In reply to TobyA:
I've also had a pair of Five Ten Rhapsodys - again ran them into the ground. Great for scrambling in, and unlike the Five Ten Guides, they have a rocker so are good for walking and a thick lug so good for wet grass.
I had zero durability problems with them and would highly recommend them.
BUT - got another pair six months ago and they have now spilt in three places.
There does some to be durability/quality control issues with some companies.
Is this because manufacture is off-shore - usually the Far East - and the company loses control over quality.
Similarly a shoe company had issues in Mexico concerning glue - the samples were great, first batches were great: then later it transpired that some of the operatives were putting one brush of glue rather than three or so. Result was that the shoes came apart where they hadn't been glued properly.
I'm sure when company observers are there, quality is top notch. Then when full scale production kicks in do they take short cuts?
I don't know. Anyone care to illuminate us on Far East manufacture.
Mick