I'm very, very sorry I put these boots on directly out of the box as soon as they came to my house because I am never taking them off ever again. Everything about them is absolutely perfect. I got the ones in chocolate brown and the color is a nice, dark buff. The laces are cord-style, but not stiff in any way and very easy to tie and adjust. I won't be using them much, though, because the zippers down the inside are more than adequate for getting me into and out of the boot.
These boots are functional, comfortable, and they make my feet look cute. That's as close to "life-changing" as a pair of shoes gets. :-)