This is a good piece for a MNK looking to complete a Counter setup. It's the only piece of footgear with Counter+ on it, and is a good combo with Melee Gaiters for enhanced Counterstance.
While expensive, they are somewhat rare, but they should be the last counter piece you buy. When you get to that point, they are a good purchase.
Of course, if you have a CC friend who will synth the mats for you, go wild.
What Gump fails to understand is that this is actually a great piece of gear for monk. If you tend to solo a lot like I do myself, you tend to rely on counter, and as these and the gloves increase your counter rate, it makes these some of the best tanking boots. Just gear swap in haste boots for shadows, but these boots and the gloves have saved me time and again with increasing my counter rate!
