Someone wrote a review of these shoes describing them as "rigid" and "solid". I'd agree with that to a fault. These Scarpas feel like what I imagine wooden Dutch shoes feel like. After 20+ years in the Army with more than enough experience wearing dozens of varieties of hiking boots over some exceptionally un-wonderful terrain, I can unequivocally say, these Scarpas are the most uncomfortable shoes/boots by far. I currently wear them only in the office setting as they are unthinkable for actually hiking. After over six months of near daily use, the sole is stiff as a board and I've had to monkey around with the laces to create "windows" over the toe box so I regain circulation to my toes. The material and construction quality is great and I'm sure these shows will last a very long time (unfortunatly). The design and the way the shoes crush my toes, while somehow allowing my heel to flop, around is abysmal.