I knew going in that this would be a serious hiking boot and was not disappointed. It is a moderately heavy shoe that provides excellent foot and ankle support over uneven trail conditions. As others have noted, the last is designed for comfort but is not soo roomy that you are swimming in it. Its unconventional look contributes to wind, water and cold protection. It took a few days and some mink oil to break the boot in, but again that is what you'd expect of a serious hiking boot, and once at that point was very comfortable to have on all day. The one negative I experienced was the tongue on the right boot refused to stay centered, and would creep around the outside of my ankle, causing pressure, rubbing and irritation. This was easily remedied by the local cobbler, but is not what you'd expect given the general quality of fit and construction. True to sizing.