When I first tried on these oxfords, they were pretty snug, but after a few weeks, they broke in nicely. They feel comfortable when you're on the go; however, if you plan on standing still for a long time while wearing these, your feet will complain sooner than later. As their name suggests, the Countrysiders are meant to be used while traversing natural terrain. In this regard they are exceptional, sporting hardwearing outsoles and thick-cut, heavyweight cowhide. I've walked on grass, dirt, gravel, and especially concrete (the unnatural terrain), and after more than a year of regular use the outsoles look barely worn, the leather hardly bruised.

I've also walked through many a rainfall and not a drop of water has made its way in, courtesy of the Gore-Tex liners. Only once during a torrential downpour, the rainwater trickled down over the heel collars, but that day clearly called for waterproof boots, not shoes. To prevent the leather from drying out, I occasionally use Red Wing Shoes Mink Oil, which does the job. There are other leather conditioners that can make the leather more water-repellant, but I find that they also tend to cut down on breathability.

In short, their combination of strength, ruggedness, durability, and impermeability to water makes these shoes a sure bet for the outdoor adventurer.