Its like they switched manufacturing to China and were so blinded by the cost drop they didnt do quality control to maintain their brand integrity. I think they would please a listener who is after a reasonable degree of fidelity at a very affordable price, and not a hyped sound or some artificial bass boost. Comfy, no need to break them in. You should know that if you get it, the holes are not level with each other so dont drill the holes based on measuring alone (it doesnt show at all on the wall). It is so soft and breathable. Thats a great feature. I love these shoes for day hikes as well as long backpacking trips. Ive not encountered any bugs, and everything is very well organized. The addition of the carabiner makes it easier for me to clip it to things for safety. They are soft deerskin leather inside and out.