newenglandcliff
Active Member
There's been some interest in these boots here and on other forums so I'll post my experience with the pair I just received in the mail. Most others have had positive experience but not so much with me.
From the advice of others, I ordered 1/2 size smaller - 9-1/2 instead of 10. This was good advice as the fit was good. I'd call that a quality problem and there are several others for a boot of this expense. The first thing I noticed was that the left boot was sewn together in a lopsided fashion, with the right section of the leather attached too far forward. One way you notice it is how the lace is crooked between the lowest set of holes in the left boot from the top view.
To nitpick, the right sole extends further out the front of the boot, as well, and you see stitching there while you don't on the left boot.
The panel sewn on the back of the left boot is placed crooked too, and this view further illustrates the lopsidedness. This is noticeable when you wear it.
The leather outsole has been poorly sewn to the boot and poorly finished. Here you can see poor trimming on the side.
The top of the stitching is rough here also, but isn't very noticeable in the photo.
The needles punched pretty rough holes through the leather, and you see the poor trimming better here.
The thread stitched into the sole is supposed to be recessed into grooves cut into it, but since the grooves were poorly cut some of the thread is actually at the surface. It won't take much walking to wear these threads through.
The worst part of these boots for me is how uncomfortable they are. This photo shows how the side of the boot is stitched to the vamp on the inside. The vamp leather is thick (on the other unseen side of the boot, as well) and really digs into my feet. The thread used is really hard and thick too, and protrudes further above the leather to really dig into the foot. This is not going to "break in". If you wear the boots much, the only thing that will break in is your feet, after first blistering and then developing calluses.
You can see that there's no lining in this boot either. A lining of any kind would help. Also note the partial insole at the heel. A boot of this expense should have a full insole. The partial one here is glued and will probably come loose and slide around or become detached at some point. There is very little if any cushioning in the sole; maybe a thin cork layer, so they jar your frame with each step.
Another problem I have is that my feet will pronate (turn in) somewhat in these boots. An arch support would help.
The laces appear to be cotton impregnated with wax which is nice as they probably won't come untied while wearing, and the upper leather is of good quality. These boots look nice and the leather soles would normally be a desirable thing if they were finished nicer, but all in all these are a mediocre pair of work boots and certainly not deserving of the $240 price.
I have some smooth tan leather Redwing work boots I bought around 1979 that are built better than these, and they're just basic steel toed work boots. The soles are oil resistant rubber though, instead of leather. But the build quality and finish was much finer and they came with an arch support that covered the protruding vamp and stitching at the arch. Even considering inflation I know they cost much less. I still wear them for working around the yard and garage. I was looking forward to these new ones so it's a big letdown. Guess I'll just have to keep an eye out for another quality pair and keep wearing these in the meantime.
From the advice of others, I ordered 1/2 size smaller - 9-1/2 instead of 10. This was good advice as the fit was good. I'd call that a quality problem and there are several others for a boot of this expense. The first thing I noticed was that the left boot was sewn together in a lopsided fashion, with the right section of the leather attached too far forward. One way you notice it is how the lace is crooked between the lowest set of holes in the left boot from the top view.
To nitpick, the right sole extends further out the front of the boot, as well, and you see stitching there while you don't on the left boot.
The panel sewn on the back of the left boot is placed crooked too, and this view further illustrates the lopsidedness. This is noticeable when you wear it.
The leather outsole has been poorly sewn to the boot and poorly finished. Here you can see poor trimming on the side.
The top of the stitching is rough here also, but isn't very noticeable in the photo.
The needles punched pretty rough holes through the leather, and you see the poor trimming better here.
The thread stitched into the sole is supposed to be recessed into grooves cut into it, but since the grooves were poorly cut some of the thread is actually at the surface. It won't take much walking to wear these threads through.
The worst part of these boots for me is how uncomfortable they are. This photo shows how the side of the boot is stitched to the vamp on the inside. The vamp leather is thick (on the other unseen side of the boot, as well) and really digs into my feet. The thread used is really hard and thick too, and protrudes further above the leather to really dig into the foot. This is not going to "break in". If you wear the boots much, the only thing that will break in is your feet, after first blistering and then developing calluses.
You can see that there's no lining in this boot either. A lining of any kind would help. Also note the partial insole at the heel. A boot of this expense should have a full insole. The partial one here is glued and will probably come loose and slide around or become detached at some point. There is very little if any cushioning in the sole; maybe a thin cork layer, so they jar your frame with each step.
Another problem I have is that my feet will pronate (turn in) somewhat in these boots. An arch support would help.
The laces appear to be cotton impregnated with wax which is nice as they probably won't come untied while wearing, and the upper leather is of good quality. These boots look nice and the leather soles would normally be a desirable thing if they were finished nicer, but all in all these are a mediocre pair of work boots and certainly not deserving of the $240 price.
I have some smooth tan leather Redwing work boots I bought around 1979 that are built better than these, and they're just basic steel toed work boots. The soles are oil resistant rubber though, instead of leather. But the build quality and finish was much finer and they came with an arch support that covered the protruding vamp and stitching at the arch. Even considering inflation I know they cost much less. I still wear them for working around the yard and garage. I was looking forward to these new ones so it's a big letdown. Guess I'll just have to keep an eye out for another quality pair and keep wearing these in the meantime.
