Asolo Cactus Gore-Tex® Suede Hiking Boots - Waterproof (For Men)

Been wearing these boots for about two weeks now in northern PA in February and so far very pleased! It's been very wet and cold and so far my feet have stayed dry and warm. Worn them on a day hike in fresh snow up to 5" without issue--uppers stayed dry, traction was good, and the Gore-Tex did it's job. I've also been wearing them several days a week on a construction site, again, several hours each day on my feet outside in the snow and mud. They are lightweight and comfortable right out of the box with decent support and great foot hold. I've seen some reviews describe these as a minimalist boot but I'd have to disagree. Having worn minimalist shoes and boots for the last 4 years (2 pair of NB Minimus, 2 pair of Inov-8 running shoes, Inov-8 Roclite 400 Gtx lite hikers, Nike Free SFB combat boots, as well as traditional combat boots (primarily Danner's) for the Marine Corps) the Asolo Cactus are much sturdier than any of the minimalist shoes I've worn. The sole is significantly thicker and more stable than the Inov-8 Roclites and they blow the Nike Free SFB out of the water in stability and support even being 2" shorter. If you're used to a hardier hiking boot or a traditional combat boot (ie the Danner's I've worn for 4 years) then yes, these will feel much more minimalistic to you. But make no mistake, these boots provide significantly more support and stability than a regular tennis shoe let alone a minimalist shoe. Having grown up in Colorado I personally won't hesitate to wear these boots anywhere, on or off trail. Provide good ground feel and flex without feeling every single pebble. They run true to size I think, ordered the 10 I normally wear and have had no issues with a nice mid-weight sock fitting comfortably. I got these on sale and now that I've worn them if I ever need another pair I won't hesitate to pay MSRP for them. Great boot, comfortable and versatile! You won't regret these!