Cole Haan Caldwell

After reading lots of positive reviews, I purchased a pair of Caldwells shortly before moving to Hong Kong in July. When the shoes arrived, they were stiff and very shiny, and as I walked around in my house I noticed the leather near the toe cap did not bend very well. I assumed the shoes merely needed to be broken in, so I decided to keep them. After three months of wearing the shoes two or three days a week, the toe cap issue has gone from bad to worse. There are deep, noticeable cracks around the area where my toes bend, and pieces of the brown finish on the shoe have started to fall off. No amount of polishing will fix this problem, as the super shiny finish I noticed the day I received the shoes is nothing more than a cheap surface treatment. The leather - if it can even be called that - is absolute junk, and the shoes are still incredibly stiff. I would not recommend this shoe to anybody, and I am looking for a replacement. This review is not meant to be a negative reflection on the customer service I received from Zappos. On the contrary, I could not be happier with the ordering, delivery, and return processes. I wasn't sure of my size when I ordered the Caldwells, so I purchased two pairs and selected standard shipping. Zappos automatically bumped me up to overnight shipping, and I received the items the next day. Returning the second pair of shoes was simple and hassle free, and I got my refund within a few days.

These are my go to business dress shoes. I have had about a dozen pairs over the past few years (my feet sweat, so I rotate daily wear) and while the sole and footbed will eventually wear out as with all leather-soled shoes, they are supremely comfortable, lightweight and versatile. Through Zappos, they are inexpensive enough to simply replace rather than have re-soled after a couple years, and they break in quickly. Get a good set of shoe trees and they will last for a long time.

I'm a second time buyer of these shoes. The only complaint, if I dare call it that, is that there is a short "breaking-in" period, but trust me when I say these shoes will be nicer than any other shoe you come across. Don't think twice about purchasing these shoes, and certainly don't waste your time using anything but Zappos to do so!

Truly beautiful shoe...received a lot of compliments the first time I wore them. I ordered "W" which is a tad larger than "E" but not quite my normal "EE". Still for brand new shoes they were very comfortable.