I eyed the Groundies Odessa boots for over 6 months before I finally bought them. They look so good! But as someone with high volume feet I worried they wouldn’t fit. Ditto for the wide calf problem. Finally, over the summer, I went ahead and bought them.
And then I waited like, forever! Thanks, COVID.
Finally, they arrived and, joy of all joys, they fit!
But then it was summer, and a steamy Satan’s Sauna in the Southeastern United States.
So, I waited some more.
Eventually, I got to wear them and boy have I worn them. Which brings us to: review time, baby.
If you’ve been eying this boot (or any of their shoes), Groundies just renewed a discount code in April 2021, valid until May 6th: obsessedwbfs10.
Check out my Universe review here.
Technical specifications:
- Upper: 100% cowhide suede
- Outsole: LTPU 3.3mm base with 3mm tread
- Sole made in Germany with boots produced in Portugal
- Comes in 3 colors: The Light Brown featured here, as well as Black and Grey models
Since I created this review, Groundies has greatly expanded their Odessa line to this dazzling array:
Company:
Groundies philosophy is to “only offer what is absolutely necessary to protect your feet from injuries and the weather.” They say that “Our goal was to create a shoe that is 100% functional, that is fun to wear in any situation and that also looks great. With GROUNDIES® you will feel at ease and take every step comfortably and confidently.” I think they succeed on all fronts. But, more about that below.
Appearance:
The Groundies Odessa Boots are purposely engineered to have a permanent slouch look. The folds you see are sewn in and cannot be changed. There are benefits and drawbacks to that. One, you can’t change the look like some other slouch boots, but on the other hand you will never have to readjust them. They are structured well and hold their shape without any sagging.
The color is a warm brown and goes well with a variety of outfits.
Fit:
All of the imagery on Groundies site is with a very slim-calved woman and it made me concerned that they would not fit, but as you can see: they do. Of course, I take up most of the shaft, so the look does change if you are of a similar build. But know that they work well, are very comfortable, and do not rub at all, even on completely bare legs. In the middle pic above I’m wearing Jeggings and still have room, so could definitely fit jeans in there as well.
I have a high instep and was worried about that fitting. I wear fairly thin toe socks almost exclusively, and am not squeezed at all. If you are low volume you would probably need and insole and medium, you might be comfortable as-is or just need to go a little thicker on the socks.
Sizing:
Groundies sizing chart runs a little longer than some other brands but I sized in my normal 43 for closed-toed shoes and am very comfortable. Since there is a shaft, it’s very hard to truly show how my foot fits onto the shoe, and maybe I should have gone the tracing route instead (will remember for the next boots review!). I’m a little tip-toed here and considered leaving it off, but know that I can easily wiggly my toes inside the boots and am not restricted in the slightest. As usual, the width listed on the sizing chart does not tell the whole story and there is more room than indicated.
Breaking in:
I didn’t find that they needed any breaking in period. I started in wearing them as soon as the days cooled down and have worn them a lot since! I have had no hot spots at all, whether walking in stores or on my country road.
How do they feel?
They feel really minimal and easy to wear. They are not padded, so keep that in mind if you are looking for something with cushion. But if you want a highly flexible, minimalist boot, you can have it here in Groundies. And you won’t draw attention, either. They are generous in width, but the look is quite ‘normal,’ if that matters to you.
Are there any drawbacks?
In keeping with Groundies philosophies of only putting into a shoe what is absolutely necessary, they are not thick shoes. They feel well-made and like they will last, but don’t count on them to provide a lot of warmth. If you’re looking at winter wear, check out an alternate model like the Alaska, which is available both directly from Groundies and on their Amazon storefront. (Amazon links on this blog are always affiliate links.)
One other thing that was briefly an issue was when I went into a store with highly polished concrete. This didn’t happen in other locations, but in that one particular store the sole did squeak. Keep this in mind if you work maybe work in a building like that, but I am talking high-shine stuff. On a more matte-finish concrete there was no sound at all.
Lastly, I do sometimes notice the zipper sticking at the point of at least 1 of the folds. It’s not actually catching on any material, but I think the thickness of the fold makes the zipper work a little harder to get past that point.
Cleaning and Care:
As these boots are a suede material, you need to take different care of them than you would with a smooth leather. Generally, this means using a brush to remove dried materials, and using suede-friendly cleaning and protectant products. Waxes used on smooth leather are not appropriate for suede.
Check out their leather care page here.
Purchasing:
There are two ways you can get Odessa boots, depending on your size.
First: directly from Groundies. The Odessa boots are about $180 before any discount or shipping. But as of early November 2020, Groundies has switched to free global shipping, which saves you a TON of money on purchases.
Groundies has activated a limited-time code again:
BareFootObsession10
This is valid until February 9, 2021 and saves you 10% off any order.
If you’re in the US, you may want to check out the Groundies Amazon storefront. Sizing is more limited on Odessa there, as are the model choices. but being able to try your size on with the ease of quick free returns is a huge draw. And, the shipping is way faster. Currently, the Odessa boots on Amazon are just under $150.
Shipment and Returns:
Shipping directly from Groundies to the US can take a while thanks to Covid. It took about a month for me to receive my order. Groundies does accept returns, including internationally, but they do not cover return shipping costs. If you order with Amazon Prime you can exchange for free and quickly. I’m a proponent of ordering directly from companies, but you have to admit there are some benefits here to getting them from Amazon.
As far as protections go, Groundies does warranty the sole for 3 years and if you receive a defective or incorrect item they will address it for you, including handling any return costs.
Final thoughts:
Purchasing from Groundies is an investment, and I think it will pay off. The boots have a wear-with-anything look and seem to be well-made to last. I don’t think you can go wrong with them.
New at Groundies:
Groundies is in the midst of releasing a lot of great models and updates to their existing lines. For instance, you can get a really cool leather boot in the Berlin model. You can get some hot sneakers in Universe. And the surprises are not yet over. Be sure to check out their site and Instagram regularly, and sign up for their newsletter to stay updated on the latest news.
Want more reviews?
Check out All the Barefoot Shoe Reviews for more in-depth looks.
Great review!
Thanks 🙂