Owned a pair of Keens prior, which I liked a lot with their KeenDry technology. The Apex is lighter, more athletic, and stays dry unless you step in a puddle that comes up higher than your ankle. My out-of-box test was to dip my fit in the bathtub, and the GTX kept my socks completely dry.

I wouldn't buy these as trail runners because they are a little heavier than others on the market, and they don't breath as well as the meshy shoes out there.

However, I have been hiking in these all summer in Idaho and now fall/late fall in New England (which gets real wet and slushy) and have loved them. The Scarpa rubber is much better than any other day-hikers I've used, so I feel confident scrambling up slippery rocks. And they are significantly lighter feeling than the Keens.

It took me a while to get comfortable in these things (wide footed guys stay away!) but once I managed to break them in they were worn to work and around town daily. Solid, low profile, gore-tex insert keeps the rain and snow at bay, understated styling was much appreciated.

I live in Montana and hike on a daily basis. I've owned shoes made my Montrail, Solomon, you name it... These are the most well-made, comfortable shoes I've ever owned. I have eight months on them and they look almost new. I've had them caked in mud and they always come back good as new.

I can't say enough about these shoes. I've destroyed more than my fair share of hiking shoes, but I haven't been able to wreck these yet. Buy them.

I ordered these for hiking in Arizona. The first time I wore them I developed a small blister because they were a little stiff. Once I wore them a few times they loosened up. A good pair of shoes for the price.