I'm on my 3rd pair of these and something in the quality has changed.  Both shoes separated from the sole at the large toe after 3 months of light use.  The fit and comfort are the best I've found.  The sole is elevated in the back and stiff through the arch, and completely cured my plantar faciitis heal pain.  However, while most good hiking shoes (Keen, Teva) have a rubber reinforced toe, these Sketchers only give the illusion of having a rubber reinforced toe. That black thing you see on the nose is some cheap fabric with a black outer coating of some type.  And while that may be O.K. if it was sown on top of some existing leather, it is the only connection between the upper and sole at the toe, as far as I can tell.  Thus, as I experienced, the rubber-looking fabric tore away from the sole on both shoes and I'm left with a two-inch slit on either shoe at the big toe.  While I can still wear the shoes, I cannot wear them if  I plan on hiking in damp conditions or in the rain.  Otherwise I get some pretty wet socks after awhile.  I did not experience this separation in my previous two pairs of the same model shoe.  Too bad, because I could always count on Sketchers Downforce to be a comfortable, tough, long lasting shoe in the past.