I have worn Naples Klogs for more than 20 years. I obviously love them since I keep buying them. They have always kept my feet very happy and healthy. I decided to try a new style for a change -- Austin. I can say right off the bat that the Austins do not feel as sturdy or comfortable as Naples. The leather seems thinner, thus weaker. This is a different style than I am used to so I need time to assess, but my initial impressions are not terribly favorable. These Austin klogs do not fit me like a soft glove. The small toe on my left foot feels just slightly bothered -- squeezed or pressured in some way.
Something is amiss. Is Klogs using inferior materials, like so many other companies? These kogs are a different style, slightly dressier than Naples. At least initially, the Austins do not seem like the supremely reliable, comfortable workhorse of a klog that Naples are. I have not worn them out of the house yet, so that's another new frontier to cross. So -- the fit is not as comfortable, the materials do not seem as high-quality as Naples, and they do not give my feet the same sense of security. But I"m remaining open-minded and hoping to be suer pleasantly surprised, (Klogs implied that I did not have a lot of time left for the review, so it is a bit premature). Thanks.