Intro:

So today I am reviewing the LL Bean Men’s Katahdin Iron Works Engineer Boots, which can be purchased right here. To preface, these boots are made by Chippewa and sold by LL Bean. They’re Goodyear welted (of course) with a rubber sole and 6-inch full grain upper. It’s worth noting that there are no speed hooks on this model. That said, the best part about these boots has hands-down got to be the fact that they are sold by LL Bean with their heavenly return policy. No. Questions. Asked.

Also a little disclaimer: In case you’re wondering, I replaced the factory laces with Wolverine 1000 mile replacements. This was to carry the look just a bit from casual to formal. Feel free to contact me if you want the link to the exact ones I got.

Now that that’s out of the way, lets get into it!

First Impressions:

First of all, these look great with a pair of dark wash jeans. I purchased these boots in cordovan and they do look exactly how they are pictured online, despite some of things I heard searching around online. They are a daaaaaark walnut-y red. They fade in all the right places and make it hard for you to put them on and make that first crease, but I they’ll look even better broken in. The eyelets contrast nicely and give a vintage/antique/masculine vibe to the rest of the boot. The tongue does have “LL Bean” imprinted at the top instead of Chippewa which I found interesting, but it doesn’t stand out at all and will likely not be noticeable. Like I previously said, I added these laces because I wanted to take a step away from work boot and towards casual boot (think Wolverine 1000 mile or Red Wing Blacksmith). The flat brown laces made all the difference in obtaining this look. Moving down, the sole is a dark speckled brown, similar to the Red Wing Blacksmiths. This speckling on the sole is a bonus in my book because it adds a subtle flair to the boot. Finally and most importantly, the leather itself feels thick, durable, and high quality. (*Bonus tip: Many new boots have a white powder on them when you first get them and start wearing them. This is okay, it will go away with wear*)

*EDIT: These boots have a high tendency to stain your pant leg*

The Fit:

I live in the middle of Philadelphia and the Amish. So naturally, when I was looking to get my first pair of Goodyear welted boots I went to an Amish market. I heard that they were pretty much professionals at finding the perfect and true fit for boots, and they were. I found my true size (according to most lasts) to be 11 EE, so I use that as a reference.

I got these in a size 11 EE. The width is perfect, and the length is near perfect. I feel obligated to tell you that these are ever-so-slightly longer than true size. It is such a slight difference that it’s probably not worth sizing down or up half a size, but for those of you who are right on the edge of shoe sizes, this may be good information. Also, they’re comfortable. Obviously not as comfortable as a sneaker, but they’re on par with similar boots. On comparison, Wolverine 1000 Miles are a bit more comfortable. The difference isn’t night and day, but it’s worth noting. All-in-all, they’re pretty true to size and as comfortable as boots come.

Are They Worth It?

If you already have a boot in your rotation that accomplish what this boot would accomplish, you probably could use your money elsewhere to fill a gap. However, if you’re in the market for this kind of casual boot, these are something to consider! For ~$200 these feel great quality. Strictly at a price point, I would say that they are worth the price!

Alternatives:

Let’s say you are in the market. The Katahdins, Wolverine 1000 Miles, and Red Wing Iron Rangers would all fall into the same category. With no sales the Katahdins would cost you ~$220, the Wolverines ~$350, and the Red Wings ~$300. These three are all great quality relative to price point, so the other two would be higher quality. If you have the budget to go with the most expensive, the Wolverines and Red Wings are extremely popular choices and would most likely not be a regret. The Katahdins are sold by LL Bean and with their return policy, there is no risk. Also, Red Wing boots have a lifetime boot oiling free of charge. These three boots are just some choices that will fill the same wardrobe gap, so it’s up to you. *Always try boots on before purchasing!*

Outfits:

Follow the following link to see an album full of outfit and inspiration pictures of this style boot. This will give you a feel for how to incorporate these into your wardrobe! Album here.