Thank you WD for your response. My almost 50 year old feet are very hard to please and this particular pair just feels right. After switching to trail runners a while back with the now discontinued Montrail AT Plus trail shoes, I'm sold. Unless I find something else, I may just have to go with gaiters as you suggested. Either that or just eat dirt, which isn't so bad depending where one chooses to hike. I suppose this mesh invention does have it's benefits but it also comes with it limitations. Thanks Again...