Customer Reviews Rieker 79970 Astrid 70

These are great winter boots for narrow-calved ladies! For months now, I have been searching high and low for warm, stylish, gray or black boots that would be suitable for work and play in chilly Wisconsin. I wanted something that could go from the bus stop to the office, that would look cute with tights and skirts but also keep me toasty and not be so delicate/fancy that I would have to worry about daily walks through snow and salt. The catch? I wear a women's size 12 (42) and have very narrow feet and calfs. I bought and returned five different pairs of boots (two La Canadiennes, two Blondos, and another Reiker) before seeing these mentioned in an internet post about tall boots for skinny calfs. When I saw them on sale at Zappos, trying them was a no-brainer. Although these boots did fit my calfs beautifully the first time I tried them on, I did not love them immediately - they felt a tad too short and the wool lining itched my sensitive skin (even through socks). However, they were the best overall fit that I had found, so I decided to keep them. As other reviewers had suggested, within a few days, the boots stretched enough to give my toes a bit more room, and the itchiness of the wool linings subsided. They are now extremely cozy and comfortable and I feel 100 percent happy with this purchase. They are warm (cozy virgin wool lines the entirety of the boot); stylish (the gray color goes with a lot and the buttons are funky while still being suitable for dressy-casual work environments); stable (the flat bottom makes it easy to walk on snowy sidewalks, and the rubber sole gives nice traction); comfortable (the sole of the boot is nice and flexible, and although these do not have the arch support of a Dansko, they would be nice for walking around a city); narrow calfs (these are a rare find for thin-legged gals like me - snug with no gaping and just enough room to accommodate skinny jeans) They are not totally waterproof (these are made of fake leather, and though the seams appear tight, I would not wear these in serious wet or snowy conditions - unlike La Canadiennes, Blondos, or the Reiker-TEX line); they provide moderate support (these are comfortable enough for my needs, but if you really need serious arch support, you are going to want to get an orthotic insert or go with another brand, like Dansko).

I usually buy Rieker shoes but have stopped because I was so disappointed with these. The button on the side of the boot popped off within a week and the bottom of the boots wore out within less than three months (making holes). The material also starting chipping away, making them look old. I did appreciate the wool lining, but overall I would recommend purchasing another pair of boots.

My tender feet need very comfortable footwear for traveling. This warm, stylish boot was sturdy and comfy enough to walk everywhere in the German/Austrian Alps and stylish enough for the city. The zip up leg is snug with leggings or jeans tucked in. Highly recommend.

Very we'll made boot. I did not keep them because they were just generally more snugly fitted than I was looking for. The fit was nice, just not what I wanted. Very supportive.

Love my new boots!! No break-in time. Great fit, a bit warm for where I live but will be a good travel boot.

beautiful boots. so many compliments. very warm and hold up well. this will be my third winter wearing them. i don't wear leather and it's hard to find nice boots that are synthetic and not cheap looking

If you read the item information it clearly states they are synthetic leather which of course means not real leather.

I ordered these boots because I have another pair of Rieker boots that are similar and I love them. It turned out these are not different enough to warrant buying them, but I love the pair I already have and I love these. This pair is lined and super warm, including the fleecy insert. This is a great brand of boot -- I have had two pairs and have been especially pleased with both of them.

I have these boots in grey from a couple of years ago and I love them. I was excited to find them made in this wine color. Unfortunately, I have a wide foot and these are just a bit to narrow for me. Darn, they are a darling boot and I love it that they are vegan.

I love these boots! They fit perfectly (though if you have large calves, they might be a bit snug over jeans). They are very cute. I need some no/low heel boots for dancing and these work perfectly, and look great.

For many years I have bought Rieker boots - a new pair every year, passing the older pairs down to bad weather, dog walking, etc. But, as many people note, these boots are not long-lasting. The fake leather peels off in places and they can be difficult to clean. I could have dealt with all of this but last year's pair (not worn frequently as it was the going-out version) now has a zip problem. I cannot move the zip on the right boot. I think that does it. I am going to look elsewhere, but will miss the comfort, warmth, and style of these boots. Not that they are cheap for plastic!

