Customer Reviews Frye Engineer 12R

Love them - I have fallen in love with these boots. I bought them to ride my motorcycle but find that I have them on anytime that I have jeans on. They also look cool with mini skirts. They are quickly becoming my favorite pair of anything.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM! I have been looking at these for two years, but could not decide if they were what I wanted. I have no regrets - I loved them as soon as I opened the box! I own a few pairs of harness boots and usually buy a half size smaller, but heard that these were more true to size. I bought the size I normally wear and am glad I did. They fit like a glove and I am looking forward to wearing them for many years to come.

So Cool! These boots are better than I expected. I thought they might be a little over the top with the engineer look, but they are much more subtle than they looked on-line. I had hemmed and hawed a long time before buying and I'm glad I finally did it. I think going with the size that you think your feet are is the way to go (mine measure size 9, and the size 9 boot fits). I almost bought an 8 1/2 because my Frye harness boots are 8 1/2, but I went with the advice I found here and the advice I got directly from Frye to go with my true size. With a size 9 I can wear them barefooted or with socks, so I think that's perfect. I have no trouble getting them on at all, but I do have thin feet and not a terribly high instep. Also, I bought the gaucho brown. Love the 12 R's too, and just so you know they are not actually 12 inches high, they are more like 9 inches from the bottom of your foot to the top of the boot. Very flattering to the leg! Enjoy with shorts as well as dresses and jeans! Oh, and they're more comfortable than my Frye harness boots!

Awesome Cool Boots! I will be turning 50 next month so I ordered these with a little trepidation--would I look silly in them? NOT!!! I am surprised at how great they look--a very "Sundance" look. Great with my denim skirt and all my longer skirts too. Felt great from the moment I put them on. Width is right. Length is right. Leather is nice and soft. These boots are made for walkin'!

Great boot! The boot of the season and worth the price. However, be warned...it runs truer to size than most Fryes. I wear a 9.5 in the Harness boot, ordered a 9.5 in the Engineer and my toes were right up at the front of the toe box. These also fit differently than the Harness overall, the toe box is wider and almost sloppy feeling. But great looking...if they cost less I'd keep them and see if I like them more over time.

I have always wanted to get Frye's boots, but could not decide which one to get. I saw Engineer 12R on Vogue and immediately knew they were Frye's and that is it! This boots are heavier than the ones I used to, but very comfortable. I have trouble to get on, but it seems it is getting better each time. I hope it is going to loosen up. It is soooo cute with mini-ish dress/pants. I will wear these as long as I can stand for the weather. (Yes, it is going to be summer.) Thanks to Zappos for the amazing services. You should be a model for all the businesses in US!

I'm in love. I saw these boots in Vogue on Friday, decided I NEEDED them on Saturday, ordered them on Monday, and received them today, on Tuesday. I've worn them out already, and I adore them. I haven't had trouble getting them on, as some other reviews have mentioned. They're very comfortable, and I love how they look with skirts. They're pretty close to perfect, I believe.

Wicked cool boots - These boots are well made and comfortable and they just look so cool! I wear a medium weight knee sock with them to protect my legs. The leather will rub you raw when you first wear them. I'm hoping the leather will soften with wear.

Frye Engineer 12R W - Rarely does merchandise online live up to its expectations in real life, but this shoe looked even better than it did on the screen! I didn't have much difficulty getting the boot on and I love the boot's clunkiness and buckles. I especially love the way you can adjust the buckles to make it tighter or less tight--they're not just to look good! The gaucho color is a beautiful mix of dark browns. I would recommend this item, it's wonderful.

This boot was a little tough to get on (much like my other pair of Frye's), but after I got it on, it felt great. I got a half size bigger thinking it wouldn't be so hard to get on, so it's a little loose in the heel, but thick socks will take care of that. Other than that, I really like this boot.

