I'll update this as I continue to wear them.
Day 1: Unpacking
These boots were comfortable out of the box. The fit is exact and perfect in comparison to the Converse All-Star high tops. Do yourself a favor and get fitted for a pair of Chuck T's if you're unsure about Palladium fitment. They're exactly the same in both room and feel. Obviously the Palladium Pampa Hi's have a more aggressive tread; but that's beside the point. The higher tread and more pliable sole make these about 1.4x more comfortable than a pair of Converse Chuck Highs. These are, also, not much heavier than the Converse. I'll repeat this comparison further, I'm sure.
The wear-in isn't as bad as other hiking boots I've encountered. There's no sore ankle or ball-of-foot skin wear for me. The upper mate-stitching isn't obvious when walking / wearing for the first time. The upper canvas is, too, pliable just like the lower soles. The laces seem tough now but I wonder how much pulling / tugging will adversely affect their reliability. I'll continue to keep my focus on these; as I don't typically trust cotton bound laces on boots. A length of paracord might fit better and last longer.
I'm only 3 days deep into these boots but, so far, am impressed. The light-weight mixed with obvious flexibility and military-style looks are great so far. Next week I'll continue to test, outside an urban environment, with a short hike with mild grade. My previous all leather boots proved to be too heavy and non-flexible for a comfortable walk through the light grade.
Great gear thus far..
Day 7:
These boots have only become more comfortable! There's a small seam overlap in the right boot on the outer side where the upper meets the forward canvas that bent downward and caused discomfort until forced in the opposite direction. Otherwise, I've worn these EVERY day for about 9 to 10 hours straight and have not felt any other discomfort. The sole is very forgiving and rather soft; which helped on the trail today. I walked mostly dirt path but took my dog up into some sturdy rocks and had no trouble keeping up with him. The ankle support isn't strong. I'm sure to either pack or pre-wrap my ankles with athletic/waterproof wrap on my next hike just in-case. I've not noticed much wear on the sole tread, either, which is entirely surprising. I tend to wear the insides of previous shoes and soles quicker than the outside; I've not seen this same wear pattern with these.. YET. I'm not sure that they're entirely worn in, as I've not noticed any age marks in the top/upper yet. Though, these are surely more pliable than any other canvas-upper boot that I've purchased yet. Not bad at all for $55.
Made with chemicals safer for human health and the environment.
As certified by
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX requires every component of a textiles product—including all thread, buttons, and trims—to be tested against a list of more than 1,000 harmful regulated and unregulated chemicals which may be harmful to human health. The assessment process is globally standardized, independently conducted, and updated at least once a year based on new scientific information or regulatory requirements. Certification focus: #ProductSafety and #ChemicalsUsed.
Certification Number
21.HBD.68643
