Merrell Mens Jungle Moc Wide Gunsmoke / Wide / 8

I've owned two pairs of these. The first ones I loved (5 star) and the second pair not at all (2 star). But I suspect the second pair may have been a really good knock-off. The question to anyone who just purchased these, how firm is the back entry behind your heel? I've had two pairs. On my good ones, there was a plastic insert in the heel that made it very firm and easy to get into. In the "bad" pair, the back was soft and you could fold it into the shoe with a finger. The good pair I had for years. The bad pair fell apart fast. Here are two photos. If anyone has time, see if you can push the heal into the shoe like these photos, I'd appeciate it. I'd like to buy a new pair but don't want to get another "bad" paiar.

These are great shoes! The all day comfort is great! They fit to size and width. They go with everything until they get weathered from daily use. That's why I have at least two pairs. One for going out and one for work! I have other styles of Merrell boots that are good but I default to these most of the time. I would recommend these but if you look around you'll see these on peoples feet. (My doctor wears them because he is on his feet all day long.

I have been wearing Mocs as work shoes for more than a decade and always had several pairs of sneakers, boots, and nicer shoes that I was always wearing for everything I would do outside of work. I would wear through and have to replace the Mocs and a few other pairs of sneakers/shoes a year. Then I switched to Merrell Jungle Mocs (wide width - size 13) 2 1/2 years ago, now I wear these for 95+% of everything I do and everywhere I go since buying that first pair, and when I am not wear these I am either wearing a pair of Jungle Moc Ice Grip (medium width - size 12, which are rather snug), or I am wearing dress shoes. I do absolutely everything in these shoes from fishing, camping, and hiking to work and extremely high profile events. I wear them in all weather ... MoreI have been wearing Mocs as work shoes for more than a decade and always had several pairs of sneakers, boots, and nicer shoes that I was always wearing for everything I would do outside of work. I would wear through and have to replace the Mocs and a few other pairs of sneakers/shoes a year. Then I switched to Merrell Jungle Mocs (wide width - size 13) 2 1/2 years ago, now I wear these for 95+% of everything I do and everywhere I go since buying that first pair, and when I am not wear these I am either wearing a pair of Jungle Moc Ice Grip (medium width - size 12, which are rather snug), or I am wearing dress shoes. I do absolutely everything in these shoes from fishing, camping, and hiking to work and extremely high profile events. I wear them in all weather conditions. I am not easy on shoes (I never have been), and not only are these extremely comfortable, great looking (regardless of what sort of extremes they have been exposed to), but they also last a very long time (about to buy my third pair in 2 1/2 years). And they are barely starting to wear through in the soles. I used to be deterred by the thought of spending $80 on a pair of shoes, but 1 of these $80 pairs of shoes every year to year and a half has replaced $500 of other shoes I used to go through in the same time period. Don't be like me and hesitate to spend the money on these shoes, they are a purchase that you won't ever regret making and will more than pay for themselves several times over. These shoes have had a devoted following for years for a very good reason.