I spent *months* searching for a boot that would meet my specific criteria: 1. Love the look, 2. Boots I could wear on a daily basis, and 3. Boots that would be suitable for a business or business-casual attire, yet wouldn't look out of place in a casual setting. These boots have met all of those, though I am going to avoid wearing them in wet/snow conditions as much as possible. First, the aesthetics: these boots look awesome, and the look as though they will last (at the writing of this, I've had them for a few weeks). The outer sole is one that can be repaired when necessary, so I'm hoping that won't cost to much at a local cobbler. I added a coat of mink oil (Kiwi brand), and that seems to be a good enough solution if I apply it 2-4 times per year (should probably be more often from what I've read, but I'm a bit lazy). I imagine these boots might lose some of their luster when/if they get scuffed up a bit, but I think that will only add more character and charm to them. The best thing about the leather on these boots is the smell- I've been literally inhaling the inside of these boots so much, my girlfriend is starting to wonder about me. One whiff of the insides of these boots, and you'll feel transported to the times when cobblers made all the shoes. If you've ever been to a historically themed park (i.e. early settlers park), then you can imagine the scent. Second, while these boots will probably wear a bit faster than others with mostly Vibram outsoles, the ability to re-sole them I'm hoping will pay off in the long run. The heels are Vibram rubber, but the rest of the boot is pretty much all leather, so I'm not sure how it will hold up. So far, it seems to be fine, as I've been avoiding heavy rain days and/or snow. I hear the traction is terrible in icy conditions, so hopefully that doesn't bite me in the ass, but otherwise I think they'll be fine for heavy use. I have been wearing these boots to work and around town (I walk a lot), and so far I'm very happy with them. They fit snug, but one bit of advice is to not wear these (or ANY other boots) without deciding if you're going to add insoles to them (many of these boots do not come with insoles, so much less cushion than typical throw-aways). I had to buy over a 1/2 dozen pairs and try different insoles in them to find a combination that would fit properly and not give me blisters. I have to wear fairly thin foam insoles with these boots, otherwise cushier insoles with thick heels either allow my heel to move up and down too much (and therefore, can cause blisters), or the reduced space causes discomfort along where the eyelets/hooks align. The only concerns I have about these boots is how the leather will hold up (the outsoles, specifically) over time, and also the first time I tried to lace them up, I accidentally pulled one of the hooks at an odd angle, which bent it a bit. I bent it back down, but now I'm extra cautious when lacing them up to not pull it outward. Everything else about these boots I just love. As far as fit goes, I've measured my foot and it's a 12 1/2, so the 12s fit me just fine. 13s would be too large, I believe, and anything smaller and I wouldn't have any room for insoles. They fit perfectly without insoles, but my feet have been beaten up and even a small amount of cushion will help, even if the fit changes slightly (mildly discomforting if tied up tightly). Hope this review helps! P.S. I also bought and tried Chippewas, Red Wings, and various other boots before settling on these. Red Wings and Chippewas both seem like awesome boots, but the Chippewas I bought caused massive blisters and the Red Wings I bought (Beckmans and Iron Rangers) either were problematic in terms of fit, or just didn't look as good (to me) aesthetically.
