I'm a shoe guy and have many various types of boots and shoes for various purposes. I purchased the Outback II's as a hybrid of a hiking boot and an everyday shoe. They aren't flashy(I like that), fairly simple in design, but functional as a daily wearer. The hunter orange on the inside of the Black/Chocolate model is a nice touch. They advise to go a half size up, and I'm glad that they do. Gives you a little wiggle room for when I wear thicker socks in the colder months, without creating hot spots or rubbing while wearing thinner socks. While I don't like the high-top look when wearing shorts, I will most likely be purchasing Monty Lo's to help fill that void, sometime soon. All in all, great shoes, great look, great feel. I've already received a fair amount of positive comments on them. Treat yo self, you deserve it.