Im a supervisor for Pathways 3H wilderness program in Mountain Home TX. Pathways is a non profit organization based on Boy Scouts of America, we use the outdoors as a therapuetic tool in helping CPS and probation children work through thier emotional issues. I have worked with this company for 2 and 1/2 years. In the first 6 months I realized the need for a comfortable yet very rugged set of footwear. In the first 6 months I tore through three pair of New Balance "trail" shoes. Coming to the conclusion spending upwards of 100 dollars or more on a great pair of hiking shoes would be a good investment! Although I did not purchase my shoes at Back Country I cannot pass up an oppurtunity to brag on my Merrell Moab Ventilators! The camp I work at uses primitive trails to walk from the camp they stay at to the on campus school and other various buildings and rec fields. The terrain here is somewhat rolling but covered in sharp rock, flint etc. I work sixteen hour days three days a week walking upwards 10 miles a day, previous to these shoes I was having back and knee pain and having a difficult time making it through one day much less three! The second six months of working there a friend bought me a pair of scetchers hiking shoes which lasted about 6 months, when these wore out I purchased the Moabs! WOW! Back and knee pain were gone! We take high adventure camping trips every 4 to 6 weeks to Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, Davis Mountains, and weekly hikes at parks in our local area, over the last year and a half I can safely say my Moabs have been at least 250 to 300 miles in all kinds of terrain and weather with ABSOLUTELY no problems, or discomfort what so ever! They dry fast, and have great lasting soles. The pair I have now have at least 25 to 30 percent of thier soles left and are asking for more punishment! The only small thing I would recommend would be replacing the insoles with a pair of gel insoles by Dr. Scholls they last alot longer! I cannot speak any more highly of these shoes and the Merrell company, needless to say I'm a Merrel customer for life!