I got these boots right before a trip and only wore them around the house the day before to break them in. I wore them at White Sands Park up and down the sand hills. Thought for sure my boots would be full of sand, nothing!! Went to Sandia Crest where the snow was up to my knees in spots, again no snow in my boots and my feet stayed warm with regular socks. Hiked down to the Rio Grande River through thorny bushes and mud. In a weeks time I put some serious wear and tear on these boots and they held up great. Plus my feet never got sore. They do scratch up some, but I used leather polisher when I got home and most came out. If you like the worn leather look these are the boots for you. If you want nice polished leather, then look for something else. I have slightly narrow feet (at least for a size 11), but these fit perfect after stretching them a little. Aside from the few scratches (again I was pretty hard on them) these boots, including the soles, look brand new. I ordered another pair for a spare since I can never find size 11 boots I like.