We bought these boots for our son for his "starting OCS" gift. He wore them for all long 'humps' and runs through his ten weeks at the USMC Officer Candidates School in Quantico, and never once complained about his knees bothering him (something that he HAD talked a LOT about during boot camp at Parris Island two years prior to his admission to OCS). While it might have had something to do with less time standing for long periods, I have to think the cushioned insole must have helped. And he had his best time ever for the 3-mile portion of the USMC physical fitness test wearing these boots: the lighter weight of these boots, I"m sure, had a lot to do with that! He took them with him when he left for The Basic School last week, where I'm sure they will continue to serve him well.