Bough for fast pace trail running and races (5-10K). I never actually ran in them since they didn't pass the living room test...

BOA system is NOT the best thing since sliced bread, as raved about by most reviewers. It's fast but I always ended up with the same result regardless of how much I tried to play with it and adjust: too loose at the forefoot and too tight at the top. The Salomon speed cross lacing is a much simpler and more effective version of a speed lacing system, though I'm not a fan of the shoe.

The sole does feel great and I think would've been perfect for my intended use. The upper fabric is nice but quite rough. I'm not sure how much it would actually break in but it's definitely not a bare foot or wear very thin ankle sock type of material. For me though, the deal breaker right from the start is the heel portion. I hate stiff heel cups because they tend to injure my achilles so I was quite happy with how flexible this one is. The problem with it is that it seem to go up too high and is angled too much toward the tendon when toeing off. The result was a nice chaffing jab at my achilles with every step I took. Also, because the edge presses on it in a straight line, I can't see this getting much better with any amount of break in. I really, really wanted to like this shoe and would've most likely bear with its other shortfalls if not for the achilles issues.