“I purchased these as part of a Rose Anvil colab. Wasn’t really sure what to expect to be honest, they were over $400 Canadian investment for me. I purchased the wider fit and a little larger than I normally wear. Out the box they fit comfortably, I sized well. I’m assuming the build quality will be there too. I had a good opportunity to test these out yesterday as was walking around all day shopping with my wife. These are not as comfortable as say a Made In NB sneaker but overall not bad. My feet got quite hot but it was a 30 degree day here in Canada. I’m not sure yet how I feel about this purchase as it’s too soon to tell. I’m flat footed so to be honest it’s hard to find a really comfortable shoe. My Grenson Fred boots are a lot more comfortable than these but again different type of shoe. I do like these but not a 5 star purchase for me. Having said that beautiful leather and I’m sure the construction is first class. The test for me will be how they hold up after say eight months.”
“There were 5 or 6 stitches on either side of the sole of one shoe that missed the mark and are not in the groove. Other than that minor issue they're fantastic!”
“These boots are fantastic. They exceeded my expectations. The looks great, feel great, and expertly crafted. I will be wearing these for a long time.”
“Have not even received the SMUGs yet, but be careful when purchasing with Goral from the EU: the import costs are staggering and absolutely ridiculous, especially since Goral declares ultimate retail price and retail shipping on the package. This price has little to do with customs value, which should be much, much lower. By now, this pair of sneakers has set me back more than €420, which is insane.
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Received the SMUGS today, and I do think they are beautiful. Well made, and they smell fantastic.”
“I've been so excited for these shoes since I ordered them; I was not disappointed when they arrived. They fit like a glove and the leather insole is so comfortable and allows for more breathability than any other pair of shoes I own. When I wore them out for independence day weekend, I found that my feet weren't sweaty in the way they end up when I wear other sneakers (usually air force 1s or sambas). Living in Miami, FL, these are probably going to be my go-to shoes year-round since it's always hot and humid here, except for a 2-3 weeks our of the year and even then it never gets cold enough that I need winter shoes.
The only break-in process I'm experiencing is around the vamp on the inner part of the shoes. The vamp hurts my feet when I'm walking but I've found that wearing them with thicker socks makes the discomfort go away almost entirely. I expect in time this will go away as the leather molds more to my feet with time.
My favorite thing about the shoes is honestly the smell! Before I put them on, I've been taking a moment just to smell them because the leather smells that good. I don't think I'll every buy a pair of nike/adidas/fast-fashion sneakers knowing quality like this exists.
I love these shoes, and thankful I learned about this company. I'm going to see when I can get order a pair of white sneakers next!”
“My new favourite sneakers! Look fantastic in the horween chromexcel natural. Build quality is fantastic and I've no doubt these will last a very long time. Stitching is neat, lace eyelets are solid and love the rolled leather detail around the top and subtle goral branding on tongue. Was worried that the gum cup sole might wear quickly but this one is very solid so any concerns are allayed (plus, I note goral can resolve these anyway). Also really appreciate the leather topped foam insole which minimises break in but should last longer than other synthetic insoles. A few minor issues that stop it being a 5/5: a) pull on loops are too small, b) laces a little too short, c) the bit where the vamp joins the toe box just below the start of the laces creates an internal bump which is rubbing my little toes a bit. Hopefully these issues can be resolved in any future runs. In any case, these are relatively small issues and should not detract from the fact these are really nice sneaker boots! Great work goral!”
“Love em! This is my third pair of Gorals. I have the MUGGS 2.0 and they are my favorite daily wear shoes. I was eagerly awaiting the SMUGS for summertime and they didn't disappoint. The natural tan color is beautiful and the pull up in this leather is going to patina like crazy. They are super comfortable right out of the box and will only get better as they break in. I love the combination of tough work boot leather in a comfortable high top sneaker. Just perfect.”
