I needed new motorcycle riding boots and settled on these for a couple of reasons. The first is that back when I was in the military I owned a number of Bates products and they were all made in the US and all very good quality. These boots are neither. They are made in China and for some reason the heel is more than 1/4" taller than the front part of the sole so now I know what it's like for a woman to walk in high heels. In fact, as soon as I put them on my wife said they looked like something the transvestite in Rocky Horror would wear. Very difficult to walk in and not comfortable as well. So unless you're a Rocky Horror fan I'd avoid these boots.