Allen Edmonds Dalton: A positive review of a discontinued boot... With some issues.

I used my boots for general purposes. These were my main shoes. I wandered around the city, I went to conventions (including Boot Camp!), I went shopping, I took health walks... Honestly, anything you'd use a pair of shoes for, I used them for that. I wore them in all conditions. Wet, dry, snowing. I'd have worn them in the heat if my Midwestern city was at all hot during the contest.

Break-in process: not bad. When I first put them on they certainly felt more agreeable than my Iron Rangers did at the start. I used heat and a liberal amount of neatsfood oil to speed the break-in process along with significant success. Leather was stiff to start but became pliable quite quickly, and created some nice looking creases. I really wanted to get a nice shine on these shoes, so I hit them very regularly with Tarrago Nevada shoe cream (because it's what I had) plus a touch of Black Melatonin at the very beginning to add a little depth. As time went on I started adding some Griffin Brown Military Shine (because I happened to pick some up at the grocery store). The Griffin wasn't just for aesthetics (though I leaned into that HARD) but also because I thought a waxier surface would help with the wet winter conditions. These steps all together caused a color change that was pretty significant. Especially using the Griffin, which I was not trying to color match with. I liked the spectator-shoe like effect it gave me.

This is where I start complaining. To be fair, I have unusually wide feet, but these are also EEE width shoes. Allen Edmonds doesn't make them wider, so I think I get to complain a little. So, I was measured by the Allen Edmonds store at a "6.5 3E." 6.5 was correct as far as arch goes. The arch is in an appropriate place and the ball of my foot is in the correct location. But the width was not sufficient, even after a not insignificant break-in period. It was bad enough that I bought some shoe stretchers, which helped a great deal but they still haven't stretched enough. I stretched the shoes out to the sides and the instep, but I still can't wear these shoes for two full days in a row, because my little toe hurts. And before you say, "You shouldn't wear the same leather shoes two days in a row," I say, "I want to have the option." The fit is such that while I'm keeping the boots, I do wonder where they'll fit into my shoe rotation.

This is a tricky one. I bought these as firsts, but then I realized they had a some significant defect in the placing of the facing of one boot. To their great credit, Allen Edmonds gave me a partial refund to acknowledge that I had received seconds. Since Allen Edmonds made the situation right, and I don't mind that I got seconds, I'm going to disregard that for the purpose of this review, though I have to acknowledge it. The clicking, if I understand it correctly, was excellent. I didn't get any unattractive rolls, and the creases I did get add character. Hardware held up beautifully. The boots have held up well! But they are very much a dress boot that probably weren't expected to be put through their paces. One boot has a significant leak. I walked through the snow on a number of locations, and ended up with wet feet and one boot with salt stains on the inside. Which is fine if these boots are meant to be babied, but if you are doing any walking in Chicago, you're going to encounter snow and salt at some point. I don't have this same issue with my Iron Rangers, which are admittedly more of a work boot. I also had an issue with the pull tabs. They absolutely do the job! But I must also ask whether they were supposed to be used. The threads on the pull tabs really took a beating, and the threads holding the lining in the tab frayed drastically. That lining is partially loose now, and I just burned off the loose threads because I got so annoyed with them. But perhaps I am overly critical of a shoe that is meant for the office? I don't know, you decide.

It's good. Flexible. Durable. Soft but not too soft. Surprisingly comfortable. Unremarkable. But I consider that a compliment. Would get Dainite in the future.

I assume this space is specifically for the heel. It's good. The heel wore down significantly, but considering how much I wear them, I'm not surprised. Would get Dainite in the future.

I enjoyed wearing these boots, even though I have lingering fit issues, and I thought Allen Edmonds customer service was solid. 511 last is maybe not for me. But maybe it's for you, as long as you don't have duck feet. The Dalton is discontinued (RIP) so you probably won't be buying these new, but if you want them second-hand, I don't have any regrets. Just remember: these look like an English country boot, but they are built for the town. CORRECTION: This review originally said that the Dalton is on the 65 last. Thank you to mreams99 for pointing out my error!