I operate a small farm and am on my feet all the time. I have worn orthotics for over 20 years....following foot surgery for bunions when I wasn't even a teenager yet. My feet hurt easily, and when my feet hurt, my back isn't far behind. And then come the headaches. It is so important for me to have quality footwear, but so often the price makes me hesitate. I'd been wearing a pair of insulated LL Bean boots for years. They were a gift from my husband for working in winter. My choices for outdoor work were tennis shoes or those Bean boots. Twice I stepped on nails that went through the Bean soles. Then I came up with a spare $100 and was determined to get myself good work boots. I read the reviews on all the women's steel toe boots. In farming it is always possible to be working around objects that want to wreck your toes. I just wanted to have a pair of boots that was appropriate for heavy duty environments. I worried about breathability...it gets over 100 degrees here in the summer. I am very grateful that I saw the reviews about NEEDING TO ORDER A SMALLER SIZE. I wear, technically, a US 7.5 but often find shoes that fit great that are size 8. Because of what I read, I ordered a size 7. This was a wise decision. They fit great and have a sense of roominess...like, if I was wearing hugely thick socks, the boots would still feel good. When my package arrived, I found that my orthotics fit easily into the boot without needing to remove the manufacturer's sole liner. If I cared much about such things, I'd mention that they look really attractive as boots go. The stitching, the leather, it all has a look of quality. I put them on, laced them up, and went back to work. It was early afternoon on my heaviest workday of the week when they arrived. I wore them all day, including out into the field rows at 105 degrees. My feet didn't get sweaty. The shoes felt sturdy on the uneven terrain and dirt clods. There was no chafing or rubbing or the least irritation. I kept feeling like I was walking on shock absorbers....I've never had an enclosed shoe be this comfortable. I kept them on until 10pm, when I decided I'd seen enough....my feet never started hurting. I am thrilled with my purchase and am recommending them to other femaile farmers and ranchers...all the reviews about them being comfortable right out of the box were spot on. My only tiny disappointment was that these were made in China. Cat is known for still manufacturing equipment stateside, and I had hoped I was supporting a job in America. Oh well, can't have everything.
Update: 5/03/13  I've now owned these boots for awhile, and they are still the most comfortable boots of this kind I've ever had for work. However, over the past few weeks, the outside stitching where the leather panels meet just past the steel toe box has come apart on each boot. This doesn't seem normal based on how I use the boots, and the same spot shouldn't fail in both places on each boot. Unfortunately the disintegrated stitches now allow water and dirt into the boot, and make for some discomfort as the leather panels no longer match up quite right. It took me a few weeks to find the time, but I have just contacted the manufacturer's customer service about the problem. I sent in detailed information and photos, as requested. To be continued....