I wanted something formal enough that I could wear to work everyday but also be capable of wearing in the mountains in the snow and trekking around the woods and the city.
I have tried on a ton of shoes over the past two years to try to figure out what lasts fit well. My toes are short and my arch is long, so I tend to need a longer but narrower last. I had heard that Meermin had lasts that should work, so I was very excited to try them on at Boot Camp. I did, and sure enough, the Rod last felt great - but they didn’t have a Hiro to try on. So, I made my way over to the store in Manhattan and Hiro was also a great fit. All of the staff that I interacted with were very helpful, and I was very excited to purchase a pair, but they didn’t have much in stock in my size.
Shortly after I was sized, there was a seconds sale that popped up online. They had two pairs in my size, and I chose the Chelsea boots. And am very happy I did.
I wore them almost every day through rain, snow, and sun. They were perfect for the commute and office. Played soccer with the kiddo in them. Wore them to a wedding and work presentations. Wore them hiking on dirt paths and boulders. Wore them with suits, ski pants, and jeans. Great for almost everything.
The break in was easy. My care routine involved brushing them periodically and conditioning them when the top coat got scuffed off too much. Was pleasantly surprised to realize the leather was not struck through and that it should teacore over time, but not quick enough to be noticeable for the end of the Thunderdome. The leather did wrinkle after a very wet day, but aside from that, the calf held up very well.
Wore mid weight socks. Reasonable arch support. May have a bit of extra volume, but not enough to add insoles. No heel slip, perfect across the instep, great across the ball, no pressure on my pinky toe. Very comfortable.
No complaints, especially for the price. Bought them as seconds and they had a few quirks. If you examine them, there are some aesthetic issues. But they were seconds. No issues that impacted comfort or functionality or overall aesthetics. And no issues came up in the 5 months I wore them almost every day. The design is great, I will buy another pair in a different leather.
I actively dislike Dainite soles. I have never found them comfortable. So, I didn’t have high expectations. But I really liked the Meermin double studded rubber. They were comfortable to wear all day and had enough grip in almost every environment.
I really enjoyed them. I am excited to buy another pair in suede or shell. It seems to be very difficult to find them in stock in a size 12 though, so it may take a while. Given the price, they were a great value.