I am not an outdoor person nor a hiker. I work in IT and often walk a lot. I had the normal work shoes, even a pair of Dr. Schols. My feet around the balls of my feet HURT. It was to the point i was going to see a doctor as I felt like an old man. I decided to try these boots since all my walking was like hiking. This was more then I ever spent on a pair of shoes, but that pain was just too much. I began wearing these shoes and within a week I could feel the pain in feet going away. Now I am pain free and I wear the boots EVERYWHERE. Money well spent.