I bought these boots before going on a month-long backpacking trip. I had been tempted to go with cheaper shoes, but these felt so much better than anything else that I tried that I felt they were worth the extra cost (and when backpacking for a month, your boots had better be comfortable). I wore them around town for a little bit before beginning the trip, but really the first extended use of them was on the trail. Never had any trouble with blisters or anything -- they've really been a dream. One note -- these are pretty heavy boots. They have lot of ankle support and heavy soles, but if you're looking to do normal intensity day hikes, you'd probably be fine with something less intense. If you're looking to do intense hiking, especially with a heavy load on your back, though, I can't recommend these enough.