A nice looking boot that won't kill your budget. I was told that North Face boots tend to run small, but found these true to size, possibly a little big. Definitely don't lock the heel in the way my "nice" boots do. I don't think these are a great choice for serious backpacking/ mountaineering, but decent for around town in inclement weather. Would be nicer if they had a little more leather.

These would be great for a cop on the beat in a cold slushy city...or perhaps a UPS delivery man on the Northern backcountry roads. Lotsa protection from the cold, the wet, and whatever else, a really rigid boot. The sole was to thick, I decided I wanted something for scrambling through the Pennsylvania woods and glacial-till vallies...and maybe wear while serving food at the brewery. The Banshees were to clunky. I returned them after a week - so I hadn't broken them in. The boot probably gets more supple with wear but for this type of protection and tread, I would look at a pair of leather boots with an insulated weatherproof lining like Gore-Tex for more adventurous pursuits. Ended up exchanging for Patagonia's Huckabees approach shoe.