These are great for the cold and snow......my only complaint is no half sizes so they are a bit big, I have to wear 2 pairs of socks......very warm as well
These books look dark brown/almost black on the site, but the actual boots are much lighter and I don't care for the color. If they came darker I would reconsider, but I returned them for now.
First off, L.L. Bean knows their stuff & how it should be made. Winter people know how to make winter items. My family has been using L.L. Bean for a long time, but these boots are my first purchase of my own L.L. Bean items.
Living in Wisconsin, we have hard, harsh, freakin' cold winters. Lots of black ice on the ground & as a city dweller, the streets are either frozen, covered in salt, covered in snow, or all three.
These boots rock. Solid construction, obviously hand-sewn and carefully inspected. There are not light in weight, but not too heavy, however, the weight lends to the traction of the bottom of the shoe and provides a better 'grip' in the winter. Water-repellent and pretty much snow secure, these guys stand up to the nastiest of conditions. The design is classic and timeless, and as a women in her mid-twenties, I find the look very charming and 'clean' -- basically, I don't feel that the style looks 'ugly', in fact, since its such a classic cut, these look better than a lot of the 'fashion' snow boots you see as of late.
Just a few tips and notes before you purchase:
1. These weight more than an average shoe -- so don't be surprised. However, the weight is beneficial in being sure-footed.
2. The shearling in my boots is slightly more yellow than pictures, not quite custard colored - but close. Doesn't look bad at all, but should be noted.
3. If you have narrow, slender feet WITH boot socks on, go for your normal size and order a narrow. If your feet look larger w/ socks, go for your normal size but try a wide. These fit true to size for me, even with boot socks.
4. The tongue is not sewn along the side of the boot -- in other words, its a normal tongue you would find in any other shoe. This CAN let snow in if you don't lace up correctly. Remember to do so. Some people might find this a problem (say, if you're used to the tongues in Sorrels) , but this hasn't happened to me yet.
5. As with all winter shoes, remember to condition and oil regularly. Its real leather, so you do need to give 'em some love.
6. Order thicker, longer laces. Personally, makes me feet more secure. Nothing wrong with the laces they give you, but for a more secure fit get some higher quality laces, especially if you will live in these boots for winter.
Bottom line: Get them! Probably one of the best winter boots out there with an extremely reasonable price considering the quality.
i ordered these boots one size smaller than my normal 8 and they fit perfectly with medium weight socks. And I received the boots within four days of placing my order. Perhaps because this is mid summer. The boots are very comfortable right out of the box and will not require breaking in. The laces are a tad short, but I do not foresee a problem with them. The boots look heavier than they feel, and appear to be well made. I bought this pair and a different style claiming to keep my feet warm to -25 because I hate having cold feet. Time will tell if the boots do what is promised. I will review them again at the end of the winter. For now, I would like to see U. S. A. right on the boot next to the LL Bean name.
