the OTB is a stitched together boot on the uppers, so when the thread wears through the boot comes apart. during the course of one trip, the stitching on both sides of each heel cap wore through from the sole 3/4 of the way to the center of the back of the heel. imagine these pieces of rubber flopping around. i had epoxy in the boat repair kit, but it was obvious that they were going back so i didn't bother with a field repair. the toe caps were also loose, but less so. the mesh drains on the outside of the foot on both boots were severely abraded. the left boot drain was completely gone, leaving a hole in the boot in this critical area. one lug on the sole broke away from the sole, and numerous other pieces of the razor cut siping on the lugs broke off.

the bottom of the sole has drains which collect all manner of debris. it starts looking like a botanical garden in there after awhile. with the holes in the sole, you can get wet feet walking across wet grass.

these boots were not a good performer for me. NRS is going to bail me out of bad decision in selecting these boots. this is supposed to be a wet footing boot, but if you get them wet day after day they fall apart.

i hope our troops are getting the deluxe model.