I purchased these boots for a 2 week trip to Colorado.
I'm 50 years old and my ankles are not what they used to be. As a result, I was looking for a boot with excellent ankle support. These boots delivered on that front. When laced tightly, they provided rock solid lateral stability, even with a 35 pound pack.
There was virtually no beeak in period. They felt great right out of the box.
Waterproofing was also excellent. No leaks during stream crossings. And, they were relatively dry after 6 hours of slogging on a rainy day.
My only complaint is the plastic on plastic squeek I hear with every step.