Though LL Bean cautions that their backpacking boots need break in time, these were comfortable right out of the box. The foot bed is soft, arch support is excellent, and the collar of the boots come above the ankle to provide stability. Quality seems excellent. The seams are well sown or sealed. The leather looks, feels and smells great.
I will add, however, that I feel a little misled about the product. The video for these boots is shot in an Italian factory where an owner of the family business talks about the heritage and quality of the handmade boots they make. This helped sell me on these boots. So imagine my disappointment when I saw "Made in Romania" on the box. In fairness, the LL Bean website reads "Made in Europe," but the video set my expectation for Italian, hand sewn leather boots.
A winner of a classic leather boot! They are heavy, rigid soled boots with solid construction. I have put on numerous on and off trail miles and they are holding up like champs. I am a 10 EEE and its become all but impossible to find a good boot fit these days. Unlike many other manufacturers today, LL Bean seems to pay attention to the little details when specifying foot wear standards and quality.
Truth be told, I use these boots for work, and I'm a barista. And they're GREAT. Very comfortable, very durable. And, with my job, I spill stuff on them all the time--and they clean up pretty easily, if I even need to clean them at all. My first pair lasted for two or three years, I think--wearing them for work AND as my casual boots. The soles did wear down eventually--but after a LOT of punishment. I used them to hike Amicalola Falls in Georgia, too, and they performed great. The only addition I made was that I also bought some Dr. Scholl's gel insoles for them. The boots are comfortable by themselves, but with the insoles, it's like walking on PILLOWS. (Rugged pillows.) I'm already planning for my second pair--just because I want one black and one brown.
These boots look good for the office and for a hike. They are comfortable to wear all day, the lrather is supple and soft and they are warm too. I haven't tried walking in puddles with these babies but I am certain they are 100% waterproof. Bottom line great boots for the workplace and hiking.
