ProsDurable, Great Value, Comfortable, Performing as Expected
I bought these boots over 10 years ago, and they have finally worn out. I have worn them at least once a month for weekends on scout campouts and hikes, for a week every summer at scout camp where I average 10 miles a day, and at Philmont Scout Ranch were they did 90 miles over a 12 day period. They are as comfortable as the day they were bought. I am mourning their loss, but I am ordering another pair. If this pair lasts as well as the first pair did, this will be the last pair of these I will ever have to buy.
I am giving the boots five stars, yet I am returning them. I don't believe it is a problem with the boots as it's a problem with me. In order to get the laces to not come loose I needed to pull them extrema tight, which made them very stiff to walk in. I walked like I was wearing Snow Shoes, and even then I found myself repeatedly stopping to re-tighten the laces. Once the laces began to loosen up, even just a little, soon the boot was flopping around. Maybe I should have tried a different lace, but I just ordered another boot from LL bean, and returned these.
The boots are extremely well made, and were very comfortable as long as I didn't do enough walking to loosen up the laces. I also appreciated the clean, no-nonsense look of the 'em.
The boots came with their own return shipping label, and that is the only reason that I even ordered 'em online, but even if I had bought them at the outlet, I doubt if I woulda noticed the loosening lace syndrome.
I purchased these last December right before I started working a seasonal job for UPS. I noticed the drivers recommended these, so I went ahead and purchased a pair. My foot measures to a 10.5, which is what I purchased, and they fit wonderfully with thick socks. I'm glad I did. 8+ hrs a day trudging through snow and water and my feet stayed dry and warm.
These are the most comfortable boots I've ever worn. I've tried to maintain them with regular shining and oiling.
Concern: The leather is beginning to crack (along the edge of the sole) and separate from each sole along the sides. I noticed it about two months after frequent wear. I didn't wear them from May-September and it is worsening now. Does LLBean carry a product I could apply to the boots before it gets worse?
These are a great pair of boots. I second the complaint about the laces, they do look cheap, although I just replaced them. Also, the flat laces that they give you come undone very easily, so I swapped them with a pair of rounded, slightly waxed pair that I had and it stays tight.
The boot has a tongue of extra leather that makes putting these boots on and taking them off extremely doable.
They breathe very well and overall quite comfortable, in addition to being remarkably waterproof.
These also go quite well with a pair of jeans, as far as aesthetics is concerned. In Ithaca (and on the trail) where it can get remarkably wet, these boots keep me perfectly dry.
