Frye James Inside Zip

I have been wearing these boots for nearly six months straight now, and I am completely in love. Never before have I so appreciated something as basic as footwear. I actually came back to the product here on Zappos to order a spare pair just in case they ever die and I cannot find a replacement, only to find they were out of stock, and realized they deserved a review. The style is, well, perfect. A simple, classic looking design without garish accents or stitching. The black leather has so much subtle character out of the box that wears well and always looks great. The texture is soft yet firm, a pleasure to handle. They live up to every day wear quite well, taking the dings and scratches of my active nigh life in stride. I was worried about the side zip, as I have had boots fail there before, but these seem to be traveling just fine and have not jammed yet. They never seem to hold a negative odor, in fact they still have the sweet smell of premium leather. Every time I don these boots, which is nearly every day, I feel like a rock star, and receive compliments on them about every other week. A couple things to consider with this boot: I suggest a good hiking sock (I use the light, summer variety here in Texas). They have never seemed too hot. Although the zipper is holding up well, it is still a good idea to treat it with a little care. Hold the top of the boot up firm before moving the zipper to give a straight path. I have had the sensation of almost slipping nearly a dozen times in this boot, yet for some reason I always catch my self on my heels. I believe this is because of the rubber pad at the back of the heel. Whatever the issue is I have yet to fall in them, even on a wet dance floor. These are my first Frye shoes, and they have impressed me so much that I am gong to start picking up some of their other classic styles. The price tag scared me off at first, but I now believe they are worth every penny. So much in fact that I am going to stockpile a pair or two.