The combat boot you do not have to break in
The Vesga 1013 is a black leather ankle boot with the outline everyone recognises: seven pairs of eyelets, yellow stitching around the welt and a honey tractor sole. The design has been on the street for sixty years, and it comes back every autumn without anyone having to announce it.
What separates this one from the canonical version is the zip on the inner side. You lace the boot once, set the tension you like, and after that you get in and out by the zip. Anyone who has owned a seven or eight eyelet boot knows exactly how much time that saves on a January morning.
This is a women's boot for everyday city wear. It is not a hiking boot and it is not safety footwear. If you want something with character that survives eight hours on your feet and still looks right in March, this is it. You will find it alongside the rest of our women's ankle boots.
At a glance
- Why you will like it: the attitude of a classic combat boot with the convenience of a side zip.
- Ideal for: autumn and winter in town, daily wear, long days standing.
- What stands out: the leather upper, the exposed yellow stitching and a sole that flexes from the first wear.
- Recommended if you want: a boot with personality that does not need three weeks of breaking in.
- Possibly not for you if: you need waterproof footwear, a taller shaft or a hiking outsole.
Quick reference
- Product: lace-up combat boot with inner side zip
- Who it is for: women
- Main use: everyday city wear, autumn and winter
- Comfort: high from first wear
- Sole: flexible synthetic, tractor tread
- Fastening: laces over 7 pairs of eyelets plus inner zip
- Heel height: 2.5 cm
- Shaft height: 16 cm
Everything you need to know
Design and style
The model draws on the British work boot of the 1960s, the one that went from the factory floor to the stage and from there to the street. The yellow stitching against the black upper is what fixes the reference, and the honey sole breaks up the dark block so the boot does not swallow the leg. That contrast has aged well and does not depend on the season.
Materials and finish
Leather upper with the natural sheen of the grain, no plasticised coating. The lining combines leather and textile: leather where the foot rubs, textile where heat gathers. The eyelets are riveted and the inner zip sits along the side seam, so it is barely visible once the boot is on.
Comfort day to day
The flexible synthetic sole is the reason this boot needs no breaking in. The classic versions of this design use a rigid unit that takes weeks to give and leaves pressure marks across the instep in the meantime. This one bends from the first wear. At 2.5 cm the heel is enough to lift the heel bone and take load off the arch without changing your gait.
When to wear it
Autumn and winter, in town, on long days. It works for the office where informal footwear is accepted, at the weekend and for travelling, because it goes with almost anything that fits in a suitcase. It handles light rain and the occasional puddle, but to be clear: this is not a waterproof boot, and on a properly wet day water will get in.
How to wear it
With straight or wide-leg jeans, tucked into the shaft or falling just above it. It works particularly well with a midi skirt and thick tights, because 16 cm of shaft sits at the right height for the leg not to be cut at an awkward point. Tailored trousers work too, and that is where this boot beats a conventional ankle boot. For other heights, see the rest of our women's footwear.
What we think at Calzados Vesga
This is one of the fastest-moving models in our shop, and the reason customers give is nearly always the same: they wanted the classic combat boot without the process of breaking it in. The zip also solves the real problem with a seven-eyelet boot, which is having to sit down every time. At this price, a leather alternative with this finish is hard to find.
Before you decide
The questions we get most: sizing, and whether the zip holds. On the first, the fit runs true, so size up if you are unsure. On the second, the zip opens fully to the second eyelet and is stitched to the side reinforcement rather than to a loose lining.
Possibly not ideal if: you need guaranteed waterproofing, want a shaft above the ankle, or plan to wear them on hill terrain.
A good fit for you if: you spend the day on your feet in town, want a boot that lasts several winters and would rather not spend three weeks softening new footwear.
Compared with similar options: against the classic versions of the same design, this weighs less, flexes sooner and goes on faster. Against a standard zip ankle boot, it adds the hold of seven eyelets and a sole with far more grip.
Technical specification
- Product type: low-shaft combat boot
- Upper material: leather
- Lining: leather and textile
- Insole: padded, matched to the lining
- Sole: flexible synthetic, tractor tread
- Fastening: laces over 7 pairs of eyelets and an inner side zip
- Heel height: 2.5 cm
- Shaft height: 16 cm
- Colour: black
- Sizes: EU 35 to 43
Size guide
The last is standard width and the fit runs true to slightly snug. If you are between two sizes, take the larger one: the boot is worn with a thick sock for much of the year, and although the leather lining gives a little with wear, it will not rescue a size that is short. With wide feet, size up without hesitating. As an approximate guide, EU 36 is around a UK 3, EU 38 around a UK 5, EU 40 around a UK 6½ and EU 41 around a UK 7. Conversions vary between manufacturers, so treat them as a starting point rather than a rule.
Frequently asked questions
Do these run small? They run true, verging on snug. If you are between sizes, take the larger one, especially if you wear thick socks.
Are they comfortable all day? Yes. The flexible sole and the 2.5 cm heel allow long days on your feet without the break-in period the rigid versions of this design demand.
Can I wear them in the rain? In light rain and on wet pavement, yes. They are not waterproof, so in sustained rain water will eventually get in.
How do I clean and care for them? Soft brush for dust, damp cloth for marks and a neutral cream once a month. Never dry them next to a radiator, as the leather will crack.
What size should I order with wide feet? One size up from your usual. The last is standard width and does not give across the metatarsal.
Does the zip replace the laces? For everyday use, yes. Lace them once to the tension you want, then get in and out by the zip.
Summary
The Vesga 1013 is a women's black leather combat boot with seven pairs of eyelets, an inner zip for quick entry and a flexible sole that needs no breaking in. It is made for autumn and winter in town, for people who spend the day on their feet and want a boot with character that lasts several seasons. EU sizes 35 to 43, sold by Calzados Vesga, a family shop that has been advising on footwear for over fifty years.
If you are after something else
- For a taller shaft, look at this season's above-the-ankle boots.
- For a more formal occasion, a heeled ankle boot is the better answer.
- For genuine waterproofing, look for a model with a membrane.
- If budget is the deciding factor, our footwear sale usually has leather alternatives.
Why buy it from Calzados Vesga
This boot is in our shop window, not only in the catalogue. Somebody here has held it, seen how it fits different feet and can tell you whether your usual size will work. We are a family shoe shop on the main square of Burgos, in northern Spain, with more than fifty years behind the counter, and that is the difference from buying on a platform where nobody has seen the product.
Delivery, returns and secure payment
Delivery anywhere in Europe takes 4 to 6 working days. Shipping is charged by destination country and calculated at checkout. Returns from outside Spain are at the customer's expense. Payment is secure, and you can reach us by phone or email before ordering: if you are unsure about the size, ask first and save yourself the return.
Is this your boot?
Yes, if you want a leather combat boot for everyday wear, comfortable from the first day, with the hold of laces and the convenience of a zip.
Perhaps not, if you prefer waterproof footwear, a taller shaft or an outsole built for the hills.
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