My last pair of Rockports served me well as a caterer and a bartender. When those finally wore out I decided to pony up the money for a newer model. These had great reviews so I gave them a shot.

As the three-star review says, they are extremely tough inside and out. The sole provides decent support but the material around the heel and ankle caused blisters and aches. I wore them everyday for a week at home and at work to try to break them in but nothing seemed to help.

And did I mention the smell? The stink of synthetic leather permeated the room, whether they were on or off. Imagine the smell of a barn on a hot day; not ideal for the service industry. The smell and the aches lasted 12+ days so I finally gave up and returned them. My current pair of Skechers are way more comfortable and they were $30 cheaper!