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Ian Comer
September 05, 2017
High-quality boots with a smart look
I spent a long time looking for a pair of boots. My criteria were that the boots had to be cut like a combat boot, black leather, as few pieces of leather as possible, welted construction, waterproof, and below $300 in my country's currency (roughly less than $200 in USD)I browsed through many brands like Whites, Danner, Thorogood, Wesco, Bates, Belleville. All of them had problems, Danner was the best bet but they were too expensive.Then I found the Georgia G8040. It had what I was looking for, plus insulation, and a good price tag to boot.The boots arrived a little late but not drastically. When I opened the box, I found the boots very sturdy to hold in person. The leather is high-quality, and it takes leather grease very well. When you grease these boots, the grease will be absorbed within a few hours. They look extremely handsome, the brass fittings and red stitching look great.These are the first high-cut boots I have ever worn, and wearing them for the first time was a good experience. The steel shank corrects your step, and the high cut keeps your ankle supported very well. Break-in period was much shorter than people on other reviews said, it took a week to get them relatively comfortable and chafe-free.The sole is very rugged, and it has barely shown wear over the month I've used these boots. Comparably, I bought a pair of Adidas runners lately and the sole quickly wore down to its larger components, within about a week. It's a lot better than Vibram's more intricate soles like the ones that are integrated into Lowa boots. However, some might find the sole rather heavy.I usually wear them with my pants tucked in and I get a lot of compliments about how smart they look. It was surprisingly easy to tuck my pants into these boots.One issue with the boots, which is really part of their design anyway, is that your feet can get hot in them if the weather is nicer. Naturally these are boots for more hostile conditions, and the effect can be mitigated by wearing thin socks, but I don't recommend wearing them in a climate warmer than 20 degrees Celsius average.Overall, these are fantastic boots and amazing value for money. I highly recommend them to someone wanting rugged boots with a classic design.
✔ Verified Purchase
D
DavidXJ
September 16, 2014
Quality Work Boot
To be fair to Georgia Boots, I am comparing these to Danner Rainforest boots, which are pretty much the best boots ever made. My criteria in buying these was a boot with an 8" ankle, Gortex, Vibram low-heel logger sole, all leather, soft toe.Right out of the box I notice the leather is just a little bit thinner than the Danner Rainforest, and the stitching is just a little bit more "rough around the edges." But for the most part, it looks like a quality boot.I have worn these 8 hours a day for a week now, and the next observation is that boy are they stiff around the ankles. Even my Danners take a few days to break in, but with these, I finally had to switch back to my old boots for awhile because my ankles just couldn't take it anymore, and this is coming from a guy who can break any shoe into submission without it ever causing foot pain. I have ordered neatsfoot oil, and after that comes and I give them a good couple of soakings to soften up the leather I'll give it another go. Like I said, all ankle-laced boots take a little time to break in, but these are extra stiff in the leather. I never remember giving up while breaking in a pair of Danner Rainforest boots.Another thing I noticed is that they seem to have a lot of extra leather. The size 12 is the same length as my size 12 Danners, but they are a a little too roomy... enough that it is difficult to lace them up to a snug fit. Again, some of that is due to the stiffness of the leather. It seems that I'd have to wear thermal socks if I really wanted to snug these down tight.Finally, I have a strangely shaped foot where, though my foot is narrow, it sort of curves outward in the middle, making my overall width an EE, so take this next criticism with a grain of salt. Though these Georgia boots are 12EEs like my Danners, it feels like that outside curved part of my foot is stepping off the "foot pad" of the boot. Now again, my foot is weird and that happens with every tennis shoe I've ever worn, but not with my Danners. I don't know if their 12EE is just a little wider or the leather is more mild, but it just seems a little more stable and "under my foot" than the Georgia.Besides the stiff leather, though, I'm being extra picky. Keep in mind that I paid $200 for these Georgia boots and I would have paid $325 for an equivalent pair of Danner Rainforests. I was trying to see if I could save some money each year in my boot purchase, but it's going to take some time to see if it's worth it. I will review some more after I've worn them every day for a few months.[Edit]It's been 1/2 a year or so now, and I have given back a star, making it a 4 star review now. I still am keeping a star for the reason I stated previously that there is way too much leather around the ankle... enough that the top lace pegs are so close together they can come untied in my case if I don't do it just right. I also am keeping a star because these boots do take a long time to break in. They were comfortable once I got them broken in, but it took a couple of weeks instead of a few days like my pair of Danner Rainforests.But besides those two issues, one of which is only a temporary issue, these boots are great. I cut logs in the rain/mud for an entire day this winter and they stayed perfectly dry inside. The footbed is actually very stable... in some ways they feel a bit more stable than my Danners. For the log cutting type of work on non-flat terrain they have been awesome. From a longevity standpoint I think these will last just as long as my Danners... heck, most of the materials are the same.These have become my go-to work boot. They just feel tough, yet I can work all day without foot fatigue. That being said, my Danners retain the title of my go-to hiking boot. They are just more comfortable and less "large" feeling. So Georgia for work, Danner for hiking.In conclusion, I WILL buy another pair of these when these wear out. They are almost as good as my Danners but I can save $150 each purchase, and they are good enough to make that savings worth it when used as a work boot.
✔ Verified Purchase