Frye's Engineer's big tough boot - I love my boots. I take them off only to put on my slipper socks at the end of the day or my running shoes in the a.m. I wear them to work and after work. Like a truly good boot, they work best barefoot. A little difficult to get on the first time and they never worked for me with socks. Lots of protection, warmth and comfort. They're not too heavy, and most importantly, they mean business; no one can push me over in these!

I've had these boots for the past 2.5 years now and they've held up extremely well to the cold Midwest winters, which I wear them a lot in. I condition/weatherproof them with the Frye conditioner annually, which makes them feel really nice and helps it hold up. There are some signs of wear on them but definitely not bad for the amount of time I've had them. Like other reviewers have stated, the boots are quite stiff and need some breaking in when you first get them but after that, the boots mold to your feet and are very comfortable. The soles of the shoes also give a good grip on the ground during cold, icy conditions. A word of advice, definitely clean them off at the end of each winter to remove any salt stains with a 1:1 water to vinegar ratio (can do 2:1 ratio as well). I'd definitely recommend, especially if you're able to get it on sale!

I love these boots! First things first - they run pretty true to size, and a little roomy compared to other Fryes I have. I typically wear an 8.5 in all shoes and boots, but sometimes in Frye need to size up - not this time. They do NOT run wide - my slightly wide feet were not thrilled with wearing these the first few times. They do require a break in period. I tried (at-home) shoe stretchers with 2 pairs of socks - that helped. I found online someone who claimed to have worked for Frye, and for custom fit boots, he said to put the boots on, soak them in water, and them let them dry to your feet - they'd be perfect. I wasn't willing to try that...until I got stuck in the worst rainstorm my area has been in 20 years. In these boots. I was soaked through...but by the time I dried off, my boots fit gloriously. I will say that time aside, these boots have pretty much kept my feet dry. This leather ages QUICKLY - I wore them to walk through some rocks / boulders, and to ride a horse - and they looked beat to hell within a week. That was the look I wanted, so no complaints from me. I don't know that I'd order them again - they look so beat up now that it's hard to wear them anywhere other than someone super casual. But for rough and tumble, tough (wearing, not looking) boots? Right on the money.

I gambled, and I lost...but not entirely. I too had the high instep dilemma. I normally wear 8.5M and got these in a 9M to see if perhaps a slightly larger size might allow me to get my foot into the boot. Plus, I was interested in wearing a medium-weight/thickness sock (eg. regular athletic sock you can buy by the bag in Walmart/Target) with these boots. Had mixed results: I could slip on the left one without any major tugging issue, but the right one was too much of a struggle (even with a lighter weight sock). Going to see if perhaps I can get that right one swapped out.

I really needed a pair of heavy duty boots that would get me through work, where I stand on my week all day, without falling apart. I've always known Frye to be super well made boots, so I finally made the investment. I love these boots. Sure, they aren't that comfy, but they really do uphold in any environment and they look bad-ass. Love em! I'll be getting another pair in a different color very soon!

Pros: These boots are super cool -- you can dress them up or down. Cute! Also tough -- a nice mix, in my book. Cons: They seem to run small -- I'm a 6 to 6-1/2 and ended up having to get a 7. Also stiff, and needed some breaking in, so don't plan on wearing them for a long, busy day until you're sure you won't get blisters.

Love this boot! Originally tried the Harness 12R but decided on this one for a couple of reasons: 1) I have wide feet and the Harness just didn't feel right and it seems the Harness is the in boot right now. I see women in them often, but don't see the Engineer at all (and it's stylish too!). I've received lots of compliments and can wear them with skirts/dresses, leggings, skinny jeans, or just under a regular pair of pants. The one downside is that they don't have very good traction, but I haven't really found any stylish boots out there that do have good traction for practicality too.

