Regardless, it isn’t just one of those affordable boots that looks strong and lithe, but will fall apart because of its budget construction. According to Golden Fox, the outsole is crepe rubber, which initially surprised me because it looks like standard gum rubber. Typically, I associate crepe with the lighter porous version that gets dirty easily and is hard to clean. These boots are also slightly bulbous in the toe. I wouldn’t say that they are full-on clown shoes, but these don’t have the tapered toe so common in boots with similar profiles today, like the Thursday President.

One of the strengths of these boots over many other brands at this price point is how easy these were to break in and how extremely comfortable they felt while wearing them. These are constructed of a full-grain leather and have a nice tannic scent out of the box. They use Crazy Horse leather that is well oiled and waxed. The wax bonds with the fibers and so you can easily hide scuffs and scratches by just rubbing them, handy.

So many of the M-43 boots were made and they were so popular that they became commonly available in military surplus stores as well as popular shoe brands adopting the style. This boot is fortified where it counts most though. I can immediately tell that the footbed is substantial. It makes a solid sound when tapped, and just the sheer weight of it assures me that Golden Fox delivers on their steel shank promise.

This confusing sizing also poses a problem if you wear a large size shoe, since Golden Fox doesn’t offer half sizes past size 11. The metal eyelets give it an authentic service boot touch. However, having to perfectly and incrementally loosen the laces everytime I take them off is time-consuming. This isn’t a good rushing-out-the-door shoe. Just be aware: these things are for real. They’re pretty darn heavyweight, and require a bit work to get some flex going. The flip of that is they’re one of the most wear-impervious outsoles on the market. And damn do they look so damn perfect for this boot. It’s also this treatment that gives the surface a rich feel and look, despite how thin the actual material is.Mainly, the soft padding on the middle inner part of the foot combined with that solid footboard, makes for a good balance of support and comfort, for casual wear.