They are exceptional, but I might miss laces.

These are the only shoes I've worn during this period. -Grocery shopping, car repair, moving and repair of assistive devices, clerking, driving, hiking, traveling, concert attending and dog walking. It has been raining alot, as usual. -But the winter got really dry and dusty with more ice and less snow this time.

I conditioned them before first wear and have repeated once a month. The leather creased and broke in relativley fast and got soft, but stiffened up a little before next conditioning. Brushed them once a week, stiff brush on the soles, sole edge and a soft bursh on the upper. Because of the sizing issue I also conditioned the inside of the toe to soften it, using Chamberlains leather milk no.1. On the outside I used Jim Green leather balsam and on the sole edge I first used Tokonole and later Bjørnevoks (wax). The leather held its color good against scuffing, some highwear areas got lighter and has darkened after conditioning. It's visible around the heel. The color was more red than expected, but it grew on me. Started out almost like a Auburn shade and setteled more into a Oxblood.

I have the same size in different Jim Green lasts, even with a steel toe. All of the wider lasts is high volume around the instep and spaceious around the toes for me. The slimmest last is also fine with thinner socks. These boots was to short, with much volume around instep and ankle. With no laces to secure the foot backwards, the first try it felt like too small rubber boots. My dream of "wide and flat" boots this time around was long gone. I've worn them with no insoles and just a Birko-natural cork half sole. The heel height and arch got alot taller and my bigtoes has been touching the whole time, with barely any tension to be OK. I also got freezing in the forefoot faster, where there was no insoles. That said the boots molded very well around the instep and have clear signs of toe indentation in the leather midsole.

I think the finishing on these boots are fantastic, tight and even seams. Cliking is good color-wise with a matching upper and darker color on the backstay on both. Bit looser grain on the left boot from instep to toe. Both boots felt alike and have symmetrical creasing.

I like the Frog Grip sole. Softer than expected and it looks good. It has suprisingly good grip on any surface exept wet tiles. The thread did not hold as much rocks or dirt witch was a bonus, but held onto snow quite well. It's barely signs of wear after all these months.

In a way you get attached to a pair of shoes after they follow you through many experiences. I wish the sizing was better, but it has been a good time.