The Ariat Conquest boots are a great early to mid season boot for the western big game hunter. I have purchased them twice through Guidefitter. I have been a professional big game hunting guide for 21 years and have gone through many different brands of boots in that time. I have hunted the four corners region of the Rocky Mountain West in some capacity every year since I was ten years old. The Ariat Conquest 8" GTX has been my early season and mid season boot for the last two years. As a guide with a large family I look for value as much as I do performance in the products I buy. The boot is tall and offers great ankle support while traversing the rocks and downed timber the west is known for. The boots are comfortable and offer the exact amount of warmth in the mid season early mornings yet are not overly warm in the early archery hunts. The bottom tread design is great and is soft enough to not make the clunky sounds on rocks as one walks, yet flex enough on hard sticks and branches to keep most from snapping loudly. The boot laces are tough and in two years have not frayed. I keep my boots in great shape using a coating of beeswax for rain and inclement weather, but I do this to all of my boots that are clad in leather. The only drawback to the boots is that they are not the best for late season deep snow. Obviously with the insulated rating they were not designed for this type of environment but I push my gear to the limits. I have found this boot to be my favorite from late August to early November for our New Mexico and Arizona Hunts pursuing elk and deer. The price and durability of this boot is hard to match. I will continue my use of these boots as they have reached the top of my list.