Reebok REEBOK RB8850-12 REEBOK RB8850-12 (Open Box)

Please Note: I am not a member of any armed forces, but I have been wearing these boots virtually daily for 10 months. I bought these to replace the Belleville brand boots I took from my dad (the Bellevile boots are very old and don't fit right). I very much like military style boots, and I wanted to find a pair to use daily. Reebok appealed to me because of their amazon prime status, price, and most importantly color/size/insulation/safety-toe options. I wanted a pair I could use year 'round so I opted for the non-insulated pair. At the time, I spent several days of the week in a machine shop, so I selected the safety toe option. If available, I would have opted for a waterproof and safety toe version. These are my observations: -The boots took one day of standing/ walking for 8 hours to break in. My feet were sore, but after that I had no problems. They are very comfortable and the athletic insert provides good cushioning for standing/ walking/ trail hiking. I have not done any regular running in these boots, so I cannot comment on that subject. Combined with wool socks, they have kept my feet warm for short excursions into Missouri winter weather. These are not insulated, so extended stays in the cold may become uncomfortable. In the summer, they are breathable enough to be comfortable but are obviously warmer than sneakers. -The tread is very deep on these, deeper than any other shoe I've seen. I am sure it helps with traction on loose dirt or snow. -I very much enjoy the black smooth leather. Most boots now days seem to be moving toward the suede desert or olive. This is a personal preference, but I am glad that Reebok still offers smooth black. -These boots are not supposed to be waterproof, and they are not. They have protected my feet from heavy rain, but if you step in deep water that reaches the boot's tongue, your feet will soak. -At first I was reluctant to get boots with a side zipper (another feature apparently becoming standard), but they ended up being very convenient. These boots will not come off unless they are untied or unzipped, and the zipper is a way quicker option. There is a small velcro flap to restrict the zipper from becoming accidentally moved during use. In addition, the zipper seems to be of great quality and has not faulted once. -The composite safety toe seems to work well. Thankfully, nothing serious has tested their quality, but no flexing or cracking has resulted from my friends jumping/ stomping on them to see if they work (not very scientific- I know). -The boots are 100% metal free, which will be a plus if I have to go through a metal detector often. However, I have still had to take them off for airport security. -The leather is at least good quality, but the color has been scuffed on lumber and other hard things I bump my feet into. Black leather polish covers the scuffs nicely though. -Overall, the boots seem to be of good quality, but some of the stitching has frayed and had to be cut off. This doesn't affect performance and hasn't become a problem, but it worries me that these boots may not last as many years as the Belleville boots have. Final thoughts: These boots have performed slightly better than expected for the cost. I would recommend these for someone looking for a military style, safety toe boot. My only regret for this review is that I did not have a pair of new "Made in the USA" boots to compare with. Again, I am not part of the US military so I can't comment on adherence to regulations or performance while on duty and whatnot.