I have riden gator skins on my daily ride for 4 years (not the same pair) and pay $29.95 at my LBS. Personally they are a great training tire for me. I have had extremely good luck. And if you pick out the foreign matter (glass and such) ever so often they hardly ever flat. They are a bit heavy at 280 grams (3=25's I think). They have recently started making these in a folding tire that weighs only 220 grams. I have a pair now and they are great so far.