I first came across the famous LL Bean "Bean boot" when I saw on the local news that they had a backlog of boot orders. I'm going to guess their boots were highly sought after because of last year's crazy snow accumulation in New England. Their boots were in such high demand that it would be summer when they would become caught up on their orders.
So I placed an order for a pair of the Bean 8" boots with shearling lining back last February, but didn't get the boots until July. For the last couple of weeks, I've been able to wear them everyday and wanted to give my review on them. Reviews say they run large so I opted for a size 6 women instead of my usual 6.5. Good thing I did because even the 6 has a little wiggle room which is good because I need the extra space to avoid nasty blisters on the heel and toe area. I left the top two holes unlaced so I can slip them on easily for convenience. I also like that they don't look to bulky and overwhelming on small framed women.
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| Interior of boots |
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| Back of boots, rubber bottoms and tumbled leather upper |
Not surprisingly, they are heavy on the foot which I got use to after a few wears. Maybe a little heavier than the Hunter rain boots. They keep my feet warm (wearing regular athletic socks) at about 35 (°F) outside but anything colder like today which was 18 (°F) my feet were starting to feel cold. Not numbing cold but definitely cold.
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| Optional shearling inserts sold by LL Bean. |
The shearling lining is only along the boot shaft so I guess it keeps your ankles warm. The rest of the shoe is lined with a waterproof barrier which has a slight cushion to the heel and toe area. Some people recommend using the shearling insoles but it didn't feel comfortable as it squishes your feet to the top of the boots. So, I took them out and put back the original insoles.
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| Not too clunky? |
Final verdict: Worth purchasing for snowy winter weather. Also backed by LL Bean's lifetime guarantee and feels incredibly durable. Love that they are made in Maine. Comfort level: From 1-10, I'd give it an 8.5. No blisters after wearing for an entire day which is a plus in my book.
