I was hesitant to buy these because I already had some Merrell low top hiking sneakers that I love...but I was heading out on a snowshoe trip and needed something waterproof and high around the ankles. I unfortunately didn't have a whole lot of time to break them in before my trip which is a huge no-no.
Despite all that, I really loved these boots and so glad that I bought them. My feet stayed dry and warm (along with the wool socks I wore) for the whole hike (about 4-5 hours) and they were also super comfy. I wore them around for the remainder of the weekend too around Yosemite and didn't get any blisters or soreness at all. Plus, they have a nice clean, sleek look to them. For as "heavy duty" as they feel, I think the design is pretty solid. I got a lot of compliments on them actually! For the price, I think they are definitely have great value, especially if you like to get outdoors and take on some more challenging hikes but aren't super hardcore about it. If you are an extreme hiker, maybe something more high-end would be better.