I was hiking when the Vibram soles fell off my lightly used Lowa boots. The material between the soles and the Goretex booty disintegrated. Fun walking out without soles. Lowa?s warranty policy states that sole separation is normal and ?Sole Units will degrade when your footwear is used only occasionally and is stored for long periods of time? caused by a process called ?Hydrolysis ? and occurs faster in the closet than when in use. WHOA !. Better check a boots warranty policy before you buy.Many hunters don't use boots regularly and hang on to boots for many years. Think about being way back in rough rocky snowy country with boot break down. Painful - possibly deadly. Please pass this along to hiking forums.