Along with a few other members of the online media and blogging community, I was invited to participate in the 2007 Ecco Challenge.
The challenge was: wear a pair of Ecco boots exclusively for three days, and give our honest opinion of them.
Reviewing boots and shoes is a little bit tricky because what's comfortable for one person isn't necessarily going to work for another. This is true with any product, but it's especially the case with footwear.
Nonetheless, I accepted the challenge, because I knew you'd want to know.
The challenge was: wear a pair of Ecco boots exclusively for three days, and give our honest opinion of them.
Reviewing boots and shoes is a little bit tricky because what's comfortable for one person isn't necessarily going to work for another. This is true with any product, but it's especially the case with footwear.
Nonetheless, I accepted the challenge, because I knew you'd want to know.
Ecco Supreme High Boots
My first thought when I pulled the boots out of their box was "wow, these are some nice looking boots." And they are.
They are tall with rich brown uppers made from vintage and antique leather, and feature trim on the top of the toe box that has a very subtle metallic bronze finish.
Somewhat equestrian in style and very posh-looking, I might not have noticed some of the awesome detailing by just looking at a picture on a web site, but in person, they made a great impression.
I put them on, and was happy to find they were a perfect fit. Consistent sizing is big deal to me, because I hate ordering shoes for my very-consistently sized feet, and receiving shoes that I doubt would have fit the 12 year old version of me.
The toe box was roomy enough to wiggle my toes, but my feet didn't slip forward at all. I breathed a big sigh of relief when I saw that these boots had full side zippers, since I have high arches that prevent me from wearing many pull-on boots.
The shafts fit well around my calves, which I think are fairly average in size, and allowed plenty of room to tuck in my jeans. So tuck them in I did, and headed off to do some shopping.
They are tall with rich brown uppers made from vintage and antique leather, and feature trim on the top of the toe box that has a very subtle metallic bronze finish.
Somewhat equestrian in style and very posh-looking, I might not have noticed some of the awesome detailing by just looking at a picture on a web site, but in person, they made a great impression.
I put them on, and was happy to find they were a perfect fit. Consistent sizing is big deal to me, because I hate ordering shoes for my very-consistently sized feet, and receiving shoes that I doubt would have fit the 12 year old version of me.
The toe box was roomy enough to wiggle my toes, but my feet didn't slip forward at all. I breathed a big sigh of relief when I saw that these boots had full side zippers, since I have high arches that prevent me from wearing many pull-on boots.
The shafts fit well around my calves, which I think are fairly average in size, and allowed plenty of room to tuck in my jeans. So tuck them in I did, and headed off to do some shopping.
Do as I Say, Not as I Do
I have to take a pause to explain something about myself. No matter what I preach here on my web site, I always do the worst possible things when it comes to new shoes. I will wear new heels to a place that I know has stairs that I'm going to have to climb 50 times in one day, or I'll wear a pair of heel-rubbing sneakers to an all-day festival because they're cute.
I know, I know, I'm working on it.
So, in my usual fashion, I put on these never-before worn boots, and went shopping. And when I say shopping, I mean shopping: a bookstore with what seems like a 1200 step staircase, a Target store where I circled the perimeter no less than three times, off to Starbucks ... you get the idea. I walked a lot.
Happily, this wasn't a problem. The boots were comfortable right out of the box. I found this particularly impressive, since tall boots have so many places in which they can go wrong.
On that first night, two things stood out for me.
I know, I know, I'm working on it.
So, in my usual fashion, I put on these never-before worn boots, and went shopping. And when I say shopping, I mean shopping: a bookstore with what seems like a 1200 step staircase, a Target store where I circled the perimeter no less than three times, off to Starbucks ... you get the idea. I walked a lot.
Happily, this wasn't a problem. The boots were comfortable right out of the box. I found this particularly impressive, since tall boots have so many places in which they can go wrong.
On that first night, two things stood out for me.
The Good
I was shocked that boots that appeared to have such flat soles were as comfortable as these were. I think it's human nature to assume that thicker is always going to be more comfortable, but clearly, that isn't always the case. After three days of wearing these boots exclusively, the soles of my feet felt as good as if I'd been wearing an old pair of comfy sneakers.
The Not-So Good
The second thing I noticed was a slight pulling on my right outstep. It was nearly as if my foot was turning on its outer side. This could have been due to the fact that the edges of the outsoles have a slight inward curve -- something I'm not used to. Or maybe I just walk funny.
It wasn't a big thing, just kind of strange. If I had purchased the boots myself, it wouldn't have been enough of a bother to return them -- but, of course, I tend to be pickier when I'm writing a review. At the end of day one, this was the only thing that concerned me about wearing the boots exclusively for two more days.
The next two days, I just went about my regular routine wearing the boots, appreciating both how good they felt, and how good they looked.
The boots retail for about $160, which might seem a little high, but the quality of the boots really shows.
They fit like a glove, and looked much more fashionable than comfort footwear should. I would recommend them to friends, and I'd definitely add Ecco to my list of brands to shop for in the future.
It wasn't a big thing, just kind of strange. If I had purchased the boots myself, it wouldn't have been enough of a bother to return them -- but, of course, I tend to be pickier when I'm writing a review. At the end of day one, this was the only thing that concerned me about wearing the boots exclusively for two more days.
My Bottom Line
I needn't have been concerned, as the pulling I described above was apparently not a design flaw, but was more just a case of my adjusting to a different style than I'm accustomed to.The next two days, I just went about my regular routine wearing the boots, appreciating both how good they felt, and how good they looked.
The boots retail for about $160, which might seem a little high, but the quality of the boots really shows.
They fit like a glove, and looked much more fashionable than comfort footwear should. I would recommend them to friends, and I'd definitely add Ecco to my list of brands to shop for in the future.
