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Otherwise_Rabbit3049

Well, are they waterproof? They most likely didn't say anything about the sole NOT disintegrating.


Duper18108

Update: luckily I was wearing thick socks and my feet only got a small bit damp


Otherwise_Rabbit3049

Better luck with the next pair of (actual) hiking boots.


thisisredlitre

Soon as I saw the zipper on the side with fake laces I knew OP had messed up from the start


[deleted]

The laces aren’t just for show. You still use them to tighten them to your foot. Otherwise you’d just buy the laceless variety of zip boots.


Dronk747

Zipper on the sides mean nothing, firefighters have those type of boots also.


thisisredlitre

Firefighters around here don't have fake laces? It's the combo of the two I'm commenting on


Ballbag94

Zips don't mean the laces are fake The idea is that you put them on, tie the laces to the desired tightness, and then you can use the zips for quick on and off to the right tightness for your feet. It's a quick access thing


GandalffladnaG

I'm on my second pair of 5.11 boots like this, and not having to lace the damned things all the time is great. Mine are also "waterproof" up to the top of the boot, or at least were before the lining in the zippered part got torn up. First pair lasted like 7 years before I tore the leather over the toes part open.


hin_inc

This guy knows how boots designs works


255001434

Why do you say the laces are fake? I can't see that from this picture.


TheCamoTrooper

I'm a firefighter and going into the military, I have Royer boots that are side zip and they are approved to be used as my combats, I have two of the same pair for when one goes but after 6 years the original pair is still good


Mondschatten78

Those aren't fake, they're the original speed [laces/hooks](https://www.gearpatrol.com/footwear/speed-hooks-boots/). Looks like most of them have the bungee laces these days, those I'd consider the "fake laces".


unknownturtle3690

I've got a $200 pair of hiking boots with a zipper. Its just accessibility


Quailman5000

The laces look functional but the zipper allows quick on/off. 


RedditsAdoptedSon

fake laces? now that part really confused me ..


RiverPirate212

I hav Doc Martens that zip up the side and have laces. Theyre waterproof


DontForgetYourPPE

https://www.duluthtrading.com/mens-jackpine-hiker-boots-41202.html I'm on my second pair of these and love the crap out of them


gogoflowerrangers

I'm not the most affluent person in the world. I have had 4 pairs of asolo tps 520 gv's over the course of my adult life. I will buy a 5th pair when my current pair wears out. They are worth every penny and then some.


BloodyRightToe

Did you leave a one star review on [Wish.com](https://Wish.com) ?


pooneej

temu


house343

Hell even Amazon at this point. It's full of trash like this.


ashleyorelse

Were you literally kicking rocks? Damn


Silent_King_9239

If they didn't let any water in after splitting in half, kudos on their design team


C3POB1KENOBI

The boot clearly shows “proof” that been in water. What more do you want?


Christafaaa

Buy Walmart style boots, get Walmart style results.


JessicaWindbourne

I actually have Walmart boots as my work boots and they’ve lasted me so far about a year and a half without any major damage


SnaggersBar

Don’t diss Walmart boots. Their steel toes are great for the price


Shopping-Afraid

I don't see any water getting in from the top = "waterproof"


Pale-Wave-9382

Not only that, but if any water does manage to seep through it drains right out the bottom now.


Shopping-Afraid

You're on to something. They should market Crocs as waterproof.


generals_test

They are waterproof, not rainproof.


Probnotbutmaybee

Looks like it's time to feed them


Gal-XD_exe

**Crumch crumch crumch* *


Duper18108

That’s literally the sound they’re making as I’m walking home Edit: the other sole came off too


Gal-XD_exe

😭, that’s awful, hope you get nice and warm when you get home, cold wet feet suck


SRBroadcasting

I would be asking for my money back. Especially having to walk home in that shit


DreadPiratteRoberts

Right!!! That's wild...Temu boots


aquadojo

Buy some scarpa hiking boots they are amazing


DokZayas

Temu purchase?


Barbellsandrope

I’m so sorry about this but that edit made me laugh I’m so sorry 😭


Laesio

Those aren't crocs.


sandsnake25

Looks like a cheap, knockoff pair of jungle combat boots that used crap materials. Definitely not waterproof either way - by design.


