CAUTION - likely  over 75% of the positive reviews that apply to these boots, do not actually apply anymore to these boots. After wearing out a set of these boots over the years and proclaiming them my favorite ever - I asked 'Santa' to bring me a new pair for Christmas. I was very bummed to find out the boots are not made the same as they were before.  There are some minor exterior differences which indicate a lower quality manufacturing process, such as the poor quality detail of the Hitec logo on the metal quick lace points as compared to my first pair, or the rubbery look of the leather.  But the biggest change is that a low quality insole has been substituted for what was a very comfortable insole.

In my first pair of these boots was a very comfy insole with a much thicker arch cushion. In these new boots the insole is stamped out of one uniformly thin piece of rubber foam from heel to toe, with not nearly enough cushion to protect your arch from the rigid boot frame. The old insoles were contoured with varying thickness along the insole, and with at least 5x thicker cushion in the arch. So these new boots are digging into my arch and they are basically unwearable.

*** UPDATE JANUARY 15 2013*** I called Hi-Tec customer service and discussed the difference in the insoles.  They offered to send me a pair of MAGNUM 3D2 Contoured Comfort Insoles - they are much better in every respect. I am revising my review up to four stars based on the excellent customer service I received.