Essential Travel Shoe: An Honest Review of the Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot from Nisolo

As I mentioned in my review of Nisolo’s Go-To Flatform Sandals, my shoe preference has shifted quite dramatically over the years – from slim-soled to substantial – to match the cyclical trend of shifting garment silhouettes.

Now that I’ve broken those sandals in comfortably for travel, guess what? Cold weather has arrived.

Nisolo kindly gifted the Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot, however, this post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small discount if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support - it enables me to run this site ad-free!

Enter, what is essentially a cold-weather version of those sandals: Nisolo’s Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot.

I recently added this relatively new style to my wardrobe in black, and have been reaching for them more and more as the temperatures start to slowly drop. With features that make them an excellent contender for a cold weather travel shoe, today I’m sharing a timely review for my Northern Hemisphere friends:

ABOUT THE GO-TO LUG CHELSEA BOOT

The Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot is a durable, slip-on chore boot with two pull tabs and a foam lug sole. It is currently available in two colorways, Black and Grey, and each style is constructed of a waterproof, breathable leather upper from a Leather Working Group Certified tannery and an XL Extralight® treaded EVA outsole.

Nisolo bills the boots as being half the weight of a typical leather boot, weighing in at 356.6g in a size 8 (although I weighed my Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot – reviewed here – to compare, and it is just a tad lighter at 349.2g). All scales and weights aside, the boots are handcrafted in Mexico by workers who are paid a living wage – a fact I don’t take lightly.

SIZING INFORMATION

Nisolo recommends sizing up a half-size in the Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot, and I concur – especially if you plan on wearing thick socks and/or tucking your pants into the shaft. I typically wear a 7.5 in Nisolo shoes and an 8 in Nisolo boots and took my usual 8. They run a smidge narrow and are snug with thicker socks; as it stands, I’m primarily wearing them with average-thickness socks.

MY REVIEW OF THE GO-TO LUG CHELSEA BOOT

The Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot is my seventh style from Nisolo. If I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that Nisolo shoes take time to break in and that the break-in process isn’t always easy. Starting small helps: wearing them around the house with thick socks for short stretches of time before progressing to quick outings like grocery shopping and then moving on to longer adventures. But it bears repeating, this style is my seventh from Nisolo – meaning I keep coming back for more.

Wearing this style over the past few months has seen some rubbing on the front of my ankle where the shaft meets my skin and on my left big toe (not one to enjoy enduring pain for beauty, I always keep these magical bandages handy), but the impact has lessened significantly and I expect it to soon be a memory. As for the Custom Cellfit™ memory foam removable insole, my feet feel safe and supported in this style.

As you can see in the photos throughout this post, the leather doesn’t have a sumptuous, smooth finish. It’s quite matte, appearing almost grey in spots with creases and wear to mirror the rugged silhouette. I’ve now worn this style on a number of day and weekend trips, and have found that it holds up well in the elements (such as on this trip, which coincided with the arrival of a tropical storm – my feet were just about the only dry part of me!).

Finally, the feature that distinguishes this pair of boots from all of my other lug sole shoes is the ultra-lightweight sole. My other pairs all have sturdy rubber soles, which are great for stability, but leave my ankles and knees aching at the end of a long walking day. The Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot is so light that it’s easy to forget I’m wearing them, making them a great pick for days with a lot of stairs!

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Styling the Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot

The heel height (1.25″) and shaft height (5.25″) add some visual weight to an outfit, but the front profile is narrow enough that this pair doesn’t read as too chunky and clunky. The double pull-tabs definitely push this boot further casual, and I think it’s equally fun to pair this style with an already casual outfit as it is to add tension to a dressier look.

Here I’ve gone big with the Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot, styling it with a cozy cashmere sweater, sturdy wide-leg pants* and an oversized blazer – but I’ve also worn it with dresses (seen here) and skirts. I personally have stepped away from the skinny jeans and boots combination for the time being, but if we’ve learned anything from trend cycles over the past decade, it’s never say never.

To show or no-show? That is the question. Socks are back on trend in a major way, but rather than letting this trend choose my sock status for me, I let the outfit and my mood make the call. Sometimes I feel like showing a little ankle to break up a covered-up outfit, and other times I prefer a longer pair of plain black crew* or cozy-soft socks for a seamless finish.

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Caring for the Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot

At just a few months old, I haven’t had to perform any care or maintenance on this pair, but I’m sure as they continue to face the elements over the coming years – not to mention any travel grime – they’ll occasionally need a little TLC. I still have plenty of my current cleaner and waterproofing spray on hand, but Nisolo offers a Leather Care Kit with leather cream and waterproofing treatment spray if you prefer to stick with the same maker.

*this item is no longer available and a similar option is linked

FINAL THOUGHTS + A NISOLO DISCOUNT CODE

Although I think I’m still a little ways away from being able to rely on the Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot as the sole travel shoe in a packing list, it’s already proven helpful for inclement weather on a trip. The durable, rugged shape has been a fun one to mix into my wardrobe, and I am so curious to see how it holds up over the years.

But is it worth it? At $228, this boot costs more than my last three (3!) plane tickets combined. Only you know the status of your budget, but in my opinion, it’s better to purchase one pair of high-quality shoes that will last rather than multiple pairs of inexpensive shoes that might not survive one trip. If your closet is missing a durable, lightweight, waterproof boot, I’d highly recommend giving this one a go. Of course, all feet are different, so if it ends up running a little narrow for your taste, Nisolo offers free returns and exchanges. And to sweeten the deal:

An Exclusive Nisolo Discount Code

Readers can save 20% on their Nisolo purchase with code WAYWARDBLOG20. Thanks for reading along and supporting the brands that support this blog (you’ve made my day!).

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Questions for you

Do you prefer a boot with a more rugged look or a slimmer profile?

What types of socks do you prefer to wear with your boots?

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One Comment on “Essential Travel Shoe: An Honest Review of the Go-To Lug Chelsea Boot from Nisolo”

Erica says:

October 27, 2023 at 1:15 pm

Thank you for your review! I was considering picking these up with my next 5 for 5 code and this is super helpful. A note to those with with slightly wider feet, I have a pair of the Legend by Thursdays that have a similar aesthetic, but they are not as narrow. They are great boots too.