My impression is that they are heavy and very sturdy. They are steel toe and thick quality leather. The wearer uses them for work at a factory, he reports them to be much heavier on his feet and stiff at the back of the ankle. Once broke in a bit he expects them to last much longer than any of the $50 pairs of cheapo boots...... As long as he can keep the bums from walking off the street into the break room & stealing this pair, he should be good.