I've been wearing these boots daily for almost 1.5 years. They have been, and continue to be, wonderfully durable, comfortable, and supportive. This is the most money I've ever spent on a pair of boots, but it was well worth it, given how much I depend on them. On a daily basis, I use these boots when walking up and down a steep trail with lots of loose rocks and areas of loose, silty soil, and the traction is fantastic. On my daily hike, there are also a lot of thorn bearing trees that drop thorny twigs (kiawe trees, if that rings a bell with any readers). These are vicious thorns that are often an inch or more long. - Not once has a thorn penetrated into the inside of the boot. The thorns certainly get stuck in the outsole and I remove them with pliers every day, but they haven't penetrated to the inside so far. The boots are breathable and are also definitely water repellent. I've worn them in rainy conditions and my feet stay mostly dry. There was no break-in period required when they were new. - They were comfortable from the start. The all-around support of the boot has held steady through all this daily use: They haven't become worn or compressed on any areas, and this is despite the fact that I have an uneven gait and uneven foot strike due to asymmetrical legs and scoliosis. The toe box allows plenty of room, but not so much that I am sliding around inside. (And this is even though I have problems with many shoes rubbing the nail on my big toe.) My heel is also held supportively. I have a medium-high arch, and the arch in this boot is just right for me, but I think it would also be fine for someone with low arches. (I bought a pair of these boots for my husband, who has low arches, and he has no complaints.) The outside and inside of the upper have no tears, separations, or any other problems after all this use on rough trails. Likewise, the sole (bottom of the boots) is in great shape despite all the thorns and rocks - Hardly looks worn at all. These boots are quick and easy to lace. - You will want to double knot the laces because they are round laces. The only drawback to these boots is that if you wear them in sticky mud, you will need to put in some work to get the mud out of outsole. - That's the trade-off for the traction you get with the design of the "lugs" and the rest of the outsole. As you can probably tell, I have been very impressed with these boots and have recommended them to friends and family. These aren't going to wear out anytime soon, but when they do, I'll be sticking with this boot - Hope Salomon continues to make them.
