I bought these boots for light hiking and work, but not everyday wear. I wanted something practical, something quality, but could not justify spending the money on a composite toe when I only use them for work about half the time-- and I also want to take them hiking, where weight matters. After reading the reviews, I was not sure what to expect out of these boots as a real work boot, but considering that before that I had been using some WAY cheaper boots, I figured it could not disappoint.

Overall I love them. They seem to hold up well to punishment like stepping on nails and have traction in the slippery Texas mud. At least compared to the ones I was wearing before. When I first got them, they were not what I expected, though. They looked "too cute" to work in or get dirty, and they were "fluffier" on the inside than I expected. I thought I'd just been scammed into buying cute winter boots for going to the store in, not work boots. But I tried them for one day at work and loved them. That one day, it just so happened, we got stuck in the mud trying to leave the job site after a sudden storm. I was slogging around the thick Texas gumbo mud for 3 hours and my feet stayed relatively dry. At that point, I hadn't even waterproofed them yet. The "fluff" inside was not even touched.

Since then we've had crap weather and I've been wearing them every day, without issue. I thought the fluff might make them hot in the Texas summer, but they're no more or less hot than any other boot. I also thought it might make them dirty, but a hose down seems to be all they need. The footbed is very roomy for my "normal" feet. I ordered 1/2 size up after reading, but I wish I hadn't, because it would comfortably have fit insole inserts without sizing up.

I do have to deal with my coworkers saying I look like Lara Croft. But I am going to choose to take that as a compliment, because I'm sure her boots were just as practical and cute to her.