One of my friends commented snarkily on my "dad shoes", so I took my 608s off and she recoiled in horror at my Fred Flintstone-esque 5E-width feet. I've been through numerous pairs of these shoes. I beat them to hell. They're my work shoes. They get covered in soot, dirt, oil, et cetera. I don't expect any pair to last any longer than six months to a year, with what I put them through. Heck, they're not even that good traction-wise on steel or aluminum decking and the outsole soaks up oil like a sponge. I don't have a choice. They're the only shoes around that fit my platypus flippers. New Balance, please, for the love of god, don't stop making these shoes. I don't want to have to go barefoot.