Engineer Boots 2966 Black Klondike Men's Boots - Red Wing Shoes

Red Wing Heritage 2966 Engineer Boot in Black Klondike

The Red Wing Heritage 2966 Engineer Boot in Black Klondike is the most classic engineer boot silhouette out there, made from Red Wing's own S.B. Foot full-grain teacore leather - a supple brown leather that's topically overdyed black, designed to wear in and reveal rich brown tones beneath with age and wear. This beautifully iconic boot features a unique, non-steel toe profile that flattens with wear and leather outsole with stacked leather heel with neoprene cord soles for added comfort and slip resistance. This boot is one of the most comfortable, easy to wear, and is one of the most hard-to-find engineer boot styles, since it was last released as an Asian market exclusive, before finally being discontinued several years ago. This is a very limited production style by Red Wing Heritage, that cannot be restocked once sold out, so we will not be receiving anymore inventory.

What's the Backstory of the Red Wing Engineer Boot?

The 2966 Engineer - Back in 1936, the Red Wing Shoe Company presented its first Engineer boot. At that time developed for equestrian sports and hunting, a large following of men from the railroad industry quickly became enthused by this model. Hence the nickname Engineer Boots emerged. Younger folks then, especially motorcycle enthusiasts during the 1950s, discovered this style and the popularity of the Engineer grew even more rapidly.

Why Is the 2025 Red Wing 2966 a Must-Have?

Today, this model has gained an iconic status among bikers, rugged dudes, and celebrities alike. With the arrival of this 2025 rendition of the 2966 Engineer, we proudly carry a more than authentic boot that is historically based on the 1950s and 1960s versions. This iteration uses Black Klondike leather, which is coveted amongst Red Wing fans and impresses with its "teacore" tanning character.

What Is Teacore Leather and Why Does It Matter?

You might be asking yourself what's teacore? Teacore tanning features a base color of a hide (in this case a rich brown) with a topical dye finishing over top (black topical dye finish). Through wear and use, a unique patina will develop, when the black layer will wear off & the brown base will shine through. The flat toe box is based on the models of the aforementioned 50s and 60s, and deleted the steel toe used in previous releases. This allows for that timeless toe box shape to develop with use.

Features, Fit, and Origin

The Neoprene Gro-Cord sole, which has been around as a pillar of industry for more than 60 years, ensures solid footing and is also oil-resistant. The 2966 is visually rounded off by its “stacked heel” and a woodsman heel curve. This is a heel construction that is slightly slanted and has a contrasting color insert. Last, but not least, there is the special vintage-inspired label in the leg shaft and the “RED WING” name embossed on the outside of the leg shaft, reminiscent of the 1950s model. Super special is about all we can say about this one. Don’t snooze!