Timberland Women's Earthkeepers Stratham Heights Tall Waterproof Boot

I've had these boots for about two months now; bought them because of the overwhelming positive reviews. I've intentionally waited a long time to review them so I could do so as accurately as possible. Keep in mind that your experience may vary depending on your feet.1. These boots are, indeed, very stiff. Right out of the box it is difficult to walk in them at all. (and be sure to remove the cardboard insert over the ankle, which is hard to see and REALLY hard to remove). But I hoped they'd break in eventually, so I made myself wear them as much as possible to do so. The ankles in particular, are very unyielding, and even after two months of wearing (granted I do not wear them every day), they still aren't very pliable and I find myself constantly subconsciously rolling my ankle while seated in an effort to make them more flexible. Still, I realize they are technically winter/rain boots, and not meant to behave as a pair of supple leather riding boots. I'm very confused by the reviewers who claim they were able to wear these right out of the box and go dancing or walk for miles in one day. I just don't know how that could be possible.2. The heel is over three inches high. If you aren't used to wearing high heels, you will have trouble with these. I am short, and I wear high-heeled boots all the time, but I find these difficult to walk in, even though they are only a half inch taller than my previously tallest pair. I'm not sure if this is because I can't handle the height or if it is because they are very steep - the foot is arched like an actual regular high heel shoe. I'm confused as to why, after all this time, I still feel awkward walking in them. I bought these boots in part because they are appropriate for walking in the snow/ice, and have a rubber tread on the bottom to prevent slipping. But I'm still a little nervous about falling because the heel is so steep.3. I have 12 inch calves and have had a hard time finding boots to fit. These are definitely an asset in that regard. I have the laces pulled as tight as possible, and they work perfectly with regular socks and leggings, jeggings or skinny jeans. You only need to lace them once because they zip up on the side. One and you're done.4. Since the leather is so stiff, the zippers have a little trouble immediately after the ankle. I'm trying to zip them as carefully and slowly as possible, but I still worry that one day it's going to break (but to be fair, it is a heavy-duty zipper).5. Here's a weird thing I thought I'd include - be aware that when you get in your car you will need to adjust your seat - the boots will force you to push your seat further away because of the length of the heel. So I do have to re-adjust my car seat every time I wear them.6. I've had MANY compliments on them. They are pretty and sexy. I've included pictures.7. I have average width feet, wear a size 7, and ordered a 7.5 (I always order up with boots), and they fit as expected. I have plenty of room in the toe box and they don't pinch my toes. But that is with Dr. Scholl's heel inserts (which I put in all my shoes) so that may be why. Otherwise my feet might be squished at the toe because of the steep arch. Definitely order up, regardless of your foot width.So in conclusion, I wanted to love love love these boots, and thought I would after researching them and reading every review. But I don't. Instead, I kind of like them. I find myself making excuses to wear other boots because I know my feet will hurt after wearing these for a short time (because of the arch of my foot trying to adjust to the height), and because of my difficulty walking in them. I'm sad. Perhaps after I wear them this winter on a regular basis (IF I wear them on a regular basis or just give up and wear my ugly, low-heeled, 10 year-old black snow boots), they will soften to the point where they aren't so stiff. Maybe by that time I will have learned to adjust to the height.Your mileage may vary - there seems to be a huge percentage of people who love them, so I am probably the exception to the rule. Hope this helps if you research purchases as thoroughly as I do.UPDATE: (9-5-16) One of the zippers has now pulled away from the stitching, leaving an exposed gap. The zippers have always been tough to pull up and down, and I've had to wrestle with them; they also bunched up around the ankles so pulling the zipper over that bulge in a very stiff leather has stressed it to the point where it's broken (the bulge around the ankles is not so much that it looks bad, just enough to pull the zipper out of place). I already wasn't very keen on these, and this does not make me want to wear them any more than I already did.

As other reviews I've found online have said, this boot runs a bit narrow, but that was actually a bonus for me since most boots don't fit my narrow feet. Despite the fact that I don't wear heels often, these boots are extremely comfortable. The sole is a quality rubber that grips well without feeling sticky, and the heel feels very stable. The laces are heavy-duty in order to properly tighten the boot, although the leather is soft and supple enough to work as a dress boot (provided you keep it clean). I haven't tested the waterproofing yet, so I can't really speak to that.

Firstly, the leather on these boots is absolutely fantastic! It's thick and keeps you warm, but it's not bad quality. It molds to your leg and isn't stiff, but it looks like it could withstand any snow storm or rain storm! That aside, these boots run small. I am a 7.5, but sometimes I even opt for a 7 because usually I have to size down for some things. This wasn't the case with these boots. I bought an 8 (which is unheard of for me) because I read previous reviews, and I'm glad I did! They definitely run small, so I would recommend the same.... SIZE UP! Otherwise, I really like these boots and I think that I'll wear these quite often. Honestly, I bought them more because they're waterproof and I didn't want to ruin my other boots while walking around my college campus during the rain, but I also wanted something relatively stylish. These definitely fit the bill.

These may be the best "winter" boots I have ever owned. The main reason I ordered these boots was because they were really stylish, had the perfect heel, and seemed to be narrow enough in the calf to fit me. The waterproof part was just a bonus, but I didn't really expect to be sloshing through the snow and slush in them, nor did I expect them to be warm. But, they ARE warm and definitely waterproof. I have walked around in them in really harsh winter weather of frigid temps and through snow and slush, and my feet stay completely dry and toasty, and the boots still look great. Once indoors, they're fine (feet/legs don't get too hot) - maybe because the leather breathes a little. When I wear them outside, they're actually warmer than my thermal-lined snow boots. Having said that, the heel is pretty high (which I like), so they're probably not designed to actually trudge through a lot of snow for a long period of time. They also do run a little small, so ordering a half size up (or even a whole size if you're in between sizes) might be wise. I normally wear a 5.5 and the 6 is a perfect fit for me with regular weight socks or tights. The calf does fit narrow, but because of the laces, they are probably easily adjustable to fit a larger calf (I was able to tighten the laces to be snug, which was a plus). I can easily tuck in skinny-leg trousers, but they also look/fit great with a dress with tights. If I could give them more than 5 stars I would.

These boots are fabulous! I have a 16" calf and these fit comfortably without any pinching. The lacing means you can make it tighter if you want to without it looking "distorted", and the elastic panel in the side has the give that makes it comfy as you move around. I love the look of these boots - the fact that they actually come in at the ankle to give a really nice fitted shape that's sexy and fashionable but also totally functional in all weather. I normally would wear an 8.5 and get 9s in most shoes to leave some room, but after reading the reviews about the boots running small I went even bigger with a 9.5 and it fits great. They're also surprisingly comfy given how high the heel is. I can wear them for hours - all day if sitting down at least part of the time - without any soreness. When I broke them in, there was initially some tightness around the ankle where the little notching on either side of the laces are set to help the boots bend there. But now that's loosened up a little, enough that I don't notice pinching at the ankle anymore. If you think they look cute, give them a try - they're the best boots I've ever owned.