Corcoran Men's 1500 10" Jump Work Boot Round Toe

This review is for the Corcoran 1500 "Original" Field Boot that I need for 13 wide, and to get it you MUST take extra care to navigate to the Shoeline storefront at amazon (which sells all of warren buffet's shoes) and search their listings for the boot. I know, for a fact, and it took me weeks to dig through this, that every "surplus" store in America is teeming ready to sell you this other similar boot called a "Historic" where the quarters are painted not dyed as befits wartime supply shortages for the purpose of pedantic military re-enactment types. Ergo the "original" has improvements, and the "historic" has shortcuts made on purpose. These LARP types petitioned the Cove Shoe Factory to remake the wartime version, but the BF Goodrich sole is litigated out of use, so HH Brown allows use of outsoles from their rodeo boot Double H which approximates the look.On the 1500, which is the boot I recommened most highly above all other things I've ever purchased, the half soles are not the corded cork nitrile but a softer vulcanized rubber now. A brand new pair doesn't click the ground the same way, and thats not a bad thing. Its lost the brand logo C for Corcoran, and thats a little sad, but no one ever sees that anyway I guess. Brand new "Full Force" tag inside my boot and year 2017 its got pilot driven brass nails, double row of white stitches holding half soles til the cement cures, thick armoured leather toe caps and counters. In fact... the tongue got a massive upgrade to top grain leather from the first two pair I wore out. Its really the same boot, but better. My first I bought in 1992, and the second in 2002, and they both had Martensburg PA labels with cursive. I can compare the three boots, and the new one passes. Its a great boot.The Corcoran 1500 is the absolute KING OF MOSHPITS.I worked at Waterloo records in Austin in the 1990s, got in free to every concert, and didnt miss any moshpits for years. Jump boots may well have been designed to strap your ankle with that unstretching nylon/cordura indicated by the 45 degree angle pair of stitches (find a picture looking inside the boot - that strap is white and its what makes this a jump boot) so that air drag from jumping out of a plane didn't suck your boot off; but it works even better in dangerous moshpits for hours and hours. Sweat, blood, beer, broken glass, other people's boots, etc will not pry your boot loose. You can mosh all night no problem.Every single other european boot maker gets several things wrong trying to copy this boot. They tend, at best, to provide thick midsoles, outsoles, and a steel toe cap; but they never have a shank, and they never have the internal unstretching strap. They don't seem to understand what theyre for. The shank, btw, serves the purpose of lifting into your arch when you jump down hard on the heel. This is super important for moshpits. You can't just strap anvils to your feet.Take note I answered "How does this product fit" with "somewhat small" because thats what they meant to do. They meant for this boot to come stiff, storeable, archived, and its "finished" in many coats that makes the boot look painted, which they call a "spit shineable finish." It means that its mileage is way way higher than most footwear. I wore my first pair every day for 10 years with just the one resole-ing to a 0100 Vibram Montagna. Maintenance only required Lincoln Wax. That makes life pretty simple.I read a lot of the mythology about how to break these boots in, and I have experimented a lot with Snow Seal and Waterproofing Paste that contains Linseed Oil, Mink Oil, and Beeswax, and I like that stuff a lot; but hipsters hate it cause it turns their brown shoes black. Um... Corcorans just come black from the get go, so you needn't bother with all of the hipster conceits (caveat: those hipsters are great for some things like whistleblowing unethical chromeexcel tanning). I think it makes sense to rub some of that stuff in around the strap inside the boot for the first day. It'll immediately stop the part of what people complain is the "breaking in." The real "breaking in" is the shank being able to lift into your arch, and um... 99% of people cannot feel that happening cause theyre lazy slobs who don't run, jump, or do things themselves.Also... I hate neonazis. This is one of the boots that beat the nazis. If you plan to confront neonazis they know to take you seriously in Corcoran boots. Do not fear their strapless, counterless, double midsoled leather galoshes. Their boots are a weakness. Our boots are strength.Further note for the hipsters, is that I have read some fashionistas whining about the visible appearance of blowing a wide foot's vamp out over the visible sole when looking down, and Corcorans are made with