I bought my first pair of these boots when i was 14 and have been buying one new pair each year, every year, ever since then. That means i have worn thru MORE THAN 20 PAIRS of these boots. I buy my size "wide" and its one of the few shoes that fits my wide Hobbit toes. Yes. they do take a while to break in, but they are well built enough so that after i wear thru the soles on a pair i get them resoled, and by then they are as soft as glove leather.  They don't have steel toe, but even when fully broken in, the thick leather provides reasonable protection from injury.

These boots also become instantly more comfortable + warmer if you add a decent quality Arch-support insole to to them. (for a good arch/insole expect to pay $10-$25) If you plan on doing this, i advise you buy a boot about a half size larger than what you usually buy. With a good insole they are as comfortable as a Doc-Martin but will last you 3 times as long.

Last i checked, these boots were still made entirely in the U.S.A., which is hard to find these days on a boot in this price range.

I have been concerned about occasional quality-control issues in the past few years and fear Corcoran may be cutting corners, but i was able to exchange the defective boots i got with no problem.

Over all, The Corcoran 985 is the best looking, most durable, all purpose boot i have ever found.
(The zippers are especially a blessing when visiting friends who want all shoes left by the door.)

I hope Corcoran never stops making them. If they do, i will have a hard time finding a shoe that fits right.