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- Verified Buyer
I have been coveting these boots for quite awhile (years) and they rarely go on sale so I finally sprung for them when I got a little extra money for my birthday. They arrived 2 days earlier than I expected. Right out of the box you note the nice scent of leather which looks exactly as pictured in color (Taupe, Rugged) and feels to the touch like a quality boot too. Because of the way they looked and felt plus other reviews, I thought I could wear them without fearing the dreaded 'break-in' time. I'm happy to report they passed the test this first time out. I work on my feet all day so good footwear is very important to my physical stamina and mood. The Taos, Crave, Tall Boots feature a nice heel height (not too low, not too high) are nicely cushioned and padded through the insole, stable in the foot bed, roomy in the toe box and the leather has begun to soften and conform to my calf nicely, already. They zip easily on and off, the laces are nice for perfectly adjusting to your legs. The tongue of the boots stayed put all day and there is just enough very low pile fur to soften the inside as it wraps around your leg - no chafing, no irritation, what so ever! The soles have nice grip and didn't slip as I repeatedly walked through the water leaked around the shampoo bowls throughout the day. They are lighter than I imagined and easy to walk in and not the least bit clunky or loud. The buckles at the heels make for cute styling and may be a nice practical adjustment for small heeled girls, or narrow ankles. The size 40 are a perfect fit for my size 9 foot with dress socks and enough room to wear a thicker sock if I wanted to. The pic shows them after the first day of wear. They have a timeless sense of style about them so I look forward to wearing them for many years. These boots are all I could have hoped for in comfort and style! I'm looking forward to making them my go-to boots for the long days on my feet at work coming at me during the holidays. Well worth the cost of the boots!I’m absolutely IN LOVE with these boots! They are so beautiful, comfortable and of amazing quality.The black rugged full-grain oiled nubuck leather is so elegant and I’m so in love! The soft brushed black leather goes very well with the dark brown heel. The silver buckles add a nice flair to the back of the boots (the black pair is the only option with silver buckles and silver eyelets on the boots.) They are very comfortable and with adjustable laces, they are a slim and well-fitting pair of boots. There is white stitching throughout but it is not overwhelming and the Täōs logo is stamped on the back outside bottom of each shoe as well as on the bottom of the shoe. These lovely boots also give you just enough heel to feel taller! The black faux fur on the inside is also incredibly soft and is very soft against my legs when I’m wearing ankle-length socks.For width I would say that I have slightly wide square feet (with tall arches). Usually medium width shoes fit me just fine. The toe box appears more on the narrow side in these boots but they fit my feet just fine! The neutral arch support also feels good on my feet. I would also say that I have slim to standard size calves and these boots can adjust nicely to fit them.For size I am a size 6.5 US/37 EU and I usually buy a 5-5.5 US/36 EU because EU sizes run a bit large on me (I have 7 pairs of shoes that are 5-5.5 US/36 EU) BUT I had to return my size 36 for a 37! I am so surprised that these shoes are so incredibly TRUE TO SIZE and not too big. I am beyond thrilled. Out of Dansko, Clark’s, Doc Martens and Olukai shoes my Täōs boots are the FIRST shoes that run true to my actual 6.5 US size feet!The only things that I noticed was that my left boot had nap in one part seemed compressed and smooth compared to brushed outside of the rest of my left boot and right boot but nothing a nubuck leather brush can’t fix! I also wish these boots came with care instructions but it’s all good!They also come wrapped very nicely and I would HIGHLY recommend these boots. I did not have to break these boots in. They are so comfortable and I have walked miles in them with no problems or pain whatsoever. Now I might just have to get myself a red pair to keep my black pair company!Taos Crave boots are must-haves for every wardrobe. Awesome, awesome boots. Super comfortable for people like me who are “blessed” with Plantar Fasciitis and a Morton’s neuroma. I can wear these all day without inserts. My daughter has a pair of the shorter boots and wears them everywhere, because they are super cool and go with everything.I waited until I'd broken the boots in before writing this to be as fair as possible. Right now, the boots are fairly comfortable - the leather's soft and bends easily, and the laces make it easy to adjust for a snug fit, and I can wear them over skinny jeans (and usually do). The insoles are relatively comfortable and also replaceable. I'll be experimenting with it soon by switching them out for a memory foam insole, just to see if I can make it even more comfortable.I was hemming and hawing over the oiled vs rugged finish as I don't really like too much of a shine on my boots. Ultimately, I went with the oiled finish because it was a "prime" option, whereas the rugged finish is not. I was surprised and pleased to find the oiled finish really doesn't have much of a sheen to it, so I'm glad I went with the oiled option there.The lining is not thick like you'd find in a pair of Uggs or anything, but it's good enough to stay warm in the fall without being bulky.While I was breaking in the boots, I did kind of wish I'd ordered a 39 instead of a 38 (7-7.5, my usual size), but now it's fine and fits quite nicely around my foot. My pair was a little stubborn—they hurt the first two times I wore them. I wound up having to put a sock stuffed with napkins over a shoe insert and leaving it in the boot overnight to stretch out the leather a little, but after a couple rounds of this, the boot fits perfectly.I'm eyeing the black oiled pair (for another day) and I'll likely try the size 39 to see if I can make the break-in process a little easier.
