To start off, there was zero break-in period for me wearing these boots. They were a lace and go type boot. Most of my hiking is within the Gila National Forest in SW New Mexico, if you're familiar with the Gila you know it's covered in softball sized rocks that are unavoidable. The blanket of rock that covers most of the Gila makes it extremely tough on footwear but these boots are holding strong with minimal abrasion and slight delamination. My feet are use to leather logger type boots having a career as a Wildland Firefighter. Even though I purchased the Guide Ultra NI (Non-insulated) my feet get HOT in these boots if it's above 60°. On a recent elk hunt, the area I was hunting received a few days of moderate rain (.5" total), when walking through wet grass my feet ended up getting wet after about an hour of hiking.
Overall these are great boots. Quality materials/craftsmanship, very comfortable and durable and great ankle support in rough terrain.
The downsides for me personally are, they are uncomfortably hot when it's mildly warm outside and they are not simply "waterproof".
As of now I would recommend and will purchase another pair when I wear these out.
*To be clear I have not followed the recommended steps for boot maintenance and I am very difficult on equipment. I have decimated over 20 pair of boots of all sorts in the last 14 years. Not cheap boots either $400-$700 per pair type boots.