Sometime last month, before the snow started hitting the ground, I began a search for a rugged, ankle-length boot that would facilitate the transition between early fall and the beginnings of Montreal’s snow-covered winter. As is usually the case, Red Wings seemed to have the answer to all my problems and it wasn’t long before I was pretty much set on the Wabasha boot, part of their Heritage collection. Cash in-hand, I headed to local upperground boutique Off The Hook and swiftly walked out with a pair of #9185 in size 11.5 (sized down a half from my usual size).

The boot is a 6″ (though the #9184 offers a slightly lower cut) and features leather tanned at their own S.B Foot Tanning Company in Minnesota, a Vibram mini-slug sole, olive-brown waxed canvas hugging each side, quality two-tone raw-hide laces and like all their boots, are triple hand-stitched in the US using waxed thread.