I bought these boots in January and where I live the mountains aren't safe for hiking right at the moment. So thinking that I needed to break them in and get ready for my spring trecking, I began wearing them as soon as they arrived..... WOW, WAS I WRONG - they are so comfy, do not need any breaking in and have been wonderful in our snowy, wet, cold weather. (I did experience a bit of calf discomfort, but realigned the tongue and that problem was solved!) I have been building a house and used these boots for tromping around on our muddy, frozen property and my feet have been happily supported and warm during the many hours out in the wet and cold conditions. I bought the 7.5 and my toes have a bit of space in them. I got them 1/2 size bigger on purpose for thick socks. However, I don't think I really need them as the boots are so well insulated. I have to admit, for so much boot, they are EXTREMELY LIGHT WEIGHT and my feet and legs don't get tired tromping around in them. I am extremely impressed and excited to own these. I would do it again - I found my faves!

I have a wide foot, so finding a shoe that is womens and fit my larger foot was crucial. These are so comfortable and very lightweight compared to my older shoes. The gortex has been wonderful, I've already hiked in rain and through puddles and haven't had a single issue. I didn't know I would love these shoes so much but they've been awesome.

Also, there was no phase of wearing them in. I was able to put them on and head right out into the field without any blisters or painful feet.

I bought these boots in anticipation of a geology field camp. The thing about geologists is that we go through hell and high water to get to an interesting formation with complete disregard for cacti, scree, trails, or property lines. Our class hiked 8-12 miles per day, six days a weeks, off-trail through really the nastiest possible Montana scrub, climbed cliffs, and forded streams. Some days we had more that 4,000 feet of elevation gain. Out of the 92-person camp, only myself and the one other person with these same boots had their boots look BRAND NEW after six weeks of geology shenanigans. That says a lot!

I've also worn them on backpacking trips around the Red River Gorge, and they did a good job of stabilizing my ankles as I hauled around a 40-pound pack.

I have low-volume feet with a narrow heel and wide toe box, and these boots have a perfect fit. Seriously, they make me feel invincible. No stubbed toes, no cramped toes, no blisters, no soreness, and my ankles were well supported. Not much flex in the sole, but that actually worked in these boots' favor for the uses I needed them for - the heavy-duty support kept my feet from getting fatigued on rough terrain. I can set my feet down anywhere and feel assured that they won't slip. The two-stage lacing system does a good job of balancing the needs of my wide fore-foot and very narrow ankle. Excellent cushioning, but not so much that I felt disconnected from the ground. They're as breathable as you can get with a waterproof boot, and keep my feet 100% free from speargrass and cactus spines.

I found that they ran true to size, and feel that they would really be adjustable to fit any kind of foot shape. I lace them fairly tight, so they would definitely fit a higher-volume or wider foot as well.

The price initially gave me sticker shock, but they're worth every penny.

If you're just doing light hiking these boots might be overkill. I wear my Vasque Talus boots for ordinary day hikes. However, if you have problem feet or need heavy-duty support and durability in a (relatively) lightweight package, these rate a 6 out of 5.

Very comfortable out of the box. The boot has great stability and support. I would recommend to a friend.