Generally worn in office and warehouse environments. They have also hiked numerous trails around Northern California. They have been a part of my daily life for the last seven months.
The natural Latigo is supple and very easy to break in. After a few wears they were molding well to my feet and very comfortable. Generally, I would brush every other day and clean every couple of months, they were cleaned with saddle soap and conditioned a total of three times. The leather has held up great and the Dr. Soles soles have held up as well as could be expected with daily wear for so long. The evolution of the leather was a little disappointing, I really expected the natural color to darken more over time. They kind of just got to a certain point after a few months and stayed there color wise. I was hoping for a more rich reddish brown similar to my veg tan belts and wallets. I am still very happy with them though.
Willie’s does a great job of explaining and ensuring the fitment measurements are correct when you purchase his boots. He is thorough and asks questions to make sure you’re happy with the results. When the boots arrived, they fit like a glove and even were adjusted to the different sizing of my individual feet. They currently feel amazing and there has been no degradation in the insole. They can be worn for many years to come. I love the Flatbox toe and high arch I went with in these boots.
The construction of Willie’s boots is top notch. They hand make every aspect of their boots and you can tell they are hand made without them being sloppy. Willie’s takes older designs from past years and puts his own design style to them, it really makes them unique. He uses the best threads and brass hardware, even the cotton laces he supplies are awesome.
The Supergrip soles have held up well and provided great traction. The design of the soles really transforms the look of these boots so ones that you could have bought 75 years ago. Something my grandfather would have worn in his younger days.
This was my first Cuban heeled boot and not sure I would get them again. While they are very comfortable and I like the way the high arch feels, they make the boots a little heavy and not as visually attractive, but I guess that is subjective.
If you are on the fence about Willie’s Boots, don’t be. Just hit him up on Facebook or IG and get a pair. They are currently reasonably priced, they don’t use synthetic materials or cut corners. He is true craftsman and gentleman.