Boot fits your foot like a glove. Love these bootsI was taken in by the hype surrounding this boot. Most of the reviews deemed it to be super comfortable, and add on the patriotic advertising,"used by Navy SEALs" during BUD/s, I figured it was a good buy. Before this boot, I had not worn another type outside of Timberland or Bass, and I had never spent so much money on a pair as well. Being pricier, I was expecting something above the rest. Short story, don't buy this boot. It's garbage. Ask any BUD/s candidate who had to use these and they'll tell you the same. Don't believe me? Look at a SEAL AMA on reddit, or google verified testimonials. You're bound to find it.So why are they bad? When they first arrived, there was a ton of signs indicating poor manufacturing as well as cheap materials. The leather used was thinner than I had ever had on a boot before. It just didn't look quality. Add on to that poor stitching, with tons of left over strands which should have been trimmed before shipping. The connection between the upper and the sole was plagued by leftover rubber burrs, which is something you don't want. Burrs will come off over time, but they tend to make pockets in the rubber when they do, not just flatten out, so they weaken the structure. And the left and right boot didn't match. The drainage eyelets on one were noticeably higher than the other, about a quarter inch. On one boot, one of the eyelets for the shoelace was out of place so that it torqued the siding and put pressure on my ankle. I admit I should have sent them back, but at the time I didn't realize the full extent of the problems until after I had worn them, merely thinking they needed a break in.All that was by looking, but usage they proved to be another story. Despite being 8", the ankle support is really not there. The center of the sole is in fact higher then the edges of the sole, so when you first get receive them it will feel off, like your teetering, when your on flat ground like pavement. These center soles are of a different material than the outer part, which is more like a dense foam. I had some misgivings about this outer sole at first which later turned to prove true. After half a dozen hikes through not too difficult terrain the sole had taken quite a beating, and on one boot, a chunk of the side just came out. If you look at one of the outer rim segments in the pictures, one of them is just gone, and half of another gone too. They are not durable boots. Period. If you want some benefits I'll say this. The sole does feel more comfortable then my 6" Timberlands, but I've also been wearing those for 5 years, so they've been worn down. They were lighter than my Tims, likely due to the thinner leather and nylon, and they are also cooler, again due to the nylon and also the drainage eyelets, which is nice for long hikes.Would I buy it again? No. I've come to find that virtually all military gear is made with one thing in mind - production cost, and this is a perfect example. For the same amount of money you can find much better boots.I bought these boots for my husband, but have also had several pairs of these. I have smaller feet, and wore the women's steel-toed version of this boot (which I believe is just a different sizing, but the same boot). I worked on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier (think hard, steel, rough surfaces at over 100 degrees) and this boot was perfect. These always broke in quickly with little discomfort. I am smaller (around 100 lbs at the time) and loved that they were lightweight with an excellent amount of support. I stood and walked long distances on my feet, with some jogging, and these never disappointed. I bought several pairs of these because the flight deck surface ate up the soles pretty quickly (not a fault of the boot, but the work environment was killer). I always received excellent quality boots every time. I used them after my separation from the military as hiking and work boots (like weed-eating and lawn mowing). I had them for years until I moved and they disappeared. So these boots aren't just for the boys, ladies!My husband is bigger (250 lbs or so) and works for the dept. of corrections. He also said these boots broke in quickly and offer good support. He walks on hard concrete, and is on his feet for pretty much 8 hours straight. He does sometimes run in these, and they perform well. They also polish up to look nice, but are incredibly durable.This is one of those items that you purchase and never have regrets about. They are well-designed and live up to their description.Great boots, highly recommend after years of experience with them! Thanks Bates!These boots are not cool. Do not buy these if you want "sweet boots." They are TROPICAL, meaning they have zero traction in ice/snow because the rubber hardens and, well, they are not meant to be worn in snow. These boots only serve one purpose. I wear a size 11 running shoe that accommodates for foot swell (I'm truly a 10.5). Size 11 Bates were way too big. Size 10.5 were still too big. Size 10 is perfect. I recommend going 1 full size lower off your distance running shoe (so a size 10 in my case). Boots will feel stiff initially. Put them in the shower/bath the day you get them. Wear them for a few hours. Repeat this a few times. Might double up on socks (merino wool) for your first few runs. Run in them when they are wet, dry, covered inside and out with sand, etc. These boots are huge inside, so you will always have foot movement (until your foot is so swollen that you can't get them off, or bend over). But, even if your boots were to fit perfectly, running 7 min. miles in water-logged boots, wearing soaking wet paints, in 10 inches of soft sand, is not as easy as it sounds. Also, the laces have a tendency to get worn out after a few hundred miles, and sometimes fuse into irremovable knots that make them difficult to remove when the user is submerged in water. The boots are surprisingly comfortable. Bates is a great company and they make amazing, other models of boots. This model just isn't cool. Don't you want to be cool?I have worn Bates Boots since the Marine Corps. I enjoy the great fit and ankle support they give me. The life of this boot is excellent , as a police officer I literally live in these boots in fact I do as I ware them even when not on duty mainly because of the support. I normally get 3 to 4 years out of these boots even wearing them every day all day long. Would I order again, with no reservations I would.