These boots feel great the day you take them out of the box! No need to break them in! I took them to Ecuador and immediately climbed a 15,000 ft peak with no blisters or hotspots. Keep in mind these are great "trail" boots, but don't really provide support for heavier backpacking loads. The only downside, as others have stated, is the durability of the boot. This is my 3rd pair and the other 2 broke down in under a year. Typically the main issue I have is the rubber soles separating from the bottom of the boot. If you catch it early, you can throw some shoe goo on it and slow down the damage. Either way, they should last longer! The only reason I keep buying them is because they are so comfortable! If you can get past the durability issues, these are a must buy!