ROCKYMen's Ry008 Military and Tactical Boot

I'm a 61 year old woman and purchased these military boots for ME. I sprained my right ankle for the third time several months ago, surprised that the half boot I was wearing when I sprained it didn't protect me as I'd hoped. This was the worst sprain I'd endured in my lifetime and I became resolved to find a way to walk on rough paths without fear of that excruciating pain brought on by stepping in a hole and burying my ankle in the dirt!I looked at several different braces, but every single one looked cumbersome and not very protective. My youngest son, who'd been out of the Army only a couple of years, recommended the Rocky Men's Military Boot. The military spends a butt-load of money on research to protect soldiers feet from injury in some of the most adverse conditions. So it seemed right that I needed to take a look at these boots. I, of course, started my search on Amazon and found exactly what my son recommended to me. I found the price to be VERY reasonable, and the boots arrived very quickly.These footwear are not as easy to put on as ANY of my other shoes. The first challenge is to tighten the laces so they secure the foot and ankle, yet allow blood to circulate properly. With a High instep, this can be a real trick. The second challenge is to learn how much to loosen the laces when the day is done and the boots come off, leaving the boots as ready as can be made for the next days wearing. Time and repetition resolved these challenges.This granny is TOTALLY sold on wearing Army boots! I wear them ALL of the time. My feet and ankles feel secure and protected in ways I've never experienced and cannot describe. I purposely walk on uneven, uncultivated earth surfaces because it is my belief that people lose their balance because they do not challenge their balance. They walk on nice even surfaces and their balance slowly erodes until it becomes a dangerous situation. These boots allow me to feel the unevenness of the surface under my feet without pain. Because of the design, the toes are able to splay out flat as nature intended, thus again, improving balance on uneven surfaces. The ankle is fully secured, yet is able to move freely as needed when climbing or moving down a hill.If you want comfort, security and protection all at the same time, I highly recommend these boots, that were recommended to me! And yes, I wear them with a dress. I don't give a rat rip how they look...I care about my feet and ankles getting me through my later years of life!Grandma wears Army Boots!!!UPDATE: December 9, 2020It has been almost 3 years since my purchase of these wonderful boots! The second photo is what they look like as of this writing. These are tough boots, showing very little wear and tear. I am on the fourth set of shoe laces though!Once these boots were fully 'broke in getting them on and off is a breeze. They continue to secure my feet, and especially my ankles!Overall, I am SO impressed with this footwear, I'll never be without a pair!!Grandma STILL wears Army boots!!!

Somewhat large oddly considering I have a tan pair in 7.5 that fit just fine. Ended up returning the 7.5 and got a size 7 pair. Good pair of boots, light weight, sturdy and comfy.