Mainly, I needed boots for walking my dog, which can be on nice sidewalks or muddy trails, and can be dry and cold, or covered in mud, tire slush, ice, you name it. I have great Columbia snow boots, and nice Sperry rain boots, but for just muddy or slushy days, or when a running shoe just wouldn't cut it, I needed a good boot. After trying and returning a couple pairs of other brands that I was familiar with, I gave these a shot. They work perfectly for what I need them for. I am not hiking the wilderness for miles and miles at a time multiple times a week. I am walking for about an hour a day in really crappy weather. Fit: I normally wear a size 8, and that's what I ordered. They fit, although they are almost too tight. I usually wear a pair of medium thick merino wool calf socks with these, and if I wore anything thicker, they might be too small. They have stretched out a little with breaking in, and now fit closer to the size 8 I was expecting. Comfort: When I first put these boots on, it almost felt like they were pinching and poking in a couple places. After I wore them around for a few minutes, it was like they molded to my feet and were really comfortable. Initially I broke them in around the house. I haven't walked longer than an hour in them, but they feel very supportive when I'm walking. Traction: Winter in Indiana is a dirty, muddy, icy, slushy mess. I have walked through ankle deep slushy water, over icy roads and sidewalks, and dangerously slippery gravel trails with these boots, and haven't slipped at all. Waterproof: I don't go trekking through creeks in these, but I have walked through some ankle deep puddles that I thought for sure would cause water to seep in. However, when I get home and get my boots off, my socks are always totally dry. How they are holding up after a few months: They are muddy and a little scuffed, but that's what boots are for. These boots are super practical, and it is a bonus that they are so cute. I will say that I do hose the soles off, and brush the uppers off, just to keep the salt from damaging the boots. I will give them a deeper clean when the season is over so that they will hopefully hold up longer.