I have had these boots for two years and wear them almost daily in the cooler months. I am vegan and prefer purchasing synthetic leather but have had a hard time finding comfortable boots that are both stylish and comfortable. These are the most stylish, most comfortable boots that I have ever owned. I walk in them all day and my feet feel as cozy at the end of it as they did going into them. They are super warm and super cozy. I absolutely love them! Also, I get endless compliments on them and people are always surprised when I tell them they are synthetic. After two winters of wearing them heavily they are starting to have a small amount of peeling material on one of the boots so I will likely but another pair to replace them before the style is no longer available. I am so glad to have found these!

I've bought these boots in gray 3-4 years ago. I was considering getting them in black since I adore them. However, once I read the reviews I wondered whether the material had been changed since they've obviously been part of their line for several years. References to cracked areas around the heel, etc., makes me wonder since mine have held up perfectly with no cracks, dings, etc. The gray ones are just terrific, so comfortable and warm and stylish. It's true that they will fit best on a narrower calf and that, initially, the lining was a bit itchy. I wear them over leggings which puts that little bit of fabric between me and the lining so they feel great and look good, too. The sizing seems to be true and I find the foot bed to be wide enough for me to move my toes around easily. They are great for all day wear. I took them to Europe and traipsed over a lot of cobblestone and had no issues. Good firm rubber sole. If I thought the material hadn't changed, I would consider the black and may order them to check them out. I'm all about leather alternatives. I don't eat meat so why would I wear a skin?

So far so good. I am very pleased with these boots. It is so nice to fine a good fit for my long feet and thin calves! They are very comfortable and I get lots of compliments on them. Just be aware that they are not real leather.

Love this boot. Originally, I bought this boot 2 years ago before a trip to France. I have never had a more comfortable boot. I walked everywhere. It feels like a glove on my foot. I bought another pair last year and just bought 2 new pairs for this year.

Even though they are not leather, I prefer them now to real leather because I do not worry one bit about wet weather damaging the exterior / toe of the boot. I have owned a pair for a year now and wore them fall/winter/spring and they are still in pristine condition. I've received more compliments on these boots than any other pair of shoes I own. The shearling lining is super warm but breathes and the hidden elastic around the calf makes these very wearable with any pair of pants you own. I adore them and just bought myself a wine color pair for this season. Get over leather. Try these now.

These boots are the best. I'm on my fourth pair - I like to buy a new pair each winter for wearing out in public and then I keep the older ones for dog-walking, shoveling snow, etc.

I loved these boot! The buttons make for an expandable snug fit on the calf. They are great boots, but really should be leather for the price. However, the quality was so good, I will definitely check out this brand again.

I love these boots! I just ordered my second pair after my first finally wore out. I took these all over Europe last year and never had any trouble with achy feet. I also used them to walk about four miles a day to and from school with my kids. They are definitely worth the money. The only draw back it they are not real leather but they still look very nice.

These boots are fabulous. Honestly, comfort, cuteness, style. I love wearing these and get compliments wherever I go! They are must haves.

I love Rieker products. This boot fit great in the foot and ankle area, but was way too tight in the calf. I ordered this style because it was supposed to fit a larger calf. It was uncomfortable and very disappointing. I will still try another style. Zappos makes it easy to try again.

These boots are great. I like how warm they are (I am always cold) and I like the grip on the bottom of the sole. For some reason so many women's boots don't have grip on the bottom. I must be old (35) but I like grip on the bottom, especially when carrying my baby around. Superb boot. I might have to get them in grey too!

Love, love, love these boots! More for cold winter days than chilly fall days because of the wool lining. Gorgeous gray color and great idea to have the stretchy things at the calf. I have pretty large calves and they stretch to fit over skinny jeans with little effort and without looking like they are about to burst! Super comfortable. Highly recommended.

These are nice boots. Very comfortable. You can wear them all day, no problem. They are a little dressy, not made for wearing in mud or something like that. They are stylish and fairly sturdy. I'm very happy with them.

Wow, Zappos, I ordered my boots Saturday and here they are on my feet Monday! Love the cozy wool lining and my other pair of Rieker boots have been so comfortable I wore them almost daily last winter. Love the barefoot feel with low heel and little arch support. I'm wondering how the synthetic vs. leather will hold up? And I don't mind that it's not leather...don't cows suffer enough?