I like slip on boots, but I never felt like I had enough support wearing something like an Engineer boot. I took a chance on these tankers and I'm really glad that I did. I also think they look great. With long enough jeans, you can't tell I'm wearing a boot with straps. The sleek profile on the Eastman tankers also appeals to me.
I followed sizing advice on the Standard & Strange website. I went one size down from Brannock, a half size down from my normal boot size. The fit is perfect.
It was super easy. Shipping took about a week.
I've worn these everywhere I go. They are dressy enough to wear to the office with a pair of pants long enough to cover the straps. I've worn them while traveling -- the strap system makes them very easy to take on and off at airports. I've been hiking in these (also while traveling). I wear them on the weekends when hanging out around the house, shopping, or going to shows. These boots are suitable for most activities, and I can walk miles in them without any discomfort.
The break-in process was minimal to non-existent. The leather only looks better with age. They've developed quite a number of scuffs, and the color has lightened in those areas. I don't baby these boots and welcome the natural changes. These boots are breathable and durable, despite the leather being fairly thin. Regarding care, I've only ever brushed them to get rid of debris, and wiped them with a damp cloth when dirty.
The fit is excellent on this custom last. I have normal (D) width feet and these are around a D to E width. I typically go for Munson-style last boots, and I find that these boots have enough room for my toes to not feel the least but cramped. There is not much arch support, but I don't find them to be uncomfortable to stand in for prolonged periods. The straps allow me to cinch the boots as tight as I like, and I find them to provide better support than laces without the uncomfortable pressure of laces. It makes for a perfectly comfortable fit.
These boots have a sleek design, and they are well constructed. Stitching is perfect. They have held up to all the punishment I've thrown at them over the last six months of regular wear. One thing to note is that the boots came to me without the heels nailed on. The heels were held together by a tiny amount of wood glue, which began to separate within the first month of wear. I informed the manufacturer about the issue, and Gary Eastman (company owner) offered to pay for the repair. I took the boots to a local cobbler who added nails to the heels, and since then I've had zero problems. This was a QA oversight, but my understanding is that Eastman has never had an issue like this before with their boots, and the owner was proactive about finding a solution.
The custom soles are very comfortable. I do find them to be more slippery on wet surfaces than something like a v-bar sole. As I noted before, the boots came to me without the heels nailed onto the boot, which resulted in separation of the heel. Eastman offered to pay for the boots to be fixed, and after having a local cobbler add nails to the heels, I haven't had any other issues. I believe these soles will last a long time before I need a resole, as I have only noticed minimal wear after six months of intense use.
These boots did not actually come with a Cat's Paw heel. Eastman phased out the use of the Cat's Paw before I purchased these. Standard & Strange listed these boots incorrectly as having a Cats Paw heel, so that's the information I added when I registered these boots with Patina Project. They came with a custom Eastman heel, which has held up well with regular wear. The heel has good traction.
I'd highly recommend these boots to anyone looking for a high-end tanker boot, or anyone in the market for something a bit different than an engineer boot. The Eastman tankers are incredibly comfortable, in part due to the boot design (custom last, leather, and general build), and also dye to the strap system. I never got tired of wearing these boots during the Patina Project process, and I will continue to wear them regularly. I believe these boots will hold up for years.