Columbia Women's Redmond Waterproof Hiking Shoes - Lightweight & Durable Outdoor Footwear for Trail Walking, Camping & Mountain Adventures

I've walked – outdoors – about 2 miles a day for the past 20 years, some on trails, but in recent years, more often on concrete and asphalt pavement. Over the decades, I've purchased and worn (and worn out) half a dozen different brands of "trail" and "walking" shoes, some waterproof, some not, a pair designed for "stability," and the rest not. These shoes from Columbia are easily the best walking shoes I've ever worn – I'm now on my 3rd pair. My feet are slightly narrow ("C" width – which few manufacturers make), but even in a "D" width, the fit is quite good. I've had no issues with their being waterproof, and stomp through puddles without a second thought. Durability has been excellent, with 800-900 miles (about 15 months) before a pair has worn out. I wear them pretty much all day, every day, and traction on rock, trails and pavement (wet or dry) is excellent. I don't walk indoors (i.e., mall-walking) with any frequency, so I don't have an opinion about the shoe's traction on a smooth mall floor. They're very good in snow, not very good on ice, but I've never had a pair of shoes that was any good on ice unless I was wearing crampons. One reviewer didn't like the rounded heel, but for me – I'm 73, but don't have any "stability" issues – the rounded heel is precisely why the shoes are so comfortable.The rounded heel allows my foot strike to be totally natural – there's no squared-off heel forcing my foot into a particular angle or direction – and my foot then naturally rolls to its natural position as I continue the step and push off. The result is a very comfortable and natural gait, with none of the "slapping" I've seen some old guys like me have when the ball of their foot comes down on the walking surface. I rarely dress formally in retirement, so don't mind the "outdoors-y" look of the shoe, and I've purchased and worn them in both black and brown. They've been equally durable and comfortable, regardless of color. The only negative I can think of is that the laces supplied with the shoes are – as is usual nowadays – far too long, and I've had to buy another, shorter, pair of laces to avoid having a loop dragging on the ground.I hope they're still available 10 years from now, and wish Columbia would make a genuine hiking boot with the same kind of heel.