Dan, I disagree that the Wellcos are fantastic. True, they require little break in, but they are not very sturdy...I had a pair rip on me during basic. They also suck in terms of waterproofing and weight. One of my classmates' boots separated from the sole. The best I've seen so far are the Rocky S2V Spec Ops boots. Just in terms of weight, one pair of Rocky boots weigh less than a single Wellco boot.