I do wonder about the durability of the outsoles. I have worn crepe soles off of boots in a season. However, They are attached with a full Goodyear welt held on with bold stitching. The use of a plastic welt over the typical vegetable tanned leather means it’ll be pretty hard to resole, though you might manage oneresole if you want to swap the crepe out for something tougher. (Although at this price point, you may ask yourself if a resole is worth it.) This boot is fortified where it counts most though. I can immediately tell that the footbed is substantial. It makes a solid sound when tapped, and just the sheer weight of it assures me that Golden Fox delivers on their steel shank promise. These boots are incredibly easy to take care of. Brush them frequently to keep dirt from wearing away at the leather and seams. Also, keep them oiled and conditioned and they will last a very long time. Consider applying some conditioner, like Cobbler’s Choice, once or twice a year. This confusing sizing also poses a problem if you wear a large size shoe, since Golden Fox doesn’t offer half sizes past size 11. Several years after getting out of the Navy I decided to join the Navy Reserves. Most of my active duty had been with the Marines and I wanted to see more of the Navy. Within minutes after being sworn in I was informed that I would be assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines. Well that didn't work out as planned.

According to Golden Fox, the outsole is crepe rubber, which initially surprised me because it looks like standard gum rubber. Typically, I associate crepe with the lighter porous version that gets dirty easily and is hard to clean. The metal eyelets give it an authentic service boot touch. However, having to perfectly and incrementally loosen the laces everytime I take them off is time-consuming. This isn’t a good rushing-out-the-door shoe. Just be aware: these things are for real. They’re pretty darn heavyweight, and require a bit work to get some flex going. The flip of that is they’re one of the most wear-impervious outsoles on the market. And damn do they look so damn perfect for this boot.

3. Red Wing Heritage Iron Ranger Boot

I consider these casual boots and would not recommend them for work, hiking, or rough wear. They are heavy duty enough, but in that I-bought-some-boots-from-Eddie-Bauer way. Sure they look tough, but I wouldn’t bet my life or safety on them. They are based on military specifications, but I wouldn’t expect them to handle an enlistment. While not the best, this insole turns out to be more effective than it looks, which I’ll cover in the sole section. The inside of this boot is incredibly comfortable and I was amazed how they seemed to loosen up with my first few steps in them. Nothing pinched or grated against my feet. My foot also felt very secure and supported in them, which is reassuring. I never felt as if I was wearing bargain boots. It’s also effectively slip-resistant. I’ve worn this shoe up and down slippery marble stairs at work and outside in the rain, with zero trips to the ground. I showed him a picture and he was amazed....I guess I still need to teach the younger generation our Navy history...lol.

The outsole of these is crepe rubber and is slip resistant and oil resistant. While not as durable as higher end rubbers, it is very flexible and felt broken in from the moment I stepped into them. It feels very grippy walking over a variety of surfaces. It also provided a bit of bounce and cushioning, adding to the overall comfort. One of the strengths of these boots over many other brands at this price point is how easy these were to break in and how extremely comfortable they felt while wearing them. This boot can handle occasional high-impact activity, but shouldn’t be used as an everyday work boot.

2. Chippewa Aldrich Service Boot

Chamois in general deserves its accolades as a do-everything rugged leather that’s still darned beautiful, and it rewards heavy wear about as well as anything out there. Especially when flipped to its reverse side, the “fat-liquored” leather has a truly unique feel to it, and is unafraid of basically any elements. It’s also legitimately self-healing—even nice big scratches will generally disappear just by…walking. And the nap only gets better with wear. Wonderful stuff. The Sole: Dr. Sole Raw Cord Full Sole Got somewhere to be? Here’s the long and short of this remarkable boot so that you can decide if it’s right for you. Pros Mainly, the soft padding on the middle inner part of the foot combined with that solid footboard, makes for a good balance of support and comfort, for casual wear.

Rugged and supple-looking, the material on this boot has a lot of character to it. It’s built with crazy horse leather, which gets its name because it’s often used for horse riding saddles. It’s full-grain leather that’s been soaked in coal tar dye, which gives it a distressed look that takes to scuffs well. These boots are a bit of a project in putting on. I find that I need to loosen the laces or unlace them down to the 4th eyelets before putting my feet in. Once I l get my foot in there, the comically tiny pull tab is no help. These are not boots that you grab when rushing out the door in a hurry. The President’s comfort technology is worlds better, offering a cork midsole and an EVA-comfort footbed. The Service Shoes became the official working shoe of the U.S. Army during World War II. We have transformed this iconic boot and given it a modern twist, while retaining the essence of its functionality. Given the appearance of a fascinating boot, how it is constructed is more than you would expect from a mid-century style shoe.Where the most confusion and grievances come from is with the sizing. Golden Fox recommends sizing down just a half. Some reviewers say they run extremely large, while others say they don’t run large enough to merit sizing down. The insole insert, although not pretty, is very supportive and very comfortable. It has quite a pronounced bump for arch support that may not be suitable for all feet, but felt rather nice and supportive on mine. It comes out easy enough and you can certainly swap it out for something else once it wears out.

We chose the 2040 last for a few reasons. For one, it’s just a wonderful round toe Munson-based last: straightforward in shape, with a nice snug heel and waist and an amply wide forefoot that fits a wide range of feet. But it also looks absolutely fantastic when the unstructured toe begins to collapse. Regardless, it isn’t just one of those affordable boots that looks strong and lithe, but will fall apart because of its budget construction. Frankly, the insole looks flimsy and cheaply thrown together. If I wanted to, I could pull off the arch support material from its base since it’s just glued on, and there are several points of separation.On the other hand, those who work in hot weather love the material, even those who stand all day at their job.