First of all let me say it's only fair to compare these to other snow boots, not to your favorite pair of running shoes. For a snow boot, they are very light and not at all clunky.

I use these to walk the dog when it's slushy, cold, or snowy--up to a mile when the weather's bad. Also my daughter and I walk 4 blocks each way to meet the school bus, standing there in the cold 5 or more minutes, and my feet do not get cold. And I get cold easily! I usually wear thick wool socks and plush-lined crocs around my 70-degree house! At work I change from boots to shoes and one day my feet got so cold I put my boots back on!

I have never gotten a blister. My heel moves up and down slightly which is perhaps impossible to avoid in a snow boot. I walk all winter long and of course I'd rather walk in a winter hiking boot, but sometimes conditions just don't allow that.

These boots keep my feet warm and dry. I usually wear a size 7, occasionally a size 7.5, and the Baffin size 7 fits me perfectly with SmartWool socks. I bought these last year and I'm sorry, I can't remember if they felt snug at first (I think they did). They are most definitely not too tight around my calves and I have pretty sturdy legs. I often stuff my pants legs inside the boot so they don't get snowy and they're still not too snug.

I would buy these again in a heartbeat. If I were going to Alaska I'd get the super duper version: Baffin Women's Ice Field Insulated Boot (couldn't bring up a link for it).