on farms and factory floors, where the moc-toe construction and Traction Tred outsole earned their reputation the hard way.
The Muleskinner leather itself isn’t new to Red Wing. The roughout finish means the hide is worn (unsurprisingly) rough-side-out rather than the smooth side out. That makes it more water-resistant and better at hiding scuffs than a traditional smooth leather.
What’s new here is the color: the rich blue meant to echo raw indigo denim. This is genuinely a shade Red Wing hasn’t put on this boot before, and wow, does it pop. The biggest question might actually be how to style it; luckily, there are some answers for that.
Blue boot blues
Red Wing Shoe Company has been building boots in its Minnesota hometown since 1905, and the S.B. Foot Tannery it now owns has been tanning leather even longer, since 1872.
That’s a level of in-house control the vast majority of bootmakers don’t have. Red Wing isn’t sourcing some color from a supplier, it’s mixing the dye itself, in the same building where it’s tanned leather for over 150 years.
Despite that control (or perhaps because of it), the boot is, unfortunately, already extremely hard to find — most retailers are already showing every size gone, just days after the July 28 launch. Red Wing has said online that this one’s a true limited edition and won’t be joining the permanent collection, so if it pops back up, it likely won’t be for long.
Where to buy it
The Red Wing Heritage 8809 Classic Moc in Tidal Blue Muleskinner retailed for $329.99 direct from Red Wing and select retailers. Stock is largely gone as of this writing, so it’s definitely worth checking directly with Red Wing or a local retailer for restock updates.
