Perfect shoe for "duck feet" - solid stability - true-to-size - Oboz Sawtooth Low BDry Hiking Shoe - Womens

I have duck feet. My toe box is average (medium) and my heel runs on the narrow side. I find it nearly impossible to find shoes of any kind. The medium width on these shoes is perfect for me. I wear a 9.5 in hiking shoes and sneakers (9 in dress shoes) and these are spot-on in terms of length. This is the third pair I've bought of these shoes. I'm more of a trail walker than a hardcore hiker but I've found them suitable in both arenas. I would say they get about 150-200 miles of trail use before needing to be replaced which for me is about 18-24 months. I've converted my partner to these hikers as well and he wears them as his everyday shoes year-round. He replaces them once a year. My feet don't get hot in the summer even with mid-weight hiking socks.

Are there any cons? They are perfectly fine for the occasional modest puddle and I've found them basically fine in a light rain, but they aren't great for swampy or heavy rain situations. You will have soppy socks - but this is the tradeoff for genuine breathability in my mind. The sole stays firm (no cracks) but I have noticed that the traction on rocks definitely starts to deteriorate around 100 miles. I say that because I would describe them as nice and grippy out of the box and definitely less-so as the season wears on. They stretch out a bit in width with use but I think that's to be expected.