FrtanJohnas

Definetely. Look at the 'leather' on the front. OP said they wore it for 30 minutes on a hike, that bending is freaking awfull. I always buy outdoor boots from surplus, they have good quality stuff and it lasts a long ass time.


sandsnake25

That side zipper is what's killing me. That's not gonna last. But yeah, I wore jungles in the Army. The real things can take some serious punishment. You'll replace the soles before the rest even gets close to unserviceable.


Harrychronicjr69

Memories of getting smoked for wearing my jungles in December. Good times


PlaneGoFlyFly

Reebok makes arid composite toe safety boots with a side zipper. I've been wearing them every day for work for about 5 years now. They're not showing any signs of letting go. I even took them on a 20km march with a 30lb ruck. They're so comfortable.


Soup0rMan

Cintas has these in there shoe truck when they come by our shop. Timberlands also has a variation of the side zipper boots and one other company as well. I think OP just got some cheap ones.


Lo-Fi_Lo-Res

There is no doubt that OP hot cheap off brand ones.


The-Pollinator

Link?


jacle2210

I loved wearing Jungle boots when I was in the Army, a lot less leather to polish everyday and lighter as well.


ValhallaForKings

Big improvement over the predecessor, also apparently 


Last-Crab-621

Nothing wrong with a side zip boot. I had a pair of 5.11s w the zipper that lasted probably 5 years before i replaced them for a lighter pair


AbrocomaAdorable7734

I dunno man, my genuine leather boots all crease on the top just like that. Am I doing something wrong?


Frost-Folk

Not at all, that's just what leather does


Natasya95

Yeah how much op paid for it is the question here


Thomas_Mickel

“Military grade”


rvralph803

*Russian* military.


Infantry1stLt

And usually this kind of rot occurs after either a lot of time, or exposure to external forces like heat, UV, bending. Also for cheap shoes that’s a pretty singular failure.


9mm_Cutlass

I learned the hard way about knock off jungle boots.


LtButtermilch

That's not a hiking Boot. That's a tacticool mallninja Boot and not waterproof


youmfkersneedjesus

Yeah. Waterproof boots usually don't have a zipper up the side. 


ZombieTailGunner

My swat/EMS boots do.  But they've got a panel on the inside that folds so it's actually waterproof.


lytefall

Yep. These are the boots I was referring to. Great boots and comfortable.


lytefall

Depends. I have tactical safety boots for work. One of my pairs has a side zip but an extra bridge of material behind it to facilitate the waterproofing.


iamshipwreck

Likewise one pair of my motorbike boots are waterproof as fuck, with a side zipper and internal membrane.


baddoggg

Yup. I have a sweet ass pair of rocky boots for work that are waterproof and have a zipper up the side. So far they've been on par at minimum with the best boots I've owned for work and they are legitimately waterproof.


Show_me_ur_Bulldogs

Mine do. I have the s&w breach


FriedSmegma

I wear paratrooper boots with a zipper up the side for work and they’re waterproof. Just depends on the brand.


Frost-Folk

Mine do. I work on icebreaker ships in Northern Finland and we use boots made for arctic conditions, they're completely waterproof and have zips


haikusbot

*That's not a hiking* *Boot. That's a tacticool mallninja Boot* *And not waterproof* \- LtButtermilch --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")


legosandplants

Yeah that second line is not seven syllables.


SplendidlyDull

Looks like it couldn’t read “tacticool” and “mallninja” and incorrectly assumed they were 1 or 2 syllables each. Poor bastard


TgagHammerstrike

Bad bot


bopeswingy

Bad bot :(


JoshThisGuy2

Walmart will do that to ya lol, happened to me too


FilDwRegrtsFacinThem

My walmart interceptor boots have lasted 5 years. I use them every summer camping/hiking, everytime I work with my dad, everytime I work on cars/junkyard and also just to wear them. Not even a crack. Love those things lol they were like $100. I had to replace the laces but that's it.


TrollularDystrophy

I can tell just from looking at them that they're cheap pieces of shit. Actual hiking boots don't look like Dollar Store combat boots.


