I've tried many types of boots in my day. By profession I am a miner and work six days a week. I have never found a boot that I can take out of the box and take off to work in. The hi-Tec boot that I bought I allowed three weeks to break in. When I would get home, till I went to bed, even going to the store, you name it. I also gave them a good dose of mink oil often. I have seen many reveiws about how stiff the leather is and sole issues. If your boot has no wrinkles in the stress points it's not broke in and will be uncomfortable. My first hike was five hours at twenty five degrees steep, unstable rock and leaf covered slopes and my boots worked as I would have expected. The soles stayed soft enough to grip the rocks and provided good ankle support. I have always worn Red Wing boots at the mine site but won't any more as they have changed the soles to a hard rubber that won't grip and I hate them. The soles look like new after two years(over two hundred dollar boots). I'm breaking in my Hi-Tec for the Grand Teton range and I'm sure that I have made the right choice. If you do buy a pair of Hi-Tec boots make sure you BREAK THEM IN before you judge them. As for me, my "Altitude IV" won't be my last, I love them.