I bought these after buying another pair of Sketcher in a local big box store. I fully expect these to rise to the level that the other ones are at, they're simply too new (and not fully broken in yet). I am wearing them for work and while the back problems I experience haven't gone away, these shoes are WAY better for my back than some of the other "dress shoes" I've bought over the years. I expect them to give me at least a year (my other pair is over three years old) of faithful service depending on use. They're comfortable, lightweight, and easy to maintain (as easy as any other pair of shoes - make sure to oil them up and they'll last forever). I would highly recommend these to anyone looking for a decent black dress shoe.