Meermin Country Calf Boot Review - Is Pebble Grain Leather Good or Bad?

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Meermin is a company with deep ties to Spain's famous Albaladejo shoemaking family, but unlike Carmina Shoes (with which they're closely associated) they're known as a budget brand that makes their boots in China. How do they hold up?

FIRST GLANCE

Their best known Derby boot, the Chestnut Country Calf has a brilliant tan color but the most eye catching aspect is the pebble grain leather. Often seen on cowboy boots, it's unusual to see it in a slimmer, kind of dressy boot.

It's a hard shoe to categorize, particularly since they've gone with a storm welt and a relatively inflexible sole — this is no Blake stitch.

LEATHER

Made in Shanghai with French calfskin, this is pebble grain, so it's made by embossing the leather with a pebbly pattern. People argue about whether or not that makes the leather tougher but it definitely makes it easier to hide creases, which is a nice bonus.

LEATHER CARE

Meermin isn't too fussed about products, you can use a wax polish, a cream, whatever you like. Spread it around a clean shoe with a cloth, let it rest on the leather for a few minutes, then brush it out with a horsehair brush.

Meermin really likes Saphir's Renovateur as a go-to brand. The main difference between waxes and creams is the wax gives it more of a sheen and the cream is better at fixing scratches.

SOLE

The sole goes rubber, wood, rubber, cork midsole, and a thick vegetable tanned leather insole. The rubber sole is kind of similar to Dainite and it's pretty brittle and inflexible. That's kind of to be expected with storm welt, wherein the welt bends up over the upper and provides a bit more protection from water and dirt.

SIZING & FIT

These are European sizes so while I'm an 11.5 in American sizes — though many of my boots are size 11 because so many boots run large — I'm a 10.5 in Meermin. This is made on the Rui last and the fit is pretty roomy; I think a D or an E width would be comfy in this, though my D-width foot had quite a bit of breathing room.

There's no break in period but the sole isn't very soft or flexible. But hey, they're cheap boots.

PRICE

These cost me $245 a pair. Shipping is $35, which is over ten percent of the price, but they're still pretty inexpensive boots. This is Meermin's biggest selling point.

PROS
Eye-catching color
Leather doesn't show creasing much
Easy to resole
Sturdy sole
Very inexpensive

CONS
"Made in China" can be controversial
Pretty roomy fit
Pebble grain can be tough to work into outfits
Leather isn't great in rain