Love At First Step
I've been wanting a nice, classic pair of leather boots for years and finally decided to look into it more seriously. After hours of researching, comparing brands/styles and reading reviews, I landed on the Red Wing work chukka. My hesitation about boots in the past was I was concerned they might be too heavy, and I really prefer lightweight footwear. Seeing that these were advertised as lightweight boots, and comparing their listed weight to that of other brands, I decided to take a chance and give them a shot. I also read various things about fit in the reviews, with people saying everything from they fit true to size to order a size down to order a size up, so with no clear consensus there, I decided I'd just try my normal shoe size, 11, and figured I could exchange them for another size as needed.Well, the boots arrived today, and I couldn't believe it. I opened them up, admired their beauty, took in the intoxicating aroma of the leather, and slipped them on. They fit like a glove! I was prepared for some trial-and-error, and then even when I found the right fit, some discomfort as I endured the break-in period, but it seems I must have struck gold, because these feel absolutely flawless right out-of-the-box! When I hold the bottoms of these boots up to the bottoms of my Vans slip-ons, also a size 11, I do see that the Red Wings are about an inch longer, but this makes sense because of the toe box. Obviously you need some wiggle room, and nobody's toes are gonna cram into the very tip of the boot, so I'm going to join club "order your usual size," as I think that is what Red Wing intended. A size smaller and these would feel restrictive. A size larger and I'd have too much heel slip, so I think I nailed the sizing.Given how comfy these boots already are on day one, I'm eager to see how they only become more comfortable as they break in and the leather starts to mold to my foot shape. I am thrilled with the look, feel, construction and fit of these boots and am so glad I took a chance on them! If you are interested in them but had some of the initial reservations I did, I say go for it. Grab a pair in your usual size and see how they feel. You can always exchange them for another size if needed. Everyone's feet are different, but with any luck, you'll find that they work great for you as they did for me.
✔ Verified Purchase
C
CubsWin!
October 31, 2017
Great boots!
First off, these are great boots. Right out of the box, you can really tell that they are high-quality and will last a long time. Nice soles, thick leather, beautiful finish. I've been wearing Clark's Desert Boots for years and these are much nicer boots.Regarding fit and comfort, these will defnitely need to be broken in but you can accelerate the process within about a day or two if you work the leather in a couple of differnt ways. When I first put these on, I immediately thought they were very narrow and made my arches ache a bit. It's not that they are narrow - it's that the leatther is very stiff. Here's how I solved that problem quickly - I put on the boots and tied them so that they were snug. Then, crouch down in a catcher's stance so that you're on your toes and rock back and forth. You'll start to make a natural crease in the toe of the shoe and that'll help to soften the leather in that spot. Next, I took them off and started working the tongue, ankle, and sides with my hands - just sort of folding the leather and kind of "rolling" it between my fingers. If you do it right, you'll see some additional creases appear in the leather and the color will lighten slightly. After you've done that for a bit, they'll be noticeably more comfortable. Now, just wear them around for a bit. I've had them since last Friday and I'm able to wear them all day with no issues.I've seen comments saying that you should order 1/2 size down from your normal shoe size but I didn't do that and they fit just fine. I typically wear an 11.5 and I ordered an 11.5 - anything smaller would have been too small.
✔ Verified Purchase
Absolutely The Best Chukka Boots Available!!!
Just received my RW Heritage Copper Rough & Tough Work Chukkas and LOVE them. The vintage look and color of the leather is great.This is my second pair of RW Heritage Chukkas, I also own a pair Briar Oil Slick that I've had for two years. The first pair is broken in and molded to my foot is absolutely the most comfortable, durable boot I have ever owned. I have a flat foot anyway so the flat leather insole doesn't bother me like some reviewers complain about. As you wear the boots and they mold to the shape of your foot the leather insole and cork midsole also start to conform to the shape of your foot and provide an extremely comfortabel fit over time!I also own a pair of Red Wing 1155 Pecos boots that I've had for about 6 years and they are broken in and fit like a glove also. All of these boots are used for casual wear, not work, and look great with jeans.I would recomend these to anyone looking for the best quality Chukka boot available.....and Made in the USA too!!!You can't go wrong with Red Wings. the price is high but the quality is worth every penny. They will last you for years with proper care and can be resoled by Red Wing when needed to extend their life.
✔ Verified Purchase
