I wear Lacrosse burly's rubber does not put down a scent trail like leather can. And because my feet are size 13 my boots are 18" tall. When I am with my friends hunting and we come to a creek I just walk across while they have to look for a place to cross. My area is nothing but hills and swampy creek bottoms these boots are perfect for this terrain. And the air bob sole looks like finger tips and this gives much better traction on hills than any vibram soles.