I buy these shoes because I am flat footed. I wear orthotics in them.

The shoes typically last me 12 - 16 months. I do not know if that is relatively good or bad - but it is okay for me.

These shoes are fine - but as mentioned before, the toe box is stiff and it appears that it will take a lot of wear to unstiffen that part of the shoe. Other than that, the shoes are comfortable.

Kudos again to New Balance for making a wide shoe. Now if they would just consider making a wide (6E) shoe in the US. (I could not find one in their current line-up.) Not that the shoe would be of better quality. I just like buying American made goods and I know that New Balance has facilities in the US.