I have been wearing these shoes for about 7-8 months now and I am impressed everyday with how comfortable they are. I'm always hesitent to buy shoes without trying them on, especially on a brand that I haven't worn before but couldn't pass up the deal on these shoes. I think I actually winced when I hit order. Anyway, from day one I have been nothing but impressed and happy with the purchase. I'm going to run through my experience with the shoes and why I rated it a five star.So, my disclaimer is that I have some medical issues and because of that I have a few different sets of orthotics for my shoes. That usually means that rating the comfort of a shoe is very individual for me since I look for how my orthotics fit in the shoes.I opened the box and was very happy with the overall look of the shoes. They have a classic look, very nice leather, and seemed sturdy before I even put them on. The first thing I did, which I always do, is to remove the insoles and put in my own. I laced them up and was very pleased with the fit which I thought was the end of it for the isoles. My wife grabbed them from the floor (because I'm a slob) and commented on how much cushion their was so I decided to try them. I would say the difference between the insoles that came with the shoes and my very expensive (overly expensive) orthotics was negligable. It made me kick myself over my deductable.The shoes fit as expected, they broke in very fast, there was no rubbing, blisters or problems with wearing them at all. The back is firm but it doesn't make them uncomfortable and they have kept up their appearance very well. I've only ever cleaned them with a rag and on occasion gave them a wipe down with vasoline to keep the shine. I was given another pair of shoes as a gift last month and side by side you can't tell which shoes are older when compared with these. Very happy with the shoes, the purchase, the comfort and the fact that I got to avoid having someone fit me at the shoe store (orthotics always results in questions). Please feel free to ask questions.