Bates Footwear Delta-6 Gore-Tex® Side Zip

I'm very tough on shoes, usually burn through a pair in less than a year. But for the past 2 years, I've worn a pair of these Bates E02366 Delta-6 Gore-Tex Side Zip Boots. They are comfortable, flexible, provide superb ankle support and foot protection, cool in summer, warm enough and dry in winter. I use Nikwax aqueous wax to keep 'em shiny, cause Nikwax is OK for both Leather and Goretex. I wear these as my every day shoe, walking about 2 miles daily during my commute to work, and also wearing them while in the lab and office. I've also worn them hiking in Europe and the US. I've run a 5K in these, climbed up an icy slope, and worn them for 16 hour stretches with good comfort. They are waterproof, breathable, have a nonslip sole. If you have them sized correctly, they require a bit of a tug to put on but slide right off. The side-zip feature is awesome. I adjust the laces to get exactly the fit I want, then leave the laces tied, I retie them about once a month when they get slightly loose. I can run in these boots, walk through deep Chicago slush while keeping my feet warm and dry. After 2 years of near-constant wear, I am now buying an identical replacement pair because the heel of the outsole is almost worn down. Otherwise the rest of the shoe has held up very well. Best shoe I've owned.