****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Really like the look and feel of these. I did a wax treatment which will darken the light gray leather but I didn’t mindI bought these shoes to replace a pair of waterproof North Face shoes that I wore until they were literally falling apart. These shoes lasted 4 years and literally hundreds of miles of paved and unpaved walking. Please note this is my initial review and I will update with more or fewer stars depending.I have yet to test the waterproof level of these shoes so this review makes the assumption that they do a decent job of this.I generally wear size 10.5 shoes so that is what I initially ordered for these. When I put them on, I could instantly tell they were too big. I ordered down to a 10, but even these felt slightly too big, although narrower. I was concerned about them being uncomfortable because of the narrowness, but the material flexed almost immediately negating this issue. With thicker socks, it would probably feel just right, but I bought these to wear year round so I guess I will just have to keep the laces especially tight when I wear them with thin socks.My other initial observation after one day of wear is that these are nowhere near as breathable as the North Face shoes I was replacing. After 30 minutes of walking and standing, it almost felt like I was standing in a puddle of sweat in my shoes.They are comfortable to walk or stand in and the sole feels very well-constructed and great for walking off-pavement.Stylistically, these shoes look great. Unlike many hiking shoes, you can dress them up or down depending on the occasion.I got them a couple of months ago mainly because of the waterproofing. I'm in the PNW where we've been having one of the rainiest seasons in over 100 years, and it's held up well so far. They are very comfy, have good grip in the rain and look great too. I took them on a trip to Yellowstone for about a week with lots of walking and hiking, and they were just perfect. I can see these lasting me a long time.I really liked the way these looked online and thought they would live up to the hype. I wanted to give it a little time before writing a review. I have had these for just over a month and have average about 5 miles a day in them. So far, they are holding up well and don't show any significant wear or tear. My biggest issue with these shoes are the way they fit. Lengthwise, they are true to size. The toe box is much narrower than what I am used to. I was expecting something a little more like my Salomons or Keens. From day one, I also noticed they were tight around the arch and mid-lateral side of my foot. I was hoping that it would go away as I broke them in, but it hasn't changed in the time that I've been wearing them. One other issue I had out of the box was the way it was laced, the laces tended to dig into the top of my foot. I tried lacing it several different ways and finally found the most comfortable way was not use the last eyelets. The downside to doing it that way is my feet don't feel very secure in the shoe.I will continue to try them out and hope they will break in a little more, but these are definitely not going to be my go-to shoes for any day hikes or long walks.I bought these for Minnesotan winters so I don't always have to put on bulky snow boots. I can wear them casually with jeans and around the office (if I was ever to go back into an office again in the winter). I have walked through standing slush puddles, and snow banks. My feet stay dry and warm. Additionally, they are not bulky, and they do give off any "Dad Shoe Vibe", (in fact their sharp looking). This is exactly the shoe I have been looking for. Will be getting a pair for my wife, and have told everyone I see about them. They are a truly great shoe.Bought these for work where we use a mist of water frequently. They are really nice and great quality, but they aren't truly waterproof. You can see the leather absorbing the water. Your feet don't feel wet until the shoes come off and then you notice your socks are very moist.Recommended to me by my Orthoticist. If you have stiff arches, narrow to normal width feet, and/or "pes cavus" (I think that means high arches prone to stress fractures) then these shoes may help reduce foot pain and fatigue. Plus they're FLY AS HECK and seem to be made well so far. Waterproofness hasn't been tested yet but I'll update when I do. As with any waterproof shoe they don't breathe as well as a mesh upper will, so be aware your feet may get a bit hot in warm conditions.Well made and stylish shoes. They do make your feet hot and sweaty though (according to my husband).
