Luke Cuenco 12.26.25
As we swap out our tennis sneakers and flip flops for some extra critical footwear this winter, I assumed it’d be nice to offer everybody a more in-depth take a look at one in all my favourite manufacturers of shoes, and particularly one in all their finest all-around boots on the market – the Irish Setter Wingshooter. The Wingshooter is Irish Setter’s traditional high-quality boot line that type of blends in what you’d count on from a nicer pair of shoes, with a number of the more durable options you’d see on their searching boot lineup. As we speak, we’ll be looking at a model new pair of 9″ Wingshooters that I’ve ordered in measurement EE, or large. This, amongst many different options, like a wholly waterproof design, is a part of what makes the Irish Setter Wingshooter top-of-the-line boots within the enterprise for on a regular basis put on.
Boot Protection on AllOutdoor
AO Assessment: Irish Setter 9” Wingshooter – The Final On a regular basis Driver
The Irish Setter 9″ Wingshooter boots function a sturdy full-grain waterproof leather-based higher paired with a Goodyear welt building for long-lasting put on and straightforward resoling. They arrive geared up with UltraDry waterproof know-how, together with a moisture-wicking nylon lining and gusseted tongue to maintain your ft dry when issues get moist or in case your ft are likely to run just a little sizzling. Consolation is completed through a detachable polyurethane footbed, padded ankle collar, and an EVA midsole for shock absorption – all comparable options to my pair of Irish Setter Pinnacle searching boots. The outsole is a rugged rubber “prairie” sole that provides glorious traction and resistance to grease, warmth, and electrical hazards. Out there in a variety of sizes and widths, together with an extra-wide EE choice, these boots cater to a broad spectrum of foot shapes. Weighing roughly 57 ounces per boot, they’re surprisingly mild with out feeling weightless, and I feel that is one truth that provides them wearability as your every day footwear.
In contrast to another leather-based boot manufacturers available on the market, Irish Setters solely want a tiny little bit of break-in to be snug to put on. Within the case of my Pinnacle boots, they required no break-in, and I wound up happening a 14-mile hike by means of an deserted turnpike with these nearly proper after I purchased them. The Wingshooters are pretty comparable, with the longer 9″ variant taking only a bit longer to put on in to get that good supple but supportive feeling you get from excessive ankle boots. The laces equally put on in identical to the full-grain leather-based.
The Irish Setter Wingshooter boots sometimes vary between $180 and $240, together with the waterproof and insulated variations in just about any of their customary colours. The opposite kinds embody 7-inch and 9-inch heights, with choices for mushy toe, metal toe, or composite security toe variants. The boots can be found in a number of widths, together with the extra-wide EE choice, which I’m an enormous fan of. This makes the boots a lot simpler to order for your self, but in addition for ordering for others, as Irish Setter is likely one of the few firms to supply EE sizing as customary. Simply based mostly on the general building high quality, supplies choice, and appear and feel, I feel they’re a stable alternative at a mid-range worth level. However how do they maintain as much as the outside and the moist streets of the Pacific Northwest?
Outdoors and Within the Rain
A part of what makes the Wingshooters an awesome choice for an on a regular basis shoe, particularly right here within the Pacific Northwest, is their waterproof function. The 9″ boots function a fairly aggressive tread that’s excellent for gravel, grass, dust, and water, however will put on away in case your major job is strolling on pavement. A part of what makes the Wingshooters snug is their rubber prairie sole, which is sturdy in its personal proper however presents a greater steadiness of traction and luxury over the work-focused Wingshooter ST, which includes a composite toe along with a extra sturdy Rubber EVA outsole. Nevertheless, the standard 70-year-old searching boot design nonetheless holds as much as many of the typical “abuse” I put them by means of, which consists largely of vary journeys and operating errands in and round city.
In terms of the waterproof design, Wingshooters are a number of the finest. The boots are really waterproof, with the 9″ variations that includes probably the most protection as much as in regards to the mid ankle. That is extraordinarily useful if you’ll want to step right into a puddle to cross a road, otherwise you occur to seek out your self out within the rain in a searching stand, and also you need a pair of footwear that’s going to maintain your little piggies good and dry for the journey again together with your trophy. The boots will probably get muddy, moist, dusty, or splashed with who is aware of what, however if you happen to simply put in just a little little bit of effort to keep up them, these boots will provide you with lots of miles.
Talking of upkeep, to maintain your Irish Setter Wingshooters in good situation, it is best to undertake some primary leather-based upkeep practices. This implies cleansing off dust and particles with a mushy brush or material after heavy use, particularly if you happen to’ve been outside in muddy or moist circumstances. Leather-based conditioner must be utilized periodically to keep up the suppleness and water resistance of the full-grain leather-based higher—this retains the leather-based from drying out and cracking over time. The boots proper out of the field will take in some water, however ought to nonetheless be waterproof, particularly after a number of therapies of leather-based conditioner and buffing. It’s additionally clever to keep away from extreme warmth drying if the boots get moist; as an alternative, allow them to air dry naturally at room temperature as an alternative of utilizing a heated boot dryer, to permit the leather-based to come back to room humidity and temperature naturally. Lastly, for all of my leather-based boots, I wish to 0periodically apply a waterproofing spray or wax designed for leather-based boots will assist retain their moisture barrier, making certain that the UltraDry know-how continues to carry out as supposed.
Ultimate Ideas
The Irish Setter 9″ Wingshooter boots provide a number of the finest by way of mixing sturdiness, consolation, and traditional type, which makes them splendid as a dependable on a regular basis boot and can even flip heads when worn out in town (in the event that they’re clear). They maintain ft dry and supported, whereas the light-weight design and large sizing choices make them a snug match for a broad vary of foot shapes and particularly for large ft like myself, who wish to put on boots as an alternative of tennis sneakers or loafers daily. So whether or not you’re navigating moist metropolis streets, working outside within the mud, snow, and rain, or simply searching for a present for somebody who wants a very good pair of shoes, the Wingshooters strike an ideal steadiness of efficiency and flexibility for the worth you pay for them. That’s what makes them a number of the finest waterproof boots within the boot market.
