very fine shape, finish, and arch support
I was skeptical buying boots online that, on (huge pre-tariff) sale, I couldn't return. But Kostas' sizing recommendation, a half size down, was precise. (Hot tip: use the chat!) In fact, these are by far the best fitting boots out of the dozen or so I own. I may have been buying the wrong size at AE all these years (no longer buy at A. Edmonds cept tennies). Kostas, the owner gets back quickly with any question: sizing, boot care, last shape, etc. On to the boots: these are now my favorite pair of shoes! The elongated look is gorgeous, the patina leather, gorgeous, the (seemingly hand?) stitching on the top of the shoe, gorgeous; I love the snug fit around and above the ankle when I lace them. AND, I have high arches and chronic pain. I wear orthotics, at home or walking or hiking, which, sadly, don't fit into dress shoes and boots I like to wear to work. These CS boots came in the mail after I had been standing all afternoon in a pair of suede AE's with cup Dainite that WERE my favorite pair, but my arch ached, I had a little hot spot, my feet felt tired. I put on the CS boots, and wow: the arch support is, in my experience, unequalled. I don't know if it's the brand, the last, the ridgeway soles, what, but the arch is superb; it feels custom out of the box. As far as those toe bumps: it's CS' style, not a defect. The boots have a split-toe, but instead of leaving the toe seam open (like a thousand others) the stitched seam is, somehow, covered, and the seam shows through the uppermost leather. It might help with water, don't know, but it's a style thing. No matter, the PATINA on these boots is breathtaking. The leather is VERY soft out of the box, a bit thin, maybe, light, compared to my Oak Streets (heavy US boots), but Chris Madaras (who sent me to TNS) explains this with patina leathers in one of his videos. Bottom line: I won't be mountain climbing in these, but, as a professor, these boots stand OUT and I can stand UP without pain. And none of my 'heritage' boots come close to the beauty of this shoe.
