I have worn Bates duty boots for many years and have always been impressed with their comfort and the quality of the leather which can be judged by its ability to take a shine. I always buy 14EEE and they have always fit perfectly. This pair is narrower throughout most of its construction than previous models. Out of the box they are not as comfortable as previous boots by Bates that I have owned. I needed them for work and its impossible to buy 14EEE anywhere around here and I could not wait another week if I sent them back. Having said all of that, these boots are still far superior to something like a Magnum HighTech boot. They only suffer in comparison to previous Bates duty boots that I have worn. I'm not too impressed with the shine that I achieved using Kiwi but then again I've never been impressed with Kiwi. I just received some shoe polish from England (Cherry Blossom Regimental Gloss) that I am eager to try on these boots. Excellent shoe polish has not been available in the US since Esquire went out of business.