When I heard Red Wing and BOA teamed up for another pair of work boots, it didn’t take much convincing for our crew to get excited. We’re taking a deep dive into the Red Wing Traction Tred Lite work boots that take advantage of the BOA lacing system. For this review, we put them on the feet of Pro Tool Reviews’ Editor-in-Chief, Clint DeBoer.
Reasons to Buy
- BOA fit system
- Heavy-duty welted construction
- Perfect fit
- Comfortable on hard surfaces and bare ground
- Classy, modern style
- Non-metallic safety toe
- Waterproof
- EH rated
- Slip-resistant
Consider Another Model if You…
- Need a stability shank
- Need a puncture plate
- Need a met guard
- Don’t want even tightening across your laces
- Need a budget work boot
BOA Fit System
If you’re new to the BOA fit system, it’s a replacement for traditional boot laces with some significant benefits. Thin cables replace thick laces, and it tightens or loosens using a dial on the tongue.
As your foot swells throughout the day, it’s common to retie your laces a little loose to make room. With the BOA fit system, all you have to do is adjust the dial a couple of clicks. In literally a few seconds, you’re good to go.
It’s even better if you work on secure sites or have to fly frequently for your work. Taking off and putting on your boots to get through security is much faster and far more convenient when all you have to do is turn a dial.
Most BOA boots are like the Traction Tred Lite with the dial on centered on the tongue. However, Red Wing does offer it in a side position on the Apex work boot that PTR co-founder Tom Gaige reviewed.
There are some people that BOA isn’t a good fit for, though. If you frequently prefer to run your laces at different tightness levels between the top and bottom, you might not like the even tightening this system has. If that’s you, check out Red Wing’s traditional lacing Traction Tred Lites as an alternative.
Red Wing Traction Tred Lite Work Boot Style
The Traction Tred Lite is a hiker style with a classier look than most work boots. Rather than using a more traditional brown leather, there’s a bit of gray tone to go with the brown and it works great with jeans or nearly any color of work pants you might prefer.
From the top, the toebox avoids being overly large, and there’s no moc toe breaking up the appearance. Overall, the look is appropriate for those of you who bounce back and forth between office meetings and being on site. It’s a good look for casual wear when you’re meeting folks for dinner before heading home as well. Of course, it’s still packed with Red Wing quality and perfectly content to live full-time on tough jobsites.
On the business end, there’s a Vibram LiteBase wedge outsole. Don’t let the wedge style make you think it’s only for hard surfaces, though. The aggressive tread depth makes it a good fit for bare ground as well. Combined with its welted construction, the Traction Tred Lite is a boot that thrives in nearly any jobsite environment.
Red Wing Traction Tred Lite Work Boot Fit and Comfort
We don’t use the word “perfect” around our office very often, but these boots have a perfect fit. It’s not just that the 9.5 regular size we ordered for Clint was dead on, either. The shape of the shoe fits well from heel to toe. Even with the smaller appearance of the toebox, the reality is that there’s still the right amount of wiggle room. The BOA system ensuring even tension around the lacing hardware is icing on the cake.
The boot is also very comfortable to wear, even as you get to the end of long days. One part of the equation is the quality of the midsole, which absorbs the impact of each step along with the wedge design spreading it out over a wider area and Red Wing’s Bontex insole.
The weight also plays a part. At 3 pounds, 9 ounces, these aren’t the lightest work boots we’ve ever tested, but they are lighter than many of the heavy-duty welted safety toe boots we’ve worn. In fact, Clint’s been wearing them as his everyday boots for the past several weeks and has no complaints.
That said, it did take about a week to break the boots in. In addition to the regular new leather stiffness, there was one fold on the tongue that was a little uncomfortable but as it softened up, it was no longer an issue.
Additional Key Features
- Full grain leather outsole
- Non-metallic safety toe
- Red Wing 3-stage waterproofing system
- ASTM-certified slip-resistant outsole
- ASTM-certified electrical hazard (EH) rating
- Heat resistant up to 475° F
- Resoleable
There are two features contractors sometimes look for that aren’t on the Red Wing Traction Tred Lite: a stability shank and a puncture plate. It’s not so much a con as a design choice by the product team. Just be aware that they aren’t present on this boot if they’re a requirement on your jobsite or features you prefer.
Red Wind Traction Tred Lite BOA Price
The BOA version of this boot runs $289.99, and you can find it at your favorite authorized Red Wing retailer.
If you like the boot but prefer a traditional lacing system, you can get it in a chukka style for $239.99 or a hiker style for $259.99.
The Bottom Line
If your work boot budget covers premium boots, the Red Wing Traction Tred Lite BOA is a very compelling heavy-duty option. It’s comfortable on a wide range of hard and bare ground surfaces, has a great fit, looks fantastic on and off the job, and has the convenience of the BOA fit system. While it does lack a few features that some jobsites may require, our crew highly recommends you try a pair on at your local Red Wing store if those aren’t deal-breakers.
