BatesMen's High Shine Duty Work Shoe

Great shoes! but I received HIGH GLOSS (the really shiny ones that you don't polish), not High Shine regular leather ones, even though the description says High Shine. I returned them. Great shoe either way though. They are very light in weight but should last a while.I re-ordered and got the correct ones, but they run about a half-size too large. I will return and re-order a half-size down. Amazon has a great! return policy so there is never an issue with returns. I will update again.

Although these shoes are not advertised as having a safety composite toe, I can see some characteristics of this shoe having some sort of minimal safety composite toe. As such, shoe sizing likely will be considered according to the following:Adult Men's and Women's Shoe Size Conversion Tablehttps://niceshoes.ca/sizes?q=sizes&nojs=true"... If they have a steel toecap, they will almost always be one size larger than a conventional fit. So for example, if you take a size 9 boot usually, you’ll need a size 8. This isn’t always the case, but it’s true for around 95% of customers, and is only likely to be different if you have a very broad foot AND a very high instep!"I am a size 8.5-9 on my large foot, and size 8.5 on my small foot. For me, these shoes were at least one size over-sized for use in hot to mildly cold weather. (ie. Light dress socks) Typically, I'll step into a 7.5-8 size boot, size 8 dress shoe, and a size 8.5 for sneakers/tennis shoes. (Absolutely no smaller in sneakers/tennis shoes, as my large foot big toe will easily protrude through the fine clothe.) In brief, I had to order a size 7 for these shoes.PROS1) Good standard dress oxford shoe.2) I love the soles, as they provide good cushion as well as good traction!3) Does not requiring constant care. (These shoes seem to have a vinyl coated leather? You'll apparently see vinyl coated leather used for leather vehicle seats.)CONS1) Although apparently properly sized now at a size 7M and I do not think I require a size 7 wide, they're still a little uncomfortable for continuous walking. In other words, they're not like jogging or running shoes. Updated several weeks later, these shoes are more comfortable now after inserting a very cheap inner sole below the original sole. Also, just using Lexol and wearing regular cotton socks for the past weeks has also seemed to help break these shoes in... or my feet. Likely just the sole needs to break in just right for parts of the foot to not rub against parts of the upper shoe?2) A pair of Allen Edmonds shoes may still be more comfortable?TIP: If these are vinyl coated leather shoes, from my research on the Internet, they still need leather cleaner, leather conditioner and shoe polish/wax. People have stated the conditioner will eventually absorb, as vinyl coated leather is still somewhat porous.TIP: The composite toe and heal can be further broken in by manually creasing the material with your hands.

I love it! Great shoe. I do security and upgraded from some overused flat Oxfords (I weight 220, Im 5'10). The finish is not too shiny, not too little (I hate glossy shoes), I would describe it as normal new leather, or whatever it is made out of. I wore them for a week before I had to apply shoes polish. They look good after I walked on them for several times (very little walking) but many hours wearing them. My biggest fear was a nasty ugly wrinkle, crease or cuts in the material where your shoe naturally bends (where your toes meet your feet)... that was NOT the case, the crease created by walking looked great and normal for a high quality shoe. Very good quality material and built. I must stress, the laces. If you tie them A BIT TO TIGHT... the shoe will fell insanely uncomfortable. Im a 10.5 US and ordered the same size, fit perfect, When they are new, the material around you ankle feels a bit tight (reviews warned me of this) but through regular use and wear it went away in about a week. The shoe gave me a inch or two in height, and running or fighting in them CAN result in your ankle bending/breaking. I feel this is not a shoe you would want for aggressive arrests or fights. I do lobby security, and fits my role perfectly. I MUST STRESS THIS. After wearing this shoe, I developed toe nail fungus... (they provide an moisture pad of some sort) and I seriously think it was because this shoe. My mistake... after my shift, I would put the shoe away inside the original box and re-stuff them with the paper to fill up the toe box area. I suspect fungus grew and thus my toe nails turned yellow brittle and ugly. I blame it on myself, but beware... those shows can harbor nasty germs if you don't let then vent afterwards... I learned the hard way. In all fairness, any shoe would do that. My conclusion, this was an excellent buy and would probably buy again!

The shoes overall are comfortable and give good support however they appear to run narrow. I have never purchased wide shoes in my life. Everything I buy whether shoes, sneakers, boots etc have always been the standard D width. When I got these the size was fine in terms of length however they were very tight just behind the toes. I did do some research online and one site I found did say that for my size I should technically buy an E width. This has never been necessary with other shoes I have purchased but with these I think it definitely would have help. In any event I have continued to wear them and they do appear to be breaking in and loosening up slightly but I would recommend getting double checked for width prior to ordering these or be prepared to send them back for a wide. The look of the shoe is very professional and clean. Other than the tightness I am happy with the purchase.

I like Bates footwear. I have worn them a lot over the years. In the field as a Paramedic and also in the office. I just bought these shoes a few weeks ago and have only worn them in the office. The shiny outer material is separating and bubbling. Many of the “metal shoelace eyelet reinforcers” are now loose and floating around on the laces. Because of that the laces are starting to wear through the material and will eventually tear through.I have only worn these shoes inside and they have never been wet. It almost seems like Bates used a different manufacturer for the glossy style shoes/boots. I have seen similar reviews.I still plan to purchase more Bates footwear though. I consider this more of an exception and not the rule.

Excellent shoe for the money.