Customer Reviews Frye Engineer 12R

Love these boots! I have wanted a pair of Fryes for quite some time and am glad I took the plunge. I am a 7.5-8 with wide feet and I went with the 7.5. When I say I have wide feet I mean that it's generally hard for me to find 'cute' flats/sandals/heels that don't look gross with my wide feet. That being said - I have never purchased a pair of 'wide' shoes; so use your judgment when considering how wide your feet may be in comparison to mine and thinking about these boots. I think I maybe could've gone with the 8, there may have been a bit more wiggle room for my 'wide' feet, but the 7.5 is by no means too small. I wear these all the time since I got them, with skirts, with skinny jeans, to work, on weekends - love them! I'm sure they will last me for years to come. These boots are no joke, you can kick some serious butt in these and look good while doing it!

Thank You Frye and Zappos! I am a hard to fit 8.5 (My foot is a hair on the wide side with a high bone on the top on my foot, whatever that bone is called, and short toes). These boots not only looked exactly as pictured but the 8.5 fit right out of the box. A tip for breaking-in boots which made these slipper like for me... Put a hair dryer in them on a cool/warm setting and let it run for a few minutes, then wear these with a camping sock and buckles on loosest holes. The best boot purchase I've made in years!

These boots are gorgeous. Frye really knows how to do distressing to perfection! I was worried about getting my feet into them based on other reviews but they slid in just fine and I got my normal everyday size of 9½! I walked around a bit and, even though I have relatively wide feet, they felt comfortable throughout. So comfortable that I decided to wear them to work the next day which includes a half mile walk from the parking lot. Well, the comfort only lasted about two blocks and when I eventually got to work I had to rig up several band-aids from the first aid station to be able to wear them without crying. I almost always have boots rub my toes because my feet need just a bit more room in the toebox, but these felt great up there. It was the heel of one boot that kept repeatedly jabbing me. So, they have been sitting for two weeks while my blisters heel, but I have faith that they will break in! I have bought some moleskin and some anti-friction pads and will try again for shorter periods of time. Just realize, that this leather is the real deal, it is thick and substantial. Some people will have trouble breaking these in. One of the associates at Nordstroms said to try walking around the house in thick, wet socks to break them in. Not sure if I will try that, but he did tell me that they would break in and that they would last forever. They are so beautiful that I am willing to labor through a long breaking in process. I hope this helps!

My inner chick craved a rugged, low heeled casual boot for tromping through woods and around town. I ordered both this boot and Veronica shortie, to see which boot best suited my 5'2" frame. The shaft on this boot tilts slightly forward and the heel is higher, so I kept it. Once my feet found the footbed, things were fine. But the struggle to get the feet in required patience. Use a plastic bag, take a deep breath, and you'll make it. It gets easier every time. Love this boot. Thank you, Zappos, for impeccable service.

I've been wearing Frye Boots for 40 years! I'm an engineer, so naturally I had to get the Frye Engineer! And sadly, they are a bit of a let down. I got these boots for work boots and I really work in them. They are cute and they are comfortable. But the leather is not as good a quality as what I'm used to with Frye's. That was a pretty big disappointment. The leather straps just seem like a cheaper grade leather. I've had to oil these boots (used Frye conditioning product) several times. I like the boots, but I don't like the straps. The top buckle sticks out, so if you happen to be wearing girly clothes, you just might get some serious snagging going on there. I wear them with jeans and fold my socks over the top...which reminds me...the top is not very soft and they will rub the ever living stew out of your lower calf! Zappos was the best! They are my new bffs!

These boots hurt my feet. I agonized for weeks over whether or not to keep them because they felt so tight on my right foot. Well, I finally decided to keep them and wore them out one night without socks. The next morning I could barely walk home, and now I have a bruise on the side of my ankle. Long story short, wear socks! And break them in gradually! I wish these came in Wide.

I really wanted to love these boots but the fit wasn't right for me, I tried both a 7.5 and an 8. In the 7.5, the left foot fit great, but the right was tight on top of my foot, and squeezed the outside of my foot, up by my toes. The 8 was just too big. I wish they came in wide.

