Something doesn't seem quite right with these shoes, at least the pair that I wound up with.

First, the uppers are quite stiff and unnaturally shiny.  At least one other reviewer wrote that they look pleather-y and that was my reaction too.  The labels do say leather, however.

Second, the other thing that struck me right out of the box was a funky, unpleasant smell, like something rotten.  It didn't seem excessive, but it might just have been me getting used to it.  The shoes will stay out in circulating air for a few days to see what happens.

On the plus side, the shoes aren't bad looking, minus the unnatural shine, and are certainly comfortable to wear.  Still, I've had very good experiences with Rockports before and these are not quite what I came to expect.