Now that it's April weather again, the shoe has now been tested several times in snow and rain and has so far stayed dry even when jumping through 3cm deep puddles. However, I haven't had it for more than a week so I can't comment on its lifespan. The tab on the heel helps a lot when putting them on. The laces are still slick enough to put a double knot on them to keep them from unraveling, but I think that WILL work out over time.