HAIX® - S3-Einsatzstiefel Airpower® X21 High

I have just had to return a pair of these boots to Germany at the cost of £22.34 (cheapest, including insurance). The seller I bought from declined to arrange collection or issue prepaid return label. Being told the boots are fine and it is not their fault your feet are too big for the boots is not helpful. In hindsight, it turns out they are correct.I ordered a pair of size 43, equivalent of size 8 1/2 to 9 UK. I used to be a comfortable size 8 1/2 when I could get footwear in 1/2 sizes and only one review suggested sizing could be a little on the smaller side. There was no way these boots were the same size as my usual size 9 Grisport Combat. I have been wearing size 9/43 boots for the last 35 years without any sizing issues. I appear to have just been lucky or my feet had grown in the past year.A brief internet search has revealed that my feet are bigger than I realised. A bit of A4 paper taped to the floor in front of an available wall, wearing my usual socks and half way through the day to allow the feet to swell sufficiently has my feet measuring in at 11 inches long. That's size 10.Any footwear I have bought previously have been tried on in shops before purchase. I have never had any problems with my feet and always ended up with size 9's. I'm 52 now, and it appears my feet have suddenly grow a size/spread/collapsed.The only thing I could say is that the Haix boot did feel rather narrow compared to any others I have tried. Haix have a Vario-fit system for their fur-lined X21, but that just turned out to be different insoles for various width fittings. The X21 is only made in one overall width fitting whether fur-lined or not.Use Brixworkwear if buying as they offer a 2 year guarantee on this boot (thank you to reviewer Fred Gandt for this advice). They are based in Monaghan in Eire and have their own website. The no hassle return policy would have been a bonus in my case.These boots are a quality item. The lacing eyelets are smooth, leather top quality and the finish on the lining very smart. Not what you expect from a work boot.

I'm a gardener and this is my third pair of HAIX,I wear them at work 5 days a week all year around..First Airpower X21 I had for 11 month.Can't remember polishing them.They were completely neglected.Eventually the leather started cracking .Second pair was Airpower X11 they lasted for almost 2 years, with better care of course. They stopped being waterproof at around 20 month ,re-waterproofing helped a bit ,but the boots were leaking anyway.At that point they were looking a bit tired.It was summer so I wasn't that bothered my feet getting a bit wet when it rained heavily.Now I bought Airpower X21.Overall it's very good boots ,comfortable and waterproof.Expensive,but they last.I never had boots lasting more than 6 month.Great value for money.