This is my second pair of Keen shoes. I must say it took me almost a year to wear the first pair, but when I did, I was super surprised of how comfortable, sturdy and stable they are. I bought the Briggs II not knowing what the Briggs I must have been all about, but I was immediately happy with this shoe. It hugs my feet, but I love the room it gives me at the toes. I have flat feet (fallen arches), so the arch support is superb. I use a shoe lift in the left shoe and I still have plenty of room for a sock. I live in Chicago and commute on public transportation and ithas been such a relief to wear this shoe in the busy streets of Chicago. We move non-stop. When I say this is a "solid" shoe, I mean it. The grip is great even on wet and varied surfaces. Walking on rocks and in the grass is no problem with these shoes - you just keep moving. Haven't tried it in the snow yet, but your feet feel protected and strong in these shoes. The Briggs II is not the lightest shoe you will find, but when you have demanding terrain and need a reliable shoe that will not slow you down, the Keen Briggs shoe is it. My only complaint would be that when you lace the shoe to the top, the tongue of the shoe presses against the ankle and can be quite painful. So, if you buy this shoe and find this to be a problem, you might have to lace one notch down. Although this takes away from the aesthetic quality of the shoe, it's still a great quality shoe. I own Danskos, Wolkys and Birks. My Keens are the most comfortable and stable of them all. Would be nice to see this shoe redesigned with a larger tongue that is flatter, larger, and softer which also hugs the ankle without pinching or pressure on the ankle. Nevertheless, this shoe is a winner for me and I am a devoted Keen fan forever.