By Frogwalker from SW Virginia on 7/16/2008

Odd style lacing hooks broke several months after I bought shoe. I returned the shoe to Online shoes. [...] The hooks are not as functional as the traditional bent steel ones. Someone went out of their way to create a problem that should not have existed.I liked the soles as they are quite grippy, except in mud, where they are poor. The soles are also thin, which enables one to feel the surface under foot, but also makes it easy to bruise your foot. Online shoes had none of these in my size (N) when I returned the defective ones, so I bought an identical but low top pair which I wear every day and really do like. The higher top shoes are quite difficult to put on and take off. If you get a pair without the defect, don't mind the time required to put them on, they really are grand walking, light hiking shoes. Watch the pointy rocks.