Great look, comfortable, but poor build. I bought the dark brown waxy suede version of the Heath Outside Zip
boots after having the black leather Harness
boots for only a week!
Frye Harness
boots have been around for years and are pretty much proven, style, comfort, and quality, just check the reviews here and at other sites. The Heath Outsize Zips are new and as yet have more or less mixed reviews. They are much more expensive than the Harness
boots, so while I've had the Heath Outside Zips for less than a day, I'll provide an initial review of them in comparison with the Harness
boots. The Look: The look right out of the box is great; it's the style of a harness boot without the harness and with a 1/2 inch shorter heel, so a somewhat more dressy boot. Plus, the various waxy suede finishes which are very well done, soften the tough looking squared toe. And let's not forget about the zipper which steps the look up a notch, although for guys wearing these few people will have a chance to see the zipper (I don't plan on tucking my
pants in anytime soon). All in all a very nicely balanced look. From what I've seen there is really nothing else out there to compare these with a really great look. The Comfort: The
boots are noticeably more comfortable than the leather Harness
boots, at least upon initial wearing. This is likely due to the shorter heel and the soft suede. Note, the Heath Outsize Zip (and Inside Zip model for that matter) fits true to size, not a half size lower like
Frye Harness and other
boots. The true size seems a little loose in the heel but that is apparently not uncommon with new
boots (although not so much for my Harness
boots). I have a gel insert that has improved the fit and
arch support, which is minimal (similar to Harness
boots). I wear gel arch supports in my Harness
boots and the Heath Outside Zips are no different in requiring extra support. The Build: Here's where I have to knock marks off the Heath Outside Zip. I will start by saying that my leather
Frye Harness boot quality is absolutely outstanding from choice of materials to workmanship and is impressive. The Heath Outside Zips; the quality is comparatively lower. The choice of manufacturing the suede versions of the Heath Outside (and Inside) Zip with thin suede may have been a corporate decision, but the lack of quality control on the stitching, cutting, and finishing of the suede are the responsibility of the factory. And it is obviously substandard. There are puckers here where the leather pieces are joined and this was not just with the
boots I ended up buying. I outwardly rejected another pair because the suede where the toe meets the leather sole was puckered and deformed. In addition, on at least two pairs of these
boots (each from different stores in different provinces), the heel was not attached 100% to the sole with a bit of daylight visible in the inside corners, particularly when flexing the sole. True, this is a leather stacked heel, unlike the Harness
boots, but my wife's US made Campus
boots have a similar heel which is firmly attached. Although not related to poor quality, I wish that
Frye would have added the wonderful
Vibram sole to the front half of Outside Zip boot as they had done with the shorter Inside Zip boot. Anyone not wanting to slip on metal grates, painted surfaces, or a little snow and ice will need a cobbler to apply an aftermarket rubber sole. It will greatly extend the life of the sole as well. However, it's another $30 or $40 that one will have to spend. The Verdict: Time will tell how well my suede
Frye Heath Outside
boots will hold up, particularly in comparison with my leather Harness
boots. However, as mentioned, the look is absolutely outstanding and the comfort is very good. I would recommend these
boots with the caveat that they are overpriced for what you get, but that you won't likely find anything comparable at any price.
