Was excited to see women's chukkas in a natural (tobacco) leather and promptly purchased in October 2010 from EB.
Let's talk about the good:
The fact that Vintage makes their shoes in the U.S. is a huge bonus. They're distressed (if you like that look), , conspicuously cool, finely handcrafted/sewn, evenly tanned, and constructed perfectly with ample wooden sole and heel. After a year of schlepping, they have held up very well indeed. I recently replaced the leather with red boot laces hoping that I'd wear them more.
The BAD:
Not comfortable in any way. In this day and age, manufacturers have inexpensive ways to improve the support and comfort of a shoe by simply adding an insole. This insole/midsole is virtually non existent....so bad, my knees and feet ache after a short night in them. I can almost never wear them to work anymore unless it's a mostly "at-desk-and-sitting" kind of day.
The very bad:
WAY too narrow, and about .5 1 size small across the toe area, yet too wide in the upper. If I tighten the laces to where they fit for a fast pace, then the toe area is excruciating. YES, when they fist arrived, they felt tight, and reviewers mentioned they ran small -although most everyone wears boots with socks, which I do not, meaning tight doesn't always pertain to how they fit on me. And since the seller never mentioned the size issue, I went with a 10, which is my running shoe size. I have Frye engineers which are a 9.5 and they're loose. Over time, almost every leather boot widens and loosens, so I figured these would as well. Here to tell you, after a year and 2 months, this is just not so. These girls do not get bigger, except in the upper.
I tried widening myself with rolled up socks, then tennis balls, and finally softballs. I will next try the shoe repair dude who claims he can stretch leather, but I really shouldn't have to.
I am stuck with a VERY expensive, ill fitting, uncomfortable chukka that does one thing well.....it looks good. Shoulda woulda coulda got the Frye Carson or James.
UPDATE #1: tried to cobble it myself by inserting and applying pressure to the handle of a rubber mallet over the areas which were too tight. kinda worked. i'm tired though. that was hard work. but, i should say if i do this a few more times, add leather shoe conditioner to the interior, they just might stretch to where i can insert insoles and make them wearable.
UPDATE #2: the boots are reborn! the local (Italian) cobbler stretched these to perfection. AND, i asked him to install a thin hiker sole (women's style, so not heavy in any way) to the bottom rather than the leather bottom layer that had worn off the toes. they have become super comfy with this $35 upgrade (stretching was included in that cost). and now that they have stretched, they have literally become wider from wearing the way leather is intended. i just hadn't worn them enough to allow it to happen. also used Snow Seal boot wax to prevent water/snow from penetrating in anticipation of a long lasting love affair to blossom.
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I have these in three different leathers. However, there is a break in period! They do run about 1/2 size small and narrow. I have stretched mine out and can wear them comfortably now however it was painful! I am at the size 11 so can't go up. But I did find a very similar style in mens, the bluff. It runs large compared, actually went down a half size in them and they fit wonderfully!! That said they are very nicely made each individual so shoes might differ slightly! Nice leather and craftmanship, and best of all Made in the USA!
