Wonder if the comfort-focused brand Amberjack succeeds in the boot department? Read my hands-on review.
This is my third time reviewing Amberjack, and I can’t help but feel like I’ve been there from the beginning. After all, I stomped around in their Originals back when it was the sole offering. After they expanded into a whole line of models, I tried on their loafer, Chelsea, and tuxedo shoes.
Well, they’ve expanded once again. This time into the world of boots. Comfort and boots don’t always go together. At least, not immediately. Boots are meant to be robust, brawny, and stable. Can you actually infuse sneaker-like comfort into a good boot?
I’ve been wearing these boots for a month now. I’ll give you my insight so you know whether or not they’re for you.
Amberjack: The Brand
I’ll give a quick rundown about Amberjack here. However, since the other two reviews each give a pretty good background, feel free to check those out, too.
Basically, Amberjack was founded with comfort, quality, and sustainability in mind.
They use full-grain leather from American cowhides via their partner in Monterrey, Mexico. They’re also an ISO-certified tannery that uses solar power.
Assembly happens in a Portuguese factory with fair wages. And to their credit, Amberjack is the first dress shoe company to be completely carbon neutral.
The Amberjack Boot: A Hands-on Review
I reviewed the following models:
Usually, when I do a brand review of more than one model, I’ll give each its own spotlight. I’ll then break each individual model down, expanding on each’s design and then each’s comfort and fit.
However, These are essentially the same variant in different colorways. As such, I’ll start with the comfort and fit, an analysis applicable to both boot styles. Then, I’ll go into each variation’s specific designs.
As they have been in my past two Amberjack reviews, each shoe was well packaged. They shipped directly in the branded box, which is part of their sustainability promise. The shoes were stuffed with non-abrasive paper, ensuring safe delivery.
And they each came with two solidly built linen dustbags.
The Amberjack Boot: Comfort and Fit
I’m a big fan of Amberjack’s proprietary sole system. Immediately, there’s something about it that feels especially natural in a boot.
The Insole
The Amberjack sole is a combination of best practices. The insole is thick in the heel, triple the thickness of regular memory foam insoles, meant to hold your heel the same way a work boot does. Between that and the breathable cushioned ankle, the experience just makes sense in a boot.
It’s soft all over yet incredibly stable. I was actually surprised at how easy it is to run in these boots. The thick back of the insole tapers towards the toe, giving it sneaker-like flexibility.
And truly, these boots felt great right out of the box. I wore the Obsidian boot all day long the first day I tried it. Just like the other models, there’s an effective balance of stability and softness here.
And like the other models, the boots feature heat-activated arch support. This is likely why it’s easier to run in these boots today than it was a month ago when I first received them. There wasn’t a true break-in period, but that arch support has fully conformed to me at this point.
Also, the sheepskin lining is perforated, making it both cozy and breathable.
My only slight grievance is that during the first week, I could feel where the insole hit against the interior of my inner foot, right below the balls of my feet. It irritated me a little, but a thick pair of socks made it pretty much ignorable.
The Outsole
Like all of the Amberjack shoes, the boot comes with a custom TPU outsole. It matches the insole in that they use brawny hiking boot material in the back, providing support. Then, the front uses sneaker-like athletic technology, providing a lithe springiness.
I’ve never had a boot that I felt like I could jump so well in. So, at the risk of sounding overly enthusiastic, yet again, I’ve no complaints about Amberjack’s custom outsole.
Sizing and Fit
The boots fit true to size, and Amberjack suggests you size down if you’re in between sizes. There are, however, half sizes for anyone below a size 13.
I ordered my size 8s, and they fit perfectly.
As with any lace-up boot, I can’t just slip my foot in, which I don’t love. In fact, it needs to be perfectly loose for me to be able to fit my foot in. When I only slightly loosened it, I could have shoved my foot in with enough force. But, the area where the inner lips meet the inner upper pushed back hard. I may have yelped.
It’s a good thing there’s a pull tab on the back ankle.
Again, this isn’t specific to this model. It takes time to get your foot in and out of most lace-up boots. However, I’m just so used to their Original, Loafer, and Chelsea, all of which are easy to slip in and out of.
I love the security of the ankle. It’s soft but stable, and the leather feels incredibly lush and well-oiled. The leather on the upper around the base of my toes is extra soft and flexible. However, the brawn of the cap toe stabilizes the softness and flexibility.
Right out of the box, you can comfortably stand on your tip-toes in this shoe as if you’ve been wearing it for months.
By the way, if you do have any trouble with your initial order, Amberjack offers complimentary exchanges within 45 days.
The Design: Obsidian
I’m usually more of a brown American footwear type of guy and not a black boot urban-chic kind of guy (See the differences here).
However, I think the all-black Obsidian variation of the boot does the best job of hiding its hybrid shoe status. The upper is completely black, along with the laces and every component of the outsole.
Some Amberjack shoes feature a two-tone outsole, which I think makes the hybrid construction more obvious.
It’s a classic service boot design, meaning it can go with any outfit, including suits in a smart casual dress code. I think it mixes sleekness with a sort of authoritative aesthetic. It reminds me of a more fashionable version of the shoes I see on law enforcement people.
It’s made out of full-grain leather, and you can tell right out of the box because of the sweet yet smoky smell. There’s no denying it’s a pretty premium, especially for its price. I already mentioned how flexible yet strong the upper feels, but it certainly looks it, too.
It has a sectioned-off design, with several pieces of leather sewn together, giving it a topographical look without taking away from its overall slickness. I’m sure all of the stitching and sections are one of the reasons the upper is so bendy yet stable.
The Design: Copper Nubuck
There’s one big reason why I like the Copper Nubuck and one small reason I think it might not be for everyone.
It has that same multi-surfaced, multi-piece, almost Frankensteined upper design as the Obsidian. However, the topography is more obvious in this lighter color, and it looks beautiful with the buttery nubuck.
It has this sort of gentlemanly adventurer look; it can be worn by a guy who has an oak salon where he sips whiskey on an armchair and spins his antique globe to see where he’s heading next.
However, the two-color outsole makes the fact it’s a hybrid shoe more obvious. I think a lot of guys will be okay with this and even consider it pretty cool. It makes it less understated than the monochrome boot, but you can still wear it with a broken suit or even a summer linen suit.
I think it would look at home with a safari-style utility shirt and clean-lined linen pants.
Conclusion: Are the Amberjack Boots for You?
In general, if you love a classic service boot style, this is a good option to have in your closet. It fulfills all of Amberjack’s brand promises for athletic-like litheness, sneaker comfort, and work boot stability.
What makes the boots unique is that the sole system’s brawn feels so natural in a boot format.
I just wish they were easier to take on and off. But again, this is a problem with all clean-lined lace-up boots.
If you love black boots, I couldn’t imagine why the obsidian version wouldn’t be for you — unless you don’t like that multi-piece upper design. Copper is a more obvious hybrid, but it has a lot of cool factors.
If you like most of what you see here but aren’t completely sure. It’s worth checking out their other variants, including the Midnight, which is a black nubuck, and the Chestnut, which is a brown leather.
Have you tried Amberjack shoes? Do you own any? Does that make you want to try the boots or not? Sounds off in the comments!
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