I wore these out in the city of the first time to a work meeting and then I went for a walk in Dolores park. The sizing was really bothering me particularly in the heels but then I realized I could just wear these without the insoles because of the leather lasting board. I hope this change will be fruitful and wear down less on my heels. I’m a little bit sad though because those insoles are pretty barn nice.
I’m no where near breaking these, and my approach with everything leather is just to use it and wear it to break them in. So I can’t really give much of an opinion yet.
I mostly covered it in my broader first impressions but I strongly suggest to anyone to just go true to brannock with the ASHM last even though there are voices out there that suggest it’s still a wider last. Removing the insoles gave me a bunch more room in the toe box but I still think I could have stuck to a 9.5 instead of a 9 because I enjoy some wiggle room. The fit otherwise is quite good maybe a little wide in the waist but that doesn’t bother me at all.
I love what I did with the boot’s custom touches but I do occasionally wonder how they would have turned out if I chose to have the vamp in rough out as well.
The Frog grip sole is pretty grippy and very bouncy and shock absorbing but I will have to really break in that veg tan midsole to truly feel the benefits.
Overall I’m quite happy with these boots (and strong considering getting more Jim Green boots particularly their barefoot offerings) and I’m excited to see what’s in store for these tanks.