This is my 9th pair of Frye boots. Seven of those pairs are size 8 and all fit well, but slightly differently due to the shape, heel height, weight and type of leather. In my original review, I said that this pair felt much too large. That was after quickly slipping my foot in and feeling what I thought was too much extra room at the toe. I planned to exchange for a smaller size, but of course the smaller pair was twice as much $! Luckily I decided to "think about it" for a few days and ended up keeping these.
I know that when I'm investing in a new pair of Fryes that I want to read as many detailed reviews as possible, so I'm going to include lots of info.
Frye boots are generally lined or unlined and obviously are offered in many different types of leather. This along with the shape of the foot bed, toe, type/height and shape of heel contributes to how each boot fits, even when they are all the exact same size. For example, my pair of Philip Engineer short boots feel about a 1/2 size smaller than these Jenna Engineer boots even though they're the same size. They both "fit" me correctly, but feel very different and require very different socks.
One of the biggest differences I noticed with this pair is that inside of the boot, you can feel almost a toe cap (not sure what the correct term for this is, but I would compare it to what my steel toed Dr Martens feel like from the inside) that affects the way that the instep bends when walking. It's not something that hurts or bothers me, but is something I notice makes me walk slightly differently. If you are looking for that traditional tough, heavy motorcycle boot "feel," you will love these.
The leather is "distressed" (exactly what I wanted, but something to keep in mind if that bugs you) and is in no way solid black. They make me think of "distressed" black wooden furniture where you can see parts of the original wood in certain areas. The leather is very thick with a thick lining and solid hardware. Compared to the leather of my other Frye boots, these had almost a waxy, matte finish. Almost made me think of the finish on my matte black rain boots. I'm sure that you can add a bit of sheen with the Frye cream, but I decided to leave them for now.
Out of all of my Fryes, I wore these the most this fall & winter because they're super easy to throw on and literally go with anything.
I have narrow feet and even though I feel like I have a tiny bit of extra room, they're not too big and I have zero heel slippage. I inserted a small insole to see if that would help, but that caused the previously mentioned "toe-cap" to press uncomfortably into the top of my foot. Not an issue as I ended up not needing any type of insert. I didn't need to break them in at all and wore them for 8+ hours the first day that included lots of walking (and a bit of rain) on a trip and had zero foot or back pain. Just make sure you wear quality socks that fit well.
I LOVE these, but if you are looking for something with a lighter feel and thinner leather, I would probably choose a different style.
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From the manufacturer
Our Story
Our Story
In 1863, John A. Frye opened the doors to his very first store, paving the way for countless generations of Frye artisans dedicated entirely to the art of craftsmanship.
The result is beautifully made footwear, bags and accessories with a long and illustrious history. Today that legacy continues with the introduction this fall of Frye’s first-ever apparel collection for men and women.
Rooted in tradition, Frye was originally inspired by our everyday American heroes over the decades. Cavalry infantrymen. World War II soldiers. Fighter pilots. Factory workers. Frye traveled the world on the feet of our servicemen — even General Patton. News of Frye’s outstanding quality and reputation spread. Frye has since become an American icon, outfitting many of the many big names from John Lennon to Jackie O. Chosen for its inimitable style and uncompromising quality, Frye is a longtime favorite of rock stars and celebrities alike.
Frye’s iconic boots have defined eras, embodied social movements, outlasted trends and defied time. Frye captures the essence of timeless American style – the promise of a dream.
That promise is held deep within the DNA of our very own genetic codes. Embedded within our legendary and historic styles remains a wellspring of the promise of adventure, courage and individual freedom. Against the backdrop of the great American landscape, Frye’s place in history is assured. There are many lookalikes but only one Frye. The Original. The Authentic. The Only.
Reviews with images
Beautiful boots.
These are really great shoes. The leather is super thick and buttery. The distressing makes them look very cool and also eases my fears of accidentally scuffing such a fantastic boot. The shaft is very narrow. I have narrow feet but getting my heel and ankle in the first time was a bit of work. I would recommend cutting out the salt fora few days, putting on your slipperiest pair of socks, and trying them on. It takes a little wiggling and pulling but they will eventually get on. The shoe itself was a perfect fit. I'm usually a size 6-6.5. I ordered a 6 and they fit perfectly with a normal sock. If you are going to wear them with big woolly socks, I would recommend sizing up a half.There have been some questions as to the authenticity of Frye boots on Amazon. Amazon is not an authorized seller of Frye. Zappos is and 6pm is their discount site. Comparing videos and photos to 6pm, these shoes are identically constructed down to the stitching. They came in a gray Frye box with a Frye tag attached to the shoe and lots packing materials inside and out. The inside of the boot says Made in Portugal. I haven't found any instances of Frye Boots made in Portugal yet. Overall I am happy with the quality and style of these boots. I guess I'll just have to walk around in them for a while and see how long they last.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2017
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2017
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2015
These are really great shoes. The leather is super thick and buttery. The distressing makes them look very cool and also eases my fears of accidentally scuffing such a fantastic boot. The shaft is very narrow. I have narrow feet but getting my heel and ankle in the first time was a bit of work. I would recommend cutting out the salt fora few days, putting on your slipperiest pair of socks, and trying them on. It takes a little wiggling and pulling but they will eventually get on. The shoe itself was a perfect fit. I'm usually a size 6-6.5. I ordered a 6 and they fit perfectly with a normal sock. If you are going to wear them with big woolly socks, I would recommend sizing up a half.
There have been some questions as to the authenticity of Frye boots on Amazon. Amazon is not an authorized seller of Frye. Zappos is and 6pm is their discount site. Comparing videos and photos to 6pm, these shoes are identically constructed down to the stitching. They came in a gray Frye box with a Frye tag attached to the shoe and lots packing materials inside and out. The inside of the boot says Made in Portugal. I haven't found any instances of Frye Boots made in Portugal yet. Overall I am happy with the quality and style of these boots. I guess I'll just have to walk around in them for a while and see how long they last.
There have been some questions as to the authenticity of Frye boots on Amazon. Amazon is not an authorized seller of Frye. Zappos is and 6pm is their discount site. Comparing videos and photos to 6pm, these shoes are identically constructed down to the stitching. They came in a gray Frye box with a Frye tag attached to the shoe and lots packing materials inside and out. The inside of the boot says Made in Portugal. I haven't found any instances of Frye Boots made in Portugal yet. Overall I am happy with the quality and style of these boots. I guess I'll just have to walk around in them for a while and see how long they last.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Amanda Stauffer
... my heel and push my sock down which is annoying. I am going to try an insole to ...
Reviewed in Canada on July 7, 2017