text: Poor shoe quality. I don't know how Bates can continue to provide shoes of this poor quality to service members of the US military. I have had these shoes for about 4 years and wear them on average about two times a year. They are stored in a plastic zip-lock shoe carrier when not in use.<br />The shoe leather on my shoes has cracked and has flaked off in sections. Other service members I know have had the heal dry rot. Poor quality.