Looks: The boots are very attractive - I have pretty wide calves, and had been looking for knee-high boots (all of which seem to be too tight) but these hit me below the calf, and are somewhat wide too. I have gotten nothing but compliments on them. I got the gaucho pair, which looks fashionably distressed. They go well with jeans, khakis, skirts, and leggings. Size: I thought mine were a bit too large (I ordered my usual 8.5), as my heel slipped somewhat, but apparently that is expected with non-zip-up boots like cowboy boots, riding boots, and these. Apparently if they didn't, you wouldn't be able to get your foot into the boot. I've been told that so long as the top of the boot is sufficiently snug against your instep, the fit is correct - and sure enough the boot has never felt loose or as if it were about to fall off, even when I was dangling my feet on a ski lift. Comfort: It took two or three days to break them in, but once they broke in they were fairly comfortable. The one very annoying thing about them is that there seems to be a line on the insole right where the heel ends and the rest of the shoe begins - it seems to be made of two separate pieces, and for the first week I could really feel it even through socks. After a week though, either my feet got used to it or the leather wore in enough that I can't feel it except if I'm going up a steep hill. That, and the fact that they're fairly heavy and the sole isn't all that flexible is why I'm giving it 4 stars (from what I've read, the sole will become even more flexible over time). Wear: I've ground down the back of the heel somewhat, as I sometimes tend to shuffle. It wore down in the first week, which bothered me somewhat. However, I've worn it through rain, dust, fog, and even for a mild hike up a dirt trail, and it still looks quite lovely. Be a little careful when kicking the boots off - it can scuff the leather, but with the gaucho style a little scuffing looks fine.

I have the world’s worst feet. My feet feel better in the shoeboxes than in the shoes they arrived in. I have an extremely high instep, wider than usual feet, a tendency to develop corns on the tops of my toes, and heels that blister. No Matter Which Pair of Shoes I Wear! My feet always hurt. That was before I discovered Merrells. This is the fourth pair of Encore Mary Janes (wool) I have ordered. My feet no longer hurt, nor my legs, nor my back. I wear them with everything: dresses, skirts, pants. I wear them to church and to the dentist’s office and shopping. In fact, I hope my kids bury me in them!

Great boots, definitely needs some breaking in though... Finally bought them, very satisfied. Looks great from the top, not too wide. They make my feet look smaller than they are. Didn't have a problem slipping in my feet but the shaft is a bit on the tough side. It rubs my legs, right where the seams are on the back and where the flap is on the outside. Nothing a long pair of knee highs didn't solve. I'm sure it'll get softer with age and wear.

So cool - This boots looked exactly as I expected them to...very cool, chunky and kick-a#*. The top of the boot however does hurt my shins...hoping that will improve as I break them in because I want to wear them with tights as well as socks. The boot itself is surprisingly comfortable. I love the look and feel and highly recommend it.

Very cute boots - I love these boots; have worn them several times now. They look even better on than they do in the photos. I had to put moleskin inside one of the boots because it rubbed against the top part of my foot, but once I did that they were comfortable. And, yes, you do need to wear knee-high socks because the tops rub against your legs. I also thought the toe was rather narrow--it didn't squeeze my feet, but I have narrow feet.

Great Looking Boot - This boot is terrific looking - love it, love it. I'm 5'5" and am between a 7 and 7.5. I ordered a 7.5, which is fine. Unlike other reviewers, I did not experience any difficulty getting the boot on. The size fits perfectly. Problems: the 12R is a bit too high for a pants boot and too low for all but the longest skirts. (If I had longer legs, I wouldn't mind the break between the top of the boot and the bottom of the skirt so much.) Also, the front of the boot hits a sensitive part of my shin. My guess is that the leather would soften with use. I've decided to return them and exchange them for the 15R instead - same size and color - although even more expensive. As usual, Zappos service and ease of ordering and return makes it easy for this type of decision. Can't believe that I once lived without you guys! Awesome. The higher boot turned out to be too heavy and too warm for Tucson. As a result, I kept this one and like it very much.

Difficult to get on - I love this boot. However it is difficult to pull on which is frustrating. Once on, they are so comfortable I can wear them all day (I do so I don't have to take them on and off).