Customer Reviews SOREL Ainsley™ Chelsea

I purchased these in advance of a mid-winter trip to Europe where I expect to be doing lots of walking in variable weather, and these are absolutely going to fit the bill. My foot feels very stable and comfortable when walking long distances and also standing (no pained feet in a museum!). I wore these through the first snowstorm of the season and my feet stayed warm and dry; the snow seemed to dry off the boots very quickly and there was no water leaking through the boot where it connects to the sole. My feet also didn't get overly sweaty or hot, a real issue with some waterproof shoes. The lug sole gave plenty of traction, and I even felt comfortable on wet metal steps - a true test for me. The shoe is surprisingly light - I expected it to be heavier because of the sole. I initially tried them in my standard shoe size, but as noted in other reviews, the boots felt a little snug in the toe (and also a little too snug to pull on comfortably), so I returned them and sized up a half size - they now fit my foot beautifully and I don't feel like they're too tight, even if I wanted to wear it with a midweight sock. My feet did feel tired after two very long days of walking around the city in these - my ankle didn't feel as supported as it would in a boot with laces, for example- but a thicker sock and wearing with pants tucked in may help. I have the brown color and have worn it easily with black and navy. I did notice that the leather creased at the toe and also at the ankle. This doesn't bother me in the slightest, but I know some people are bothered by it. The brown is especially casually; it would be difficult to dress this boot up. Overall, I'm very pleased with these and glad to have purchased them. Worth the splurge!!

Arch support is great however these boots are narrow and difficult to get on. I'm debating whether I keep or return.

I really liked the way these looked, but unfortunately they were too narrow on me, and seemed tight all around. I am sending them back, wish they had a half size larger.

An almost. The toe box is clunky and rigid and the shaft just too high for comfort.