I love NB shoes. They are the only brand I buy for my work shoes (veterinary nurse, working 12 hour shifts, ~40 hours/wk). That said, this pair was not as great as others I've bought in the past. I bought them about 18 months ago. It was time for a new pair about 8 months ago, but I've been putting it off. The rubber that comes up on the toe of the right shoe decided to part ways with the rest of the shoe long ago, and there are lots of holes in the mesh material that covers the toe area. Like I said, these are my work shoes, so they get dirty, they're rubbed against the floor while I'm on the ground taking care of patients, etc, but it's not like I got hiking in them or anything. Most importantly, I tend to walk on the outside of my left foot, cause my body is weird like that, and these have not held up to that very well. They were noticeably worn down on that side after about 6 months, whereas previous pairs of NB shoes have held up better and longer, which is why I've continued to buy this brand. My next pair will likely still be NB, just not this particular style.