Customer Reviews
The unboxing experience was premium. The box quality was great; each boot came in a separate dust bag, along with an extra pair of leather insoles and an extra set of leather laces that you can switch to for an even more rugged look. Though, for some reason, the shoehorn they included is quite short.
The build quality is stunning! they hit it out of the park. The stitching is consistent, without any loose threads or skipped stitches. The leather is top quality; given that it's a waxy suede leather, the texture isn't completely uniform (which is what you expect from such leather). The wax coating on the suede is subtle, giving it a matte look with a pleasant smell, and the wax didn't rub off on my denims during my initial wear. The hardware is of great quality too, it's sturdy and won't come off easily (hopefully).
The boots are substantially well-made and have a real heft to them. I wasn't expecting them to be this heavy, easily around 900–1000+ grams per boot, which is something to keep in mind, as you might or might not like it. I went with the Vibram Fighter sole with storm welt construction. There are a few spots where you can see some marks and blemishes on the leather and the welt, which can be expected with handmade boots; it might bother some people, but I'm quite fine with it.
The fit out of the box is quite comfortable. I went with my true to size (UK 8). I was a bit skeptical about the fit, but the toe box is quite roomy and comfortable without any initial break-in. If you want a snug fit, you may want to go 1/2 size down, though please consult with their team for the size guide.
The point which Blkbrd needs to work on is communication. Before placing the order, I read a few reviews online that highlighted poor communication, but I wasn't expecting it to actually be this bad. It was a nightmare to stay in touch with the team. I understand that it's difficult to reply to every query, but it wasn't even at the bare minimum.
TL;DR
Unboxing: 4/5 (Premium packaging, dust bags, and great extras; shoehorn is comically short)
Build Quality: 5/5 (Stunning waxy suede, clean stitching, solid hardware, and hefty Vibram sole)
Fit & Comfort: 5/5 (Zero break-in required, true-to-size UK 8, roomy toe box)
Communication: 1/5 (Nearly impossible to get updates; an absolute headache)
Overall: 4.5/5 (World-class craftsmanship let down by poor customer support)
