Bought these in a 7.5 Wide, as I'm usually a 7.5 or 8, and they fit perfectly! I usually have to really work hard to break in shoes and especially boots, but these are already sufficiently wide enough even for me. While I bought these for an extended stay in a rural region of South America, I live in the city and these are great boots for trudging around on concrete in the snow and rain--they have solid soles and are totally waterproof (even if they don't look very chic). I have only had them for a month but have also worn them doing yard work, and have already been hiking on a few very different trails that are any combination of very rocky, muddy, steep, icy, snowy... They have supported my ankles well and protected my feet and I barely slipped at all, and then only on really severe ice. The only drawback is they are a little uncomfortable around the ankle, mostly due to being new and a bit stiff, but I also think that has to do with what socks you wear and how you tie them--the laces tend to loosen up quite a bit as you hike so be sure to really knot them. Surprisingly they didn't feel TOO stiff though to begin with, as other reviews have stated, though they definitely need more time to be fully broken in. And I agree they are very heavy, but when you're hiking over a ton of sharp rocks, you want that heavy sole. But coming from someone with really wide feet that usually hurt horribly by the end of the day if shoes aren't wide enough, these give me plenty of room and plenty of protection from the elements. Seriously awesome boots, can't wait for my trip!!
I got these boots a gift in the black leather version about a year ago in a 6.5 narrow. These boots have been through a trip to Alaska including a bouldering/glacial hike. I have also worn the, through several other week+ hikes in British Columbia, the Smoky mountains, and various state/national parks in Pennsylvania. In each circumstance the boots have been fantastic. They have even become so comfortable that I have been wearing them as everyday boots in cooler months! I can't wait to put more miles in them!
I bought these boots as a treat to myself a year and a half ago. They are still in excellent condition and haven't failed me at all. When I first got them out of the box, they seemed heavy and tall...the soles are very thick. This wasn't something I was used to, but it works to my advantage because it protects my feet incredibly well. It took a little bit of getting used to, but I quickly did.
I tend to wear them as farm boots on a regular basis. They keep my feet cool in summer, warm in winter, and always dry. I went up to the Canadian Rockies this past summer with my brother who swears he only needs tennis shoes to hike. The trail had slick, melting, wide patches of snow on it and several streams. I didn't slip once on the snow (unlike my brother and others on the trail) and I didn't have to risk jumping between slippery rocks in the streams - I just walked through and my feet stayed dry. I was grateful for that, since most people ended up slipping in the stream and the trail followed a cliff, so a slip could prove to be dangerous. I didn't have to worry.
There are some things to consider with these boots, though:
- The leather where the attached tongue meets the boot tends to squeak when the boots are new. I found some leather conditioner and breaking them in solved this.
- I would recommend good, wool hiking socks. I wore regular socks with them on the farm and was fine, but I noticed after spending days in them in Canada that I was getting blisters on my toes and heels. A woman at a camp store sold me an amazing pair of wool socks and I didn't run into the problem again.
- I did get some of those semi-custom insoles for my boots. They didn't really *need* them, but the sole they come with is rather firm. Now I feel like I am walking on air, and I feel like the boots themselves feel lighter too.
- I do think the boots run a little large. I wear between an 8.5 and a 9, but I ordered the 8.5 figuring it would be easier to see if the boots were too small and I could exchange. Even with insoles and wool socks, the boots are kind of big. It's not enough to bother me or warrant sending them back, but I probably could have worn an 8.
Overall, these boots are awesome. So comfortable, durable, and practical.
I LOVE these boots. My first pair lasted about 20 years, and I hated to part with them (I actually still have them just in case). I ordered my new pair for a hiking trip in South America last month. They were fabulous...I specifically remember an incident when I stepped into a rapidly flowing stream up to my ankle and did not get wet at all. These boots are THE BEST. The quality does not seem to have changed.
Even better -- they come in narrow sizes. I wish LL Bean offered more narrow sized shoes and boots!
