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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh. My. God. Mine at Last., February 21, 2008
The Frye Harness Mid-Calf 12R in Tan? Well, what can I say? I am one satisfied woman, thank you very much. And for someone who's never had a shoe fetish--I've had the same pair of shoes for a decade--I'm beginning to grow an obsessive love affair with Frye products.
First, understand that this is the first time I've ever bought shoes on line and for [...] bucks (+ shipping)....? Really, ouch. But, my god. Heaven. Not only did they come super fast, but exactly as the pictures showed. Plus, I am the world's pickiest shoe buyer, hence, 10 year old shoes...
I'm barely 5'3, pretty short but I've got stocky legs and large calves. And while I fell in love with the boot style while abroad in Greece, and enviously saw how the Greek women could pull it off so well, I just couldn't find a pair that fit over my large calves (which is about 14-14.5" circum). After two years, and I swear a million tries, I decided, what the hell, go for the expensive Fryes. And I hate shelling out dough for shoes. Hate. It. But...
Once I saw these, had to have. And boy, nearly perfect. Feminine but tough looking, solidly built and nice thick leather. I still can't get over it. They fit over my calves, about mid-calf just as it's supposed to, though just a little tighter than I would have liked. But after months of wearing, there's now enough room so that there's no pinching. Considering most boots that go past the ankle, not to mention my he-man calves, was always a no-go for me, well...I was more than pleased. And, I've been told by others that they wear and stretch wondrously. The toe is a little more narrow than I'm used to and the heel a bit roomier. I have a wide foot so I got a half size larger. And surprisingly, I walk just fine and not too much movement or shifting. They're incredibly sturdy, on ice or even soft areas, even stiff and unworn, I felt awesome. The leather is supple, well crafted, AND made in the good ol' US of A, so I felt really patriotic flashing these around. N.B. These days, everything seems to be outsourced to a different country, some Fryes (especially the tall boots that go past low calf)are made in Mexico, so the sizes can be tricky.
Also, I've always had a wide foot so that's why the toe is a little more narrow than I'm used to, but while others said the size was a bit larger for them, for my wide feet, perfect. The narrowness will break in your feet--what I mean is that if you have a wide foot, that bone that makes up your pinky toe will get a little sore after repetitive wear. If you wear them sporadically and not daily or often, this will persist, so get your feet used to them and walk around in them for awhile. Afterwords, it'll feel like your those shoes were made for your feet!
Someone mentioned the weight, yes, a bit heavy but easy to get used to if you wear them on a regular basis, Once you break in the shoes, and your shoes your feet, it's smooth sailing, and it doesn't take long. Either way, didn't deter me in the slightest. Also, thick socks will help fill the space if you have a wide foot like I do and you are forced to get a half size up, but get breathable socks, your feet will stay plenty toasty. This is paramount for the warmer weather, get socks that have breathable construction, or light weight, specially made for warm/hot weather.
If you check their site, these boots aren't listed, and the nearest ones to them were nearly [...] bucks alone. When I went to the only store out of god knows how many (and I tried a few on and that's how I knew the calves would be wide enough), the ones that were similar to these were also priced around [...] bucks. And knock offs, why bother, get the real deal. When I compared the two at the store, the difference is so obvious, it's obscene. Even I, who buy cheap, cheap shoes, was blown away by the quality and craftsmanship. That's what really bowled me over, seeing them, feeling them and weighing them in my hands. Real shoes, people. Real. Shoes.
And I wasn't aware of it, but several of my aunts and uncles have only worn Frye boots, and absolutely swear by them. They last forever when taken care of, and even if you're a bit lazy, still last. You just can't go wrong. One my uncles has had a pair for almost 20 years, and the leather is nice and soft, with a nice worn look from over the years and molded perfectly for his feet and legs.
Care - Remember, if you're wearing them all the time, and on hard surfaces, the heel and soles will wear quickly. So have a good shoe repair place in mind, otherwise the boots will be ruined--forever. To soften up the leather, clean it, and to protect it, use saddle soap once a month.If the calf circum is too tight, you go to your local shoe repair shop and ask them to stretch them out. You can do it yourself but I wouldn't risk it, not unless you know what you're doing.
All in all. A new obsession has bloomed, and it's called F-R-Y-E. And I'm already thinking of buying another pair...
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