Faded Glory Footwear

The Glory of Faded Glory Footwear

There’s actually nothing faded about these boots, not when they’re new, anyway. They are made of full grain leather on the uppers, have a full cushion sock liner and an oil-resistant rubber outsole. They have six eyelets and a pretty wicked buckle strap across the instep. The Harley logo is prominent in metal on the side of the boot near the top, as well as being stitched onto the tongue and featured on a metal ornament on the shaft.

Because these boots are made for hard riding, they are seriously sturdy. The good news is that you’ll never lose a rivet. The bad news is that it will take you a little bit of time and effort to break them in. But while you’re working on making them yours, your feet will be well-cushioned because there is padding galore and your ankles are supported.

The boots are six inches high and the leather and shock resistant rubber soles make them feel heavy initially. Eventually, they will get to feel comfortable enough that you may be tempted to use them as hiking boots, but that’s a good way to spoil the beautiful black leather, no matter how well you clean it. It’s best to keep your Faded Glory boots for walking and riding around town. They also make a great work boot, solid enough that you’ll feel stable whether you’re on blacktop or gravel. The steel shank, moisture-wicking shaft and Goodyear Welt construction all add to the solidity and all-day comfort.

Shopping for Faded Glory

You can’t buy the Faded Glory boots on Harley Davidson’s site, and in fact, some customers warn that when you find a pair in your size you should snap them up at once because they can be a little tricky to find. You can currently buy some on the ever-reliable online store Zappos. It is preferable if you already know your size, because customers note that the boots generally do not feel true to size and in fact can feel a full size larger than marked, although the width tends to be accurate. Then again, a lot of women are thrilled with the fact that the boots make their feet look smaller!

The men’s Faded Glory boots are also awkward to size exactly, although the width is noted as a big factor in the comfort. Most men are very pleased with the boots, the only drawback being again that they can take a little while to break in.

Other online outlets for shopping include:

• Working Person’s Store, which seems to have some of the best prices and also provides free shipping.

• Rockin Leather, which is worth keeping an eye on for its rocking clearance sales.

• Shoe Mall

Maintaining Your Boots

Because of the sizing issue, it’s definitely preferable to try the boots on in person if you can. However, most online shops will allow you to do free exchanges – they know how tricky online shopping can be and they want you to find your fit and be happy. The good news is that once you get the size right, if you keep the boots in good order with waterproofing and a bit of leather oil, they can last and last and last. Some people have boots that are more than five years old and still as good as new. They’ll ride with you into the sunset.