Top Notch Overall (updated 1-10-15)
Got the boots today (12-24-14) (mine are Leather Lined and Espresso color only because the Stone color I really wanted wasn't available in a Wide width). So far have only looked them over and tried them on, test wearing them for all of about 5 minutes. There is one main reason I'm putting up a review so soon, and it relates to fit. Secondary reasoning relates to overall first impression of look, quality and feel. So...First Impression (12-24-14);About size - I spent many agonizing hours before purchasing making a decision on what size to go with because of so many reviewers suggesting going a half size larger than one would normally expect they would need. In the end I did NOT choose a half size larger and got US 10.5 Men's/UK 9.5/EU 44/283mm which is the only size I've ever worn in my adult life. I did though go with the "Wide" width just in case, which I usually don't seem to require except for one pair of insulated steel-toed work boots I own and wear regularly. All that said, I tried them on with a thick pair of socks (not super thick, but much thicker than standard socks), laced them up firmly but in no way crazy-tight, and the length (US 10.5) was perfect as usual and I still had a little room to spare in the width. No doubt if I had gone a half size bigger they would have been too big, period! A note about my shoe size (US 10.5 Men's); I have NEVER been able to wear a size 10, as any I have ever tried on allow my toes to push into the ends of the footwear, and by the same token I have never been able to wear an 11, as they have always been to big.Lastly on size, in terms of going with a "Wide" model, I question that I even needed to take that leap. It doesn't seem at all like I needed to unless there is a pretty serious width difference between the two options. I just retried them on with relatively thick socks again, and this time even tied them with the laces pulled very tight and still felt like there was a little room to spare, like I could have put on a couple more pair of heavy socks before I could have considered them too tight in width. In retrospect I believe I should have chose the standard width for a perfect fit. As for the GTX GORTEX models, I have not tried them and have no clue how they tend to fit.All in all I'm questioning anyone's need to go a half size up over what their actual foot size would normally require. And in this quality of a boot in conjunction with the excellent reputation of the boot manufacturer themselves, it's really hard for me to believe the size consistency between boots of the same model would vary at all. I would say that if you really think you need a wide model size, then go with a wide model size. But if not, I not seeing that being in any way necessary either. And keep in mind, I'm only speaking of the Leather-Lined models which is what I bought. I have ZERO experience thus far with any of the GTX GORTEX models. I hope this takes away some of the mental anguish I went through on deciding on a size for the rest of you. Obviously none of us want to return anything we don't have to regardless how painless it is even with service as awesome as Amazon's:-)About look/feel/quality;AWESOME is the only sentiment that comes to mind. My intention for these is all around general wear, from inside the house to city sidewalks to supermarket floors to hunting in the woods and fields in appropriate weather conditions (common in the Winter here for temps to drop well below zero degrees F in which case I don't see these boots as proper footwear). The stitching is impeccable. No where can a single cut stitch end of a thread be found sticking out from the main surface of the boot. All of the leather appears flawless and perfectly formed. No where do you see any leather/fabric bunched up as if it were forced to fit into a place it wasn't really fitted to be. Very lightweight, but in no way negative, as it appears only top quality materials were used. The Vibram sole is not a really hard rubber. The tread lugs have some give and seem to be quite grippy overall. I'm not saying they're super soft and spongy, but that they should allow a very secure feeling over most any terrain other than maybe glare ice.Not much else to add at this point, but will update in the future after putting them through some good use. Honestly I'ld like to return them for a standard width pair, but none are available at this time and I feel these fit decent enough. I'll see how it goes after some actual daily experience with them. Some may question me giving the boots a 5-star rating before actually wearing them around some, but in my view there's no reason not to until such reason exists to. As of right now I have no reason to suspect they deserve less. If the future spells out something different, then I will adjust the rating accordingly.UPDATE(1-10-15); I have worn them everyday for 2.5 weeks now. As mentioned in my original review, I got the wide width model and felt they were too wide for me. They are, even while wearing heavy socks, and if I had it all to do over again I would get the standard width. All in all I suggest against going with a wide width unless you normally wear a wide width. I don't get that so many reviewers consider them to "run small" in length or width. The length of mine are correct, same as any other standard footwear in the size I've always worn as an adult. Unless you know you're going to be wearing a couple thick pair of socks in them with some cushy oversized insoles there is no reason to go a half size larger or with the wide width if that's not what you normally wear. Bottom line, IME with this brand of boot so far, they do not run small in any way whatsoever. Maybe I got the only pair ever made that's true to size?So otherwise, how is this too-wide-for-me size working out in everyday all around use? Well luckily they allow me to really lace them down tight to where they feel acceptable with a single heavy pair of socks on. So I can get them to where they are snug on my feet even though they are still too wide. The crazy thing is how comfortable and supportive they are while not being a perfect fit. They are relatively lightweight and produce NO hot spots or pressure points. As others have said, you really do forget you're even wearing them. I've walked around for somewhat limited amounts of time through snow in temperatures below zero degrees F and my feet haven't felt the slightest chill. Though I'm sure that's only because I was active as opposed to just sitting around in the bitter cold. Still though my feet stayed dry and warm. As others have noted they have no grip on ice whatsoever! Not that that's any different than most any other rubber soled shoes/boots. One thing I really like compared to other footwear I've had is when you cinch up the laces there is never any binding. They cinch up easily from the toe box area all the way up. I also like how easily they slip on and off with the leather lining. Super smooth.Bottom line, top notch quality, look and feel. Super comfy. Look good enough to wear dressing up in general. Super water resistant even without a gortex liner. I highly recommend them, just be very careful about jumping on the buy-a-size-bigger-than-you-normally-wear bandwagon. Honestly, I'm surprised they aren't priced about a $100-$150 more than they're currently asking for them. IMO for this kind of quality these boots are a bargain and worth more than every penny. The icing on the cake is that they aren't made in China. The tags in mine say; "MADE IN SLOVAKIA"