I don't have the experience to compare with other similar shoes as this is the first of its kind that I have bought. I've had them for a year now and have used them both for their intended use (climbing Mount Olympus) and in an urban environment.

In both scenarios, they performed excellently. For the mountain use, due to lack of experience, I can't say anything specific, but I had no issues regarding stability, durability, or comfort.

Regarding the urban environment, I used them for a multi-day trip to Krakow in the rain, and although theoretically that's not their intended use, they were by far the best shoes I've worn on a holiday abroad. Incredibly stable on wet cobblestone alleys, comfortable, and with good socks there was no trace of odor. Not a single drop got through, so the price difference for the gore-tex compared to the 'regular' version is justified. They're not the most fashionable shoes for the above use, but I don't think any other would have suited me better for these conditions, so it was a fair trade-off :)