Everything about this boot was just dandy- it's a Frye, after all.  I returned it because the color was darker than in the photo, but that's a function of the listing, not the boot.  The boot was sturdy and cute.  Not wildly rugged looking and yet I had no doubt that it would hold up to years of abuse.  I do feel strongly that there would have been a definitely breaking-in period, because it was stiff.  But that's just Frye boots.