Before i pull the trigger on a new pair of either, is there any difference between the two? I mean apart from the combats being a little taller? None of my previous boots ever got any attention. My old style German para boots were a decade old when i got them and i wore them into the ground with no laces in and they were ultra comfortable. I never treated them and they stayed water proof and never cracked. For the last year of their lives i had to gaffa tape the right sole on every week but i could have had them resoled. Will the Lowa take this abuse? With my work and excursions into the country i cover an average of 40-50 miles a week so they wont be sitting in a cupboard waiting for the soles to deteriorate. I have looked at other stuff on the market, Haix, Meindle etc and the Lowa, to my eyes, are the least offensive looking. Do have the concern that the mountain boots being a little power will offer less protection and support but that may just be from my experience of only ever having high leg combat boots.