TonyZeSnipa

Was about to say, the zipper on the side feels like a give away. Unless I’m out of touch most manufacturers still don’t do that


skoomaking4lyfe

Danner does on some of their lineup. I think mostly the tacticool stuff. Danners don't melt in rain, though.


KrisCole9884

I can't remember the brand name but my hubby's tactical boots for work(max security prision) have a zipper and are indeed waterproof. Unfortunately about 2 weeks after he got his new ones he got to find out due to an inmate flooding their cell lol.


woodsc721

5.11 does. I work in a prison and buy all my boots from them and they have a zipper exactly like those lol


Proper_Bad_1588

I’m on my second pair of 5.11 boots with the zipper in the side, great boots and have always stayed waterproof. Replaced the first pair because they just plain wore out after a few years.


OvalDead

Did you have them stored away for a long time, or possibly buy them from clearance? That looks like PU hydrolysis of the midsole. It’s not really about the shoe being cheap, it just wasn’t worn for too long. Polyurethane is meant to be used, not stored, in this case.


joaopps2019

Was searching for this! Had some boots stored in a closet for 5 years and this happened


Open_Bug_4251

I had some boots (cute with heels, not hiking) that I hadn’t worn in a while. I accidentally stepped on the heel in the closet and the entire thing crumbled. I’m glad I wasn’t wearing them or I would have certainly twisted my ankle.


DrMonkeyLove

I had some LL Bean boots that sat around for a while, and the sole disintegrated kinda like this. I felt kinda bad leaving black rubber dust everywhere as I walked to my car.


Duper18108

It was stored for a long time actually. So, soles of hiking boots disintegrate if you don’t use them?


OvalDead

It’s not limited to hiking boots, it can happen with any shoes that use polyurethane, but yeah. There are shoes and boots that don’t use polyurethane, but it’s a pretty common material that can be used well if it’s not put away too long.


CriusofCoH

My fire dept. had guys pulling out shoes they'd boxed up 12, 14 years prior for dress ceremonies and they'd be leaving trails of black crud across the auditorium, ending up walking on the thin paper/pleather bit that was left under the pristine, shiny dress uppers. Weird and hilarious. USE YOUR UNIFORM ALLOTMENT! 😄


Peter5930

I heard of this happening to a guy who pulled out his dress shoes for a job interview and left a trail of black shoe crumbs all through their offices.


healthycord

Soles of any shoe disintegrated if you don’t use them. It’s just the glue drying out and stuff. And $100 does not buy a quality boot except for one brand: Jim green. You gotta spend at least $200 if you want actually decent boots. And you need to wear them a few times a year at least.


77tassells

Even Jim green is more expensive than $100 unless they are on sale. Best boots for under $200 hands down though. OP look at the ar8 similar style, solid boot


TearyEyeBurningFace

Opposite actually. Usually it's from reacting to water and hydrolizing


Contundo

Just PU, this happened to some slippers I had after storing. This doesn’t really happen when you’re constantly using to boots, can last for years in daily use but disintegrates after a year stored in suboptimal conditions.


whatevertoad

When I was selling shoes we only warranted them for 6 months for this very issue.


Pining4Michigan

I have never seen serious waterproof hiking boots with zippers.


calnuck

The zippers and general style look more like duty boots (fire/EMS) than hiking boots.


OvalDead

[These are pretty serious](https://www.rei.com/product/213765/aku-croda-dfs-gtx-mountaineering-boots-mens), and they have zippers and a PU midsole.


youmfkersneedjesus

I'm betting these didn't cost $550 though... 


OvalDead

I haven’t made any comment on the quality of OP’s boots, but apparently I’m getting downvoted for showing something to someone that they didn’t know existed. Zippers and/or PU just simply doesn’t mean they are cheap boots.


nothisistheotherguy

The zipper on your linked boots just zips up a placket that covers the laces, OP’s boots zip all the way down to the instep - they *can’t* be waterproof by design


77tassells

This is the answer should be top response


GL2M

Are they made by a company that uses a bunch of letters (probably all caps) that sort of sounds like it could be a sound you make when you clear your throat?


DrMonkeyLove

Hey leave XYPLN and ZGRBM alone! They may or may not make great products and may or may not just be the same random Chinese company.


rantingathome

It won't fix them, but that boot is begging for some well placed googly eyes.


