I bought these for tower climbing(as i was a cell tower tech for a while), and these are insanely stable, due to full steel shank. Still in phenomenal condition, the only wear and tear that is really noticeable is the inside back of the heel has worn through. Don’t really notice it though with proper socks. Company description: Traditional design meets advanced technology in the Makalu. This classic leather mountaineering boot features a Skywalk® MPE sole to ensure stability and traction in rugged environments. We used a burly 3.0mm Idro-Perwanger Roughout Leather upper for classic mountain boot performance and fit. This is a full steel shank boot that will accept an automatic crampon and kick steps in snow all day without a crampon if needed. Additionally, the protective Vibram® rubber rand adds excellent toe protection and the EZ rollerball hardware makes these boots easy to lace up.