Really wanted to like this boot, but just did not. Shaft on one seemed set badly--jammed into the front of my shin. Leather not as pretty as I had hoped--looked cheap. And weirdly both too small and too large. Going back!

I have owned these boots for approximately two months. Here is the low down: 1) Commit to the break-in period, or don't buy them. The break-in is intense, and sometimes painful. Mine lasted 2 to 3 weeks of daily wear. 2) Once broken in, your foot WILL fit into them without any trouble or major effort. Until then, expect some tugging and pulling. Out of the box, they are NOT easy to get on. 3) For a point of reference, I wear an 8.5 in most shoes, and that is true for this boot as well. My feet are average, in that they are not wide or narrow and I have normal arches. 4) Once they are broken in, they are an absolute dream. Great in all kinds of weather. Comfortable. Stylish. Buy them. Now.

Having read the reviews, I knew these boots would be very sturdy, long lasting and high quality. However these are also the coolest boots out there. They are hard to get on at first, but go on easily after a few times. I am a 9 but bought a 9-1/2, and glad I did. Roomy inside, and they slide over my muscular calves. Very stylish, these boots are definitely made to last years. As always, Zappos is the best website and love their free shipping and fabulous service. Thank you Zappos!

Have bruised as a result of the boots. Have to wear them in. But besides that they are great.

I have been coveting these boots for over a year and decided they would make a perfect 49th birthday present. I love them. I was worried as I have wide feet, but I have no problem getting them on and off. They fit well and seem true to size. I love wearing them with a knee length skirt or dress with leggings. Perfect for work and fun in the cold and snowy north country. I have not had a pair of Frye boots since I was in college in the early 80's. I wish I had not waited so long before getting another pair. As always, delivery was quick and free from Zappos.

Awesome boots. Great style and works on many styles of outfits. Comfortable once broken in. I ordered 1/2 size bigger so that I can wear thick socks and it is perfect. If I wear regular socks, my normal size should fit fine.

I purchased these boots a couple of weeks ago and have been nothing but pleased by my choice. I live overseas but have an American address, so while the quick shipping that Zappos is proud of, it didn't mean much at this end, as our mail is super slow (thank you, state department!). The boots are fairly heavy, but are well constructed and sturdy. There's not much support inside, nor any lining, but that is okay as I have comfy socks. I have some difficulty getting my left foot into the boot, but can manage (ankle issue of mine, not a problem with the boot) after some maneuvering. The color indicated on the website is spot on and I found the video clip very helpful as it gives a great indication of how the boots look. Very happy customer.

I bought these more than a year ago and they're still awesome, still comfortable, and you can wear them with practically anything. They only took me one day to break in and I can walk in them for miles! This may seem weird, but I broke them in by putting them on, and then taking a nap with them on. After that, getting them on and off was easy.

I had trouble getting my feet inside the boots and was ready to return! Thankgod I read a review with the same issue and she mentioned a plastic bag, ok not sure how I never knew this but it worked. I’m walking around my house to break them in. I think the socks I had on were also adding friction so I may be wearing these with bare feet and they are extremely comfortable with a very soft foot bed. I also did go up a 1/2 size to a 7 1/2. Everyone should have a pair of these ??

I really wanted a solid pair of boots for my upcoming trip to Japan where I would be doing a lot of walking. The first pair of Fryes I tried were the Veronica Slouch. They were really comfortable but because the boots were so soft I didn't want to risk the shaft becoming too slouchy. Since the boots are more expensive than what I normally buy I wanted them to keep their shape. I ordered these in the 12r and the 15r, because of my thick calves (14.75in) the 15r were way too tight. I couldn't even get the 15r all the way up my calf! Then onto the 12 r which were way better. I have pretty wide feet and a high instep so I sized a half size up. The boots are a little long on length but is perfect in width. My right foot has a higher instep than my left so the top of my foot was crowded against the boot. I took one of the boots to a cobbler to get the instep stretched. After two times of getting it stretched (because I didn't want to experience the pain of breaking them in) the boots fit great! These boots are heavy duty and the first time I wore them out I had zero pain! Nada! I'm happy I sized up and got one of the boots stretched. It was a long process finding these boots and making them work for me. I'm glad I did, they look amazing even though I'm short with short legs. ;)

