Red Wing Mini Care Kit #1 vs Red Wing Shoes Care Kit #6: which is safer?

Red Wing Mini Care Kit #1 is the clear pick. Red Wing Shoes Care Kit #6 carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Our pick

Red Wing Mini Care Kit #1

Red Wing Shoe Cream

Red Wing Mini Care Kit #1

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 63/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

shoe cream wax and polish blend

Confidence

62%

PossibleHeavy metals in pigments (lead, cadmium, chromium)

PossibleMold or bacterial growth if kit is stored damp

PossibleFragrance allergens or undisclosed additives

Red Wing Shoes Care Kit #6

Red Wing Shoe Cream

Red Wing Shoes Care Kit #6

PFAS grade

Poor 30/100

Overall grade

Bad 12/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Leather conditioner and cream with wax/oil base

Confidence

62%

PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from mineral oil and solvent carriers

PossibleLanolin allergens and skin sensitization

ReportedPFAS in waterproofing agents (separate grade)

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Heavy metals in pigments (lead, cadmium, chromium), Mold or bacterial growth if kit is stored damp and Fragrance allergens or undisclosed additives on the Red Wing Shoe Cream and not on the Red Wing Shoe Cream.
  • We flag Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from mineral oil and solvent carriers, Lanolin allergens and skin sensitization and PFAS in waterproofing agents (separate grade) on the Red Wing Shoe Cream and not on the Red Wing Shoe Cream.
  • The Red Wing Shoe Cream is shoe cream wax and polish blend where the Red Wing Shoe Cream is Leather conditioner and cream with wax/oil base, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Red Wing Shoe Cream is the one to buy.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More leather conditioning & care products: see the full ranking