HE MOST EXCITING PART OF THE REVIEWS HERE ON GENUINE MEN’S MAGAZINE IS THAT MOST OF THE BRANDS WE TEST ARE ROUGHLY UNKNOWN. THERE ARE NO EXPECTATIONS WHEN TRYING OUT THESE NEW PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL LEARNING TO FIND THEIR VOICE. THAT BEING SAID, EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, WE COME ACROSS A COMPANY THAT REALLY SURPRISES US. ESTABLISHED IN 2011, JUST A MEN SHOE SET OUT TO OFFER A STYLISH SHOE, AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE POINT, WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY. THEY ARE A DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER BRAND FOCUSED ON THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE SHOES, AND NOT ON THE NAME PLASTERED ON IT. DON’T LET THE PRICE FOOL YOU; THEY MANUFACTURE THEIR OWN PRODUCTS IN THEIR OWN FACTORIES, WHICH KEEPS THEIR COSTS DOWN. LAST YEAR, WE GOT OUR HANDS ON THEIR NO. 680 BOOT – A CLASSIC WINGTIP BOOT IN THEIR ‘OXIDE’ SUEDE - AND AFTER A YEAR OF WEARING THEM, WE’VE DECIDED TO GIVE YOU THE ALL THE PROS AND CONS OF THIS EMERGING FOOTWEAR BRAND.

NOTE: THE PHOTOS IN THE ARTICLES ARE OF A PAIR OF THE OXIDE NO. 680 BOOTS PURCHASED IN 2015. THIS YEAR’S BOOTS DO NOT HAVE THE MEDALLION TOE PERFORATIONS. IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL BOOT LINKED HERE, THEY’RE IDENTICAL.

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QUALITY

The number one question we are always asked when we introduce a new product to someone is, “ how much was it?” While we’re certainly are very mindful of price, the first thing they should be wondering is, “Will it last?” Over the last decade, the market has taken a bit of a downturn from manufacturing true quality footwear, to shoveling out a ‘mass and fast’ swamp of the latest trends. Just a Men Shoe offers much more than just another mass-produced pile. On first feel, we fell in love with everything this No. 680 boot has to offer. This classically shaped boot offers everything that a guy would need looks-wise, except the huge price tag that accompanies some of the other well know brands. (Allen Edmonds Dalton & Grenson Fred)

These No. 680 Boots have blake welt-stitched soles and soft leather insoles have a memory gel heel insert. This makes the shoe feel very sturdy and surprisingly comfortable right out of the box. Like any new shoe though, it will take a few wears to break in, but we didn’t endure any painful blisters while going through the process. The suede on these boots is very soft, but for some footwear purists, might be a little thin. This makes this boot best for fall or early spring temperatures, but you may need thicker socks for colder days. Rest assured, the boots have held up very well after about a year of constant use, BUT with meticulous care. They show minimal creasing in the suede, but nothing a pair of shoe trees can’t fix once you’ve taken them off.

DESIGN

These classically styled boots aren’t going to jump out to someone in terms of their design. You see this typical type of wingtip boot in most mass produced shoes, such as Cole Haan and Johnston & Murphy, but knowing that the shoe is going to last a lot longer then 6 months should remove any doubts in your new purchase. These boots are a real showstopper. You can wear them with one of your best blue suits, or a favorite pair of raw denim. Their shape works well with just about anything. The ‘JAMS’ website lists a few of the boots details, see below:

• Almond Toe
• Open throat lacing
• Soft calf suede leather
• Topstitch details
• Wingtip with Medallion
• Contrasting Colored 6mm leather welt
• Rounded Laces
• Memory gel heel insert
• Leather upper
• Hand Stitch leather sole
• Leather lining & insole

Now for the issues. Eve though the soles are well made, they are VERY rigid and VERY slippery out of the box. WE HIGHLY SUGGEST finding some cement to scratch up the soles before stepping onto a smooth tile surface or wood. Another issue out of the box was the vamp of these boots. On our first wear of these boots, we noticed the front vamp is narrow (narrow in depth) and will take some time to stretch or mold to your foot. Generally, this is not a problem for our foot but we sense this could be worse for a guy with larger feet. The last issue we encountered was small, but might affect guys with skinny feet or those really looking for the right look. We like our boots tight, but found that when we tightened our boots too much, it resulted in extra long laces hanging over the sides of our shoes. Generally, a minor detail that can be easily fixed with new laces, but might be a deal breaker for someone interested in purchasing these boots.

FIT

As mentioned above, the fit of these boots are a bit narrow. A bigger brand name would offer different widths for guys with larger feet, but since Just A Men Shoe is a smaller company, they usually only offer one standard size width for certain styles. These boots fit true to size and Just A Men Shoe offer sizes 6-14. As amazing as these No. 680 boots are, we wouldn’t recommend these boots for a guy with a big foot. The boots do break in fairly fast, but you may experience a slight discomfort during the first few wears. With that being said, if you can withstand the small quirks of this young companies boots, with proper care, these should stay in your fall/winter rotation for years to come.

PRICE

 

One of the great things about young brands in their infancy is that they are always evolving. Just a Men Shoe is still figuring out their place in the market. They are constantly offering new style of shoes and finishes. Because of all these new styles, they are often left with last season’s shoes that didn’t sell as well. These discounts are up to 30% and might be something you would be interested in trying. They often offer free shipping and even offer discounts on their pre-orders. Yep, even on their NEW styles, they are offering discounts. These No. 680 boots are generally priced at $205.00 USD, but are frequently discounted up to 30% off to bring them to about $143.50 USD. A fair price if you consider all that’s gone into these boots.

OVERALL

Overall, We recommend giving these boots a chance. Just A Men Shoe is a growing small brand that has a lot to offer guys looking for well-made, one of a kind footwear. They offer a wide selection of colors and leathers that complement any man’s wardrobe or personality. While their shoe may only fit some feet, we have a feeling over the next few years they will start to cater to a variety of men’s foot sizes. They’re constantly changing offerings, which as a buyer is exciting to see. Every season they’ve offered new styles and new selections of footwear. Stay tuned for more reviews on Just a Men Shoe because we know we’ll be looking for more.

TLDR: A REALLY GREAT LOOKING AND WELL-PRICED WINGTIP BOOT. MIGHT BE A LITTLE NARROW IN THE VAMP AND TOE BOX FOR SOME GUYS. SUEDE IS A THIN, BUT STURDY.

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This was a 100% honest review. Genuine Men’s Magazine was not gifted or given any product or monetary compensation for this review. We purchased this product with our own money and hope that you’ll make your own decision based on what we’ve written. Thanks for your viewership!