work shoes. A shoe that could handle dust and mud at times, as well as water splashes, helped with stability as I was overpronated and looking decent. These shoes were a pleasant surprise. Bought for this purpose for many years. Before I put them on for the first time, I apply some leather conditioner and protection and occasionally wipe them clean. They show no signs of tears or stress in the leather or any of the outer materials. The laces also show no signs of wear. After nearly three months (6 days a week) of wearing the first pair, they still function exactly as they should with no abnormal wear or deviations to the stitching or outsole. I recently bought a second pair when it came time to replace my original ones. I replaced every 30-45 days and usually the last few weeks have been uncomfortable. Almost 90 days later they still feel great and leave no pain or discomfort after a long day. This more than made up for the slightly higher initial cost compared to what I've worn before. I even wore them for a few walks after working in the park with my dog and did some yard work with no problem. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of all black athletic shoes, but these are attractive for their purpose. Considering that they are durable, wear evenly and don't cause me any discomfort, I would definitely recommend these shoes. If you don't want solid black, I think New Balance still offers them in other colors and materials.