a feature not a flaw to NOT accomodate inserts (in my case a Powerstep Pinnacle size 14 cut down to 13 length), and people bandy the term "true to size" about without realizing thats a simple measure of the length and width of your foot in a sock, but not cupped in a insert, and doesnt factor in height. For comparison sake I present side by side in photo my foot + insert in a new unstretched 13 E Corcoran 1500 in parallel position to a Dr Martens "Gideon" made on their unisex last EU sized 48. The gideon is a very thin, unlined, greenland leather boot pasted with special stiff wax that cracks to mimick years of ageing in days, but for my purpose observe the optical illusion that makes the new corcoran appear narrower because of the way the insert pushes out the vamp. The Gideon -cannot- be worn without an added insert. The Corcoran 1500 comes with a DRYZ liner and is meant to go as far down as 1.5 sizes down for the snuggest fit without an insert, but thats taking things a lot too far for us older dudes who have developed wider feet and higher arches over time. Just note I am wearing either the 1500 or the Gideon comfortably, but in one the visible edge of the outsole vanishes a half inch past the toecap, and the other its not vanished til the first eyelet past the quarters.This "original" may also make use of a PVC welt for superior oil resistance. Its a boot made for war. Oil happens at war. Oil is why we go to war. Most cobblers will say Corcorans can't be resoled, and theyre kinda lying. They mean they don't want to, or can't, relast your shoes and change the welt. Lots of great cobblers can change yer welt if you need it done, but by that point you've crossed the price of a new Corcoran. I want everyone to buy Corcorans, and for Corcoran to keep making replacement boots for me, so I feel a temptation to lie and say it falls short of being a fully serviceable boot. I know, for a fact, that lots of asian cobblers can, and will, still do anything to your Jump Boot, and that a well broken in pair need NEVER be discarded. I -can- still wear the first pair I bought in 1992 (but they have big holes in the vamp and quarter where the toe cap and counter sawed through).No lie its the best money I ever spent. I love these boots. Theyre worth the time, care, and attention. I also think poorly of those who proselytize one shoe maker or another who fails to provide C, D, E, EE, and EEE for every single half size all the way to 16. Looking at you fans of toys mccoy, lone wolf, thursday, trickers, crockett johnson, viberg, oak street, red wing, julian, rrl, allen edmond, alden, etc. You copy the M42 and the M43 and we all know it, but then you give big men the high hat. Thats cool. Children's toys are cool too. Go play at being cool.The only real comparison to Corcoran is maybe Danner and Thorogood. Corcorans are better. Oh quick footnote: Chippewa, Justin, and Carolina are also owned by Warren Buffet, and their stuff is also cool. Repeat: I'd rather wear a Corcoran or a Carolina boot I bought for $200 or less than a $1600 Tricker. By miles. No contest. Actually... you'd have to pay me to wear a Dr Martens made anywhere outside Europe (that 1460 for life program is made in thailand). Docs are just sneakers to me though: not really boots.I resent the dominance of fetish guys who proselytize Wesco, White's, Nick's, Hoffman boots. Those are fine boots if you live in Oregon, or go to a lot of fetish parties, but none of those make available an "American Shank" company arch support triple rib shank for the last 20 years cause the plant closed, and they are all basically hoping big men dont notice they use cheapo shanks doubled up. They are all, also, ignoring new technology like Noeone energy cancelling under insert pads and still using cork... or ignoring Graphene coatings that would double the life of the Montagna or Minlug outsoles.The UFCW local 1776 ladies at Cove even take another amazing step with regard to the Vibram 134 tech lug outsole for the sister 1525 Field boot to the 1500 Original Jump. They make their own 134 AR that is skivved lower profile, and some percent more dense and more abrasion resitant. I have always had both a 1500 and 1525 Corcoran ready to go and I have to say that Cove made 134 AR is easily my favorite outsole, and I wish I could resole other things with it. The regular 134 tech lug is better than most other soles though: I've replaced a Thorogood Max Wedge and a Martens Air Ware outsole with it, and the boots in question got way better.I updated to include a pic of one of my pair of 1500 laced up with gold T550 paracord spider-web style. I cut myself 12 feet of paracord to be able to do that, and clamped on my own brass aglets. I don't advise doing that all the time, but its super fun when you have time.Have fun y'all.

