>>2474205one of the big things i think about is DMS vs welted, sole depth, sole pattern, and rubber softness - all in relation to lifespan. the disadvantage of DMS boots is that they aren't really supposed to be resoled. welted boots can be resoled, but they can also delaminate in the field, which is a slight nuisance. DMS boots are generally chaper than welted ones. my 2003 usgis are DMS construction with a relatively soft rubber compound for military boots, but with a depth of about 1.3cm in the lugs and a sole pattern (pic related) with a massive area of contact with the ground - to where, i'm confident it'll take 4 - 5 years for them to actually wear down - and by that point, if they were welted boots, i probably wouldn't even want to repair them. on the other hand, if you get jungle boots with panama soles (which are also DMS), those things can wear down in 1 - 2 years while the leather is still in perfectly servicable condition. you have to think about bang for buck
