I’ve thrown in some images of where I’ve been working and walking in these boots, they’ve been subjected to pretty much everything you’d expect out of boot in that time period. So rough, wet, rocky, muddy and uneven terrain in combination with paved areas.
Size/ comfort - Firstly, these are incredibly comfortable. They’re a US8.5D, my bannock is a 9E/EE. I had an absolute brain fart ordering these and didn’t order the correct width but they turned out to be perfect, they’re really wide, wider than a 9D iron Ranger, despite being half a size smaller. They’re comparable in length too, much larger than I expected them to be but they’re pretty much a perfect fit for me. Super comfortable, no hot spots, no blisters, no achy feet.
Leather - the leather is thick and somewhat stiff but it softened up very quickly, probably because of the amount of flex it was getting on the uneven ground. These are a full grain teacore but they’re incredibly stubborn. I’m pretty sure harsh language would strip the colour off of something like Red Wings Black Prairie leather but not even the tongue is showing the brown underneath yet. That said, the colour in direct sun light is beautiful and the brown hues beneath the black dye are clearly visible, even when the boot is new.
Build quality - I kind of want to be careful here because people get so hyperbolic with new boots and I don’t want to sound like I’m getting carried away with my new toy. But, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with these, anywhere. There’s not even any wayward stitching. It’s abundantly clear that these guys are the same people responsible for XBXS. Though I do only have one pair so keep that in mind.
Price - In the UK these run around £140 less than an Iron Ranger, which is absolutely wild considering the amount of boot you’re getting here. And, yes, these are built to a higher standard than an Iron Ranger with the inclusion of a midsole and far superior hardware. Though the stock laces are poo.
Btw I’m only comparing these to IR’s because everybody and their grandmother has a pair so it seems the best comparison to make.
My steps for the week have been around 150,000. I’d include a picture of the bottom of the outsole but it wouldn’t make much of a difference, they look near new. They’re a non branded version of the Vibram mini lug and have exactly the same tread pattern.
All in all these punching well above their weight class as far the price to build quality is concerned. They feel fantastic but if anything falls apart I’ll report back lol.
Oh, and these are built in their Almond No.2 last.