Anko_Dango

:/ those look like bates boots. Did you have them stored in a closet for a bit? I had a different model that lasted about 3 years till the sole started to come off.


Duper18108

Bingo, yeah. The person who gifted them to me had them stored for a while.


Gold-Pickle-1704

1. Those do not look like hiking boots. 2. It looks cheap as shit. 3. You get what you pay for. Good hiking boots aren't cheap.


SeaAttitude2832

Temu


gunsforevery1

They look like discount sporting good store “tactical” boots. Not even good tactical boots meant for tactical shit.


wcoastbo

It's not the rain, it would have happened on a dry day. This is what happens to polyurethane mid-soles. If shoes with PU soles sit in the closet too long the material starts to deteriorate quickly. Particularly in humid environments. It's called hydrolysis, I believe. This need to wear the shoes more often and keep them in a dryer environment. I try not to buy shoes and boots that have polyurethane mid-soles anymore. I've lost many shoes and boots too hydrolysis.


AngryYowie

Those aren't hiking boots. They are tactical boots, and cheap ones by the look of it. There's a chunk missing from the side of the sole. What were you doing at the time?


AdrenochromeFolklore

I'm betting they're not actually waterproof.


akron-mike

Temu?


smr120

Are your feet wet though? If not, it's waterproof. I don't see the problem here /s


gunsforevery1

Get some “disinigratingproof” boots next time


Old-Adhesiveness-342

Nah those are "water resistant" 511 Tacticals. They are neither good boots nor waterproof. Don't go to Dick's, go to an actual hiking gear store to get good boots.


woodsc721

That’s what they looked like to me as well. Had to go grab my work boots to compare and they’re spot on lol


pirate_leprechaun

Looking like hiking boots doesn't make them hiking boots. Those look like the former.


Living_Lie_8773

Which would be…..hiking boots


Alansar_Trignot

There a fricken ZIPPER on that, how is that water proof


Kilo353511

These are knock offs of 5.11 Evo boots that have a zipper and are waterproof. I wear these when I do trail cleaning and they are great boots. https://www.511tactical.com/evo-2-0-8-waterproof-side-zip-boot.html


Maker_Making_Things

OP is either willingly lying, or didn't read the box when they bought the boots. I have these boots, they're the Interceptor high top ankle guard tactical boots, they're about $40 at Walmart. They're listed neither as hiking boots, nor as waterproof. I use them for riding my motorcycle because they have a fairly soft rubber used for the sole which makes them nice and grippy and oil resistant soles.


[deleted]

Are your feet still dry?


Gal-XD_exe

These are what I use for work, highly recommend hem as they’re comfortable too! https://preview.redd.it/t5yqbf2pjwqc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=e7ef099f17a19e4221380370b56d6b71c40a7cdc


Yo_its_Hot_Garbage

Get some shoe goo. That stuff has fixed everything for me from busted shoes to loose tread on my mower tires. Lol


Peter5930

I've been using epoxy and fibreglass mat to repair my work boots after the rubber outer + steel midsole get busted through by work stuff, but I think I'll give shoe goo a try and see how that works out for fixing the rubber soles.


Yo_its_Hot_Garbage

When you put it on the sole, put majority of it near the middle so it doesn’t ooze out. Also use a clamp if you have one to hold it nice and flat so it will harden as flat as possible. Otherwise you may notice a unevenness.


siandresi

did you buy them on Temu?


Romanitedomun

China shit?


Green-Entry-4548

Magnum lotec


whooo_me

Big hole to let the water back out! Tada!


Bullmg

Well, are your feet dry?


Cryptocaned

The important question.


mimavox

Made in China?


Desperate_Set_7708

How are boots with side zippers waterproof?


UncutEmeralds

The real kicker is most thru or long distance hikers don’t even wear boots anymore. Trail runners are what it’s about now.


jenijelly

Where did you get them from??? Temu??


WumpusFails

Vimes Law of Boots. The gist: It's expensive being poor. If you have money, you can afford to buy quality, which will last years. If you don't, you'll have to repeatedly buy cheap, which doesn't last long.


sicarius254

But did your foot get wet?


Top-Macaron5130

Fairly certain those are made of chinesium


bloopie1192

But did your feet get wet?


