The muleskinner leather is frequently used on Red Wing shoes and boots. They are not actually leather from Mules, but actually it’s a type of leather roughed out and that is created using a reverse-suede technique. The leather is made from S.B foot tannery in the USA. The rough out leather is very tough and it can feel very stiff when they are not broken in. But once they are broken in, the leather is very flexible and comfortable. Likewise, the shoes were very stiff and uncomfortable at first. I did get some blisters on the heel side of my feet and for a while, I didn’t really want to wear them because of the blisters.
After a few wears, these became really comfortable, and I don’t get any blisters. I think that is one down side of Red Wing shoes. It is painful to actually break Red Wings in. I also hear that red maples muleskinner will age greatly over the time and I cannot wait to see these after new years of wear.
Red Wing weekender oxfords are also made in other leather types such as copper rough and tough, Hawthorne muleskinner so you should check them out.