Chippewa American Handcrafted GQ Apache Lacer Boot

These are a nice looking boot. I ordered a half size down and the length is perfect. I have a good EE width and these fit me just a little snug, but with some breaking in the should fit great. The padded insole is thick which was good because my othro-insole fits the boot perfect. These will be a very comfortable pair boots for me! A nice boot for the money. Better than the Red Wing Iron Ranger boots I looked at the in the Red Wing store.

I was looking for some boots that would last a long time. I'm tired of shoes wearing out! I live in Minnesota so my first inclination was to buy Red Wings, but they're priced like they want to keep them, so I browsed until I found these. I bought them and couldn't be happier. First, if you are not accustomed to buying Real Boots, be aware that these have a relatively lengthy break-in period. I've had them for about a month and they're super comfortable, but the initially stiff leather chafed, squeezed and otherwise made life uncomfortable for a few weeks at first. Especially at first, the comfort of these shoes depends strongly on exactly how you lace them - leather doesn't stretch and give throughout the day like tennis shoes or jeans. These are made with what appears to be full grain leather - it's thick, smells good and is sewn together well. The Vibram soles are a bit soft but this makes walking comfortable and can presumably be replaced if they wear out. The laces were waxed when they arrived but have softened up a bit. They look sharp, and if you're worried about the huge logo showing, it is very faint and usually under the pant cuff line. I'd recommend these to anyone. They're easily the best boots I've ever owned and I look forward to using them for years to come. A note of caution - I usually wear a 10, and bought a 9.5 based on reviewers recommendations. They were still too large, so I returned them for a 9, and those fit fine. Also, if your feet run wide the least bit, be sure to get the wide version. I don't usually, but did with these and they feel great.

These are excellent boots for the price. The leather seems to be full-grain, the shoe is fully welted so the sole can be recrafted, the sole is low-profile but still grips well. Construction seems bombproof. The details aren't as polished as they could be and there is a bit of extra rubber here and there on the soles that could stand to be shaved down, for example. But structurally speaking, there are no flaws. I've only had mine for a short while, and after a couple applications of leather protector, they have cheerfully withstood a few days in my dad's woodworking shop and a hike through snowy mountains. A few scuffs here and there enhance these shoes' good looks. They are comfortable and break in pretty quickly. No blisters or hot spots at all. If you're looking for a high-quality, US-made boot but don't want to dish out big bucks for brands like Red Wing and Wolverine, these Chips are a great affordable alternative.

I'd also recommend: Thorogood, Red Wing, Frye, Wolverine

After returning a pair of Red Wings that were totally uncomfortable, with no insole and a ridiculously narrow last, and which cost three times as much as the Chippewas, I got these boots. The difference is like night and day. The EE width accommodated my wide feet nicely and with their springy insoles, walking in these boots is a pleasure. The color is actually much nicer and deeper than this picture makes it seem, and a coat of Obenauf's makes the brown even richer and deeper. For a third of the price of Red Wings, I like these boots three times as much. I would order a half size down -- I reliably wear a 12EE and the 11.5EE was plenty big for me, even a tad on the big side.