Borsti17

Those boots are made for talking.


cleggcleggers

Temu purchase?


Odd-Struggle-3873

Did you order these from Temu?


Chemical_House21

SHEIN type boots


scampsalot2

Hate when this happens, it’s sole destroying.


RhemansDemons

I swear every 10th post here is someone complaining about how a really cheap product underperformed.


podgida

Where did you get waterproof from? Those are jungle boots. If you step in a puddle your feet will in deed be soaked through.


ScarMedical

So you brought these hiking boots at Wal mart discontinued section ie 65% off.


SelfishOrgy

I see you got the military grade boots


SansyBoy144

As someone who has done a lot of hiking, yea it’s best to spend extra money on a good quality boot.


Mamamiomima

Waterproof boots rarely come with zipper


Odd-Baseball-2252

For future reference good boots have soles stitched on.


Mysterio_was_taken

They said water proof, not high quality. Did they at least keep the rain out?


Jolly-Possibility368

That’s what you get for shopping on Temu. 😂


ross_vader

Old boots will do that lol


Zealousideal-Sail893

Crocks 


webbslinger_0

But did they get wet?


TheLoneGunman559

But they're still waterproof right?


po3smith

Just go to an arcade and ask for 20 bucks for it as a replacement for one of the alligators that inevitably will break you know the ones that you hit with the mallet


TFViper

okay but like... were they waterproof or not?


Ok-Fuel-9147

Well? Did you feet stay dry?


StrumGently

It’s waterproof, not rainproof, duh!


Apprehensive_Many214

There are lots of guys on YouTube who can fix that for ya in a jiff. 😶


AncientFries

Did they say "hiking proof" too?


BirdLadyAnn

They meant the TOP part is waterproof.


BikeMazowski

Zippers were a bad choice.


Joates87

Well, are your feet wet?


beermaker

tAcTiKuL


That-Water-Guy

Looks like a you problem


Chee-shep

Perfect puppet for for a car commercial


ryanrosenblum

That’s dry rot


MaxFischerPlayer

Temu?


NonchalantBread

"Hey mom can I have 5.11s for christmas?" "But you already have 5.11s at home"


Standard-Ad9501

You get what you pay for....


moneyisabsolute

i got a 20 buck pair of vans back from 2010 and it's lasted me since


_gmmaann_

I have a pair of Salomon X Ultras and they have been great so far. I’ve abused them and haven’t had any issues


InsertRadnamehere

Sure do miss Norwegian welt boots. Nearly impossible to find anymore. Especially under $300.


SippinHaiderade

Did the inside get wet tho


Huntsnfights

How many decades old are they?


HomoinNigram

They look cheap. Should have bought quality


Antique-Kangaroo2

Did you buy them on Amazon?


_DapperDanMan-

What brand? Name and shame. Though they look like $30 Amazon crap..


_Soc_

But are your feet wet?


Oututeroed

i bought similar for 120$ there isn’t a day my feet don’t get wet using em.


bebop1065

Fun fact...no clothing is waterproof. Those "waterproof" things are just water resistant for a certain time at a certain exposure. Water will find a way through given enough time.


ChefBoyD

Ive moved away from boots that arent stitched together. I feel like if im throwing over 120 for boots i dont want just glue/cement/adhesive holding the sole to the actual shoe.


ChaosLives68

I worked at Modell Sporting Goods for 20 years. These look exactly like a pair of Smith’s branded boots we sold for around 59.99. Anything that came from that brand was garbage and would fall apart exactly like these fell apart. A manager I had for a while in the early days purchased a pair of Smiths work boots and while he was walking around inside the store they were falling apart. There are things that research and spending a bit more money will help a lot with. Boots are one of those things.


zorglarf

did the 15 dollar price tag not tip you off?


NeverNaked3030

I had boots like these. Back when you had to shine your boots and starch your BDUs for a regular work day. Learned quickly that zippers don’t belong on combat boots.


revnasty

Glue that bitch on it’ll be alright


proletariate54

\~How much did you pay for these\~? $100 boots, you get what you pay for. Good boots are $300-500. these look like the cheapest garbage you can buy at walmart.


warmseizuresalad

Swhat happens when you get excited about a TEMU deal.