I wore them ( and a pair of Work Dome boots) almost everyday and do any works I can imagine: harvesting coffee, cutting grass, dyeing fabric for my small fashion business, doing my design job, helping my wife with our coffee shop, hiking on the hill next to my home…
The leather on Rios boots doesn't the toughest. It is soft and easy to break in from the first day. Not the safe boots but the easy boots to wear everyday.
They don't have arch support but the fit is awesome. One size up from my regular sizing on White’s or Wesco and the fit is perfect, leaving a bit room for the toe collapse.
I can say they are one of the best design boots. Look simple the first time but after 6 months in them, I know they are not that simple. That is the experience of making boots in 150 years to make the boots that evolve every day. I love all the details they put on them: the toe bug, the wings pattern on shafts, leather toe taps, the heart-shaped collars, and the tiny wooden nails on the sole. Everything is designed carefully. Half-sole construction on these boots makes it easy to knee, fully lined by a soft kind of leather comfy your feet inside. The finishing is perfect, evenly stitching by three different color stitches, the same distance between the wooden nails, and the nice dark brown edge on the sole.
There's not much to say about the sole. It is a thin and simple rubber sole, but it keeps the boots lightweight and easy to walk in all day. They can be a bit slippery on rainy days, but it’s manageable.
As a designer, I absolutely love these boots. When I examine all the details, it's clear they are more than just footwear; they are an integral part of cowboy culture. Each detail holds significance, and I believe these boots represent not only a functional item but also a piece of history.