Eddie Bauer Men's K-6 Boot

Every once in a while, I'm reminded that Eddie Bauer actually still makes some quality outdoor gear. These boots are a great example. These are not a new design. They are a faithful reproduction of the brand's 1964 hiking boot, and they live up to that old-school quality. These are solid, comfortable, and do exactly what they are supposed to do. I got tired of buying "affordable" boots that start out great, and either wear out or start leaking in less than a year. At $120, these aren't cheap, but they also aren't terribly expensive for what you get. I have no idea how they compare to something like Danner, but since those are twice the price, it's a non-issue. These will handle everything I want to do in them, and as long as they're maintained well, they will, no doubt, last for many years. I've taken these on a few short hikes to break them in a little, and they performed exactly as I had hoped. They're stiff enough to provide support, and waterproof out of the box enough to keep my feet dry in two drenching rains. Naturally, as time goes by, the factory waterproofing will begin to break down, but a good coat of Sno Seal now and then will keep them performing well. One surprise when I first put them on, was the cushy insole. I think, because of the old-fashioned mountaineer styling, I expected these to be as hard as rocks inside, but the insole is actually quite comfortable. I ordered my usual shoe size, and the fit is perfect. There is just enough extra room in the toe box to accommodate a thick sock if I need it. Since these have such a classic look, I opted for a pair of old-school red laces, since the green ones that came with them looked super wack. I expect these boots to last for several years, which is much more than I can say for others I have owned at the same price point.

I love these boots! Have been looking at many options taking into account features as well as price and aesthetic. Some reviews say theses are too bulky, but I personally don’t like feeling rocks or pebbles under my feet and do like having thicker, better foot and ankle protection. At half the price of Danner, they have a very satisfying vintage look and are very comfortable (textured insoles are nice) even more so after a little breaking in. My only regret is that they’ll last too long and won’t be able to get that new boot feeling for a long while :) maybe never. I wear a 10.5 and 10.5s fit perfectly. The included olive green laces look great with the boot, but includes some generic ones as well. Great purchase- Thanks Eddie Bauer for continuing this model since the 60s. Yes, I did some new boot goofin’

Okay, so as my handle suggests, I’m an old backpacker. I grew up in the ‘70’s and these were the boots we wore for backpacking. So when I saw the Eddie Bauer K6 boots I thought “Now we’re talking! These are real hiking boots”. I went full old school and treated them with Sno-Seal and put red laces on like we did back in the day. I’ve tried the new backpacking boots/shoes and they’ve struck me as glorified tennis shoes. They don’t seem to offer the same support and I got tired of feeling every rock on the trail poke into my feet. In my mind the new boots/shoes have one advantage; they’re light. Well, that’s all fine-and-good until you twist your ankle or have a stone bruise. I’ve hiked Zion National Park and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. These boots did not disappoint! Fit great. Felt great. And most importantly protected my feet. Yes, they are heavy, but truth is you adapt to the weight and it was no big deal. If a vintage (old) guy like me didn’t have a problem, you probably won’t either.

Have worn twice all day for ~3-4 miles each day, feedback is based off that: I did not buy this boot to be a hiker, just a causal boot for wet/snow/camping weather, though it seems perfectly capable as a day or more hiker, though perhaps heavy for some. Weight for me is something that is easily gotten used to and a heavy boot is a placebo for the mind that the foot is more protected. Size 9 - true to size, but a bit wider (for me that's good). Width - def wider than many shoes/boots, which I like as I have hobbit like feet. Those with narrow feet might want to beware, tighten them real tight, or wear thick socks. Have been wearing normal socks with them, no rubs or blisters as of yet. I will also state that I have Hallux Rigidus, which is a form of bone spurs and arthritis around the ball of the foot...in both feet. Left is worse, and both are swollen. It took about a month or so for them to go down to get my feet into the boots, but all good once I could, and at that they are still wider than most normal folks feet. At this time out of all my footwear, I have two pairs of shoes I can get my feet into, and two pair of boots, the K6s being one of them. The other boots are Carolina steel toe logger work boots. So, these are wide. Craftsmanship - pretty darn good actually. Have not had the boot for very long, but it appears to be solidly built in comparison to other boots I have owned. Some of the stitching around the to box / sole is a bit ununiformed where it's doable stitched, but I suspect that is normal in production and that each may vary a tad. The sole is firmly sown on. Leather - seems supple for break in, which is great! And also seems like some tough durable leather. Kind of an oxymoron but break in seems to be pretty easy (compared to say Dr Martens). I did treat the boots with Sno-Seal prior to wearing. Grip/sole - fantastic. I have not had it on rocky terrain to know if the shank is hard to tolerate it and not let things through to the foot, but on the corner of stairs and such, do not feel any discomfort when walking up stairs using the shank as the pivot point. Insole - for many this could be lacking in support or comfort as it's pretty thin and a generic shape. It doesn't bother me though. Easily remedied by an aftermarket insole I suspect - those that use them will know. Temp - they do run hot. Not "wow these are hot on the inside, I need to take them off!", but I do have moisture on my sock at the toe areas when I take the boots off. That could just be me though. Price - I bought these when they were cheaper than they are now. I have wanted Danner's for a long time but could not justify the price as I am not attacking mountains that often anymore. These seemed like a happy medium and appear to be a great boot. A couple days after they arrived I saw the price shoot up to over 200 dollars! I got them for 132, now they are 165. 165 seems like a stretch...but if they last a couple years or more, certainly worth it. Def not worth 200+. For that price, I'd save up the extra cash and buy Danners. For certain, I would recommend these boots, in so far as my experience with them thus far.