I love these! As stated in the item description, and reiterated by many other Keen wearers, these do run a little small. I ordered half a size up and they fit perfectly. They were out-of-the-box comfortable for me, as they required no break-in period for long walks. The metal hook-and-eyelet system for the laces is so strong and durable, I cannot imagine ever having issues with them breaking the way fabric or plastic hooks do. The entire boot seems so high-quality and strong to me; these features are worth the extra money to me when compared with other Keen models. They are weighty, which you should expect from a boot of this nature, but I don't find them any heavier than other winter/hiking boots. I have a flat foot and these provide excellent arch support. The height of the boot is also appreciated during long walks as they provide ankle support and have proven to withstand higher levels of snow! I write this review from the east end of Long Island, NY, just after "Blizzard Nemo" (as its been dubbed), a winter storm that resulted in 1-2 feet of snow. I wore them to lead my puppy outside before digging a pathway  (so I tracked through snow that was up to my knees) and my feet did not get wet. They are truly waterproof. They are extremely warm (my fingers got cold and numb in my gloves but toes stayed toasty). I have gone for a couple-mile-long walks through the woods in these so far. I have not yet hiked mountains (we don't have much of that on Long Island...), but when I have an opportunity to, I am confident that these boots will meet my expectations. I will write with an update at that time. But... I highly recommend these boots to someone looking for a comfortable, supportive, durable winter boot that is warm, waterproof, and appropriate for long walks and hikes, and quite good-looking in my opinion. I really love the brown leather that comes with the "Bison/Slate Black" look. Personally, I'm not that attracted to a lot of the other women's boots out there that are "jazzed up" and have other colors incorporated and glitzy features added to make the boot feminine, chic, and stylish. I really value the natural simplicity of these boots, thick brown leather, neutral-colored stitching, and brown/black laces.