Beware, though, that they do run quite large. I typically wear a 9.5, so I rounded down and ordered a 9. Ended up sending them back for an 8! The 8 is perfect. Thanks, Bean.
These boots are Maine Winter tested and they passed with flying colors! The boots are extremely warm; the shearling acts as a really nice barrier to the wind and snow. The height is great because it prevents snow from getting inside your boots and making your ankles cold. The laces are a little short (a commonly known issue with this boot) but if you lace them all the way up to the top you should still be able to tie them. They are stylish and look great, especially with leggings. They were worn in within about a day, and are so comfy I almost get mad when I have to take them off. When I do have to take them off however it is as easy as sliding my feet right out! These are an all around great pair of boots that I can already tell will be my favorites for years to come.
These boots run a little large so a regular size 9 was too big and returned for a size 8. To expedite the receipt of the size 8, these were ordered prior to returning the size 9. Using a different mailing address than the billing address confused the accounting department, and though my name was used for both mailing and billing I ended up with a gift card rather than credit to my credit card. Not happy about that!
I love L.L.Bean, so it was with a heavy heart that I returned my first pair of Bean Boots. I bought these because I was tired of having cold feet. The temp rating on them gave me such confidence! Unfortunately, I was outside in the snow with temps just below 32F for only about an hour, and when I came back inside, my toes were bright red and it took about a half hour to rub away the stinging!!!
The shearling-lined uppers kept my ankles and calves nice and toasty and they are so soft to slip into. Unfortunately, the bottoms are only lightly lined so my toes were not protected. I'm not sure how they came up with their temperature rating for use, but these are not cold weather gear. Great for tramping around doing errands in town, I guess, but didn't help with my woods walk in the snow.
In addition, the fit was pretty large. I went with the smaller size for comfort. Perhaps with the larger boot and lots of extra socks, it would be okay. I don't like a floppy fit though, so they just didn't work for me.
All that said, L.L.Bean totally rocks because they stand behind everything that they make and they took the boots back without a problem. Their customer service and loyalty to operating in Maine are exceptional and I will always shop here first. Thanks, Beans!!!
