I bought this hiking boot for Philmont this year, have been on 3 practice hikes and one very rainy day event. Fantastic hiking boot. I needed a 10 double wide and the 10.5 wide does very well for me. I wear wool socks with liners. Walked 27 miles his weekend, no blisters or hot spots! Been in water more than ankle high in streams and heavy rain, foot stayed dry! Should have bought his a long time ago.
I purchased these boots last October and have given them a real workout. I have worn them almost every day under all kinds of conditions...hiking, hunting, trapping, everyday usage...and they have held up tremendously. I have never even had a damp foot, and have been in many soaking conditions. When they first arrived the boots were very "stiff" and I was worried about blisters. They conformed to my feet almost instantly and in less that a week, they were "broken in", and I never even have had a sore spot, let alone a blister.Not one thing have I not liked about this boot.
I am retired and spend normally 7 days a week out in the woods and on the trails. If and when I want a waterproof boot with good support these are my boots of choice. I have used these backpacking and hiking in rocky and snowy conditions, and they perform very well. Crossing shallow stream that don't top the boots is easy and your feet stay dry. If I am out and it is very muddy I may wade in a shallow area of a stream to clean off the wet mud. I will clean and treat them better at home, but I can take them home with out all the mud getting in my car and without getting my feet wet.I also especially like the lacing system. The first hook is a locking hook that allows you to tighten the lacing for the foot and ankle seperately. You pull the foot as tight or loose as you want and lock it in the first set of hooks. when you pull to tighten the last hooks at the top you are only tightening the lacing for the ankle. Inserts were not the best but I normally swap out inserts in new boots anyway. Currently my boots look great but my inserts need to be replaced again due to heavy wear. These are great boots and I do highly recomend them. Too I have narrow feet and these boots come in "B: width that works great for me. They also come in wider widths, but I have no experience with them..
After 500 miles on the AT and all the off season hiking my boots are holding up great. There is still plenty of sole to carry my 260 pound frame with my 50 pound pack up and down the trails. I bought a second pair just in case but haven't needed them. The only con I have is the weight. Happy hiking.
