Footwear is one of those ultra personal things that’s so multidimensional. They shod you, keeping your feet protected. They support you, keeping your whole body upon a good foundation. Quality footwear is something you’ll want to have when you travel, are at play, or are in the bush. “You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes. Where they going. Where they been,” was colloquially said by our fictional friend Forrest Gump. A pair of shoes I got back in February – actually boots – have kept me somewhat wooed. For the last nine or so months I’ve had a chance to wear Irish Setter’s Setter Fifty casual boots, and I was more than surprised by them.
The Irish Setter company
In 1950, Red Wing Shoe Company launched the 9-inch “Irish Setter” boot, designed for upland bird hunters. Made from sequoia-tanned leather, the boot’s distinctive reddish-orange color led to its name, as it resembled the coat of Irish Setter dogs.
The boot’s origins trace back to the 1920s with the introduction of “Outing Boots,” designed specifically for hunters. In 1952, the style 877 featured a wedge – now iconic – sole instead of a raised heel, for quiet movement, and it soon became popular in various job settings beyond hunting.
By the 1990s, the original 877 was recognized as a classic work boot, and the Irish Setter line expanded to include a wide range of hunting boots.
The spirit of the Setter Fifties
The Setter Fifty casual boots were inspired by those 1950’s design elements. “ Lightweight Irish Setter® Setter Fifty boots are designed for casual wear after the hunt or work is done,” a press release notes. “These modern boots combine Irish Setter’s iconic white wedge soles and moc toe styling with a lighter weight, comfortable, and sustainable ExtraLight® sole platform made from 51% recycled material.”
Because the Setter Fifties are made up of 51% recycled products, there’s a significant savings on material use and wastage. The company boasts the amount of new mineral material being cut by 50%. Further, up to 50% product wastage is cut down. These elements are visible by looking at the side profile of the wedge sole where specks of recycled material can be seen. “The sustainable footbeds provide support and enhanced comfort using recycled EVA,” Setter explained in their product announcement.
The Setter Fifty stretch nylon collar and tongue are highly breathable and comfortable. CuShin™ tongue protection with four-way stretch nylon offers comfort across the shin. Mostly unlined full-grain leather uppers enhance breathability and comfort. Goodyear Welt construction allows for resoling to extend the boot’s lifespan. The rich, supply leather is sourced from Leather Working Group Gold-Rated Tanneries. Leather Working Group assesses and rates the environmental compliance of leather manufacturers. During bi-yearly visits the group rates the tannery on several factors including traceability of hides, environmental policies and procedures, energy consumption, water usage, air and noise emissions, waste management and worker safety.
How’d the Setter Fifties do in action?
The set of Setter Fifty boots that I received, I got back in February. I’ve had the chance to wear them in several settings and have no real complaints about them, quite the contrary. They’re comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
Marketed as a casual boot, I have to confess, I’ve been wearing my set of Setter Fifty boots on some dress-casual, and even more dressy occasions. Sport jacket, shirt and tie, blue jeans, and Setter Fifty boots – not a bad look.
The first time I stepped into them, I felt good. They were comfortable. I was at a trade show for the first day wearing them out and about, and I was on my feet for a solid 10 hours. I walked probably around five or six miles, and there was minimal discomfort.
They did not really require that much breaking in. Sure, they had to get acclimated to the contours of my feet, but overall, they were comfortable and springy out the gate. This is a pivotal thing for people with wide feet and high arches.
The aesthetics
These boots look sharp. The ones that I have do have the iconic moccasin style front stitching. All but one of the men’s models and one woman’s models have that moccasin style. All of the Setter Fifty boots are made of leather.
For the coloration, I’d say the set I received would be considered a fawn, but the product information page says that they’re “mango.” Other color options include black, tan, gray, deep taupe, and brown.
The other models
The Setter Fifty casual boots come in four different men’s models/colors and three different women’s models/colors.
- Men’s, 6″, Pull-On Leather Boot Brown
- Men’s, 6″, Casual Boot Mango
- Men’s, 6″, Casual Boot Black
- Men’s, 6″, Casual Boot Deep Taupe
- Women’s, 6″, Casual Boot Gray
- Women’s, 6″, Casual Boot Tan
- Women’s, 6″, Pull-On Leather Boot Black
A note from the Irish Setter Product Merchant
“Irish Setter is known for its original Wingshooter upland hunting boots dating back to the 1950’s. We’ve brought key elements from the classic into this new line for casual wear. The ExtraLight outsole is extremely lightweight and comfortable for casual wear” said Charley Bryant, Irish Setter Product Merchant. “Irish Setter boots have always been built for outdoor enthusiasts. We’re proud to incorporate more sustainable features in this Setter Fifty family to help do our part to ensure the great outdoors we appreciate today are available for generations to come.”
The quick and dirty
Pluses: Fashionable and comfortable. Made in part out of recycled materials. They seem durable and well-made.
Minuses: Not all models are made in all the colors.
The Setter Fifty line of casual boots are sharp and don’t leave you completely fatigued after a full day of wear. Perfect for those post-hunt hours at camp, as advertised, or I proffer to say in semi-dress/dress-casual settings. The Setter Fifty boots are affordable and a line that I’d direct people to if they were in the market for such a piece of footwear.
You can get your Setter Fifty boots at Irish Setter dealers, at the Setter webstore, or from Amazon. Also, be sure to check out our review of the Irish Setter Elk Tracker XD hunting boots!
Be sure to check out a booth-side interview we did with the folks from Irish Setter at the 2024 Great American Outdoor Show on their new to 2024 products HERE, or in the embed below.
