Product Description

Frye Engineer 12R: 9 ShaftNeoprene Oil Resistant Sole 2 HeelGoodyear WeltCushioned Poron InsolesMade in the USA This item is on Backorder until the end of the year January 2009

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3124 in Shoes
• Color: Black
• Brand: FRYE
• Fabric type: leather

Features

• Genuine Goodyear welt construction
• Specially formulated insole for cushioning and comfort

Amazon.com Product Description
Boasting genuine Goodyear welt construction and a specially formulated insole for cushioning and comfort, the Engineer 12R from Frye is a rough and ready style that's perfect for year-round wear. With its legendary rugged design and instep strap with metal buckle, this sleek and sporty boot is also surprisingly versatile: pair it with jeans, cargo pants, or skirts and dresses. A Neoprene oil-resistant sole provides reliable traction, too, so you'll be ready for adventure no matter where your day takes you.

Amazon.com Product Description
This Engineer from Frye is a rough-and-ready style that's perfect for year-round wear. With its renowned, durable construction and buckled strap, this chic yet rugged boot is also surprisingly versatile: pair it with jeans, cargo pants, skirts, or dresses. An oil-resistant sole provides reliable traction, too, so you'll be ready for adventure no matter where your day takes you.

From the Manufacturer
The Frye Company is the oldest continuously operated shoe company in the United States. Founded in 1863 by John A. Frye, a well-to-do shoemaker from England, and family-run until 1945, Frye products have a long and illustrious history. Frye boots were worn by soldiers on both sides of America's Civil War, soldiers in the Spanish-American war, and by Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders. When home-steading drew adventurous New England families to the West during the mid and late 1800's many of the pioneers wore Frye Boots for the long journey. Today Frye remains true to its roots with its line of heritage boots, but continues to innovate as it introduces chic new handbags, pumps, and sandals to its collection.

Customer Reviews

Frye can do no wrong.
Frye is world-renown for shoes, made in the good ol' US of A. They're not only commendable in quality but durability and versatility. Wear them with skirts, pants, even shorts, and you'll be looking good year round.

The Engineer 12R Boot-Gaucho is the only Frye boot I own that I actually got the the size I usually wear, rather than the half size larger I usually have to order them in. That's because the toe is rounded, rather than the typical box toe that Frye is know for and allows for my wide feet, and fits easily and comfortably.

With the arch support and cushioned sole, and the lightness of the boot is the second thing you'll notice, after admiring the wonderful, thick leather, and the two buckles that help with fit over the foot and around the top. The buckle for the calf area is sewn in parts, with a lip attached to the side to give the wearer a tighter or looser fit, and it will fray. I've only had these for about ten months, and I had to have my shoe repair guy resew that strap back into place. No biggie. The cost will vary, like getting the heel replaced, so shop around, make friends with a reliable shoe repair person. Fixing minor failings and heel replacements are necessary when the leather will far outlast other parts of the shoe, thought it shouldn't be a heavy burden--just regular maintenance on a shoe that'll last you for decades.

The leather is nice rich mahogany color, and will scuff, but it won't look bad and will eventually fade. Most of the Frye boots are notoriously heavy, and can chafe the toes and heel as a result. You won't get that from this boot, it's made for specifically for comfort. They're 12R but they're actually slightly lower in front and rise slightly upward at and angle at the back of the calf. Subtle, but clean. The thick heel is cushy and give good traction (especially in snow and ice), and easily replaceable when the time comes--so, as I always say, make friends with the nearest shoe repairman,or woman! They can also treat the leather for weather or to just clean them up when they get dirty, or to soften the leather, but I just use saddlesoap every once in a while and make sure they get a good clean here and there.

I wear them with any kind of sock, but ones that a bit slippery since there are no handles to tug on to get them on if you wear thicker socks.

All in all, if you got distance to walk in, this boot is perfect, you'll look good walking all the way there!

2 strikes!
I bought these boots from a different merchant. I had previously owned a pair of Frye Engineer 12R boots for 10 years and I loved them. I decided to buy another pair to wear with thick socks, so I ordered half a size larger. Upon receiving the first pair of boots; I noticed a defect in the toe area of the right boot. The right toe area of the sole that goes around the fore-foot had been ground with a finishing wheel, but whomever worked on this boot got a little too close taking off about half an inch which was quite noticeable.
I re-ordered another pair to replace the defective boots in exchange. Still defective, but not as bad. I was tired of returning the boots, so I decided to live with the defective boots.
The quality of these boots has gone through the floor! Where is the pride and joy in those working for such a famous shoe-maker? I was once a proud owner of these boots, but now I think I should look for a boot made by a different company that has strict Quality Control. When you get your new boots out of the box, they should be perfect! I bought a pair of Frye Veronica Shorties from Amazon that were made in Mexico, and they are beautifully made. I couldn't be happier!

irregular boot
I ordered the Frye Women's Engineer boot twice. I returned the first because one boot was defective. My daughter could not get her foot in one boot. We reordered and the boot was once again irregular. One boot was wider than the other. It was easy to see when they were together. The heel on one boot did not sit flat, while the other did. The shaft on one boot was noticeably shorter than the other. I was very disappointed. We did not expect irregular boots for the price ($210) that we were paying.