I went the Russell route a couple years back for a pair of upland boots and the experience was awful. The quality of the boots produced looked great, but the overall experience was really bad. Maybe I expected too much... I went to the factory in WI, since I couldn't see buying custom boots on just a tracing of my foot and measurements I made. The first pair was sent without being adjusted to fit for green superfeet (even though I was charged a "customization" charge on the bill to accommodate the superfeet). The second pair was sent with the wrong sole and their solution was to resole them (sole I wanted was a black vibram, but the sole they put on was a browny-purple), so I would have had brand new custom boots with a resoled sole that was two-tone and a resole. Not to mention that it took months beyond what they said for every step, it was a couple of years before I pulled the plug on the torture. As far as custom, that means a different thing to them than it did to me as well. The second pair, which I could get my feet into with superfeet in were really long - like clown shoes. When I asked about why the heck, my custom boots were too long for me (but fit well otherwise) the answer was that they have to work with the lasts they have. The one they used was the best fit for me. So custom as in leather and sole choice, but the lasts you get one made on are what they have - if your feet are a little wide, apparently, you get a pair of clown shoes (which you could just buy a couple sizes up off they shelf). Anyway, my story. I'm used to if you buy something with a good reputation and top shelf price, you get top shelf performance and service. This was a case for me that it did not pan out that way. In my research prior, I will say a lot of guys seem really happy with the boots.
