Van Heusen Men's Gibson Chukka Boots, Black, 8.5 Review

For what you are paying, this is a great show.

Edit 2/7/2023 -- My advice after wearing these a few hours is to be very careful with the pressure that the front of the shoe puts on your feet. The socks I wore with these were too thick, I think, and a more than healthy amount of pressure was put on the bone behind my left big toe, and now I've got a sore there that I have to treat continually until it goes away.________________________________________________________________________________OK, I'm a city guy but I feel just a tiny bit classy cowboy wearing these under black jeans, which I haven't actually done yet. But I did wear these under my blue jeans last night when I went out for a few hours just so I could break them in a bit and write this review.I usually wear Brooks Ravenna (size 8 normal) sneakers because I need the arch support and I'm retired and can wear whatever I want anyway. But sometimes I go places where I want to be a little classier than running shoes, and that's what shoes like these are for. I'll wear them once in a blue moon, but blue moons happen.I expected the worst, but I was amazed at how much support they provide, how confident the non-slip and springy soles provide, and how much I wasn't thinking about these shoes at all after a while.Once broke in, and with thinner socks I tried for my trial run, I could likely wear these on a walk of significant length, though I wouldn't want to do that every day.My one improvement might be to replace the shoelaces. The laces that come with these shoes are too hard and smooth, and were difficult to get tight and stay tight. I may get some black laces that would wear out quickly with constant use, but will allow my to get these shoes snug and keep them that way.

I like these shoes; the only thing is they fit a bit tighter than I expected. So if you normally wear a 9.5 in a sneaker size I might suggest a 10 in this shoe, unless you have ultra-thin socks to compensate. They are appropriate as dress or dress-casual shoes. I expect to get good use out of these, again, with some thin socks.

Very comfortable.

The Van Heusen brand is a trusted clothing option i have been choosing ever since my first job interview for employment, which was a step up from the pizza shops i worked in as a teenager. I remember my grandfather taking me to the mall, (yes malls existed back then), to choose a few button down dress shirts and a few pairs of pants. I distinctly remember choosing all Van Heusen clothing for everything. I also remember those lasting years.Now many years later, i have never been let down by this brand. I have never tried their shoes to the same extent as the shirts and pants, so i was naturally excited to see what's up with this pair of affordable boots or shoes, depending on if you are the type of person who classifies this style as a boot. It is more of a fusion of a shoe and boot.I am impressed with the pricing of this because it is well made, and does not stretch though maintains a flexible design. What i mean by this is, the leather material is of a thinner variation which is great for your feet. Having a thinner construct like this makes up for the lack of tiny air holes which many dress boot/shoes have to add to the overall comfort of the feet. With the thinner layer of this Van Heusen shoe, it then gives the same kind of breathability as the alternative styles that have those said ventilation areas.When i say that outer layer is thin is not to mean that its weak or will break down. While i do recommend using a shoe conditioner that matches the material its made from, i feel these will hold up just fine.The bottom layer is nice in that it is not too hevy and allows for a perfect balance between the upper section and lower section of the shoe. For a person like myself, who jogs six days a week, i like to keep my feet as comfortable as possible within a business casual dress code. Being that i have to wear dress shoes five days a week; i prefer a shoe like this that does not stress one region of the foot more than another.I like the shiny black leather look of these shoes, with the smooth non textured front being my favorite kind of shoe presentation. I like the smooth shiny effect, because it stands out and looks classy and always fashionable.,To conclude, i am excited about these shoes because they look awesome and also because i now have realize a favorite brand of mine it involved in neat shoes.I recommend this pair of shoes and am giving it five stars, because of the low price in relation to the performance and projection of longevity.

Buy the next size up

Obtained these to get some better looking shoes for occasionalbusiness meetings that require me to go into the office.They are shiny and stylish although I would rather they werea little less pointy.The one thing that I wish they would really change is the insole.It comes with a cushy insole but I wear orthotics 100% of thetime due to 3 foot surgeries, 3 plates and 6 screws in one foot.And the insoles in these are glued in. So when I tried to removethem they fell apart and left residue inside the shoe that Ihad to get a putty knife to get out (see attached picture).They are comfortable to wear in colder weather and work for a wholeday of walking and sitting at my desk. They do run a little big in length but are good for people with wide feet (like my Fred Flintstone ones).So cons are not orthotic friendly and pros are stylish, comfortable and weather resistant.

I got these for my husband because he has to dress up a little more for work. He typically wears shoes like this style. I liked the idea of getting him a black pair because he only ever wears brown. He stated that they are comfortable and have a decent insole. He was able to wear them for 8 hours at work with 0 complaints. The only suggestion I would add is to size up because they are a tighter fit. Other than that, I think they are stylish shoes that can be dressed down or up!Lindsey Williams