diff --git a/doc/changelog.asciidoc b/doc/changelog.asciidoc
index 947a3bc50..a3609f121 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/changelog.asciidoc
@@ -188,6 +188,20 @@ Changed
   * `follow-hint` -> `hint-follow`
   * `enter-mode` -> `mode-enter`
   * `leave-mode` -> `mode-leave`
+- Changes to defailt settings:
+  * `tabs.background` is now `true` by default, so that new tabs get opened in the
+    background.
+  * `input.partial_timeout` is now set to 0 by default, so that partially typed
+    key strings are never cleared.
+  * `hints.leave_on_load` is now `false` by default, so that hint mode doesn't get
+    left when a page finishes loading. This can lead to stale hints persisting in
+    rare circumstances, but is better than leaving hint mode when the user entered
+    it before loading was completed.
+  * The default for `tabs.width` (tab bar width if vertical) is now 15% of the
+    window width rather than 20%.
+  * The default bindings for moving tabs (`tab-move -` and `tab-move +`) were
+    changed from `gl` and `gr` to `gK` and `gJ`, to be consistent with the tab
+    switching bindings.
 - Various performance improvements, including for the startup time.
 
 Fixed
diff --git a/doc/help/settings.asciidoc b/doc/help/settings.asciidoc
index 5562df390..a408c65d1 100644
--- a/doc/help/settings.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/help/settings.asciidoc
@@ -637,6 +637,8 @@ Default:
 * +pass:[gB]+: +pass:[set-cmd-text -s :bookmark-load -t]+
 * +pass:[gC]+: +pass:[tab-clone]+
 * +pass:[gD]+: +pass:[tab-give]+
+* +pass:[gJ]+: +pass:[tab-move +]+
+* +pass:[gK]+: +pass:[tab-move -]+
 * +pass:[gO]+: +pass:[set-cmd-text :open -t -r {url:pretty}]+
 * +pass:[gU]+: +pass:[navigate up -t]+
 * +pass:[g^]+: +pass:[tab-focus 1]+
@@ -646,10 +648,8 @@ Default:
 * +pass:[gf]+: +pass:[view-source]+
 * +pass:[gg]+: +pass:[scroll-to-perc 0]+
 * +pass:[gi]+: +pass:[hint inputs --first]+
-* +pass:[gl]+: +pass:[tab-move -]+
 * +pass:[gm]+: +pass:[tab-move]+
 * +pass:[go]+: +pass:[set-cmd-text :open {url:pretty}]+
-* +pass:[gr]+: +pass:[tab-move +]+
 * +pass:[gt]+: +pass:[set-cmd-text -s :tab-select]+
 * +pass:[gu]+: +pass:[navigate up]+
 * +pass:[h]+: +pass:[scroll left]+
@@ -3343,7 +3343,7 @@ This setting supports URL patterns.
 
 Type: <<types,Bool>>
 
-Default: +pass:[true]+
+Default: +pass:[false]+
 
 [[input.insert_mode.plugins]]
 === input.insert_mode.plugins
@@ -3384,10 +3384,11 @@ Default: +pass:[false]+
 === input.partial_timeout
 Timeout (in milliseconds) for partially typed key bindings.
 If the current input forms only partial matches, the keystring will be cleared after this time.
+If set to 0, partially typed bindings are never cleared.
 
 Type: <<types,Int>>
 
-Default: +pass:[5000]+
+Default: +pass:[0]+
 
 [[input.spatial_navigation]]
 === input.spatial_navigation
@@ -3840,7 +3841,7 @@ Open new tabs (middleclick/ctrl+click) in the background.
 
 Type: <<types,Bool>>
 
-Default: +pass:[false]+
+Default: +pass:[true]+
 
 [[tabs.close_mouse_button]]
 === tabs.close_mouse_button
@@ -4185,7 +4186,7 @@ Width (in pixels or as percentage of the window) of the tab bar if it's vertical
 
 Type: <<types,PercOrInt>>
 
-Default: +pass:[20%]+
+Default: +pass:[15%]+
 
 [[tabs.wrap]]
 === tabs.wrap
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.yml b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.yml
index 0f7ba65ca..861cf0fdc 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.yml
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.yml
@@ -1512,7 +1512,7 @@ input.insert_mode.plugins:
   desc: Switch to insert mode when clicking flash and other plugins.
 
 input.insert_mode.leave_on_load:
-  default: true
+  default: false
   type: Bool
   supports_pattern: true
   desc: >-
@@ -1541,7 +1541,7 @@ input.mouse.rocker_gestures:
     This disables the context menu.
 
 input.partial_timeout:
-  default: 5000
+  default: 0
   type:
     name: Int
     minval: 0
@@ -1552,6 +1552,8 @@ input.partial_timeout:
     If the current input forms only partial matches, the keystring will be
     cleared after this time.
 
+    If set to 0, partially typed bindings are never cleared.
+
 input.rocker_gestures:
   renamed: input.mouse.rocker_gestures
 
@@ -1762,7 +1764,7 @@ statusbar.widgets:
 ## tabs
 
 tabs.background:
-  default: false
+  default: true
   type: Bool
   desc: Open new tabs (middleclick/ctrl+click) in the background.
 
@@ -1982,7 +1984,7 @@ tabs.width.bar:
   renamed: tabs.width
 
 tabs.width:
-  default: 20%
+  default: 15%
   type:
     name: PercOrInt
     minperc: 0
@@ -3212,8 +3214,8 @@ bindings.default:
       co: tab-only
       T: tab-focus
       gm: tab-move
-      gl: tab-move -
-      gr: tab-move +
+      gK: tab-move -
+      gJ: tab-move +
       J: tab-next
       <Ctrl-PgDown>: tab-next
       K: tab-prev
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/caret.feature b/tests/end2end/features/caret.feature
index c97d096ca..5bb0383e7 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/caret.feature
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/caret.feature
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ Feature: Caret mode
         Then data/hello.txt should be loaded
         And the following tabs should be open:
             - data/caret.html
-            - data/hello.txt (active)
+            - data/hello.txt
 
     @flaky
     Scenario: :selection-follow with link tabbing (without JS)
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/hints.feature b/tests/end2end/features/hints.feature
index a7b18b7f4..fb04db01c 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/hints.feature
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/hints.feature
@@ -291,8 +291,8 @@ Feature: Using hints
         And I hint with args "links tab" and follow s
         And I wait until data/hello2.txt is loaded
         Then the following tabs should be open:
-            - data/hints/iframe_target.html
-            - data/hello2.txt (active)
+            - data/hints/iframe_target.html (active)
+            - data/hello2.txt
 
     Scenario: Clicking on iframe with :hint all current
         When I open data/hints/iframe.html