After a harrowing undercover mission to my previous residence to STEAL the package off the back porch, I finally got the Palladium Balke boots you were asking about. I haven't walked long distances in them, but I think I like them. They don't have any arch support, so they wouldn't be good for serious hiking, but for $6 I can overlook that. The toe area is narrower and rounder than I'm used to, and definitely not like a "fashion boot" look. They'll work for me, and if you can get a good deal on ebay, I would recommend them. Let me know if you have other questions.
Oh, and the seller I used was very helpful. Let me know if you want the name.
BrazenCanadian wrote: Thanks, Gruiz. Do you think they'll be waterproof/resistant?
Well, they're leather, so you'd have to put some kind of sealant on them. Sealant? That's not the right word. Leather protector?
BrazenCanadian wrote: The thought of you stealing boots from your old house makes me giggle.
Yeah, I was seriously sweating...fortunately nobody was home at the time. It was like a sitcom...I could SEE the box through the porch window, but couldn't get the door open (they had put a new screen door on since I lived there, and I didn't know how to get the latch open). So, I'm nervously looking around to make sure no one sees me, finally got the latch open, grabbed the box and sprinted back to my car. I didn't BREAK anything and techinically didn't ENTER the house, and it WAS my package. Still, I was expecting police sirens any second. Oh, I would make a hideous criminal.