Salomon 5 Gore-tex Trail Running Shoes, 5

This is my first purchase of either a trail running shoe or the Salomon brand. I purchased them for hiking in the Teton mountain area. I was beyond impressed with these shoes! My first thought when trying them on were that they felt a little big. But when I put on my hiking socks and walked in them, they were actually spot on as far as size. They have "aggressive" treads on them. We did some hiking in rain/mud going over rocks and up and down hills. These shoes performed excellently. I never slipped. Speaking of wet and mud, I got pretty deep in some areas. In spite of the rain, my feet stayed dry and I was astonished that after nearly burying my foot in mud, after a quick walk through tall grass on the way back to the car there was virtually no mud on my shoes. The photos I'm sharing are AFTER wearing these shoes in two different mud situations and without any extra cleaning effort on my part aside from walking through grass. Very Impressed! Comfort is a big deal for me. I work on my feet and have had to have surgery in the past to relieve foot pain. I did not experience any pain from these shoes. They offered great support. I did not experience the muscle fatigue in my feet and legs that comes from compensating for ill-fitting shoes. My first impression, putting them on in my living room, was that they were not very cushioned. But out on the trails, I found them to be quite comfortable. The treads themselves seem to absorb much of the shock. I appreciate that this shoe is offered in a larger size. I searched several brands and there are very few that offer a Women's size 12. I've had to buy men's shoes in the past and it's hard when shopping online to know which men's size to try and they are, of course, styled toward men's fashion. Overall, these shoes far surpassed my expectations. Especially when the heavy rain started. Well worth the money spent.