Which is better for wide calves?

The Coal Tall. Its 18" expandable shaft with back lacing is designed as a wide-calf boot. The Cora adjusts to about 14", so it fits slimmer calves.

Which handles rain and winter better?

The Cora, because of its rubber tread sole. The Coal's leather outsole is dressier but slips on wet pavement, so treat it as a dry-weather boot.

Which is easier to put on?

The Cora. Its inside brass zip runs the full shaft and the boot is shorter. The Coal also has a zip, but the 17" shaft takes more pulling.

Is the Coal worth stepping up to over the Cora?

Only if you want a tall wide-calf boot. If you want an everyday slouchy boot with better grip, the Cora covers it and is rated 4.9 out of 5 by 524 owners.

Do both run true to size?

Both are handcrafted leather boots that break in, and the Coal is marked medium width. Use the adjustable lacing on either to tune the calf, and size up if you wear thick socks.

Both use leather uppers and linings. The Coal's full-grain leather is the more durable upper, but its leather outsole wears faster than the Cora's rubber sole and needs a cobbler sooner.

Freebird by Steven Cora Boot vs Freebird Coal Tall Boot

Both are handcrafted leather Freebird boots on a 2½" block heel, so the choice comes down to shaft height and fit. The Cora is a shorter, slouchy boot with a rubber tread sole and an inside brass zip, which suits everyday wear and wet pavement. The Coal Tall is a 17" wide-calf boot with expandable back lacing and a leather outsole, better for tall-shaft looks and fuller calves but slicker underfoot. Owners rate the Cora highly; the Coal's leather sole is the main trade-off.

Choose the Cora if you want a shorter slouchy boot with a grippy rubber sole and an easy inside zip.
Choose the Coal Tall Boot if you need a tall wide-calf shaft with expandable lacing and a dressier leather outsole.

Prices

Freebird by Steven Cora Boot: $213.10 at Curtsy (checked today)
Freebird Coal Tall Boot: $225.00 at eBay (checked today)
Difference: the Freebird by Steven Cora Boot is $11.90 cheaper than the Freebird Coal Tall Boot today