I really like buying boots made in America. There's just something iconic about the American boot; combat boots, cowboy boots, work boots...we are defined by the leather on our feet. I had been looking at a pair of Corcorans for quite a while. They're made here, the price is reasonable, and the style is timeless. Modern combat boots are more like super high-top sneakers and while that's great for guys who wear them in actual combat, I did not want to look like some tacticool wannabe walking down a paved American street.First things first, I ordered a half-size down from what I wear in Chippewa, Justin, Redwing, et al. That was some good advice I saw right here. I wanted that painful break-in period so they would mold to my feet...or so I was told. When they arrived, I put on my wool socks and laced them up and, surprise, they fit perfectly. I wore them around the house for the rest of the day and felt confident enough to wear to work the next day. Not much break-in needed, to be honest.A lot of the reviews here were laser locked on the break-in. Use mink oil, soak them in the tub, etc., etc. That was not at all my experience so I'm thinking that Corcoran must have changed leather at some point. My leather is poly coated and I don't believe it's as thick as the boots I used to pick up at the surplus store back in the 80's. I tried putting liquid mink oil on them and it just sat on the surface until I wiped it off several hours later. I've never had a pair of boots with mink-oil-proof leather so I'm withholding judgement for a while. Besides, these were clearly advertised as "Jump Work Boot Round Toe" and not "The Actual Boot Granddad Wore When He Kicked Nazi Butt in WWII". No complaints.I've been wearing them for a week and they feel great. They look great. I haven't had to polish them yet so I'm not sure what will happen there. Workmanship is very good and there was even a note from Dolores in my right boot thanking me for buying the Corcorans she inspected. No, Dolores, thank >you<.UPDATE: Wore these boots on a 10 day trip to Amsterdam and London. They held up beautifully and were extremely comfortable for the 10 miles per day I walked in them. They were a bit sketchy going through TSA -- it's a lot of laces to worry about, so I just laced them halfway for the airports. As far as polish, they like Lincoln Stain Wax and they look great with a spit shine on the toe and counter. A security checkpoint worker at Standsted even stopped me to comment about admiring men who took care of their shoes. My dear wife just rolled her eyes. Six stars now. XD

After break in the boots were quite comfortable even in the summer heat. I have these with 2 other work boots and have rotated them for work use( light). I have about 60 work days in these boots and the sole completely split, don’t even make good paperweights now! Pass on these!

Competently designed and well assembled boot, made in the USA. Might run a little large (length) but since it's 25cm tall, if you have thicker calves and ankles you may welcome the extra room up top that comes with slightly generous sizing. In some areas the leather is quite soft; in others it will need to be broken in. The usual methods all work, and if you've had combat boots in the past you'll know what to do. The method in which the (artificial) sole is attached to the upper via the welt is a throwback; they literally don't make them like this any more. Under civilian trousers, you may go unnoticed or at most people may think you have an odd taste in cap-toe oxfords -- they won't suspect you're wearing a boot designed for military use unless you roll up the cuffs or they happen to notice the leather goes 25cm up the calf. The soles are not aggresive so the pattern might let these pass as casual "shoes" at times. Keep in mind this is not an athletic shoe, it's a proper boot. You don't throw these on and go, it's just not that kind of party. You'll have to unlace them at least half way if you want to put them on or remove them. If the ankle leather hits you hard, do the usual thing and skip-lace around that by going vertical on the outside of the laces anywhere from 4-6. If you own any mink oil, now's the time.