I got the drifters after unsuccessfully trying for three years to replace my old Salomon XA Pro's with trail running shoes. I finally convinced myself that I use these shoes more for hiking and every day use, and rarely get to run on aggressive trails, so I went with a more hiking-type shoe, and couldn't be happier. Being a more "boot-based" shoe, these look like they will have a much longer life than similar trail-runner based hiking shoes. Construction quality is solid.

These have very similar fit to my mid-weight backpacking boots - roomy in the toe box and great (though not obvious) arch support. They are plenty stable underfoot, with a good amount of flex under the ball of the foot and toes. They are much lighter than my boots, though - I was surprised at how light they feel on my feet. I have flat feet with narrow heels - I usually wear SuperFeet in my hoes, and buy moderate-support running shoes, and I am very happy with the stock fit and footbeds of the Drifters. They run pretty true to size - I am typically a 10-10.5, and the 10.5's fit great.

I have not had a chance to take them off-road yet, but the Drifters have held up great for every day use, and have shown excellent support when toting my 30 lb. toddler on my back in a back carrier. They've also survived a soaking deluge - my Gore-Tex pants let wanter in, but my feet stayed dry!

Overall, highly recommended. The upper is pretty much all leather, so as long as it's treated, it will be just as waterproof as the Gore-Tex version, and stay a lot cooler in warm weather.

I am a pretty big fan of long hikes and these are absolutely amazing! I have wider feet at the ball and they had a nice wide base, but were still snug. They absorb shock very well on hard surfaces for days at a time. Also, for a shoe they have excellent stability and support on rocky rough terrain. The heels have a lot of padding as well so they cushion and cup the heels nicely when going out on a jaunt.

This is my first pair of Patagonia hiking shoes and I really like them. I love how they fit, and the Vibram sole is super sturdy and grips well on the trail. They also have a cool unique look to them and I don't mind wearing them around town. Construction seems super bomber and they're lined with capilene as well which has been nice in warm weather.

After a few weeks of working these guys in, they're just starting to feel really nice. This shoe/boot runs a tad small which concerned me at first as I could feel my toes pressing into the top of the shoe. However, after walking around a bit in them, they've either stretched a little or my feet have somehow adjusted enough that they're quite comfortable (toes no longer hit or rub the end of the shoe) - almost as comfortable as the well-worn sneakers I'm used to wearing. These shoes certainly feel incredibly durable/well built and provide ample support for light hiking. Also, they're a bit more attractive than most of the hiking shoes currently available.

I've had these shoes for a couple months now, and there are some points to be made. They are heavy for anything faster than a comfortable walk, but very stable and supportive. They are very comfortable, fit my size perfectly, and very stylish. Don't expect these shoes to have any ventilation whatsoever; they are perfect for warm winter shoes. One thing I was very disappointed with are the laces. Both laces broke open and fell apart within the first couple weeks. I expect more from a company like Patagonia, but I still rate these a strong four stars since the laces are easily replaced and the rest of the construction has proved to be lasting.