Corcoran Mens 10” Original Jump Boot 1500

I really like buying boots made in America. There's just something iconic about the American boot; combat boots, cowboy boots, work boots...we are defined by the leather on our feet. I had been looking at a pair of Corcorans for quite a while. They're made here, the price is reasonable, and the style is timeless. Modern combat boots are more like super high-top sneakers and while that's great for guys who wear them in actual combat, I did not want to look like some tacticool wannabe walking down a paved American street. First things first, I ordered a half-size down from what I wear in Chippewa, Justin, Redwing, et al. That was some good advice I saw right here. I wanted that painful break-in period so they would mold to my feet...or so I was told. When they arrived, I put on my wool socks and laced them up and, surprise, they fit perfectly. I wore them around the house for the rest of the day and felt confident enough to wear to work the next day. Not much break-in needed, to be honest. A lot of the reviews here were laser locked on the break-in. Use mink oil, soak them in the tub, etc., etc. That was not at all my experience so I'm thinking that Corcoran must have changed leather at some point. My leather is poly coated and I don't believe it's as thick as the boots I used to pick up at the surplus store back in the 80's. I tried putting liquid mink oil on them and it just sat on the surface until I wiped it off several hours later. I've never had a pair of boots with mink-oil-proof leather so I'm withholding judgement for a while. Besides, these were clearly advertised as "Jump Work Boot Round Toe" and not "The Actual Boot Granddad Wore When He Kicked Nazi Butt in WWII". No complaints. I've been wearing them for a week and they feel great. They look great. I haven't had to polish them yet so I'm not sure what will happen there. Workmanship is very good and there was even a note from Dolores in my right boot thanking me for buying the Corcorans she inspected. No, Dolores, thank >you<. UPDATE: Wore these boots on a 10 day trip to Amsterdam and London. They held up beautifully and were extremely comfortable for the 10 miles per day I walked in them. They were a bit sketchy going through TSA -- it's a lot of laces to worry about, so I just laced them halfway for the airports. As far as polish, they like Lincoln Stain Wax and they look great with a spit shine on the toe and counter. A security checkpoint worker at Standsted even stopped me to comment about admiring men who took care of their shoes. My dear wife just rolled her eyes. Six stars now. XD

I have had Corcoran jump boots since 1982. Great boots all around. They seem to still be of excellent quality and exactly as my first pair with the exception of having a cushioned insole. Still true to size among well made boots (I still wear the same size as my originals) keeping in mind that cheap shoes and boots always run small.

These boots look awesome and are nice and stable as I had hoped. I switched to these after having a couple pairs of the Corcoran Field Boots and had trouble with them. I had avoided these boots in the past because of the smooth sole but I don't foresee trouble for my intended application. These boots are heavier than the field boots and much more rigid. They stood up straight right out of the box and just look killer. I put them on without laces at first and they are more stable around the ankle than the field boots, which makes sense after having read more reviews of these and the field boots since these are meant for paratroopers and need the stability for their jumps. Here's the only major quality issue with these boots I've found so far, the laces shipped with them were not long enough. I started out ladder lacing the boots and only made it to the ankle area before all the laces were used up. Undid the ladder lacing and tried traditional criss-cross lacing and made it to the ankles and knew there was no way I was getting to the top of the boot. I bought paracord and through some trial-and-error found a length that will work. I have had to make the laces extremely long to loosen the boots enough to get my foot in and out, which is somewhat difficult due to how stiff these boots are. I'm going to wear them indoors for awhile and make sure all is well. I believe that as these break in they'll be good for my summer wear including motorcycle riding. These feel like military grade boots unlike the field boots; they make me want to go skydiving even more than I already want to.

These are the classic combat boot that never goes out of style. I have worn them for years, and NEVER stop getting compliments. A few things to know before you buy them: If they aren't cared for properly, they WILL crack along the top between the toe seam and the bottom of the lacing over time. The leather needs to be cared for and conditioned to prevent this. Also, the soles are not *super* thick on these- I love them because they are great for casual wear and don't have that clunky "hot topic" feel to them (they are also light enough that I can hike/etc in them really comfortably!) But that does mean that the sole may wear out before the rest of the boot does. I am a "hard walker" and I wear mine down to the screws from daily wear in about 2 years. A final note- I ordered a pair of these from a local shoe store once and found out I had been wearing the wrong size for years. (length AND width) I was SHOCKED at how much more comfortable they were just from having the advice from someone who knows what proportions to look for and how it should fit your foot. So I would def. say that one of the perks of buying a boot like this locally is that they will measures you, and if that size isn't perfectly comfortable when it arrives, they will know what adjustments need to be made.