Men's Hi-Tec Natal Mid WP

Good fit and very little break in. Looking toward to next purchase from hikingboots.com

I bought these about 8 months ago and have worn them every day - nearly all day since. I'm getting ready to buy another pair or two if they would ever come off backorder. I'm hard on footwear but these held up nicely. And yes, I do mean I wore them EVERY DAY. I noticed last week how my odd gait has taken its toll on the sole. Just recently did the rubber toe start coming back from the shoe a tad. Water proofing wasn't really a concern of mine but they seemed to do well enough for a quick jump through water. Leaving them in for any longer and you'll definitely be having some wet feet. (Note here that I did not use any after market water proofing.) All in all, I'd buy'em again. I've been wearing hiking / combat boots of different varieties for about 15 years. These are definitely winners given the pricing point.

I've not been much of a hiker but was invited to go on a 50 mile weeklong backpacking trip with some friends in California's Emigrant Wilderness (it turned out to be just over 60 miles in the end!). My main criterion in choosing boots was that they be sturdy, waterproof, and not too expensive (purchasing for your first real backpacking trip is expensive). And they held up very well considering how rough the trail was - climbing over rocky passes, areas with lots of loose rocks (and even some deep sand), some muddy meadows, and wading across several small streams. Even though my feet were often tired and burning after 9 or 10 mile days, I never felt uncomfortable with these boots. And they were comfortable right from the beginning, as I only wore them an evening or two (to break them in ostensibly) prior to starting the hike. The only wear and tear visible (other than a complete covering of dust right now) is some slight separation of the rubber sole on the toe of the left boot, but only a couple of millimeters. My brother-in-law, who was also on his first big backpacking trip, experienced similar sturdiness with the same shoes although he developed several large blisters (I had none). The only explanation I can find - we both wore both thin dry liners and thick wool socks - is that his feet are perhaps a bit smaller and narrower than mine (or maybe he's just a bigger wimp than I am!), but otherwise a very good hiking boot for the price.

I just wore them for a day or two before the hiking. These shoes are really great for the price. Only problem I faced was the lack of cushion at the base. Otherwise these are great boots. I suffered no blisters and even the shoes still look in good shape after 5 days of wear and tear. I walked almost 13 miles on a single day. Also they are truly waterproof as I crossed several streams without a drop of water on my feet.

I must say that they are extremely comfortable and light. When you first pull these bad boys out of the box you may hesitate and think they'll be heavy on your feet, but they certainly carry themselves well and provide lots of ankle stability. I've been breaking them in the past few days and have been wearing them around town in Chicago. It's been very muggy and rainy here recently and these boots are certainly waterproof and breathable. While not being made of rubber, these boots have proven to be very watertight, but like any boots, a little extra waterproofing with any of the popular sprays or polishes wouldn't hurt.