Comfort
The Holbuck boots were very comfortable on the bottom of the feet on the trail. There was no break in period required. While the boots provided more cushioning than most, this made them a little on the warm side compared with other cloth upper boots. A roomier toe box and unusually solid arch support both help with foot posture. 

Stability & Traction
The Chaco boots have fine rigidity and support in the midsole. The outsole traction was acceptable for hikes, but it slipped in one or two wet places where other boots in this test did not, especially when it was new. The upper provided less rigidity and ankle support than other hiking boots in this test. 

Durability
After testing, the double stitching seems continued to hold while the cushiness of the insole faded but were still very comfortable.

Protection
The extra padding in the Chaco Holbucks provided good protection from rocks, toe jamming, water, and other trail hazards. The sole provided relatively good shock absorption.

Off Trail & Snow
The Chaco boots did fine off trail, but the whole upper part of boot is more flexible than other boots which reduced ankle support. The waterproofing worked well and traction was fine in the snow.