The first time that I became aware of Frye boots was while reading a beautiful Vogue magazine (May 2007) feature of Keira Knightley on an African safari, and she wore these gorgeous clothes with these boots. I wanted them immediately. I Googled them and was so amazed to find that they were used by Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Based on that historical use, I knew that these were the boots and only boots that I had to own for myself. When I first looked at the price, it was expensive for the 8R. As a 15 year-old girl, I did not have that kind of money and nor did my family. I kept checking the price, and it kept increasing and I became more discouraged that I wouldn't be able to afford them. Cue to March 2014, seven years later, and Zappos has the 12R on sale. It was my senior year in college and I knew it was my time. This has been by far the best shoe purchase I have made for myself. Ever. I am 5'1.5 and I was worried about the height of the 12R, and it hits just below my calf. Perfect. Yes, at first it was kind of hard to get my foot in, and I have flat, wide feet so while I was breaking them in, they hurt a lot. But once I broke them in, I have had no problem. I wear them to work every day (I'm a chemist) and they're the best foot protection. I am so happy that I have them, I am so happy that I waited for seven years and if you're also on the fence like I was about it, as soon as you can afford them, get 'em.

Love these boots! I wear them every day! I'm going straight from these to flip flops.

What can I say- another fabulous looking, feeling boot from Frye! Perfection right out of the box, wore them all over Garden of the Gods for about 2 hours, not a single rub. Like all well-fitting boots, they are a little difficult to get on, but not too bad. It's worth it when they're on and you look so hot with your skinny jeans tucked in, or with a cute little twirly skirt and blazer! Frye-MMMMMMMWAH! These are gonna have to compete with my harness Frye's.

So...let me preface this review by saying that I never write product reviews. I also have to say that I own many pairs of boots from all different brands and of all different prices. But the moment I put these boots on I immediately knew they were worth every penny. Yes, the leather is tough and needs to be broken in, but they are so comfortable brand new! I will never buy a different brand of boots again (I may not have to every buy another pair of boots again anyway because there look like they are probably bomb-proof). Buy these! You will not regret it!

Received my boots today, thanks Zappos for super quick delivery, and like this style. The leather is a little stiff, but they feel like they will last forever. I got the Gaucho (brown) color and I really like this one. Nothing negative about this boot.

This is my second pair of Frye boots and I love them. I wear custom made orthotics because I have plantar fasciitis and was thrilled that these boots fit my orthotics and feel great. Since the orthotic lifts my foot a small amount, I feel the instep of the boot to be a little snug, but it is not painful or annoying. I do struggle with getting the boots on and off just as I did with my other pair of Fryes, especially the left boot. It seems that the thick piece of leather that structures the heel of the boot narrows considerably where it stitches into the boot shaft. I always have a hard time getting my heel passed that narrow point. I think that this is specific to this one boot since I do not have the same problem with my right boot, nor did I have the problem when I had tried on another pair in a store. I am not overly bothered by this and would rather struggle through the first few times I put them on and off than exchange them. Overall the boot feels like an 8½ with enough room to feel comfortable but not sloppy. The shaft width is perfect for my calf (no skinny chicken-legs here) so if you have a hard time zipping knee high boots up, do not worry about these at all! The leather is glorious and seems like it will last a lifetime, however the black dye does rub off my my legs! It is kind of funny seeing a grayish hue on my legs when I take the boots off. I wonder if that will ever stop...

As for MC boots these are by far the most comfortable and get better and softer with wear. Zappos is the best source for these hard to find MC's.

Purchased this pair of boots for my daughter. She loved them, they were true to size, and yes, they arrived the next day. They are fun and edgy, sporty enough for a college soph. Need I say more, Zappos rocks!