I've been hearing great things about Altra for years and finally bit the bullet- they did not disappoint! I've taken these out running a few times and really like the feel of them. They did come laced up extra high, so I had to unlace the top loop so the tongue wasn't jamming into my ankle, but once I did that they've been nothing but comfortable. Since I bought these as the old model on sale, I figured it was worth taking a chance on. I'm more of a road runner than trail, so I haven't tried these in nature yet, but I plan to. They are a little heavier and if you're a runner who drags your feet when tired, they may catch on the toe occasionally, but I haven't found that to be a deal breaker for me. I also sized up by .5  based on advice and trying on another pair in-store.