These shoes are of excellent quality and good for hiking or casual wear. The gortex feature is especially desirable, and a major reason for purchasing. Walking through puddles is no problem! The shoes are somewhat stiff at break-in, but after the break-in period, the shoes remain comfortable.
My first Bean boots were from the old store in 1971, they were great. Over the years I have bought but a few additional boots--their durability being a major factor. Four years ago I bought low cut Gore Tex mountain treads (10-1/2, EE) which have seen hundreds of hours in the lower mountains of central Switzerland and along the Maine coast. Two years ago I bought the ankle high boots (10-1/2, EE) for some winter hiking and snowshoeing. They have seen under 80 hours of use.
The background is relevant, since the new mountain treads simply do not fit (the well worn old low cuts and the barely worn ankle boots continue to fit perfectly); socks' thickness is not the issue. The new mountain treads are too tight in the ball of the foot and in the arch; there is little 'wiggle' space in the toe; the arch is badly positioned for my foot. The heel slips and would be a blister machine with a few hours of wear.
As yet, I do not whether to return them or to do some serious pounding on them to rejigger the material; reading my review leads me to lean toward the return option.
These shoes are very comfortable in the city or on the trail. they have avery rugged soul that gives good taction where ever you walk. And with the goe-tex liner they're absolutly water proof. I will definatly buy these again.
