Red Wing is bringing sneaker-esque comfort to work boots with a new collection launching for fall 2026.
The Construct line, consisting of three boot styles, prioritizes comfort, fit and durability while also offering the same essential safety features, high-level performance and refined aesthetic typical of Red Wing products.
“From the outside, it looks like a really nice classic leather brown boot, but we wanted to pack it full of technology and comfort features,” said Ryan Merkt, director of merchandising, direct-to-consumer and industrial at Red Wing.
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He noted that expectations for work boots have changed, where customers are looking for their work gear to be as comfortable as their casual wear. “It is highly important for that next generation of consumers,” Merkt said. “I think that is first and foremost on their mind.” And even core Red Wing customers are shifting toward existing products that feature more out-of-the-box comfort, he added.
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Merkt joked that breaking in a classic Red Wing work boot is considered a rite of passage for some tradespeople. But the Construct collection offers something different.
First, the outsole has a dual-density construction, whereby a rubber cupsole is filled with a lighter-density polyurethane. “It gives you nice underfoot cushion, and with that welt construction, it softens it up and helps with the break-in period,” said Merkt.
He noted that Red Wing has used a similar construction in other boot families, and it has proven its worth. “It stands up to a lot of different things: great heat resistance, chemical resistance and oil-and-gas resistance, as well as being super abrasion resistant and offering probably our best slip resistance, both in wet and oily environments.”
Other elements of the Construct boots include a cushioned tongue and lace-to-toe construction, plus a drop-down at the heel, to provide more flexibility for workers who do a lot of bending down on the job.
As for the aesthetic, Merkt said Red Wing utilized premium materials for the upper, including soft oiled and waxed leathers that age well. “[The leathers] give [the boots] a great look but also are going to patina and wear in really nicely while also still being incredibly durable,” he said.
The line comprises a 6-inch soft-toe boot retailing for $270 and a safety-toe version priced at $280, while an 8-inch safety-toe boot will sell for $290.
Construct is set to replace the DynaForce line, which was introduced more than a decade ago and whose styles will be gradually discontinued. Merkt said that in recent years, there have been updates to ASTM certifications and regulatory requirements, particularly around slip-resistance. “So we really wanted to build a new boot family that exceeded those new slip-resistant requirements and was best in class there, while also upping the comfort factor,” he said.
The work boot market has become increasingly competitive in recent years. Several new players have entered the market — including Adidas, Dickies and Bobcat just this year — while other brands like Helly Hansen have increased their investment in the category. And direct-to-consumer darlings Brunt and Tecovas continue to build out their wholesale operations.
Merkt said, “We’re very conscious of where the work safety market is moving. We do see other people entering the space, but I think, for us, we are focused on our core business while also looking to expand into other categories.” He pointed to opportunity with athletic and hiker silhouettes and other styles that appeal to workers in transportation and warehousing. “That’s definitely a space that we want to be competitive in.”