I have wide feet and go hiking a lot. Last year I took a pair of Merrills to Iceland thinking they would be my new hiking boots but within a year they were showing holes. On the contrary, I bought my first pair of these shoes 5 years ago. They have endured a lot and the leather upper has never torn. I stopped wearing them after the rubber outsole started to wear out after about four years and many miles. Now I'll buy them again because they're wide enough (and unlike the newer Propets, the toe box is roomy and doesn't dig into the toe) and my first pair has lasted longer than any other shoe I've had.