These are out of the box comfortable like others have said. However they are not made well. I had the same issue as at least one other person with the eyelet breaking off within the first 2 or 3 uses. The laces didn't fit tight enough and I did roll my ankle. I went to return them, but between shipping costs and the delay I had to keep them as I was going on a 4-day previously booked trek and couldn't wait and wasn't about to try and break in another pair. The gamble paid off and these were comfy after a rub down with mink oil. But I'm still going to have to pay a cobbler to repair my boots.