Chaco Roland Boot Review

by Erik Johnson

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Chaco Roland Boot

Chaco Roland Boot Overview:

When given the choice, I usually spend my hard earned money on gear that feeds my outdoor activities. Every once in a while, I do need to refresh my lifestyle apparel. With Fall fully engaged, and rain, slush and snow right around the corner, it was time to pick up a new pair of new boots. When seeking new lifestyle boots, I generally look for performance, style, and functionality. The last and most important factor, the one I never consider for outdoor activities, is if I can pull the boots off at work. At last, I found the Chaco Roland Boot!

The Chaco Roland Boot was inspired by the classic tactical boot. Chaco took this classic and put their own spin on it. Designed for all day comfort and functionality, Chaco lightened up the Roland using EcoTread™ and added an APMA certified mesh-lined LUVSEAT™ PU footbed. The Roland will not bog you down, they weigh in at only 1lb 3oz. Finally, the boot was designed with aesthetics in mind, and adds tasteful accents such as the antiqued metal hardware, red laces and a beautiful suede upper.

Chaco Roland Boot At Work and Around Town:

I work at a small tech company in the Boulder area. Luckily, the attire is pretty lax and you can get away with a nice pair of jeans, a button down and some decent shoes. When I pulled the Roland’s out of the box, I knew right away they would be work approved.

Chaco profile and tread

I generally wear between a 9.5-10 boot. For the Roland, I opted for the 9.5. I put on a pair of calf-high medium weight wool socks and slipped the Roland’s on for the first time. I immediately noticed that the antiqued metal hardware was both aesthetic and functional; the red rounded laces fed through the eyelets seamlessly for quick and and easy lacing.

My initial thoughts on the fit were positive. The toe box is a standard size and did not feel too wide. Considering I rounded down on the size (9.5) the fit seemed about right, maybe a tad too big. My opinion is that they are pretty true to size. If you fluctuate a half size on your fit like me, and buy these online, I would recommend rounding down.

Work Approved!

My first day in the boots was at work. Walking around the office, I could not believe how light they felt on my feet. Thank you EcoTread™! The second time I wore these boots was around town hitting a few breweries on a rainy day. Since the Roland’s are constructed from a water resistant full grain leather, I was not worried about getting wet. I mainly walked from the car to each brewery and had to walk through some puddles; the boot did not disappoint! I spent a lot of time on my feet in each brewery and noticed that my feet got hot. That being said, if you are going to wear these indoors and spend a lot of time on your feet, I recommend wearing ultra lightweight socks. (I was wearing a medium weight sock that day). Despite the hot feet, I was comfortable being on my feet all day thanks to Chaco’s APMA certified mesh-lined LUVSEAT™ PU footbed.

Chaco Roland Boot Final Thoughts:

Since receiving the Roland’s, I’ve worn them to work, the brewery and on rainy days. I think this is a great lifestyle boot that is aesthetically pleasing and a great “work” boot that still maintains a rugged outdoor look. With the exception of the minor nits noted above, I think Chaco did a fantastic job putting their spin on the classic tactical boot.

The Chaco Roland is also offered in Dark Olive. For more info on the Roland Boot and other Chaco footwear, visit www.chaco.com or www.amazon.com/chaco.