I am on a State Police SWAT team and the team opted for tan HAIX, they were supposed to be great.  Ninety percent of the team loved them.  I hated them, they hurt my feet so bad that I would leave them off until we were just ready to roll out.  These Danners are great.  No break in period, although I haven't hiked 20 miles in them.  They feel like sneakers or Merrils.  I can stand around all day on an asphalt range or be breaking brush.  They have taken a pretty good beating.  They have also been good in the cold and rain.  I live in northern New England and they kept my feet warm and dry in the snow and single digits all winter and with the right socks didn't make my feet sweat either.  I am 6'4" 260 and in a year my boots usually look like hell but these don't and the cushion and support are still almost like new.