Ok, let's begin by stating what these are NOT. These are NOT comfortable, stand on your feet all day, hard construction work boots. There are hundreds of other options I would encourage you to try if you are looking for a true, modern work boot. Modern soles will last longer. Modern insoles will be more comfortable. Steel toes will protect you. Certain soles will be rated for electrical safety, etc. These are NOT those boots.



So what are they? They are old school. They are what your grandfather would have bought in the downtown department store in the 50's. If they were a Biblical verse, they would be Old Testament. They are leather construction, leather lined toe, leather insole boots with an outer sole that can be replaced when needed. This is a hard, tough boot that WILL take time to mold to your foot. Buy something snug with room in the toes and let them destroy your feet for a short while. It will pay off. Mine were a tad snug, but already feel pretty good out of the box and get better each day.



I typically wear an 11.5 to 12 in most shoes. I saw these ran large and went with an 11. Pretty perfect fit for me. If you know what you want and have time to try 2 or 3 pairs on, that's fine. If you are unsure and want it done right, find a good local retailer and purchase them there. You are paying retail for their expertise and assistance.



Also, these are made in the USA and you are paying a premium for that. I've also seen a few reviews where people complain about the sole wearing out too fast. That doesn't surprise me at all. They're pretty soft on the edges and don't look like they would hold up under a lot of abrasive surfaces under your feet. I plan on swapping these out as soon as I wear them down. You could go with a harder wearing sole at that point and have boots that will last years until the next sole is needed.



The uppers alone are worth the price for the quality of construction. They are made from a beautiful leather with a nice hand. They can be cleaned and reconditioned over the years. This is not a leather sneaker styled like a boot and then farmed out to the lowest bidder. This is an old school, handmade, hard wearing leather upper that will definitely last longer than the stock soles and most likely outlast the replacement soles as well.



Also, some people got very old boots, possibly even factory seconds. Different sellers have different items. I got very lucky with a good price on boots that were only a couple of months old. If you get a pair that are years old, or have some issues, well that's what prime returns are for.