Before buying these I went to a local store to try it on in light of previous reviews. Like some others have said the toe box on my right foot was pretty tight. So, for being a $200 piece of gear I was extremely hesitant. Would it stretch out over time? I didn't think so due to the description of it's construction. But Amazon.com had a great deal I couldn't pass up so I took the plunge. Sure enough the boot was tight and uncomfortable on my right foot. But I was determined to give it a try, and hopefully wear it in. After 1 week of continuous wear I'm happy to report that the boot does indeed stretch. Now it fits nice and snug like a glove. Honestly this is the best pair of shoes/boots I've ever owned. Great traction on the sole, the shank is plenty stiff for stability, the support around the ankle is great and the mesh does a decent job of keeping my feet cool. I say decent because there's more leather than mesh so my feet still get toasty. But when there's a strong breeze I feel it and it feels SOOOOO good! I haven't yet tested out the gore-tex but I imagine it'll do what it's supposed to. I'm normally a sandals/flip-flop kinda guy but I love wearing these boots all the time!