Not sure on this, but I suspect that a lot of the issues (outside of the obvious “failures”, boots falling apart prematurely)……but I truly think it comes down to two things when you’re dealing with a boot of this quality. The issue to me are either…
1. A fit issue.
2. Issues for guys that don’t live in boots. I wear a cowboy boot 7 days a week, with the exception of dedicated “hunting days”, that were predetermined enough to plan. I don’t guide anymore, but even 10 years guiding in the Gila, I’d say 40% of that might have been done in just cowboy boots. Even the boots most of us guided in were more along the lines of danner, Irish setter, whites, etc……with the odd Kenetrek thrown in.
I think if a guy gets a well built boot, that fits snug enough, if you cover enough miles, they’re just fine. Schnees are awesome, and my choice these days. I’ve noticed a lot of guys can literally tell you how many miles they have one they’re boots…..I couldn’t tell you how many I might log in them in a week or ranching, but I know it’s a lot more that what I hear some men say they have on a hunting boot. Don’t know if this makes sense, but I think the issues are generally fit, or not used to logging enough miles in boots regularly, outside of getting ready for a hunt. Agree or not, it didn’t cost you anything